January 2009 Free home insulation scheme will start in the Scottish Isles

The UK's Scottish Gas has announced that it has found a contractor to run the CERT free home insulation scheme. This is good news for residents of Scotland’s Western Isles wanting to take advantage of the programme. Scottish Gas had previously been unable to run this scheme due to having no contractor in the Isles, but following pressure from Mr Alisdair Allan, Scottish MP for the SNP and Angus MacNeil MP, a contractor that is willing to run this scheme has now been found.

Mr Allan received this good news after he questioned Carol Aitken, head of corporate affairs for Scottish Gas, at a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities committee. Mr Allan commented: “I am very pleased that Scottish Gas is now able to undertake its obligations in the Western Isles with regard to its free home insulation offer. Scottish Gas was able to confirm to me that it has definitely found a contractor in the Western Isles and hopefully this scheme will be able to progress as soon as possible.”

“I have been contacted by a large number of constituents in the Isles upset that they would not be able to take up Scottish Gas on this offer, but hopefully these problems shall shortly be sorted.” He added: “The Western Isles has the highest fuel poverty in Scotland at 47% and it is crucial that the most vulnerable in our society are able to adequately heat their homes. This scheme will go a long way to helping that situation.”

December 2008 Steico buys Isoroy Casteljaloux

Steico AG, a German producer of insulation, has acquired 100% interest in Isoroy Casteljaloux SAS, a French producer of softboard for acoustic and thermal insulation, based in Rungis.

December 2008 Owens Corning posts Q3 2008 loss amid US$899m charge

Owens Corning has posted a net loss in the third-quarter of 2008 amid a US$899m accounting charge, despite several units of the building-products manufacturer turning in strong sales growth. The company posted a net loss of US$810m, compared with a net gain of US$112m in Q3 2007. Revenue grew 28% to US$1.63bn, amid strong sales in its roofing, asphalt and composite businesses. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were looking for revenue of US$1.51bn. Owens Corning’s gross margin fell to 15.7% from 16.8%.

Earnings for the company’ composite solutions business – the company’s largest segment and the one business with fewer ties to the US housing market and more links to international markets – more than doubled. Sales in the composites business rose by 48%. Insulating systems, which is driven by new construction volumes, saw earnings break even and posted an 11% decrease in sales, while earnings for roofing and asphalt, which benefits to a greater degree from the repair and remodeling market, improved more than six-fold and revenue surged by 63%.

Looking ahead, Owens Corning reaffirmed its full-year earnings before interest and taxes, of at least US$265m. The company expects the US housing market to continue to affect demand for insulation products into 2009. Owens Corning said that strong composites business in the fourth quarter of 2008 and improved productivity is expected to offset a weaker global market between October-December 2008.

December 2008 Unifrax lays off 18% of its Tonawanda work force

Unifrax Corp has laid off 21 workers at its Tonawanda plant, citing the effects of the ongoing auto sales slump. Unifrax, which is headquartered in Niagara Falls, makes ceramic fibre insulation products for industries including automobile manufacturing. Prior to the layoffs, the Tonawanda plant had nearly 200 hourly and salaried employees, said Virginia Cantara, Unifrax’s communications manager. The layoffs represent about 18% of the plant’s hourly work force.

December 2008 Knauf eyes 20% turnover increase in Romania

The Romanian unit of German insulation materials producer Knauf Insulation, said that it sees its turnover rising by 20% on the year in 2009, due to a forecast increase in the local sector market. Knauf Insulation Romania, which was launched in 2008, hopes to achieve a turnover of Euro7m in 2008 with a domestic market share of 13-15%. The company said that insulation materials for residential and office space account for 60% of its portfolio. In 2009, the company will set up a distribution centre in Romania. Its main competitor in the country is Saint Gobain Isover.

December 2008 Rubber World wins contract for ‘Dubailand’

Rubber World Industries (RWI), a manufacturer of closed-cell rubber insulation ‘Gulf-O-flex’ in the Gulf and south east Asia regions, and part of the international business group, the Memon Group of Companies, has announced that it has been awarded a contract to deliver its products for the construction of villas within the US$272m residential project ‘The Villa’ in ‘Dubailand.’

December 2008 Superglass at pains to cope with housing sector downturn

Plant managers at Stirling-based Superglass are looking at ways of using less of the industrial mineral borax in their fibreglass insulation products as they try to cope with rising costs and a frozen housebuilding sector. Managing director John Smellie is looking at ways of keeping costs down as the company absorbs the impact of rapidly increasing fuel costs as well as the scarcity of borax, a key compound in the production of fibreglass.

Smellie said Superglass was investigating new sources of the mineral, but he added: “If we cannot take the price down, we want to use less of it, so we are having work done right now to reduce the amount of borax we use.” The company has also engaged a gas trader to help offset the impact of locking in high fuel prices this summer.

While the company fixed its electricity charges until 2010, it took advice to hold off fixing its gas price until it fell – and then watched in horror as it rose in the run up to the summer. By signing up in June 2008, after which prices started falling again, the company faces paying as much as UK£1.5m extra over the 14-month contract. Finance director Tony Kirkbright said the traders ‘have made some decent inroads’ into the rising costs.

At the same time, the company has been hit by the virtual freeze in housebuilding. Just 25% of sales typically come from that sector but Superglass has found suppliers who traditionally cater to housebuilders moving into its core market providing insulation for existing homes. A further complication has been that an attempt to exploit the Scandinavian and Icelandic markets has been hindered by the implosion of Icelandic banks.

Superglass posted a 12% fall in pre-tax profit to UK£7.6m for the year ending on 31 August 2008, slightly ahead of revised forecasts. Superglass has maintained its existing staff numbers at around 200, although it has stopped using around 30 casual workers. But Smellie said he was optimistic that the government’s ‘insatiable appetite’ for promoting insulation in homes would continue to help the sector. The UK Government boosted targets under its carbon emissions reduction scheme by 20% in September 2008. The Government’s pre-Budget report also included UK£100m of new money and UK£50m of brought-forward money to help people insulate their own homes.

December 2008 Paroc to reduce its Swedish stone wool capacity

Paroc Group has decided to reduce production capacity at its Swedish production facilities in Hassleholm and Hallekis. In response to significantly lower demand from the building industry in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, Paroc Group will reduce the number of work shifts at the plants. The reorganisation will affect 43 employees.

December 2008 Rockwool sees Q3 2008 sales drop by 2%

Rockwool’s sales in the first nine months of 2008 decreased by 2% compared to the same period in 2007. Also, EBIT in the first nine months of 2008 was Euro158m which is a decrease of 42% compared to the same period in 2007. According to Rockwool, the market development remains difficult to predict. Expectations for 2008 sales remain slightly below those of 2007.
According to Rockwool, the investment programme to improve competitiveness and expand capacity in future growth markets is almost finalised. Capital expenditure is expected to reach Euro336m. Rockwool added that the short-term economic outlook is worsening and will seriously affect its markets in some countries such as Spain, UK, Ireland and Hungary, while other countries like France and Russia still show a positive trend.

December 2008 EU to boost energy and CO2 efficiency in buildings

The EU Commission has taken an important step on its mission to deliver a low-carbon society. With the publication of a new energy efficiency package EU citizens can look forward to better and more prudent modernisations of old, energy-wasteful buildings.
Buildings are responsible for more than 40% of energy use in the EU. But most of this expensive energy – worth Euro270bn – is wasted due to poor insulation. This equates to almost Euro500/y per citizen. Heating and cooling costs are exorbitant. Furthermore, CO2 emissions are still too high; according to the consultancy Ecofys, up to 460Mt/y of CO2 – equivalent to Italy’s entire annual CO2 emissions – would be saved if buildings were to undergo modernisation. Also, estimates from the industry association EURIMA say that more than half a million jobs could be created by energy modernisation and building upgrades.

In the current economic crisis, when thousands of workers are losing their jobs, it is extremely important to unlock the economic standstill with economically and environmentally prudent measures. In 2002, the EU passed a directive on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD). The intentions of the EPBD were good, but the actions and implementation inadequate. Improvements to the legislation, which were urgently needed, have now come in the form of the updated Directive 2002/91/EC. With this updated policy, the EU will try to tap the large potential that exists for profitable energy and CO2 savings, especially in older buildings.

The first EPBD demanded energy efficient modernisation of buildings larger than 1000m2 only. However, the new Directive will remove this arbitrary limit. Rightly so in the opinion of experts, as most energy savings are to be found from smaller buildings.
Another ammendment is that each EU member state will set energy and emissions targets for 2020 and prepare a national plan on how to bring about buildings with low or zero energy consumption and low/zero carbon emissions. These requirements cover not just new buildings, but also existing constructions.

An example of a low energy standard is the passive house, which is a very energy efficient building, using 85% less energy for heating (15kWh/m2/y) than the average building in the EU (134kWh/m2/y). The passive house is well insulated, has triple-glazed windows, efficient ventilation systems, and has an airtight construction. It thus offers an excellent indoor climate – and low energy bills. A proviso of the updated EPBD is that each member state must specify to the EU Commission its intermediate targets for national market shares for such low or zero energy and carbon buildings for 2015.

Some industry experts believe that the most proactive member states will compete to be the first to introduce the requirements for new buildings. The UK will be the first in 2013, followed by countries like Germany, France and the Netherlands. The revised EPBD will hopefully push the latecomers. But more importantly, it must induce improvements in the existing building stock. After all, new buildings represent only around 1% of building stock. So if member states really want to reduce CO2 emissions and energy wastage, they need to modernise old buildings and make them much less wasteful.

Another key aspect of the revised EPBD is the tightening up of the process by which energy performance certificates are made available to buyers and renters, thus removing a number of loopholes. Member states will also be required to put in place independent control systems to verify the accuracy of the certificates.
According to calculations from the German energy agency, Deutsche Energie Agentur, (DENA), a poorly insulated house, built before the first oil crisis and modernised to low-energy standards, can save up to 11t/y of CO2. Also, these measures will be able to save up to Euro2500 in heating costs. In future, the EU member states will also introduce penalties for infringement of national rules relating to the Directive.

Commenting on these changes in the revised EPBD, Claus Bugge Garn, vice president of Rockwool International, says: “I’m afraid this is necessary. So far it has been like setting a speed limit without any sanctions. Too often we experience the circumvention of the rules that were meant to save energy, money and CO2 in buildings.”
The new Directive is expected to be approved by the EU Parliament and the Council in 2010 and implemented nationally by 2011 for public buildings and by 2012 for other buildings. A number of organisations, including WWF and Rockwool International A/S, have urged the EU to accelerate the process.

November 2008 Air-Cell Insulbreak® wins environmental award in Dubai

Thermo-reflective insulation manufacturer Air-Cell Insulation has won a Silver Award at the inaugural Gaia Awards in Dubai for its Insulbreak® product line. The Gaia Awards were introduced to recognise products that are proven to reduce impact on the environment, and were run in conjunction with the world-renowned Big 5 building expo in Dubai that ran from 23-27 November 2008.
Air-Cell’s technical manager Keith Anderson says its multi-purpose use reduces the amount of building materials required in the construction process while saving energy. “As a three-in-one insulation, vapour barrier, and thermal break product Air-Cell Insulbreak® not only reduces carbon emissions associated with cooling and heating energy, it also saves time and materials in the construction process,” said Mr Anderson. “And aside from the obvious energy reduction benefits, Insulbreak also reduces freight and transport emissions as well as on-site storage and handling requirements when compared to conventional bulk insulation as it is a low volume product with an ultra-thin profile,” he added.

