Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Kazakhstan/Russia: The government of Kazakhstan says that it now expects Germany-based Knauf Group to relocate its Russian business to Kazakhstan. It says that this is due to the on-going Russian invasion of Ukraine, which initially led Knauf to freeze investments in the sanctioned state and suspend its trade between it and the EU from March 2022.

Deutsche Welle News has reported that Knauf Group ‘did not confirm’ the Kazakh government’s contention. In defending its decision to so far remain in Russia, Knauf Group’s chair Alexander Knauf said “It’s not about money for us, it’s about 4000 employees. Loyalty to these people means to me that I won’t send them off into an uncertain future.” Russia reportedly contributed 10% of the group's turnover in 2022.

Romania: Knauf Insulation has broken ground on the construction of a second insulation plant at the site of its existing Târnăveni mineral wool insulation plant. SeeNews has reported that, when commissioned in 2024, the new plant will have a production capacity of 100Mm²/yr of mineral wool insulation. It will also create 100 new jobs. Knauf Insulation said that the project will bring its total investments in the Târnăveni site to Euro135m.

US: Owens Corning has published plans for a new extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation plant in Russellville, Arkansas. The Courier newspaper has reported that the plant will produce the company's Foamular NGX brand insulation. It will employ an estimated 50 people.

Owens Corning previously invested US$24.5m in an expansion to its Fort Smith glass and mineral wool insulation plant in the state, also creating 50 new jobs.

US: Owens Corning has agreed to sell the site of its Santa Clara, California, insulation plant to property company Panattoni Development. Local Press has reported that the plant’s closure ‘on or around’ 31 October 2022 will result in the loss of 225 jobs.

US: Knauf Insulation is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the beginning of operations at its Shasta Lake glass wool insulation plant in California. Local press has reported that the company increased its capacity by 70% over the past two decades. Today, the Shasta Lake plant employs 156 people. It has implemented sustainable practices in its production, including the use of ECOSE Technology plant-based binders in the place of petrochemical alternatives. It also recycles 600,000 glass bottles daily, constituting 50% of its glass consumption. This presented the plant with difficulties when Covid-19 lockdowns reduced local waste glass generation.

US: ADFORS Americas, a Saint-Gobain subsidiary, plans to invest US$28m in expanding its Dublin, Georgia, glass wool products plant. Dow Jones Institutional Newswires has reported that the facility serves Saint-Gobain’s glass wool insulation production. Once completed in 2024, the expansion will create 400 new local roles in serving the plant’s operations.

The Georgia state government has contributed US$12m in tax credits towards the project’s funding.

Russia: Rockwool plans to install a new mineral wool production line at its Vyborg insulation plant in Leningrad oblast. The producer says that the expanded plant will have 50% lower CO₂ emissions than before the expansion due to an efficiency increasing upgrade to its melting technology.

Rockwool plans to invest Euro200m in expansions and efficiency improving upgrades in Russia ‘in the coming years,’ creating 70 new jobs.

Africa: UAE-based BCI Holding plans to expand its polyurethane (PUR) plant in Egypt. Arab Finance News has reported that the company also intends to establish to new PU plants, in Algeria and Nigeria. For the realisation of these plans, it will partly rely on a US$30.0m financing package from the International Finance Corporation. The PU supplier expects the moves to generate 80 new direct jobs. It said its strategy aims to combat poverty and create jobs by supporting the growth of the private sector in the Middle East and Africa. It added that the new plants will also help strengthen regional integration and technology transfer, and the development of regional supply chains.

Finland: Following negotiations with staff Paroc has decided to shut down its Oulu stone wool plant in July 2017. The closure will involve the transfer and centralisation of support functions currently in Oulu to other Paroc plants and locations. Production of building insulation will be moved mainly to the Paroc plant in Parainen and support functions will be moved to other Paroc locations. 64 members of staff will lose their jobs, including all of the production workers at Oulu, and five staff will be moved to other locations.

“The decision to shut down the factory was difficult due to the considerable impact it will have on the personnel. However, the utilisation rate of the current capacity of Finnish stone wool factories is too low to ensure competitive operations in Finland. The factory located in Oulu is old and, in addition to the already high cost structure, continuing operations would require significant investments in the near future,” says Kari Lehtinen, chief executive officer of Paroc Group.”

UK: The British Rigid Urethane Foam Manufacturer's Association (BRUFMA) has announced the appointment of Chris Hall as Chief Executive Officer. He took up the post on 5 January 2015.

With a career in the construction industry that spans more than 30 years, including two senior posts with BRUFMA members Recticel and Quinntherm, Hall brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the organisation. He will be tasked with developing a climate in which all members can flourish and benefit from the activities of the association.

Commenting on his appointment, Hall said, "I'm tremendously pleased to have been appointed as CEO at BRUFMA. I look forward to developing the association and enforcing it as an organisation that peers respect and that members feel is a worthwhile investment in both funds and resources."