Insulation industry news from Global Insulation

Russia: TechnoNICOL says that it will invest US$219m in new mineral wool plants and plant upgrades in Russia throughout 2025, as part of a drive to raise its capacity to 5Mm³/yr by 2030. Interfax has reported that projects include the upcoming Krasnosulinsky stone wool insulation plant in Rostov, scheduled to open in late 2026. In Moscow, the company is investing US$46.2m to rebuild it Serpukhov glass wool plant, scheduled for completion in April 2026. At its Ryazan plant, meanwhile, TechnoNICOL is installing a 1.25Mm³/yr mineral wool recycling line and captive power plant, with a combined investment of US$29m.

Spain: Sika España has rebranded its Cototerm façade insulation system as SikaTherm. Nueva Ferretería News has reported that the newly rebranded product integrates the producer’s local experience with its global research and development.

US: The Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) has opposed the Washington State government’s identification of all organohalogen flame retardants (OFRs) as a priority chemical for additional regulations, including a possible ban. PIMA, along with other industry associations, argues that a blanket treatment of OFRs ignores variations in their chemical structure and risk profiles, thereby complicating efforts to identify safer alternatives while continuing to ensure insulation’s performance and fire safety.

Egypt: AlexForm has inaugurated its new US$13.8m, 2.1Mm²/yr Sokhna insulation plant in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Arab News has reported that the plant is equipped with polyurethane (PU) and stone wool insulation production lines. It will employ 120 workers.

UK: The government has accepted the recommendations of a public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster, in which 72 people died in a fire that spread through exterior cladding systems in a residential block in London. The Guardian newspaper has reported that the inquiry recommended actions against seven different organisations that share in responsibility for the spread of the deadly fire. The inquiry's final report named these organisations as Kingspan Insulation, Saint-Gobain Construction Products, Harley Facades and testing company Exova Group, along with aluminium and bonded sheets producer Arconic Architectural Products, property development and management company Rydon Maintenance and architecture firm Studio E Architects. Additionally, the report recommended the introduction of a unified regulatory body for the construction industry and the consolidation of fire safety matters under the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said "The final report exposed in stark and devastating detail the shocking industry behaviour and wider failures that led to the fire, and the deep injustices endured by the bereaved, survivors and residents.”

UK Shadow Housing and Communities Secretary Kevin Hollinrake told Parliament that criminal charges against those responsible must follow ‘where evidence allows.’