Insulbreak is also non-allergenic, does not use water in its manufacturing process and does not contain toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde or any other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Commonly used in a wide range of steel-framed applications such as commercial warehouses and offices, factories, aircraft hangars, and residential buildings, Insulbreak significantly lowers energy use by reflecting up to 97% of radiant heat, while providing a thermal break resisting heat conduction through the steel frames.
Air-Cell Insulation has been providing reflective insulation products to the building and construction industry in the Middle East region since 2004. It currently has distributors and agents in the UAE, Qatar, and Jordan.

November 2008 URSA invests in its first UK plant

One of Europe’s largest insulation manufacturers is investing more than UK£6m after deciding to open its first UK plant in North Lincolnshire. Spanish owned URSA Insulation has signed up to develop a 65,000m2 site outside Grimsby, which will create 130 jobs. It has chosen the site at North Killingholme as its first UK manufacturing site as part of a drive to expand its UK market base. The company is predicting that its UK sales will increase to almost £40m. Theresa Lindsay, head of marketing and business development at Yorkshire Forward, which worked with the company to secure the investment, said:“In a time when there is so much discussion around the state of the global economy and the availability of finance for business growth, it is great news that Yorkshire and the Humber has attracted another high quality investor to the region.”
To support its UK£6m investment, Ursa will receive a grant of up to UK£900,000 from Yorkshire Forward through the UK Government-funded Selective Finance Investment scheme to help to finance the construction of the site.

November 2008 Fungi-resistant kraft paper for insulation

Ralph M Fay, Blake B Bogrett of Littleton, (both of Colorado), Anthony E Moore and Timothy D Logsdon (both of Virginia), have developed a fungi growth-resistant kraft paper. The inventors were issued US Patent number 7,381,456 on 3 June 2008. The patent has been assigned to Johns Manville, Denver, US.

According to the US Patent and Trademark Office: “A kraft paper sheet contains and/or is coated with a fungi growth-inhibiting agent that causes the kraft paper sheet to be fungi-growth resistant. The kraft paper sheet alone or as part of a layered sheet material is used as a central field portion of facings for various faced building insulation assemblies. The facings, as part of an insulation assembly, are fungi growth resistant; may be perforated to provide the facing with a selected water vapour permeance; and/or may include a bonding layer, such as a heat-activated bonding layer, that bonds the facing to an insulation layer of the assembly.”

November 2008 JM wins prestigious eco-award

Johns Manville (JM) has announced that it has verified its California greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has been named a Climate Action Leader by the California Climate Action Registry. Climate Action Leader distinction is awarded to California Registry members that have voluntarily calculated, verified and publicly reported their GHG emissions. The California Registry commended JM for its participation in its rigorous voluntary GHG reporting programme.

“Johns Manville has long been committed to the sustainability of our products and operations from sourcing to manufacturing and throughout the entire product life-cycle,” said Mike Lawrence, vice president and general manager of JM’s insulation systems business. “Our goal is to be a leader in the manufacturing of environmentally responsible building products while raising awareness of the beneficial impact these materials have on the energy efficiency and indoor air quality of a home or building. We’re proud to be the first building insulation manufacturer to achieve Climate Action Leader status.”

November 2008 Dow buys Holyoke

Dow Building Solutions, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Co, announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Holyoke, Massachussets-based Stevens Roofing Systems and Geomembrane Systems, a business of JPS Industries Inc. Stevens Roofing manufactures reinforced thermoplastic (TPO) commercial roof systems. Dow plans to operate the acquired business as Dow Roofing Systems LLC

October 2008 New Euro6.2m plant in Hungary

Insulation materials producer Austrotherm, is building a third factory in Hungary at the cost of Euro6.2m. The factory in the town of Szekszard, southern Hungary, will have a production capacity of 400,000m3 and will employ 35 people when it is completed at the end of 2010.

The company has decided to site its production premises in the south for strategic and logistics reasons, such as to ensure full coverage of the country since its two other factories, in the towns of Gyor and Gyongy, cater for the northern regions. Moreover, the construction of the M6 motorway stretch to Szekszard is to be finished soon, which will provide easy access to road transportation.

October 2008 AFICO completes factory expansion

Arabian Fiberglass Insulation Co Ltd, (AFICO), a joint venture between Owens Corning and Zamil Industrial Investment Company and a sector business of Zamil Industrial, recently announced the completion of a major capacity expansion at its manufacturing facility located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This expansion allows AFICO to increase its production capacity by 50%. With local and regional demand for the company’s products rising rapidly, AFICO is well positioned to meet current demand as well as projections for increased demand into the future.

In addition to this expansion, AFICO is actively progressing toward new additional capacity in Saudi Arabia. AFICO’s will construct a new glass wool production facility, and the project remains subject only to final review and approval by the joint venture partners. This new facility will allow AFICO to continue to grow in proportion to the market for fibreglass insulation products utilised in residential, commercial and industrial construction projects throughout the GCC region.

October 2008 Rockwool closes Hungarian plant

Rockwool International has decided to close its plant in Goganfa, Hungary. The Goganfa facility is the smallest of Rockwool’s two Hungarian plants, with an annual capacity of 30,000t.

October 2008 Kingspan buys US panel maker Metecno

Irish building materials group Kingspan said that it has acquired US panel maker Metecno for around US$111m as part of its expansion drive into the region. “The acquisition is expected to be mildly earnings enhancing in 2008 and thereafter,” Kingspan said in a statement. “The acquisition will be funded in full from existing Kingspan resources.”
Kingspan said it would pay around US$111m in cash for US$86m in shares and acquired bank debt of about US$25m. “The consideration may vary depending on actual debt acquired,” Kingspan said.

Metecno, which owns the ASI, API and Benchmark brands, operates from three sites in Florida, Ohio and California and had revenues of US$137m in the 12 months to the end of June 2008. Kingspan chief executive Gene Murtagh said: “By combining Metecno with our existing businesses in Canada, Kingspan has developed a very powerful and influential position in the North American market. We believe that the future opportunities should more than offset the current economic conditions in this market.”

October 2008 Cabot introduces new aerogel matting agent

Cabot Corporation’s Aerogel business will introduce Nanogel® Aerogel TLD201, a new matting agent consisting of fine particle aerogel material. The Nanogel TLD201 matting agent is specifically designed for applications requiring high performance, such as ultra-low gloss or thermally insulative coatings. This aerogel material has pore volumes and surface areas that range from 100-400% higher than conventional silicas.

September 2008 UK Government unveils UK£910m fuel and insulation measures

The UK Government has agreed a UK£910m package of measures with the big energy companies aimed at helping people with soaring gas and electricity bills. It includes half price insulation for all households and a freeze on energy bills for the poorest families in 2008. Pensioners and unemployed people with young children will get an extra UK£16.50 a week if there is a severe winter. But the measures were attacked as “ridiculous” by the trade unions, who want a windfall tax on the energy giants.

The package includes: Free cavity wall and loft insulation for pensioners and poor households; 50% off cost of insulation for all households; freeze on 2008 energy bills for half a million poor consumers;partial reversal of cut to warm front programme giving free central heating to poorest pensioners; cold weather payments to go up from UK£8.50 a week to UK£25 a week for pensioners, disabled people and unemployed families with children under five – if temperatures drop below 0°C for seven consecutive days.

The government says its aim is to insulate every home in Britain by 2020, and energy companies, councils and voluntary organisations will be making door-to-door visits in deprived areas to promote the scheme.“This is the right approach, giving priority to permanent – not just one-off – changes, with the offer of lasting benefits and fairness for all families, cutting bills permanently every year,” said UK prime minister Gordon Brown. The prime minister said this was a “better way” than bringing in the one-off cash rebates for consumers paid for by a windfall tax on energy firms demanded by trade unions. And for the first time, power generators such as Drax will contribute, as well as the big energy providers.

September 2008 Uralita buys one of Turkey’s leading insulation firms – Ozler

Spanish building materials group Uralita has bought Turkish insulation firm Ozler for an unconfirmed Euro30m. The acquisition, which was carried out by Uralita’s subsidiary URSA, is seen as a potential springboard for the Spanish group into other Middle Eastern markets.

Specialising in fibreglass, family-owned Ozler is one of Turkey’s leading insulation manufacturers, with average annual turnover of Euro20m and return on sales of over 20%. Ozler also controls over 20% of the domestic insulation market. The firm’s factory in Polatli, 70km from Ankara, produces 15,000t/y of fibreglass.

30 August 2008 Rockwool’s Istria factory re-opens

Rockwool’s factory in Istria resumed test-production on 20 August 2008. The relevant authorities approved the factory design including the deviations from the original building permit which was the reason for the stoppage of the test production in November 2007. The new authorisation to start test production was issued and the factory resumed production in the second half of August.

The test period will last six months during which time the factory must show local authorities that it can be run satisfactorily. After a successful test period, Rockwool will receive the final operation permit.The factory itself has attracted heated debate. Several local groups which are in favour of only developing the region for tourism and agriculture purposes have opposed industrial projects in the area, including Rockwool’s plant. The factory uses Rockwool’s newest technology and lives up to the European Union BAT (Best Available environment Technology) requirements. The factory fulfils both Croatian and EU environmental requirements.

29 August 2008 Demilec receives Greenguard certifications for environmentally friendly spray foam insulation

DEMILEC’s Heatlok Soy® spray foam insulation has received multiple Greenguard certifications because of its ability to meet stringent emission standards. Demilec, which is based in Arlington, Texas, is an international manufacturer and distributor of spray foam insulations.

28 August 2008 Market tracking report of the thermal insulation industry in Europe 2008 published

Irish group Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Market Tracking: Thermal Insulation in Europe 2008" report to its offering.

The total European Thermal Insulation market has yet again proven its strength. Improved requirements and new building codes has helped market expansion, which is then reflected in the solid increase in terms of quantity and in terms of value. The main market drivers of the industry is on one hand the search for energy efficiency in buildings and on the other hand the growing CEE markets. These countries are currently showing 2 digit growth rates, which reflects the improving and constant development of their economies and in which the construction industry remains an indicator of economical growth.

Indeed, the construction sector has always been strategically important for Europe and on which many sectors of the economy rely on. After a constant growth in construction activity in the past two years, the first signs of slowdown appeared already in the last quarter of 2007 and should be prolonged with increased effect up to at least 2010. In 2008 the largest softening should be registered in Spain and Germany with building permits and housing completion going down hill (around -10%). In this environment, thermal insulation, amongst other construction materials, will see how their sales in new construction and housing will decrease mainly in Western Europe. However, their income should be sustained by new buildings regulations related to energy saving measures.

The annually published Market Tracking: Thermal Insulation in Europe report offers:
- Development of the total market and forecasts for each of the regions and product groups for the years 2004 -2011 in terms of quantity and value.
- Subdivision in product groups for every country and company in terms of quantity and value for Europe, and their respective market and sales shares.
- Subdivisions by consumer and business segments, distribution channels and end use in terms of quantity for each country and company.
- The report includes the top companies and their market shares in Europe.

