Türkiye: Izocam, a joint venture of Kuwait-based Alghanim Industries and France-based Saint-Gobain, has acquired insulation producer HİS Yalıtım. HİS Yalıtım produces stone wool insulation at its İncesu plant in Kayseri, which it sells under the TerraWool brand. Reuters has reported that that it employs 170 people.

Germany: Sto has revised its 2024 results forecast downwards following ‘increased competition’ and ‘weak demand’ in the year-to-date. Local press has reported that the producer expects to record sales of €1.6bn, down by 7% year-on-year from €1.72bn in 2023. Sto had previously forecast a 3.5% decline, to €1.66bn. As a result, it now anticipates a 46 – 61% year-on-year drop in earnings, from €127m to €50 – 68m. Previously, Sto had forecast earnings of €62 – 82m, down by 35 – 51%.

UK: Knauf Insulation has reopened its St Helens glass wool insulation plant in Merseyside following a 25,000t/yr capacity expansion. Local press has reported that the upgrade included the installation of a larger furnace for melting locally-sourced glass cullet. The new equipment allows for the addition of higher-thickness products to Knauf Insulation’s existing ranges.

Merseyside Mayor Steve Rotheram attended the reopening and noted the plant’s importance in continuing St Helens’ tradition of glass products manufacturing.

Hungary: Masterplast has entered talks with a ‘major Hungarian lender’ to refinance its debt following concerns over its liquidity. It is reportedly requesting a one-time exemption from its bond obligations to allow for a new credit line of up to €7.6m for a three-year term, according to the producer. Its bondholders are currently voting on the proposal. Bne IntelliNews has reported that the developments follow ratings agency Scope Ratings’ downgrading of Masterplast’s rating to CCC.

Masterplast CEO Tibor David said that talks are ‘progressing well.’