Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Spain: Bank BBVA has signed an agreement with property management company General Council of Associations of Property Administrators to provide loans for 100% of the cost of energy efficiency renovations in its residential buildings. The agreement also covers loans for accessibility upgrades. Diario de Ávila News has reported that financial products available under the agreement include the Homeowners’ Associations Loan, which covers the costs of construction and materials, including insulation.

Poland: Belgium-based Unilin has announced plans to build an 8Mm²/yr polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation board plant in Leśnica. The €40m project is scheduled to become operational in late 2026. The unit is intended to target markets in Poland, eastern Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. It is expected to create 40 new jobs.

US: The Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association International (RIMA International) has elected three new members to its 2025 board of directors. Rodney Miller of Florida-based Fi-Foil, Philip Ramstack of Iowa-based MWI Components and Paul McIlwee of Pennsylvania-based Environmentally Safe Products will sit on the board for the rest of 2025.

Ukraine: Kingspan has broken ground on the €280m construction of its upcoming Lviv building materials complex in the western oblast of the same name. The complex will produce insulation, among other products, and also supply district heating. The Irish Times newspaper has reported that Kingspan first committed to a future expansion of its operations in Ukraine in 2022, after Russia invaded the country and occupied parts of its eastern oblasts of Crimea, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia.

Project Director Mike Stenson said “Despite the perceived distance from the frontline, Lviv has experienced its share of conflict, highlighting the risks associated with such an investment. Nevertheless, Kingspan's move is seen as a bold step towards aiding Ukraine's economic recovery and demonstrating the country's viability for business amidst challenging conditions.”

New Zealand: Parliament has passed the Building Act, allowing the import of ‘thousands’ of building products, including gypsum wallboard, insulation and cladding systems. The act allows for cited standards, according to which the Minister for Building Construction will be able to issue a notice to recognise overseas product standards and certification schemes for local use.