27 August 2008 NZ$1bn govt fund to insulate every NZ home

The New Zealand government will establish a NZ$1bn fund to insulate every house in New Zealand as part of its flagship climate-change policy. Details of the fund were announced by the Green Party, which hailed it as a major concession gained in return for its support for Labour's controversial emissions trading scheme (ETS).

The Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill has been on hold for months as the government worked to secure the support of the Greens and New Zealand First. With National opposed to rushing the bill through before this year's general election, the votes of the two smaller parties are essential for its passage.

With the Greens having thrown their weight behind it, the fate of the scheme now lies with NZ First. Leader Winston Peters said yesterday he expected to announce the party's position in the next few days.

26 August 2008 Council leaders call for 'home insulation levy' on energy companies

Energy companies should be hit with an annual levy to fund a national home insulation programme, local government leaders argued. With pressure growing on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to help hard-pressed families by imposing a windfall tax on the firms, the Local Government Association (LGA) said the insulation scheme would lift 500,000 people out of fuel poverty and would be more effective than one-off payments to the hardest hit.

The leaders of Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent groups at the LGA have written to six cabinet ministers to make their case. It comes on the same day that more than 70 Labour MPs signed a petition urging Mr Brown to claw back some of the huge profits made by firms as domestic energy bills spiralled. While the MPs propose a one-off windfall tax, the LGA said an annual levy to be invested in insulation would be far more effective in the long-term and would also help fight climate change.

As well as lifting 500,000 people out of fuel poverty, it argued, the move would cut £200 off the energy bills of 10m households and reduce domestic carbon emissions by 20%. Councillor Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA Environment Board, said: "One-off payments to deal with rising energy bills will be of help to many households but will do little to tackle the root causes of fuel poverty. A national home insulation programme would be the best long-term solution to this challenge and that of cutting carbon emissions.

"There are 10m homes in this country that still lack basic insulation. Making these properties more energy efficient would take around £2bn off fuel bills each and every year and also reduce domestic carbon emissions by a fifth."

The council leaders have written to Chancellor Alistair Darling, Communities and Local Government Secretary Hazel Blears, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, Business Secretary John Hutton, Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell and housing minister Caroline Flint. Councillor Bettison added: "Energy suppliers are making eye-watering profits at the expense of hard-working families. The Government should seize the opportunity to take a long-term solution to current problems by using these disproportionate excesses to pay for a massive drive to insulate people's homes."

26 August 2008 Kingspan off-site takes another step towards affordable housing

Kingspan Off-Site’s innovative TEK Building System has been used in the construction of a development of affordable, environmentally friendly houses in Desborough, Northamptonshire, UK. Orbit First Step, part of the Orbit Group, specified the Kingspan TEK Building System for the development due to its thermal insulation properties.

Offered on a part buy, part rent scheme, the three bedroom homes incorporate a host of renewable technologies. The homes include a rainwater harvesting system, which is recycled into the grey water system of each house and either air source heat pumps or solar panels. Achieving an EcoHomes rating of ‘excellent’, the houses also feature softwood double glazing and low energy lighting throughout.

Reinforcing these green credentials, the Kingspan TEK Building System delivers very low U-values due to its composition of 110mm high performance CFC/HCFC-free rigid urethane insulation sandwiched between two sheets of OSB/3. With a zero ODP (ozone depletion potential) and low GWP (global warming potential), the insulation of the Kingspan TEK Building System enhances the environmentally friendly properties of the Peaselands housing development.

The high levels of air-tightness created by the Kingspan TEK Building System are achieved through the unique sealed jointing system which minimises the amount of air that can pass through the joints once constructed. This has ensured the excellent thermal performance of the homes, reducing fuel bills for residents.

25 August 2008 MTI Global to supply insulation materials to Its two new executive jet programmes

MTI Global Inc has announced that its aerospace division MTI-PolyFab Inc. has been selected by Embraer to supply thermal and acoustic insulation materials to the LEGACY 450 and LEGACY 500 aircraft. MTI-PolyFab has been supporting Embraer with the Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 preliminary concepts through the use of specialised modeling techniques. MTI's internal engineering capabilities and design process facilitate the design of the most technologically advanced system possible. MTI PolyFab estimates the value of these contracts to exceed US$20m over the life of the programme.

24 August 2008 Soy-based spray foam insulation

A new foam insulation kind of looks like cauliflower, but it is actually a made of American-grown soy beans. "It's a renewable resource. All the other foams use petroleum," said Andrew Tanner, president of Ecotechnologies, the developer of the spray foam. Tanner said using the foam in your attic will slash your power bill. "That will lower your air conditioning consumption by about 50%," Tanner said.

At the recent Southeast Building Conference in Orlando, Tanner compared the product to the pink fiberglass insulation many homeowners have grown up knowing. At the conference, Tanner showed that the insulating powers of newspaper were not so good, and lots of air was getting through. Tanner claimed since spray foam expands to 100 times its size, it can fit into the tiniest crevice, and works better.

So if he is right, why isn't it that popular yet? "Spray foam, in general, is costly, so it's really a question of educating people for them to understand they have an up front cost investment, which will then lower the operating costs," Tanner explained.

21 August 2008 Davis Timber Frame Company brings BioBased® insulation to the New England region

Davis Timber Frame Company, a national timber frame and post and beam company with over 21 years of home design, building, and commercial experience has become a BioBased® Insulation Certified Dealer servicing the greater New England region.

In 2003 BioBased® Insulation introduced the first bio-based and water-blown spray foam insulation to be ICC-rated (ESR 1383). The company has continued to develop new and more sustainable insulation products that incorporate natural, renewable ingredients, such as Agrol® - a 96% pure bio-polyol - to replace a portion of the petroleum that's found in traditional spray foam insulations. BioBased® Insulation products are only available from a network of installers who have been trained in not only spray foam application but also building science.

21 August 2008 SIG underlying H1 pretax profit up 10.2 pct, UK insulation sales higher

Roofing and insulation supplier SIG Plc said grants to help people insulate their homes and new regulations had boosted sales of insulation products in the UK as it posted a 10.2% rise in underlying interim pre-tax profit to UK£68.3m. SIG said demand for insulation products had continued to perform better than other building materials in Britain due to the introduction of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target Scheme in April 2008, which was creating strong demand from homeowners for retro-fitted insulation.

The group said higher thermal performance standards required by the 2006 Part 'L' regulations governing new buildings had also boosted demand. Group sales increased by 35.9% to UK£1.49bn and by 9.3% on a like-for-like basis. The company increased interim dividend to UK£0.83 per share from UK£0.8 in 2007.

Chairman Les Tench said the group had performed solidly despite challenging trading conditions.
Housebuilding activity in the UK and Ireland had been weak for some time and had fallen very sharply in the UK in recent months, he said. Tench said, however, that the group does about two thirds of its sales in the non-residential building and industrial non-construction sectors, which include both public and private long-term projects.

21 August 2008 Durable, high insulation EPS shipping container revealed

Denver-based ACH Foam Technologies, a provider of custom-molded packaging solutions has come up with an extremely durable shipping container with brand name, 'DuraTherm.' DuraTherm is a shape molded expanded polystyrene (EPS) shipping container with extensive shock absorption and insulation properties better than alternatives like corrugated or molded pulp. Having wide applications, it can be used for shipping perishable foods, pharmaceuticals and other products that require a specific range control.

EPS production uses little energy (0.1% of total oil consumption) thereby leading to low pollution levels and gives steam as a component. The water produced from this process is collected and re-used many times. EPS is easily recyclable and can be turned into new expanded polystyrene (EPS) products or thermally processed into a resin to make other products. EPS is more impact resistant than alternative packaging (corrugated, wood, etc.) during shipment thus decreasing waste caused by damaged goods in the supply chain conserving energy, material and transportation resources.

20 August 2008 Rubber World signs US$4m supply deal with Lanxess

Rubber World Industries (RWI), one of the leading manufacturers of closed-cell rubber insulation, said yesterday that it has signed a contract worth US$4 million (Dh14.7m) for the supply of Nitrile Rubber (NBR) and speciality chemicals from Germany-based Lanxess AG, a leading company in specialty chemicals.

Dr Andreas Roos, manager for technical services, EMEA, Lanxess AG, signed the contract during a visit to Ajman. RWI is part of the Memon Group of Companies.

With a temperature range of -40ºC to +125ºC, high performance NBR can withstand most of the severe applications and is therefore used in a wide variety of application areas requiring oil, fuel and chemical resistance, such as the industrial sector, which heavily relies on this chemical. In the construction industry, it is used to seal all kinds of plumbing, air-conditioning, refrigeration and heating applications.

"Our leading position in the region is being driven by our commitment to quality, which is the most important factor we consider when manufacturing our products," said Abu Baker Shaikhani, managing director RWI and chairman of the Memon Group. "We have identified the quality of Lanxess' high performance specialty chemicals to be at par with world standards that we have set for our own products, thereby prompting us to invest heavily in their offerings. Our stance towards maintaining the superior quality of our rubber insulation products amidst rising production costs is what fuels our growth and draws in more customers who seek our top-of-the-line products that incorporate the best raw materials in the world."

The contract with Lanxess AG is also in line with the company's Dh30m expansion plan for 2008, which is aimed at increasing its production capacity to more than 3,600 containers per year by 2013. As the largest producer of the widest range of rubber insulation pipes and sheets that meet almost 75% requirements of the local and regional markets, RWI currently has 86% of the rubber market share in the Middle East and is active in the international markets.

"Our success in the Middle East has led us to explore new foreign markets, which are also facing increased demand for top-grade rubber insulation products as a result of rising construction activities. We have strengthened our production capabilities to manufacture a wider range of rubber insulation products," said Shaikhani.

20 August 2008 Olympic performance for Owens Corning FOAMULAR XPS insulation

Owens Corning announced that its FOAMULAR(R) XPS foam insulation was used in the construction of the floors, steps and parking lot of the main 2008 Beijing Olympic venue, National Stadium, in Beijing, China, and in other sports stadiums for the Olympic games.

"We are proud that Owens Corning FOAMULAR(R) XPS insulation was selected to be part of these modern structures built to represent the world in this year's Olympic games," said Roy Dean, president, Insulating Systems business. "Our participation in these high-profile projects in China represents our global focus to provide customer building technologies that improve energy efficiency."

Also known as FOAMULAR(R) Metric, FOAMULAR(R) XPS is a polystyrene foam insulation extruded into rigid boards. FOAMULAR(R) XPS has high insulating values, superior moisture resistance and high compressive strength.

20 August 2008 New insulation sandwiches for commercial vehicles

Comfort, generous leg room and the latest multimedia equipment are a matter of course in modern coaches. However, engine and driving noise reduction is also important in order to make the journey for passengers as pleasant as possible. Sekisui Alveo, a Swiss manufacturer of polyolefin foams, together with Foam Techniques Ltd. has developed a new insulation system in this respect. The laminate consisting of two foams and a metallised film ensures perfect acoustic and thermal insulation. Alveo-Soft, a soft foam, also compensates for unevenness of rivets and welded seams on the metal floor. This prevents passengers from stumbling on the gangway. The floor insulation is already being used in vehicles of a major European commercial vehicle manufacturer.

