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Insulation industry news from Global Insulation
Germany/Poland: Rockwool plans to build new production lines at its stone wool insulation plants at Malkinia in Poland and Neuburg in Germany. The expansions are intended to target demand in new builds and renovation for non-combustible stone wool insulation, particularly in the external wall system and flat roof insulation segments. The upgrade work at Malkinia also includes improved environmental measures.
“Demand for stone wool insulation is expected to grow in key European markets, and expanding existing facilities lets us add capacity relatively quickly. We are also making good progress on multiple initiatives to optimise and upgrade other of our manufacturing facilities to boost output and reinforce our market-leading position,” said Rockwool Group chief executive officer (CEO) Jens Birgersson.
The new production capacity is scheduled to come on line in the second quarter of 2019 in Poland the second quarter of 2020 in Germany. The cost of the investment is approximately Euro175m. The insulation producer is also planning to increase production capacity at other plants through modifications to equipment and workflow to eliminate bottlenecks.
Rockwool appoints Bjørn Rici Andersen as Senior Vice President for Group Operations and Technology
22 February 2018Denmark: Rockwool has appointed Bjørn Rici Andersen as Senior Vice President for Group Operations and Technology. Andersen, currently working as Vice President, Group Operations, will join the Group Management role on 1 March 2018. Bernard Plancade, who has previously held this role in Group Management since 2015, will become Managing Director for Rockwool Core Solutions, based in Paris.
Rockwool buys Flumroc
04 December 2017Switzerland: Denmark’s Rockwool has purchased all the shares of Flumroc. Previously Rockwool owned a 43.5% share in the Swiss mineral wool producer. Flumroc operates two plants in the country and it sells its products mainly in Switzerland with limited exports to France and Italy. The company will continue to operate under the Flumroc brand.
Rockwool plant for Romania
27 November 2017Romania: Rockwool Group has announced plans to build a basalt mineral wool production plant in Romania, a project worth an estimated Euro50m. The basalt mineral wool plant, Rockwool Group's first in Romania, will create around 150 jobs, while an additional 300 will be created indirectly in services and logistics, Rockwool said in a press release. The process of issuing permits and authorisations was already initiated, so that production of basalt mineral wool is expected to start in 2019.
The new production unit will spread over approximately 30 hectares in Ariceştii Rahtivani commune near the southern city of Ploiesti. The project will strengthen the group's strong presence in Romania, a market that has been active for almost 20 years through its local sales branch.
The plant will contribute to the growth of the local economy, given that most of the raw materials and logistics services will come from Romania, and most of the workforce directly employed by Rockwool or the subcontractors will be local, the company said.
"This investment will allow us to better support Romania's efforts to increase fire safety and energy efficiency in its buildings,” said Rockwool Group’s Senior Vice President Gilles Maria. “We encourage the government to continue to work with the EU Member States within the Firefighting Information Exchange Platform (FIEP) as well as other initiatives that will improve the fire safety regulations.”
Denmark: Rockwool’s sales revenue for its insulation business has been driven by sales in Western and Eastern Europe. Its sales rose by 7.6% year-on-year to Euro1.31bn in the first nine months of 2017 from Euro1.22bn in the same period in 2016. Its earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) rose by 18% to Euro129m from Euro109m. Earnings growth was driven by sales growth, improved pricing quality and a better utilisation of its US plant. Overall group sales and earnings also rose.
Rockwool targets full production at Bohumin plant
13 November 2017Czech Republic: Rockwool is planning to use its Bohumin plant’s full production capacity to make mineral wool in 2017. In 2016 the unit produced a record 4Mm3 of the product and so far it has produced 80% of this in the first nine months of 2017, according to the CIA news agency. The increased production levels follow an upgrade at the site in 2015. Insulation products from Bohumin are sold locally, in Slovakia and elsewhere in Europe.
Rockwool buys land in Sweden for future expansion
05 October 2017Sweden: Denmark’s Rockwool has purchased 180,000m2 of land in the eastern Swedish municipality of Eskilstuna. The acquisition is intended for future growth and to allow the mineral wool producer to meet any potential rise in demand for its products. At present the company supplies the Swedish market with products manufactured at plants in Denmark and Norway.
Roxul to rebrand as Rockwool in 2018
08 September 2017US: Roxul, the North American division of Rockwool Group, will fully rebrand as Rockwool on 1 January 2018. The rebranding exercise will apply to all segments of Roxul’s North America insulation business including residential, commercial, roofing, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and technical (industrial, marine & offshore) sectors, as well as all product lines.
“Roxul is soon to be Rockwool in North America,” said Trent Ogilvie, president of Roxul. “The rebrand creates a unified identity for our company, its solutions and benefits on a global scale. It reinforces Rockwool’s position as a world leader in a diverse range of stone wool solutions, while unlocking significant potential for our business.”
The rebrand follows an April 2017 announcement from the Rockwool Group that all its global subsidiaries have assumed a new, cohesive brand identity. This marked the introduction of the Rockwool symbol, a graphic representation of a volcano, as well as a new purpose statement. The rebranding only applies to the group’s North American insulation business. Its Rockfon and Grodan subsidiaries will continue to operate under their respective brand names.
Denmark: Rockwool’s sales have grown in the first half of 2017 due to sales of flat roof insulation in Eastern Europe and general building insulation in North America. Its net sales rose by 6.6% year-on-year to Euro1.12bn from Euro1.05bn.
"As expected, the sales price increases we're implementing are beginning to show,” said chief executive officer Jens Birgersson. “Pricing will continue to be a major focus going forward, and we see positive market developments in the second half of the year, including an increasing interest for fire safe stone wool products. With better visibility for the remainder of the year, we are also increasing our guidance for sales growth."
US: Rockwool is planning to build a US$150m mineral wool plant at Ranson in West Virginia. Construction is scheduled to start in October 2017 with production expected to commence in the first quarter of 2020. The new unit will have an area of 43,000m2 and employ 150 workers.
“This new production site places us close to major population centres in the north-eastern, mid-Atlantic, and mid-western US. We’re growing along with the market, and we look forward to serving our customers’ needs from this new facility,” said Trent Ogilvie, president of Roxul, Rockwool Group’s subsidiary in North America.