Romania: Knauf Insulation has announced the completion of its new 100Mm²/yr mineral glass wool plant in Târnăveni, scheduled for inauguration by the end of 2024. With an investment of approximately €140m, the facility has a capacity of 75,000t/yr of mineral glass wool. This output will meet both domestic and regional market demands and create 100 jobs.

Adrian Garofeanu, general manager of Knauf Insulation Romania and Bulgaria said “In the second half of 2024, we are inaugurating the new Knauf Insulation unit in Romania. It is a remarkable success of the team, which will turn Târnăveni into a key location on the map of the international production of mineral glass wool.”

Ukraine: Construction firm Rauta recorded 15% year-on-year growth in the Ukrainian insulation sector’s domestic sales of insulated sandwich panels in the first half of 2024. Meanwhile, imports of the product dropped by 12% over the same comparison period. Consumption totalled 1Mm², in line with 2023 volumes. Business World News has reported that Rauta noted a shift from other panel types towards polyisocyanurate (PIR) core panels.

Construction activity remains mostly concentrated in Western Ukraine due to the on-going Russian invasion in other areas of the country, with investors reportedly remaining cautious. Ukraine’s construction market has declined by 60 – 70% from antebellum levels in 2021.

Sweden: Paroc has broken ground on the conversion of its Hällekis mineral wool insulation plant from coke-fired production to the use of electric furnaces. The producer says that the upgrade will eliminate 80% of the plant’s CO₂ emissions. It is additionally installing new raw materials handling and filtration equipment at the plant. Work is scheduled for completion in 2027.

Nico del Monaco, Insulation President of US-based parent company Owens Corning, said "We have seen that the landscape for our industry in the Nordics is undergoing significant changes, with new CO₂ restrictions and expectations from customers. By proactively addressing these changes through projects like this, we can turn them into opportunities. This significant investment is an important step for not only our plant in Hällekis, but it also reinforces Owens Corning's mission to build a sustainable future through material innovation."

India: Rockwool India has commenced construction of a new US$65.5m mineral wool insulation plant in Cheyyar, Tamil Nadu. The Hindu newspaper has reported that the plant will produce 50,000t/yr of stone wool insulation from its commissioning in early 2026. The plant will employ 150 people and will overtake the Dahej, Gujarat, plant as Rockwool India’s largest. The subsidiary of Denmark-based Rockwool opened the 40,000t/yr Dahej plant in 2011.

Managing director Darryl Mathews said “Our non-combustible products are witnessing increasing demand in India. Additionally, we will introduce dual-density technology aimed at residential renovation and construction projects.”

Group chair Thomas Kähler said “I am pleased to announce our second investment in India. This expansion is just the beginning, as we anticipate further developments in response to the growing demand for our products.”