The laminate is made of the heavy layer foam Alveolen NFF E, the soft foam Alveo-Soft and a metallised film. The insulation component, which is only 8mm thick, is inserted between the metal structure and a wooden board lying on top. Due to the welded assemblage and rivets underneath the floor panel, small uneven spots may occur on the gangway in the passenger compartment. The film side of Alveo-Soft, which ensures initial thermal insulation, lies facing downwards on the metal. The semiopen cellular foam is perfectly aligned to the floor panel, compensates for unevenness and smoothes the surface. The foam therefore evens out the level differences much better than conventional heavy layer films made of bitumen or EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomers). The heavy layer foam Alveolen NFF E lies on top of Alveo-Soft and is used for both acoustic and thermal insulation.

“The foam laminate can easily be glued to the wooden floor”, says Hans Gallati, Business Unit Manager Automotive at Sekisui Alveo. That’s because the upper surface of the heavy layer foam contains an adhesive layer. The principle is the same as an adhesive tape: simply remove the backing film – that’s all. The foam acts in this case as a supporting material. On request, however, Foam Techniques will also directly glue the laminate to the wooden floor on top, so that the manufacturer only needs one production step for installation.

19 August 2008 Knauf to build Euro120m plant in Tyumen region

Knauf Insulation, part of Knauf group, intends to build a Euro120m heat-insulating materials plant in Tyumen region, Russia.

19 August 2008 Owens Corning named Supplier of the Year by Insulate America

Owens Corning announced that it was recently named Supplier of the Year by Insulate America, the largest group of locally-owned, independent insulation contractors in the United States. This is the third time that Owens Corning has received this award. The supplier of the year is selected based on the total value it brings to Insulate America and its members. Owens Corning partnered with the organisation on sales trainings, employee retention, building science and sustainability practices.

16 August 2008 Explosion at Billings insulation company

No one was injured on Friday 15 August 2008 during an explosion at a Billings insulation company. Billings Fire crews responded to the explosion and fire at Thermoguard Insulation at 451 Charles Street just before 3 pm.

The explosion happened inside a piece of equipment at the company, said assistant fire marshal Mike Spini. The fire caused moderate damage to the building and some equipment. The cause has been ruled accidental. Four employees were inside the building at the time of the explosion, but were not injured. There is no estimate yet on the amount of damages.

7 August 2008 Reed Construction Data releases 'Green Home Improvement'

RSMeans, a business unit of Reed Construction Data, announces a new book, 'Green Home Improvement,' which includes 65 full-colour projects that fight back against skyrocketing utility costs, health concerns, and environmental damage. Objective, expert advice cuts through the 'green-washing' to the best products and improvements. Unique to this book are costs and estimated energy savings to help homeowners decide where to invest.

Many projects are easy and low-cost (often less than US$5), with a big impact. Efficient showerheads, for instance, can pay for themselves 10-20 times over in the first year alone! Adding insulation and a programmable thermostat could cut energy costs by 50% in some homes. Green improvements also bring higher prices and more buyers when selling a home.

6 August 2008 Nansulate® energy saving coatings used for government sponsored alternative energy efficient housing project in Western Australia

Industrial Nanotech, Inc announced that the company's patented Nansulate® PT thermal insulation and corrosion resistance coating has been incorporated into the first display home of a LandCorp alternative housing project in Seville Grove, Western Australia. The deal was finalised by the Company's Australian distributor, Insulwest.

6 August 2008 Survey reveals Air-Cell as the preferred brand by Australian building designers

A recent survey of building designers across Australia reveals Air-Cell Insulation as the thermo-reflective insulation brand preferred by more building designers. Air-Cell National Marketing Manager, M. Karim Muri, says the results quantify what they have always believed: “We have long believed that Air-Cell Insulation was the market leader and this survey now confirms that in black and white.”

He continues, “We pride ourselves on levels of quality, conformance and technical expertise un-matched in the industry, and this survey just goes to show that the building design community truly appreciates that and values the peace of mind we deliver in our products.”

CodeMark is a third-party accreditation scheme managed by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), and is considered the industry’s highest level of product conformance. Summary of results from building designers surveyed:

93% of building designers have specified Air-Cell Insulation.
92% of building designers are likely to specify Air-Cell over an imitation product.
78% of building designers had specified Air-Cell within the last 3 months.
Over 50% of building designers specify Air-Cell in 75% or more of their projects.

5 August 2008 UK ministers plot fuel bill help for poor

New proposals from the government seem set to help Britons on low incomes meet their rising energy bills. In particular, a three-year, UK£2.75bn home insulation scheme is to be rolled out nationwide. Using funding from the energy providers themselves, cavity wall and loft insulation will be installed in some of Britain's poorest households under the terms of the project. This should improve energy efficiency, and result in long-term reductions to bills.

Ministers are also currently discussing whether or not they can switch the UK£2bn annual winter fuel allowance, currently granted to pensioners only, to cover low income families as well. However, the proposals come at a time when the UK's energy firms are imposing steep price rises to their general plans. Market leader British Gas recently announced that it would be putting up electricity by9% and gas by 3% due to high wholesale energy costs; other firms are expected to mirror these increases in weeks to come.

In addition, the government appears to be shying away from more radical reforms of the energy market. Calls from consumer groups to impose windfall taxes on providers, and using the proceeds to help poorer households, are understood not to have found favour with chancellor of the exchequer Alistair Darling. The average annual energy bill in the UK currently stands at UK£1200.

5 August 2008 Energy performance certificates could make homes 'more desirable'

As the credit crunch hits homeowner's pockets those who are considering moving are keeping a close eye on the associated costs and are keen to find ways to find ways of cutting back. That is according to the National Insulation Association (NIA), which has said that properties that have good rating on their energy performance certificates will become 'more desirable.'

Neil Marshall, chief executive of the NIA, said: "The roll-out of Energy Performance Certificates with Home Information Packs (Hips) can make a home more desirable, especially in a challenging market." Mr Marshall's comments about the desirability of property with good insulation are backed up by the Energy Saving Trust.

The trust has revealed that without loft insulation, homeowners could be losing up to 15% of their heating costs. Those that want to insulate their property to make it more saleable could be saving a buyer UK£110 a year on their heating bills.

5 August 2008 Kingspan Tek for Hybrid Aldi store

Kingspan Off-Site’s TEK Building System has been used to construct an apartment block situated above an Aldi store in Blaby, Leicester. A hybrid steel, timber and concrete structure was specified for the building to meet the unique demands of the architectural design.

Designed by Birmingham based architects, Dalkin Scotton Partnership Architects Limited, the development comprises 22 apartments, across two storeys above the retail unit. The apartments were constructed using the Kingspan TEK Building System and completed with a reinforced concrete curved-seam roof. Combined with the steel frame system used for the Aldi store itself, this project highlights the flexibility of modern methods of construction.

Bob Pudge, construction manager at DSP Construction Management Limited, commented: “The Kingspan TEK Building System was an ideal solution for the apartments above the Aldi store. It allowed us to have the design flexibility, whilst providing proven structural and thermal performance. After the success of this project, we have specified the same hybrid building system for a second site.”

Based on Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) technology, the Kingspan TEK Building System delivers high levels of thermal insulation due to its composition of two sheets of OSB/3 board with a 110mm high performance CFC/HCFC-free zero Ozone Depletion Potential (zero ODP) rigid urethane insulation core. The OSB/3 boards are autohesively bonded to the insulation core during manufacture resulting in superior adhesive strength and premium structural properties.

4 August 2008 Meeting looks at benefits of sheepswool insulation

A group of industry professionals met recently at a UK factory dedicated to producing sheep’s wool insulation, to discuss the impact natural insulation products will have on the housing and insulation industry. Based in Rhyl, North Wales, Black Mountain Insulation (BMI) welcomed visitors from a range of sectors, including Housing Associations, construction companies, architects and specifiers, to discuss the benefits and opportunities of sheep’s wool insulation in the current marketplace.

With housing responsible for over a third of CO2 emissions, and with the UK home to some of the oldest and least energy efficient housing in Western Europe, improving insulation is a priority, and the meeting highlighted ways in which sheep’s wool insulation can support this. Andrew Evans, Chief Executive at BMI, said: “Currently, natural insulation equates to only one per cent of the insulation market, however, with sustainability and energy saving at the top of the industry agenda, we’re hopeful that we can have a positive impact in this market. The industry is beginning to consider this as a real alternative to traditional methods of insulation.”

Consumers are looking to drive down the cost of energy bills, and the government is pursuing ambitious targets to reduce in the carbon footprint of the built environment. The future of housebuilding lies with super insulated properties that require no little or no additional heating mechanism. If the industry is to keep up with these demands, then sheep’s wool insulation, which is 10% more efficient than glass fibre, clearly has a part to play. “We believe natural wool insulation is one of the growth products in building product sector at present. Indeed, it is also why we are lobbying Government to put sheep’s wool high on its Code for Sustainable Homes,” comments Evans.

Wool insulation matches or exceeds all of the relevant requirements and thermal standards of UK and EU building regulations, as well as achieving the Greener Homes standards. This makes it ideal for use in new as well as existing buildings. Wool is the safest insulation material on the market today – it does not harbour dangerous chemicals, dust or mould that can lead to allergic or other reactions. It is non-flammable; is not only formaldehyde free, it has the unique ability to absorb formaldehyde.

The wool is treated with non-toxic, insect repellent material and as a natural product, does not emit hazardous VOCs, and in fact absorbs a number of VOCs from surrounding materials. Its excellent safety profile makes wool an ideal product for every location, especially those where health and safety are prime concerns, including hospitals and schools.Wool is also is easier and safer to install than glass fibre, so there is no requirement for protective clothing, which speeds up the installation process.

3 August 2008 UAE Rubber insulation maker expands

Driven by its aim to meet the demand for rubber-based products within the booming regional construction market, Rubber World Industries (RWI), the leading manufacturer of closed-cell rubber insulation 'Gulf-O-flex' in the Gulf and South-East Asia and part of the international business conglomerate, the Memon Group of Companies, has announced its aims to increase its market share within the Middle East, which is currently at 86%.

The announcement follows the construction of a new production facility worth Dhs30m in Ajman, in an attempt to meet the rising demand for rubber-based products within the booming regional construction market. The rapid emergence of high profile developments has driven the total value of projects in the GCC, thereby presenting RWI with an excellent opportunity to penetrate the market with its top quality rubber insulation products.

With modern plants located in Ajman, UAE, the manufacturer is undergoing major expansion activities that will triple the production capacity within a five-year period to address the demand, especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have emerged as the largest markets in the region. The company has also revealed its efforts to further enhance the performance of its versatile range of rubber insulation products to meet the requirements in the oil and gas fields, construction, shipping and automobile industries.

'As the only producer of rubber insulation in the Middle East region, we are steadily moving towards our goal of maintaining our leading position by offering a wide range of high performance rubber insulation and other derived products to discerning regional customers,' said Abu Baker Shaikhani, Managing Director, Rubber World Industries, and Chairman of the Memon Group. 'In line with our aggressive expansion, we have earmarked a total of Dhs30m for 2008, which is focused on increasing our production capacity from 1,200 containers to over 3600 containers per year by 2013.'

