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Va-Q-Tec hosts research project looking at new vacuum insulation panel products
Written by Global Insulation staff
29 June 2017
Germany: Va-Q-Tec AG is hosting a research project entitled ‘THECore’ that will examine thermally efficient, cost-reduced nanostructured foams for vacuum insulation panels (VIP). The project is linked to the Society and Enterprise Panel of the Individual Fellowship of Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) of the European Union (EU). The main research topic of THECore is the development of new VIP products based on a new generation of core materials. Sumteq, the project’s second supporting company, will supply these.
Va-Q-Tec will carry out product tests and qualifications of the new materials. A starting meeting with both participant institutions was held on 22 June 2017, where researcher Flávia Almeida from Portugal introduced the main objectives of the project. She will lead the research for two years and will be supported by the MSCA.
MSCA are a set of major mobility research grants created by the EU and European Commission to support research in the European Research Area. It is currently financed through the Eighth Framework Program for Research and Technological Development (Horizon 2020) and belongs to the so-called first pillar ‘Excellent Science.’
Owens Cornings completes purchase of Pittsburgh Corning
Written by Global Insulation staff
28 June 2017
US: Owens Cornings has completed its purchase of Pittsburgh Corning for around US$560m. Originally the insulation producer expected the transaction and its regulatory approval to be completed in the third quarter of 2017. Pittsburgh Corning produces cellular glass insulation products, including Foamglas, and it has operations in the US, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and China.
Celotex stops supply of polyisocyanurate foam product for high-rise buildings following London tower fire
Written by Global Insulation staff
26 June 2017
UK: Celotex has stopped supplying its RS5000 polyisocyanurate foam (PIR) insulation board product in rainscreen cladding systems for buildings over 18m tall. The decision is a temporary one whilst an investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire continues. The subsidiary of Saint-Gobain previously confirmed that its product was purchased for use in a refurbishment project at the building. The fire is believed to have killed 79 people.
The insulation producer said that safety testing had been undertaken on its RS5000 product as part of a ‘particular’ rainscreen cladding system. It added that, “…any changes to components of the cladding system or construction methods used need to be considered by the relevant building designer.”
The decision by Celotex follows an announcement by the Metropolitan Police that insulation samples collected from Grenfell Tower combusted quickly in tests. The authorities are examining aluminium composite tiles, the insulation behind it and how these tiles were fixed to the building as well as how they were installed. The aluminium composite tiles have also failed initial safety tests.
Recticel to build new Euro23m plant in Finland
Written by Global Insulation staff
22 June 2017
Finland: Recticel plans to build a new Euro23m polyurethane (PUR) foam insulation board plant. Production at the site is scheduled to start in the second half of 2018. The site will manufacture thermal insulation products for sale in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Baltic countries
“This investment is an additional step in the execution of the growth strategy of our Insulation business. It offers an attractive expansion in the Nordic region, which is a growing market for high performance insulation materials,” said Olivier Chapelle the company’s chief executive officer (CEO).
Danish minister stops cavity wall insulation subsidies
Written by Global Insulation staff
15 June 2017
Denmark: Lars Christian Lilleholt, the Minister for Energy and Climate, has stopped subsidies for domestic cavity wall insulation projects due to problems related to the scheme. The subsidies were stopped on a temporary three-month basis in March 2017 and this had now been made permanent in conjunction with the energy companies that take part in the scheme. A survey published in March 2017 reported errors in 60% of the projects carried out under the scheme.