Denmark: Knauf's Danish operations has posted weaker than expected 2013 results. Net profit declined to Euro10.2m from Euro17.8m in 2012 and for the first time in many years turnover did not exceed Euro134m. The decline in turnover and profit was attributed to financial crises in some of the company's export markets. Knauf's managing director, Morten la Cour Ørnstrand-Søborg, expects export markets to pick up and that Knauf will post better results in 2014.

Kazakhstan/China/Russia: Russia's TechnoNicol will invest Euro12.4m to build a 300,000m²/yr capacity extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) insulation plant in the Karaganda Region of Kazakhstan. The plant will start production in 2016. Its products will be supplied to all regions of Kazakhstan and south Asia.

US: Knauf Insulation has completed its acquisition of Guardian Insulation. The transaction includes Guardian Fiberglass and Guardian Laminated Building Products. Guardian Fiberglass will be integrated into Knauf Insulation and Guardian Laminated Building Products has become Silvercote, LLC.

"This is a landmark day for Knauf Insulation. This acquisition is an important step in our mission to become the global leader in energy efficient systems for buildings," said Mark Andrews, CEO of Knauf Insulation in North America. "Combining the talent from two complementary organisations will help to create an exceptional company with leadership in technology, innovation and sustainability. Our customers are going to see clear benefits, not the least being greater flexibility that comes with an expanded manufacturing footprint. With more than double the production capacity of glass mineral wool at our disposal, this integration will certainly position Knauf Insulation as a leading manufacturer throughout North America that is more than capable of meeting the needs of a growing market."

Israel: The release of asbestos fibres from hundreds of roofs that were shattered by missiles fired on southern Israel has caused a spreading environmental hazard, according to state authorities. A plan to remove and replace all of the asbestos roofs built in the border area before 2015 was announced.

Asbestos roofs are becoming a dangerous threat, according to the Environmental Protection minister Amir Peretz. "I have informed the regional council that, in order to protect residents from the threat of asbestos, we will prepare a joint programme with all the relevant bodies to replace the asbestos roofs on hundreds of houses along the front line with Gaza," said Peretz.

Israel banned the use of asbestos in building projects in 2005. Replacing all asbestos roofs in the Gaza perimeter region will cost an estimated US$2.3m, part of which will be covered by the residents.