1 August 2008 Knauf worker slightly hurt in warehouse fire

One Knauf Insulation employee was slightly injured in a fire that broke out at its Shelbyville plant. A Shelbyville Fire Department report said the male employee suffered inhalation of smoke and fire extinguisher dust. The company declined to release the worker's name. The man was treated by medical personnel, as a precaution, and later released, said Jon Pereira, senior vice president of operations at Knauf Insulation, 1 Knauf Drive. "He's back at work today," Pereira said.

The fire broke out in the loading dock area of Plant No. 1, 32 Elizabeth St., near docks 15-18. "The fire originated in stacked insulation batts in the warehouse," said Denny Carlton, a fire department spokesman. There was minimal damage in the 20-by-50-foot area due to the activation of sprinklers in the area of the fire, Carlton said in his report.

Pereira characterised the incident as not being severe. "Most of the damage was water damage," he said. "We spent the day cleaning up and getting the water out of the warehouse. We're now back to normal." The damaged insulation rolls were placed in open-top containers outside of the warehouse, he said.

Fourteen city firefighters responded to the blaze, which occurred at 7.22 p.m. The first unit arrived at 7.24 p.m. They were soon joined by 11 off-duty firefighters. Ten fire vehicles responded, including three engines and one aerial truck.

30 July 2008 Owens Corning's Q2 earnings rise 7%

Owens Corning said that its second-quarter earnings rose nearly 7% due to stronger global sales. For the three months ending on 30 June 2008, net income increased to US$31m, or US$0.24 per share, from US$29m, or US$0.22 per share, in the same period a year earlier. Quarterly sales jumped 23% to US$1.57bn from US$1.28bn last year. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial, on average, expected a profit of US$0.21 per share on revenue of US$1.41bn. Those estimates typically exclude one-time items.

Sales increased because of Owens Corning's acquisition of Saint-Gobain's reinforcements and composite fabrics business in 2007, strong global demand for glass fiber reinforcements, price hikes in its roofing and asphalt business and storm-related demand for roofing products, the company said. Owens Corning expects continued global strength in its composite materials business in the second half of the year, though weakness in the housing market will continue to erode demand for its residential insulation products.

30 July 2008 Thermafiber(R) introduces RainBarrier(TM) insulation for rain screen and cavity walls

Thermafiber, In. officially announced the launch of the RainBarrier product line. RainBarrier 30 (3lb density) and RainBarrier 45 (4.5lb density) have been specifically engineered to repel water and efficiently drain moisture in rain screen and cavity wall construction applications. RainBarrier provides thermal insulation, fire protection, and acoustical control while efficiently draining water from a wall cavity system. Highly UV resistant, RainBarrier products offer a distinct advantage over typical foam board insulation. In addition, RainBarrier is available in regular and dark colored fibers for aesthetic purposes. RainBarrier products are non-combustible and compatible with common wall ties, adhesives, and air barrier systems.

Like all Thermafiber mineral wool products, RainBarrier has the highest available recycle content (up to 90%) of any commercial insulation. Thermafiber mineral wool insulation helps buildings conserve energy, control noise, improve indoor air quality, improve life safety, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

25 July 2008 Aspen Aerogels unveils new facility

A Northborough, Massachussetts-based company that uses nanotech processes to manufacture insulation materials officially celebrated the opening of its new East Providence facility last month. Aspen Aerogels held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the US$30m state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on 14 July 2008. The 150,000 square-foot facility has allowed the manufacturer to triple its production capacity and brought dozens of well-paying jobs to the city, according to a company statement.

The company said it anticipates continued growing customer demand to result in two additional expansion phases at the East Providence facility, leading to increased local investment and jobs. The US$30m investment in the new facility enables Aspen Aerogels to meet growing commercial demand for its nanoporous aerogel blanket insulation, which is proven to be up to eight times more effective than other insulation products.

"We are pleased to make this large investment in East Providence. The facility is the centerpiece of our growth plans, which focus on helping our customers worldwide achieve their goals," said Don Young, Aspen Aerogels' president and CEO. "The East Providence plant allows us to keep pace with the growing demand for our high-quality aerogel products."

Two expansions of the East Providence facility have been planned and will bring revenue capacity to a level exceeding US$200m. The new facility is expected to bring dozens of new and well-paying jobs to the Rhode Island area.

23 July 2008 Domestic energy costs: Energy-saving pilot project cuts carbon emissions by a fifth

Britain could cut its domestic fuel bills by UK£4.6bn a year if it adopted a series of energy saving measures, according to a report. An energy saving trial involving 64 households across eight cities organised by British Gas and monitored by the thinktank, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), also found that families cut their carbon emissions by a fifth. British Gas managing director, Phil Bentley said: "Reducing energy consumption is the single most important thing households can do to reduce bills and cut emissions."

Average energy bills have now risen to about UK£1000 a year and consumers are facing further big increases. One report has suggested prices could increase by more than 60% over the next two years.

Five months in to the planned year long Green Streets trial, British Gas and the IPPR say the families involved have cut their energy usage by up to 30%. Replicating that across Britain would mean domestic fuel bill savings of UK£4.6bn. Some households cut the amount of gas they consume by 50%, according to the study. The trial is based on British Gas customers and those of other energy suppliers. Each street has a budget of UK£30,000 to spend on energy efficiency measures - from new boilers to solar panels - and the one which performs best will win UK£50,000 to make a community building more energy efficient.

Matthew Lockwood, senior fellow in the IPPR's climate change team and the report's author, said: "If the UK is to meet its target of reducing CO2 emissions by 20% from 1990 to 2010, and by 60% by 2050, radical approach to public policy will be needed. We need to recognise that three in four of the homes we will live in by 2050 have already been built."

Among the initiatives the IPPR would like to see are green financing packages to appoint energy advisers to help households with their energy saving plans.

23 July 2008 Bryant Homes and Redrow say that new homes are 'more energy efficient'

Concerns that gas bills could grow by more than 60% should be enough to prompt house buyers to consider purchasing properties that are energy efficient, according to Redrow and Bryant Homes. The two developers have built a range of new homes at their Stamford Brook development in Altrincham, UK, and every property is specially designed to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

This has been achieved through airtight construction, insulation, efficient heating and ventilation systems, and carefully planned layouts to maximise sunlight.

Redrow sales director Patsy Aicken said: "A brand new home is already said to be up to four times more energy efficient than its older second hand counterpart thanks to modern standards of insulation and more efficient heating systems." Stamford Brook is a development of two-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom homes, with prices from UK£134,950.

According to the price comparison site uSwitch, gas prices could increase by up to 60%, plunging an extra 2.4m people into fuel poverty.

23 July 2008 DOW Building Solutions' staff walk the walk and talk the talk

Sales people, technical experts, customer service and administrative staff from Dow Building Solutions – the company behind the blue STYROFOAM® insulation material – have been getting to grips with construction site safety this summer. More at home behind the wheel of a car visiting customers, or on the phone dealing with enquiries, the team spent three days at the National Construction College (NCC) learning about construction site safety.

Attendees were required to pass the Construction Skills Health and Safety test in order to gain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card. They were also given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with large plant equipment commonly used on construction sites, and were asked to dig trenches according to strict criteria.

“As part of a large chemical company strict adherence to health and safety legislation is part of our DNA,” said Jayne Law, UK and Ireland sales manager for Dow Building Solutions. “However, the climate is certainly changing in the construction industry as the Health and Safety Executive rightly continues to put it under the safety spotlight, and we felt it would be helpful for our customers if our people have a full understanding of safety requirements on site.

“With many contractors demanding proof of competence before allowing workers on to sites, we also felt it would be appropriate for our own staff to carry CSCS cards, even if they wouldn’t normally be expected to do so.”

It’s not the first time customer-facing staffs have been expected to get their hands dirty on site. Previous training courses - which were also run at the NCC - covered how to install inverted roofs and floor screeds, both of which can involve insulation products manufactured by Dow Building Solutions. “Hands-on training like this means I’ve got a much better understanding of the pressures my customers are under when working on site,” said Richard Powell, National Roofing Account Manager.

“Of course, having the CSCS card gives a certain level of confidence to them as well; as they know I’m familiar with fundamental safety requirements and am less likely to cause issues for them!”

Matthew Dyke, National Distributor Account Manager for Dow Building Solutions, agreed: “It’s about going the extra mile for customers, and means I can talk their language and appreciate their issues more clearly,” he said. “It says a lot for the company that it’s prepared to take its entire sales force off the road for three days and invest in such site familiarisation and training primarily to make its customers’ lives easier and its people more confident.”

22 July 2008 Cematrix cements deal for new location

Insulation-manufacturing form Cematrix is moving to new offices and warehouse only nine years after its first move to bigger premises. Cematrix, cellular concrete company, initially moved into a 6300ft2 facility on 27th Avenue NE, Calgary, Canada. Tremendous growth since then meant the need to move into larger space. The new location at 5440 52nd St SE that was leased through Target Realty provides 22,750ft2 of office/warehouse space and a hectare of yard for the storage and maintenance of its big equipment.

The product, Cematrix is being used by a growing number of companies that are able to save time and money with Cematrix, which vice-president and general manager Steve Bent says has become an alternative to other forms of insulation products such as pre-formed plastic foam. Cellular concrete is a cement-bonded material produced by blending fluid cement-based slurries and injecting foam into them under pressure. The ratio of cement and fly-ash slurry to foam dictates the final density of the cellular concrete.

One of the company's first clients was the City of Calgary on a roadbed at the Brentwood LRT station. Today, Cematrix is still being used on roads providing one layer of high-strength insulation that has proved to be cost-effective and superior at locations that have poor peat bases or suffer from frost-heave damage. More than 70 engineering firms throughout Western Canada have specified the use of cellular concrete but Bent says the majority of its current contracts are at oilsands projects in the Fort McMurray area.

It is being used to insulate shallow utilities; around piles, pile caps and modules; tank foundation systems; and as process slab insulation. Besides providing superior thermal protection, Cematrix is able to provide huge cost savings with its on-site production equipment that can produce up to 120m3 of cellular concrete per hour. Its pumping units can deliver the product at low pressure over distances up to 1km from the sophisticated mixing equipment. I t takes three tractor units to move the equipment and a crane to assemble it on site. The new facility has just taken delivery of self-contained silos that are highly mobile, require no setup and can quickly begin to generate 1000m3 of cellular concrete per day.

The company is highly technology oriented with staff engineers working hard to design even better equipment. Cematrix is already being used in British Columbia and Ontario, and Kendrick says he is now bidding on larger projects in the US.

22 July 2008 Seven ways to encourage pro-environmental behaviour

Changing behaviour on a long-term basis is a complex matter, which depends on being able to see ‘rewards’ from new behaviour, such as increased well-being. Promoting environmental behaviour, such as more recycling or driving less, has to be addressed simultaneously at all levels, from household and business to society level. A recent study of such environmental policies shows they are more likely to be successful if people are treated as active partners in the process of change and not as passive subjects.

