Global Gypsum Newsletter

New home insulation grant scheme launches in Prince Edward Island

Canada: The Canadian government and the provincial government of Prince Edward Island have restarted a programme offering grants to eligible Prince Edward Island residents for home insulation retrofits. CBC News has reported that the programme will fund installations to be carried out by CAN/ULC-S705.2-certified contractors. Homes must be a primary residence and grant tiers are subject to household income.

Holcim completes acquisition of Xella

Germany: Switzerland-based cement producer Holcim has completed its €1.85bn acquisition of Xella, expanding its building solutions portfolio. Xella is present in 22 European markets and expects to generate net sales of €1bn in 2026. The transaction should result in synergies of €60m realised in its third year, according to Holcim.

Via the deal, Holcim now obtains brands for both the new-build and the energy-efficient repair and refurbishment market, including Multipor mineral insulation.

IKO breaks ground on upcoming Brantford extruded polystyrene insulation plant

Canada: Roofing, waterproofing and insulation systems producer IKO has broken ground on its upcoming US$31.9m extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation plant in Brantford, Ontario. The plant will employ 40 people.

IKO’s North America XPS general manager and product innovation manager Yekutiel Koschitzky said that Brantford offers ‘strong manufacturing workforce, strategic access to key transport routes and proximity to important customer markets."

Rockwool Russia’s €119m upgrade programme advances under state-appointed management

Russia: Rockwool LLC (Rockwool Russia) is advancing a programme of new investments to ‘develop and diversify’ its plants, worth €119m between 2026 and 2028. Asset manager JSC Construction Assets Development has committed €3.81m-worth of investments, consisting of €2.97m in a ‘comprehensive modernisation’ and automation upgrade to the Balashikha stone wool insulation plant in Moscow and €845,000 in the automation of binding agent production at the Troitsk plant in Chelyabinsk. Interfax News has reported that Rockwool Russia also plans to deploy transport drones at the Troitsk and Vyborg, Leningrad, plants.

Rockwool Russia’s chief technology officer Denis Romanov said "The first project to transport finished products using drones has been implemented at our Alabuga plant in Tatarstan. Now, we intend to scale it up at the company's other sites."

Rockwool Russia was operating fully independently of Denmark-based Rockwool prior to its eventual seizure by the Russian government on 13 January 2026. Rockwool said at that time that it would continue to ‘defend its legal rights’ with regards to the erstwhile subsidiary. The company recorded sales of €261m and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of €78m in 2025.

Charges for Grenfell tower fire companies and individuals by June 2027

UK: The Metropolitan Police says that up to 77 defendants, including 20 companies, will face charges over the Grenfell tower fire before the 10th anniversary of the disaster on 14 June 2027. 72 Grenfell residents died in the blaze in June 2017. Charges may include manslaughter. Trials may commence as early as 2029 and continue until 2035, given the large number of defendants.

Police expect to pass charging files, based on 14,400 statements and a total 165m documents, to prosecutors by September 2026. A €2.31m replica of a section of Grenfell tower, featuring the exterior insulation system used on the actual building, is also due to feature in court.