Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

UK: Mannok recorded sales of Euro270m in 2021, up by 16% year-on-year from Euro233m in 2020. The company’s earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 17% to Euro25.8m from Euro31.1m. The group attributed this to substantial cost absorption beginning in mid-2021. It noted particularly high raw material costs in its insulation segment due to current global shortages. Overall energy prices rose by 66% year-on-year, while the cost of carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS) credits more than doubled to Euro80/t at the end of the year.

Mannok said that demand for its products remains resilient, supported by stronger cost recovery. It added that a levelling out in energy prices has driven stronger profitability in the first quarter and April of 2022.

Russia: Ireland-based Kingspan says it has exited the Russian market and divested its operations to local management. The decision was made in early March 2022 but it took several weeks to carry out. The company said that Russia accounted for less than 1% its global operations. Following the departure Kingspan products will no longer be available for sale in Russia.

The insulation producer added that it was “Deeply saddened by the growing humanitarian crisis as a result of Russia’s unjustified attack on Ukraine and its people.” It has made a US$750,000 donation to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the setup of five Blue Dot Centres to assist refugees on the Ukrainian border.

France/Denmark: Ireland-based Kingspan has signed deals for two diversifying acquisitions. On 18 February 2022, it agreed to buy France-based roofing and building waterproofing company Ondura from France-based Naxicap Partners for Euro550m. Meanwhile, in Denmark, the group has also agreed to acquire wood-based acoustic board producer Troldtekt. Troldtekt produces its boards from ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and shredded Norway spruce wood.

Speaking of the latter deal, Kingspan Insulation managing director Alan Lawlor said "I am delighted to welcome Troldtekt to the Kingspan family. As the global leader in high-performance insulation and building envelope solutions, we have the capacity to help them expand beyond their core markets, whilst bringing acoustic and decorative boards and natural insulation materials into our portfolio. Troldtekt has been able to continuously innovate and it sets the bar impressively high in the field of the circular economy.” He concluded "We will invest significantly in the company's production facilities to set them up for geographic growth."

Ireland: Kingspan says that it saw ‘dramatic’ price inflation from its key raw materials in 2021. To compensate it passed on around Euro700m in cost increases to the market. The group’s revenue grew by 42% year-on-year to Euro6.50bn in 2021 from Euro4.58bn in 2020. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 42% to Euro893m from Euro630m. Turnover from the group’s insulated panels business represented 65% of total revenue at Euro4.23bn and its insulation boards business represented 18% at Euro1.18bn. The insulation producer noted particular positive markets in the Americas, France and the UK.

“The business delivered an exceptional performance last year, with our growing sales to customers in the technology, online distribution, and automotive sectors instrumental in the results. Whilst dramatic input price inflation was a major feature, our cost recovery efforts helped ensure continued margin improvement,” said Gene M Murtagh, the chief executive officer of Kingspan.

Slovakia: Ireland-based Kingspan has stopped an attempt to buy Trimo due to difficulties obtaining approval from the European Commission. Regulatory approval failed to arrive before a deadline set in August 2020 when Kingspan and Polish private equity fund Innova Capital signed a contract for the sale, according to the Finance newspaper and the Slovenian Press Agency. During its investigation the commission expressed concerns that the acquisition could reduce competition and lead to price rises in several countries. It added that the acquisition would have created the largest supplier of mineral wool sandwich panels in Europe.

Trimo was acquired by Innova Capital in 2016. It produces mineral wool sandwich panels and is reportedly the second largest seller of the products in Europe with a 10% market share. It operates production plants in Slovenia and Serbia and most sells panels in Europe. Innova Capital is expected to select a new buyer for Trimo.

UK: Kingspan has recalled all uninstalled Kooltherm K15 phenolic insulation from UK customers pursuant to an order by the government’s Office for Product Safety and Standards. The company estimates the value of the affected stock to be Euro180,000. InsideHousing News has reported that the company hopes to resume its sale of Kooltherm K15 insulation following its suspension on 23 December 2021.