A recent study conducted by the European Commission's Environment DG, looked at fourteen policies and incentive schemes in the UK aimed at promoting pro-environmental behaviour. These included: the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy Set-Aside programme encouraging farmers to setaside fallow land, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, a government grant scheme encouraging sustainable consumption and production, a fuel-saving and insulation initiative and a rural development scheme.

The policies were evaluated in terms of changing long-term behaviours, achieving objectives and producing a clear benefit for the environment. They were also assessed for unintended consequences, such as conflict with other policies, impact on international competitiveness, availability of monitoring data and suitability for the most vulnerable sectors of society.

Some policies achieved their goals but were less successful when measured against wider environmental outcomes. For example, the set-aside policy reduced surplus agricultural production and increased biodiversity, but encouraged farmers to be dependent on subsidies, which programmes such as the rural development scheme were trying to overcome.

Likewise, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme 2002 (a voluntary precursor to the EU ETS set up in 2005) was successful in creating a model of good practice, but did not actually lead to lower total emissions and companies who benefited financially may have planned to reduce emissions anyway.

Lack of appropriate data to evaluate policies was a significant finding, particularly among schemes in the voluntary sector, such as the fuel-saving and insulation initiative, Warm Front, where the number of households joining the scheme was measured but not (initially) the amount of energy saved. Better data-recording should therefore be part of future policies.

The study suggests that future policy-makers can learn lessons from past successes and failures by understanding barriers to behaviour change, and ways of overcoming these. It provides seven key recommendations:

1. Target audiences are more likely to adapt in line with a policy when they have been involved in its development;
2. Policies need to pull in the same direction and convey a consistent message to appear legitimate to their target audience;
3. Organisations need to have the relevant skills, resources and capacities to take on additional duties resulting from new policy initiatives;
4. Policies are more effective when responsibility for delivery is given to locally accountable bodies;
5. Policies are most effective when they simultaneously tackle several aspects of behaviour at multiple levels (a whole systems approach);
6. Effective policies must be context specific, while recognising the bigger picture;
7. It is important to lead by example.

22 July 2008 ECan offers loans for clean air plan

Environment Canterbury (ECan) in New Zealand has stepped up its air quality programme as it tries to meet national environmental air standards by 2013. It is offering just over NZ$6m in interest-free loans as an incentive to homeowners in Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora and Kaiapoi to install insulation and convert fireplaces to approved clean-heat appliances to help reduce the region's emission levels.

The package, which offers interest-free loans to homeowners paid back over 10 years through their rates bills, is an extension of the Christchurch Clean Heat project. The original project kicked off in 2003 with a NZ$60mn budget. P roject manager Mike Gaudin said conversions in the city were on track with just over 26,000 people converting their appliances, nearly half the targeted number.

The chairwoman of ECan's air pollution committee, Jo Kane, said the project offered a local solution to a local problem. "Clean air and home insulation will help us achieve the healthy air national target for 2013," said Kane. The forecast cost of the project over 10 years in Timaru is NZ$1.98m, Ashburton NZ$1.79m, and in Kaiapoi and Rangiora, NZ$2.26m.

21 July 2008 Asbestos complicates demolition in downtown Buffalo

For centuries, asbestos has been known as a durable, fireproof substance with multiple uses. Among thousands of products, asbestos was used in household appliances, insulation, and many other construction materials. These days, asbestos is considered a dangerous nuisance. Homeowners and developers often contend with the toxic substance during renovations and demolitions of older structures. One such case is the Memorial Auditorium and the Donovan State Office Building in downtown Buffalo, NY. Plans include demolishing the building and redeveloping the waterfront site at a cost of around US$400m, but before that can happen, almost US$12m worth of asbestos abatement must be completed.

Jordan A Levy, chairman of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp, says, “It’s an unavoidable, necessary part of getting those buildings gone so we can redevelop the Buffalo waterfront. We’re doing everything we can to get it out the fastest, safest way possible, but you can’t be cheap when it comes to asbestos removal.”

The durability and fireproofing capabilities of asbestos made it enormously popular for industrial and commercial use. However, when asbestos fibres are inhaled, they can become lodged in the lungs and cause serious diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

The expensive, complicated removal project began in April 2008. So far, around 1,250 tons of asbestos-containing materials have been removed, including pipe insulation, fireproof wall treatments, as well as floor and ceiling tile backings. If the asbestos-containing materials were allowed to remain in the building, demolition could release enormous amounts of asbestos dust, increasing the risks of mesothelioma for the public.

Removing asbestos from the downtown buildings is no small task. About 70 loads of asbestos materials have been disposed at a federally licensed landfill, and estimates suggest around 60% of the work has been completed. Work in the 68-year-old building is complicated due to three previous major renovations. The asbestos is often found in sealed-off areas that are difficult to access.

Crews working at the site use airtight barriers, protective safety suits, as well as respirators to prevent asbestos exposure. Workers are also required to change their clothing and shower before exiting the work site at the end of the day. Inside the building, an air-lock and filtration system ensures that asbestos fibers are not able to escape the confines of the work areas. Sean Miller, vice president of LVI Environmental Services of Rochester, says, “There’s a lot of coordination needed because we’re working on multiple levels. It’s very labour-intensive work.”

 

15 July 2008 Dow Building Solutions to sell polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid foam business

Dow Chemical Company announced that it has signed an agreement for Illinois Tool Works (ITW) to purchase certain assets of Dow Building Solution’s TRYMER™ polyisocyanurate (PIR) rigid foam business. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

ITW will own and operate the TRYMER™ manufacturing assets located within Dow’s LaPorte, Texas, site. In addition, ITW will acquire the TRYMER customer list, inventory, trademark rights and a license to other applicable intellectual property rights. The agreement also includes a provision for Dow to exclusively supply ITW with extruded polystyrene (XPS) pipe insulation billets for the mechanical insulation market, but Dow retains sole rights of ownership to its STYROFOAM™ brand name. TRYMER PIR foam is used in several applications, including pipe and mechanical insulation, panel insulation, and floral and craft.

“We are proud that our TRYMER polyisocyanurate foam has become a trusted brand in several markets, and ITW is ideally positioned to help the TRYMER business continue its growth and reach its full potential,” said Torsten Kraef, president and general manager, Dow Building Solutions. “We will continue to focus on strategic growth opportunities in core building and construction markets that align with our current market positioning and where we can maintain long-term leadership.”

This agreement is one of several recent strategic moves DBS has undertaken to reconfigure assets and invest for future growth in the global building and construction industry. On June 11, Dow announced the acquisition of Stevens® Roofing Systems and Geomembranes. In September 2007, Dow Building Solutions divested its ETHAFOAM™ business, and in December 2007 the business announced the development of a proprietary, non-ozone-depleting foaming agent for its STYROFOAM™ R5 extruded polystyrene insulation, well in advance of the Montreal Protocol deadline.

15 July 2008 Big lottery jackpot warms southern Alberta insulation plant workers

Early retirement could be an option for some workers at a southern Alberta insulation plant who have won a CAN$15m lottery jackpot. The workers at the Johns Manville Canada facility in Innisfail belong to a 26-member ticket pool which saw its lucky numbers come up in the Super 7 lottery on Friday 11 July . The windfall works out to more than CAN$576,000 per member.

Cam Beaton, who is one of the winners, says the experience is "surreal." The 50-year-old man says he was numb after hearing about their fantastic luck. Beaton says he plans to keep working as a production manager at the plant, but will think about buying some property in Arizona.

14 July 2008 Aspen Aerogels unveils new US$30m manufacturing facility

Aspen Aerogels today held the ribbon cutting for a new, US$30m, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that has brought dozens of well-paying jobs to East Providence and plans for future expansions. Aspen Aerogels makes highly efficient aerogel thermal insulation products used in a variety of industries including defense; building and construction; and hydrocarbon exploration, transportation and refining.

"We are pleased to make this large investment in East Providence. The facility is the centerpiece of our growth plans, which focus on helping our customers worldwide achieve their goals," said Don Young, Aspen Aerogels' president and CEO.

Aspen Aerogels is headquartered in Northborough, Massachussetts., where it has an R&D facility and a smaller manufacturing plant. The 150,000ft2 East Providence plant triples the company's production capacity. The company anticipates continued growing customer demand to result in two additional expansion phases at the East Providence facility, leading to increased local investment and jobs.

13 July 2008 Solarpower restoration ties up with T.Clear Corp

SolarPower Restoration Systems announced that under an exclusive global product license agreement, T.Clear Corporation will manufacture and distribute its T.Clear Solar LG Lightguard® and Solar HG Heavyguard® Protected Membrane Roof (PMR) insulation panels based on SolarPower Restoration’s SolarSeal Technologies™ “Surface Overlay” and “Power Island Systems” design.

“This new partnership combines the roofing industry’s well-known T.Clear Lightguard® and Heavyguard® Protected Membrane Roof insulation panels with a new composite panel photovoltaic module design,” says Michael Gumm, CEO of SolarPower Restoration Systems. “The photovoltaic module consists of an engineered metal-polymer composite panel and high efficiency crystalline silicon cells with a new advanced polymer top surface film.”

T.Clear's Protected Roof Membrane system has always been an environmentally-friendly and sustainable roof system, says Dick Crawford, director of business development at T.Clear. Placing the insulation roof panels over the roof system protects the roof membrane by maintaining a nearly constant temperature, reducing the harmful effects of freeze-thaw cycling, exposure to harsh UV, reducing heating and cooling cost and extending the service life of the protected roof membrane system.

The non-glass PV module is laminated directly to the T.Clear LightGuard and HeavyGuard panels. The PV module utilises a corrugated polymer center core for back surface cooling with a low reflective solar transparent polymer top surface, creating a more energy efficient PV module when compared to traditional glass modules.

11 July 2008 Six Nations protesters try to stop Kingspan plant construction

A construction company moved its heavy equipment off a Brantford work site Friday after about 50 aboriginal protesters from Six Nations showed up. The protestors are campaigning against Ireland-based Kingspan Insulation which is planning to build a plant that manufactures insulation panels for the building industry. The development is expected to create about 200 jobs.

There was talk that Six Nations protesters would set up teepees or tents to occupy the site. No tents or teepees were erected, but spokesman Steve Powless said Six Nations members will be maintaining a presence at the site. Some Six Nations Confederacy flags were attached to the fence surrounding the site.

Mr Powless said the land belongs to the people of the Six Nations who have a duty to protect it. He said there has been too much development and it's moving too fast. “This is a good first step if they stay out,” Mr. Powless said as workers drove earth movers and other heavy equipment off the Kingspan Insulation construction site. Everyone, including you, should be worried about what is happening to the land,” Mr. Powless said. “We can't drink the water or eat the fish. We have to protect the land for us and future generations.”

City police established a noticeable presence but spent most of the morning monitoring the situation and carrying messages back and forth between representatives of the protesters and the workers. Later, Sheriff John Dobson arrived at the site and read an interim injunction that prohibits people from interfering with development on the Kingspan site and several other construction sites in Brantford. After reading the injunction, Sheriff Dobson posted copies that were subsequently torn down and left on the ground.

There were no arrests, but Inspectr Kent Pottruff said “police have a responsibility to comply with lawful orders of the court. Investigators will be reviewing the circumstances of [the] protest to determine the most appropriate course of action,” Inspector Pottruff said.

