New Zealand: Fletcher Building has appointed Tony Dragicevich as a non-executive director and member of its board of directors, effective from 1 August 2024. Dragicevich previously served as managing director and CEO of aluminium producer Capral, and has held leadership positions at Wattyl Group, GWA Bathrooms and Kitchens, Red Paper Group and Carter Holt Harvey Insulation. He holds a commerce degree from the University of Auckland.

Acting chair Barbara Chapman said "Tony is a highly accomplished CEO and director who brings significant experience in leading distribution and manufacturing businesses across Australia and New Zealand. His successful career in the building products sector, combined with his strong track record of delivering value for shareholders, make him an excellent addition to Fletcher Building's Board."

Germany: Insulation installation start-up Varm has secured €5.7m in seed funding to expand its operations across Europe. The round was led by Emerge and Pale Blue Dot, with contributions from Noa, Foundamental and previous investors.

CEO Christian Gruener said “We are building a scalable infrastructure for insulation. This funding will help us expand and innovate, making insulation more accessible and affordable for everyone.”

Saudi Arabia: Foam pipe insulation producer Perma-Pipe International Holdings has secured contracts worth US$10m for major infrastructure projects in Madinah, Makkah and Riyadh. Perma-Pipe International Holdings will deliver pipes fitted with its Xtru-Therm polyurethane (PU) spray foam insulation systems. Some of the deliveries will be served by the company’s upcoming Madinah plant, scheduled for commissioning in August 2024.

President and CEO David Mansfield said "Our new investment in Madinah further supports our growth plans and the Kingdom's 2030 vision. We are extremely proud to be playing our part to realise this vision. It has been very encouraging to see the development of strong leadership and a passion for high levels of customer service which has resulted in these accomplishments, enabling Perma-Pipe to go from strength-to-strength."

Brazil: A study has successfully enhanced the insulation properties of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) composites by incorporating micronised leather shavings. In a report published in the Journal of Materials Research and Technology, Gabriel Deltrejo Ribeiro and his team concluded that the new SBR-leather composite insulation had a thermal conductivity of 0.073W/mK and achieved a temperature attenuation of about 15°C.