Kingspan says that recent tests have shown that Kooltherm K15 insulation is eligible for a C rating under European safety standards, which would enable it to be fitted in buildings of above 18m in heigth.

UK: The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 motorsport team has terminated its sponsorship contract with Ireland-based Kingspan in response to public pressure. The team’s cars first displayed Kingspan sponsorship at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on 3 - 5 December 2021. Grenfell Tower Fire survivors and bereaved families group Grenfell United protested against the display.

Kingspan withdrew fire test reports on its Kooltherm K15 phenolic insulation in November 2020 after admitting at the Grenfell inquiry that they may not reflect the actual product. Refurbishers used Kooltherm K15 in Grenfell’s exterior insulation system prior to the deadly fire at the tower in June 2017.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas said "Both parties have subsequently concluded that it is not appropriate for the partnership to move forward at the current point in time. We have therefore agreed that it will be discontinued with immediate effect."

Ireland: Kingspan’s consolidated sales were Euro4.72bn in the first nine months of 2021, up by 22% year-on-year. Its insulated panel sales increased by 47% and its insulation boards sales increased by 51% over the same period. In the third quarter of 2021, the company’s sales rose by 50%, its insulated panels sales rose by 53% and its insulation boards sales rose by 78%.

The group said “Our backlog is strong, though it is reducing week-on-week as sales activity outpaces new order placement. Underlying panels order intake volume is down by 10% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2021. 2021 so far has been unusual and characterised by order placement earlier in the year than is typical, as customers sought to get ahead of on-going inflation and availability pressures. It is likely what we are experiencing now is a fallow period in order placement following that. Raw material prices have been somewhat stable in more recent weeks, albeit at record high levels and following a period of unparalleled increases. There are no signs yet of any meaningful raw materials deflation, although should that come the impact would be negative.” It added that its activity pipeline is ‘generally encouraging,’ saying “2021 has still to play out fully, with the seasonally important fourth quarter remaining and, accordingly, we expect to deliver a full year trading profit in the region of Euro750m, significantly ahead of the Euro508.2m recorded in 2020.”

Ireland: Xtratherm has agreed to acquire Ballytherm’s Ireland and UK operations. The businesses include one polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation plant in Ballyconnell, County Cavan and a new production unit that the company is preparing to open at Ross-on-Wye in the UK. The expansion is intended to expand the operations of Unilin Insulation, the owner of Xtratherm, in the UK and Ireland.

Barry Rafferty, the managing director of Xtratherm, said “The acquisition of Ballytherm, along with additional investment in new technologies will allow Xtratherm to deliver on operational excellence, new product innovations and improved service that will contribute towards a stronger and more sustainable future for our employees, customers and the construction sector in the UK and Ireland.” At present Xtratherm operates two foam insulation plants in Ireland and the UK respectively.

The proposed acquisition will be subject to the approval of competition authorities in Ireland. The transaction is expected to complete by the end of 2021.

Ireland/UK: Knauf Insulation has launched a new packaging including new designs across the whole range, an upgrade to its compression technology and more environmentally-friendly packaging.

The new packaging designs feature bigger and clearer product names. Products are colour-coded into thermal conductivity groups consistent across the whole glass mineral wool range, and essential features such as the Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification and Ecose Technology, Knauf Insulation’s unique bio-based binder, are more easily identifiable. The Earthwool brand has been phased out to simplify the branding structure, and a new brand, Rocksilk, has been introduced for its rock mineral wool product range. The insulation producer says that a further upgrade of the compression technology on the glass mineral wool range enables, on average, 15% more insulation per roll and 25% more packs on each pallet for slabs.

“We’ve listened to our customers, but we have also been proactive, trying to pre-empt future needs,” said Vanessa Rae, Marketing Director at Knauf Insulation Northern Europe. “We know how important it is to choose the right product for the application quickly, and move and store it efficiently, whether in-branch or on-site. We also know that sustainability matters more than ever, so we’ve taken these steps to reduce our products’ carbon footprint further so customers can rely on us to help them tick the green boxes for their projects.”