11 July 2008 Wickes sells Knauf Insulation at a discount

Wickes DIY superstores in the UK are selling Knauf Space Blanket loft insulation on a buy one, get one free deal. This reduces the cost of each roll to UK£7, which is an excellent price, and should pay for itself in one year of saved heating costs, particularly considering that gas prices are due to rise by 40% in the next 12 months. The deal ends on 9 August 2008.

10 July 2008 SIG debt rise overshadows upbeat profits outlook

British insulation and roofing materials group SIG said its net debt rose almost 50% in the first half, overshadowing an upbeat profits outlook and sending its shares lower. In a trading statement, SIG said it had net debt of about UK£640m (US$1.3bn) at the end of June 2008, up from UK£430m six months earlier. The increase partly reflects UK£122m in takeover costs during the first six months of the year, when the company made 24 acquisitions. The first-half acquisition spree came on top of 27 takeovers in 2007, costing a total of UK£323m.

SIG said takeover activity would be "materially lower" in the second half, adding that the debt ratios underpinning its banking covenants would remain "within comfortable levels." The stock has fallen by about 43% since the beginning of June, weighed down by worries over SIG's exposure to the troubled UK housebuilding sector. This fresh decline came despite reassurance from the company that its first-half underlying pretax profit is set to rise to at least UK£68m, an increase of 10% on the same period last year.

"One thing people will have focused on is that net debt has gone up over the half year. In this market, people will pick on anything they perceive as bearish," said Numis Securities analyst Howard Seymour.

SIG said its first-half performance was driven by steady demand from non-residential and public sector construction projects, which account for about two thirds of revenues, against one third from the housebuilding sector.

That boosted sales by 35% to UK£1.48bn pounds, outweighing weaker demand from private residential construction. "Some businesses were a bit up and some were a bit down, but taken together, we're about where we expected to be," SIG Chief Executive Chris Davies told Reuters in an interview, adding that he was "certainly comfortable" with analysts' forecasts for the full year.

SIG is currently expected to report a 2008 underlying pretax profit of UK£157m, up from UK£140.1m pounds the previous year, according to the average of eight analyst forecasts collected by Reuters Estimates. Davies said SIG, which employs 8500 people in the UK, had shed some jobs as part of an effort to cut costs in response to the housing market downturn, but declined to provide further detail.

"It's reasonably targeted. We don't do slash and burn," he said. The company also said its sales of insulation products had been boosted by new UK regulations imposing stricter energy efficiency standards on new buildings. Analysts at Cazenove, SIG's house broker, on Thursday trimmed its 2008 pretax profit forecast for the group by 2% to UK£153.3m.

9 July 2008 TRW gets multimillion-dollar contract

Contractor TRW and Associates Inc has signed a five-year, multimillion-dollar contract to oversee facilities management and construction projects for Gramercy Capital Corp. Based in Tampa, Forida, TRW will oversee 11Mft2 for 900 banking facilities, including branches of Bank of America, Wachovia and Fifth Third. TRW, whose services include roofing, construction, insulation, waterproofing and general contracting to complete project management will also help Gramercy Capital conserve energy and waste.

"Green is the colour on our minds," Tripp Cohagen of TRW said in a statement. The contract is one of TRW's biggest yet, according to a statement. Gramercy Capital is a commercial real estate finance and property investment company based in New York City.

8 July 2008 Jablite warm roof installed for Cambridge Science Park

Roofing contractor Fenland Roofing has chosen Jablite insulation by Vencel Resil for the newly built Cambridge Science Park building. Jablite is a leading brand of expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation products for the construction industry.

The new centre designed for start up businesses has an extensive 3500m2 flat warm-roof construction. Jablite ‘cut to fall’ insulation boards were chosen as they were able to meet the thermal performance requirements. The Jablite insulation boards were finished with Sarnafil G410-18ELF in light grey, a single ply waterproofing system, which provides a minimum of 20 year’s performance. Designing the layout of the 'cut-to-fall' roof was a complex process because the roof had a number of upstands for mounting air conditioning and other service equipment.

David Mayes, Senior Contracts Manager for Fenland Roofing explains: “It was really important that the insulation could be supplied as single layer cut to fall because it helped with installation times on this very large project. We have worked with Vencel Resil before and were confident in the quality of their products and the service they provide. This was a very prestigious project to be involved with and one that we are confident we have provided with an extremely effective and long term roof insulation solution.”

7 July 2008 Owens Corning installing photovoltaic panel system at Gresham foam insulation facility

Owens Corning has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Sun Edison LLC to provide solar-generated energy through the installation and operation of a 206kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof of its Gresham, Oregon facility. The facility's solar PV system is scheduled to be installed and operating by the fourth quarter of 2008.

A solar PV system uses solar panels to convert sunlight directly into electricity. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, by using just 2kW of PV capacity, a person can reduce carbon dioxide emissions equal to those emitted by driving 6200 miles in a car. The company is also installing a solar PV system at its Kearny, New Jersey roofing facility.

"Using renewable sources of energy is another way Owens Corning is leading in energy efficiency and sustainability," said Frank O'Brien-Bernini, chief sustainability officer. "The insulation products produced in Gresham will provide an answer to the world's need for the most cost-effective technologies that reduce fossil fuel consumption. The energy saved with insulation is the cheapest and most sustainable energy available because it is energy that will never be used. With this solar technology, we'll use a renewable resource to generate a sustainable product." Owens Corning is working toward a July 2009 start up of foam insulation production at the Gresham, Oregon facility. All activities are currently on schedule to meet that target.

7 July 2008 Rubber World Industries bags AED1.2m (US$327,000) contract to supply rubber insulation products for ‘Motor City’ project

Rubber World Industries (RWI), a leading manufacturer of closed-cell rubber insulation 'Gulf-O-flex' in the Gulf and South-East Asia, and part of the international business conglomerate, the Memon Group of Companies, announced that it has bagged an AED1.2m contract to supply rubber insulation products for ‘Motor City’, a high profile themed community development by Union Properties. The agreement is expected to further boost the manufacturer’s position as a leader in the Middle East rubber insulation market, with a massive 80% share. RWI leverages the emergence of eco-friendly construction regulations in the UAE to capture majority of the rubber insulation customers by highlighting the environmentally-safe features of its industry-grade products.

According to RWI: "Designed solely for professional MEP contractors, ‘Gulf-O-flex’ is the only rubber insulation product in the market that meets clients’ unique requirements in terms of preventing condensation or frost formation on refrigerant lines, cold water plumbing and chilled water systems. Manufactured in adherence to the strictest quality control and safety standards, the high performance rubber insulation is a multi-purpose product that facilitates energy and maintenance costs savings, and has therefore earned the confidence of the largest UAE-based real estate developers. The product has also been proven to be non-toxic, lightweight and very easy to install.

Amidst projections of further increases in major construction and infrastructure projects especially in the Middle East, the manufacturer is undertaking significant efforts to enhance the features of its current offerings. With aims to further increase its share of the UAE market and expand to other regional real estate hubs, RWI is currently investing AED30m as part of its expansion plans for 2008, which will increase its production capacity from 1200 containers to over 3600 containers per year by 2013. The company is also looking to expand the reach of its high performance rubber insulation products from the current destination of 90 different countries from its global headquarters in the UAE.

7 July 2008 Queen's Award for Thermoteknix

Thermoteknix Systems Ltd has received the Queen's Award for Enterprise in the Innovation Category. Thermoteknix Managing Director Dr Richard Salisbury was presented with the Award by Cambridgeshire Lord Lieutenant, Hugh Duberly Esq CBE at a celebratory dinner at Queen's College, Cambridge, UK

The Award was made in recognition of Thermoteknix Systems' pioneering work in thermal imaging technology and specifically for its achievement in developing the unique range of MIRICLE miniaturised high performance thermal imaging cameras.

The award is the latest in a series of accolades the company has received recently. In October 2007 Thermoteknix was named Innovative Company of the Year at the iDEA (Innovation and Design Excellence) Awards followed soon after by runner-up in the IET (Institution of Electrical Engineers and Technologists) Innovation in Engineering Awards. In March 2008, Thermoteknix was named Cambridge Innovative Company of the Year.

7 July 2008 Eddie Stobart fixes it with Knauf Insulation!

Knauf Insulation has signed a deal in an extension of its existing arrangement with transport, logistics and storage experts Eddie Stobart Ltd that will see a number of Knauf Insulation and sister company Knauf Drywall designs on the rear livery of 72 vehicles in the Eddie Stobart UK fleet over a 2 year period.

The fleet has launched with 11 Bob the Builder(TM)-branded vehicles promoting Project: Renovate, a national Eco-Award programme offering nurseries and pre-schools in the UK the chance to win a renovation of their building by Bob the Builder himself. Project: Renovate is an environmentally focused community initiative launched in conjunction with thinkinsulation.com and Travis Perkins plc, designed to improve pre-school and nursery settings nationwide.

Project: Renovate also aims to raise children's awareness at a young age of the impact they have on their surroundings as they grow, both at home and at school, enabling them to work towards a more sustainable future. The project offered 12 nurseries up to UK£60,000 worth of funding for eco-makeovers. Thinkinsulation.com and Travis Perkins are undertaking renovations worth UK£5000 at each of the winning nurseries, creating a greener education environment and helping children understand the importance of embracing a greener future.

Lydia Sharples, head of communications at Knauf Insulation, said: "It's fantastic that vehicles in the Eddie Stobart fleet will be carrying Knauf's messages. They'll be seen up and down the country, and will hopefully get people everywhere thinking about the importance of insulating homes and buildings properly.

"The Project: Renovate initiative in particular supports our own scheme, thinkinsulation.com, which we've launched in conjunction with the Energy Savings Trust to raise awareness amongst homeowners about becoming more energy efficient. By simply installing sufficient insulation, they will not only significantly reduce their carbon footprint, but also make their homes more comfortable: warmer in winter and cooler in summer. It helps cut heating bills too, which is music to everyone's ears!"

7 July 2008 Warming news as cash is made available for free home insulation in Wakefield

Over-60s in the northern UK town of Wakefield will be getting more help keeping their homes warm. Wakefield Council has secured more funding to provide free insulation to local people in poor health or who are over 60. The Health Action Wakefield Grant Scheme offers free cavity wall and loft insulation.

When the scheme ran last year it helped around 300 homes to install free insulation. The Health Action Wakefield Scheme is different to other grants as it offers measures to anyone who is in poor health. There are no income or savings criteria. Applicants must live in their own home or privately rent.

The grant is not available to people who are living in a Wakefield and District Housing, WDH, property. For an application form call +44 (0)0800 052 7496 quoting 'Health Action Wakefield Grant.'

7 July 2008 Cheaper energy for Anglesey homes

A new phase of a project to help Anglesey homeowners slash energy bills is to be launched. The 'Here to Help Insulation Scheme', a partnership between the Isle of Anglesey County Council and British Gas, has already led to savings for more than 2500 private homes. The next phase of the scheme will be launched at Bodffordd and Llanfaethlu on Thursday 10 July 2008. Homeowners within those wards can come to meet the team at the Llanfaethlu Village Hall from 13.00 until 15.00 and Bodffordd Community Hall from 16.00 until 18.30.

The scheme is designed to provide effective insulation, ensuring cheaper fuel bills, warmer homes and helping the environment. It has already seen energy bills in more than 2500 homes reduced. Other launch meetings are also planned during the next few months with Llanddyfnan, Llangefni, Trearddur, Brynteg, Llanbedrgoch and Trewalchmai wards being part of this year's works programme.

Housing portfolio holder, Councillor Robert Lloyd Hughes, said, "This is just one fine example of a number of exciting projects the County Council is undertaking to help homeowners to reduce their home energy bills. Over 2500 private homes have already received free cavity wall or and loft insulation during phase one, and phase two is now well underway. In total, around 6000 homes will eventually benefit from the scheme."

For more information, please contact the Isle of Anglesey County Council on +44 (0)1248) 752217.

6 July 2008 Superglass' shares tumble

Shares in Scottish firm Superglass, a maker of glass-fibre insulation for buildings, slumped following the company’s second profits warning since January and investor nervousness about its exposure to the UK’s anaemic housing market. The Stirling-based company floated at UK£1.80 a share on 12 July 2007, before rising UK£208.5 later that same day.

However, as announced on 1 July 2008, the shares crashed by UK£0.25 to UK£0.44 after the company said 2008 profits would be lower than expected due to disappointing take-up of government home insulation subsidies. The company is also facing increased costs. Its energy-intensive process includes melting glass in furnaces heated to 1400 degrees Celsius.

The firm said it will introduce a cost-reduction programme to include 30 job losses, improved operational efficiencies and lower energy use. Chief executive John Smellie believes the share price has been unfairly hit by a misconception that Superglass will be hit by the housing market slump. He points out the firm is only 13% dependent on the new-build market and mainly supplies small, independent builders. “We are almost at a loss as to how to get the share price to go up,” he said. Superglass is now worth just UK£25.6m, barely a quarter of its valuation when it was first floated.

4 July 2008 Polyurethane price inceases reported

According to the latest Plastics Information Europe (PIE) newsletter, an appreciable increase in demand for insulating materials lifted prices for the polymeric methylene di-para-phenylene isocynate (MDI) in June 2008. The report states that the cost of polyurethane (PU) starting material added as much as Euro30/t, while pure MDI lost some ground. The overheated demand for toluene diisocyanate (TDI) cooled off a little and notations remained stable. Polyol notations came under pressure in June 2008, due especially to long supplies, says PIE.

3 July 2008 Insulation 'scam' in Cyprus?

The General Secretary of Cyprus' Green Party, Mr George Perdikis has claimed that houses were being sold under the pretext of being insulated, when they in fact were not. He claimed that financial interests were hidden behind a recent alteration of regulations for house insulations.

“Following the intervention of higher interests, the laws on insulation have been altered in a way that affects the quality of the insulation, resulting in us not having insulated homes so that certain people can profiteer at our expense,” said Perdikis after the Cypriot House Commerce Committee meeting. “The Committee was presented with the truth surrounding a very serious issue,” he added.

The Commerce Ministry, said Perdikis, had admitted that the regulation had been amended following interventions by certain bodies – who he would not mention – and “we are not satisfied with the explanations given”. According to data from last year, said Perdikis, correct insulation could offer each home a Euro1500 profit every year. “Thousands of homes are being built with a fake insulation regulation and being sold at a much higher price as insulated,” he pointed out. “There is a scam here, which is being paid by the home buyer.” He concluded, “Hiding behind all this is the fact that certain financial sectors of the market intervened to make insulation regulations less strict.”

2 July 2008 Krendl celebrates 50th birthday

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, fibre blowing equipment manufacturer Krendl Machine Company has expanded its offerings to include fabrication services. “We’ve achieved some pretty significant growth over the last few years with the housing market as it expanded and it recently leveled off,” said Joe Krendl, Business Manager for Krendl Machine. “Fabrication services gave us the opportunity to grow our business using existing equipment and labour resources.”

The company’s fabrication services include CNC Plasma Cutting, welding, shearing, punch press, break press, rolling and lathing, milling and drilling. Krendl designs and manufactures fibre blowing equipment for many markets including: retail insulation applicators; professional insulation contractors who apply materials like fireproofing and wall cavity/commercial spray-on; industrial fibre feeders for the hot mix asphalt road industry and specialty fibre feeding/metering operations. The company also fabricates gas powered vacuums for fire debris removal.

Krendl Machine was started in Delphos, Ohio as a small machine shop owned and operated by Jack Krendl who remains president and CEO. Currently, four of Jack’s sons work for the company including: Joe (Business Manager), Lee (COO/CFO), Jeff (Plant Manager) and Kurt (Research and Development). Krendl Machine moved from the original facility to the current site in 2000 and now has 55 employees. The company sells to customers in 40 different countries in addition to domestic customers.

2 July 2008 Sekisui House announces the 'Zero Emission House'

In conjunction with the Hokkaido Toyako Summit (July 7-9 2008) Sekisui House announces Japan's cutting edge prefabricated housing and environmental technology to the world: The Zero Emission House. The Hokkaido Toyako Summit, (The G8 Summit) being hosted by Japan, will be held over three days from Monday July 7 to Wednesday July 9, 2008 at the town of Toyako in Hokkaido, and will focus mainly on global warming prevention measures.

To coincide with the summit, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is constructing the Zero Emission House, which is a futuristic residential house featuring photovoltaic cells, fuel cells and other superior Japanese environmental technology. The display will be located beside the International Media Center (IMC) being constructed within the grounds of the Rusutsu Resort, 27 km from the summit venue at the Windsor Hotel. Sekisui House is collaborating in the construction of the Zero Emission House by providing the high earthquake resistance, energy saving functions and other advanced Sekisui House prefabricated housing technology.

The Zero Emission House is a single-storied steel structure prefabricated house with a total floor area of approximately 200m2 and an exterior that has been designed to imbue traditional Japanese beauty. The house will showcase state-of-the-art Japanese energy and environmental technology to the world, with features including a 14.5kW capacity photovoltaic generation system, energy efficient lighting, a household fuel cell, and energy saving household appliances. Construction of the Zero Emission House will be completed by the end of June, and the exhibit will be open to media professionals from Japan and overseas during the summit.

In June 2005, Sekisui House initiated its Action Plan 20, a set of measures aimed at achieving comfortable living spaces while reducing the CO2 generated by occupancy. Sekisui House began sales of the Carbon Neutral House in April 2008, using sophisticated energy saving technology to reduce and offset CO2 emissions through power generation from a photovoltaic generation system and fuel cell to reduce net CO2 emissions almost to zero. Sekisui House has achieved zero emissions at its manufacturing factories, new house construction sites, and recently also at its remodeling sites, and is also reducing materials usage and implementing a range of other measures to reduce CO2 emissions throughout the entire lifecycles of the buildings it constructs.

The Zero Emission House goes one step beyond Sekisui House's Carbon Neutral House in its use of state-of-the-art global warming prevention technology, and the CO2 reduction achieved with its photovoltaic generation system substantially exceeds the volume of CO2 emissions. Using the Sekisui House management system, zero emission of waste material has been achieved at the Zero Emission House construction site.

1 July 2008 Superglass hit by slow UK construction

Insulation group Superglass has warned profits this year will be below last time due to lower activity in the UK. Superglass said that the UK's carbon reduction programme has not yet gained the momentum it expected, resulting in reduced activity in the UK. Superglass has increased penetration into the European market, but not by enough to offset current slippage in the UK. Although, the rise in energy costs continues to be a concern it will also increase the immediate demand for high levels of insulation, Superglass added.

1 July 2008 LaPolla buys AirTight

LaPolla Industries, Inc. LaPolla, a leading manufacturer and supplier of spray foam insulation and coatings designed to reduce energy consumption in the commercial and residential markets, announced that it has acquired the assets of AirTight Marketing & Distribution, Inc.

AirTight SprayFoam is one of the Southeast's leading spray foam insulation distributors. AirTight SprayFoam's staff brings decades of experience in the foam and conventional insulation market and offers one of the top turn-key start-up and training programs in the US.

30 June 2008 Industrial Nanotech cancels US retail/warehouse expansion plans

Industrial Nanotech, Inc, a manufacturer of specialty nanotech-based coatings for industrial, residential, and automotive parts, announced that it will not open regional warehouse/retail centers in the US at this time as previously announced.

"Focusing our resources on continued new product development appropriate for this era of rapidly rising energy costs and continuing to expand market share for our current and upcoming energy saving products in the still rapidly growing industries and regions of the world is a more appropriate strategy for maintaining our long trend of high revenue growth rate at this time," states Stuart Burchill, CEO of Industrial Nanotech. "Our new Nansulate EPX product line, with its industry high thermal insulation performance, our upcoming additions to our product lines, and our continued expansion into Asia, China, and the Middle East are proving to be very resilient sources of revenue growth in this unique economic environment and we will continue to focus on these productive and successful ventures for the foreseeable future."

27 June 2008 Kingspan to shed jobs

Kingspan has announced plans to shed up to 64 jobs at its factory in Herefordshire, UK, due to the downturn in the housing market. Kingspan Insulation said the redundancies at its Pembridge factory were "unavoidable" to minimise the impact of a noticeable decline in trade during 2008. In a statement, the company said every possible step would be taken to minimise the number of job cuts, including full dialogue and consultation with trade unions.

A spokesman for Kingspan, which expects market conditions to recover within the next 18-24 months, said: "The current economic downturn is having a wide-ranging effect on business, and has hit the housing industry particularly hard. At this point in time the number of new houses being built is down by around 50% from the start of the year, and it is predicted that next year will see a 20% drop. Although in general terms the business is strong, additional pressures in terms of rising costs have meant that steps must be taken to manage and minimise the impact of the current market trend."

26 June 2008 ISOVER insulation system can cut housebuilding costs by 20%

Despite the downfall in the property market, housebuilders looking for cost savings on current developments can salvage more than 20% using RD35 – a Robust Details-approved party wall insulation system from Isover that has also won up to three credits under the Code for Sustainable Homes. Saint-Gobain Isover launched RD35 (E-WM-8) in 2005 as a response to the requirements of the new Part E Acoustic Regulations which required a Robust Detail–approved system to avoid pre-completion sound testing.

Regional housebuilder Macbryde Homes, who were one of the first developers to adopt this construction method, were able to finish developments days ahead of schedule and were so impressed with the savings it is now their standard method for party wall construction. Macbryde’s design director Ian Hornby said. “Isover’s RD35 system can be installed in all temperatures, in a fraction of the time a parge coat takes, and without the mess and labour involved when using wet cement. And because it’s manufactured from 80% recycled material, it’s vastly more environmentally friendly than cement.”

Now research by Isover shows cost savings of more than 20% can be made in materials and labour because the party wall does not have to be plastered on both sides. Neither does the contractor have to wait for the parge coats to dry – another time saving. The basic wall construction of E-WM-8 also ensures one credit under the Code for Sustainable Homes, while increasing the design cavity to 100mm attracts three.

Gerry Mitchell, Isover’s head of innovation, said: “Housebuilders’ revenues and profits are falling and they are seeking ways to work with their suppliers to cut costs and minimise the impact. Here we have the cheapest masonry wall Robust Detail construction which can save around 20% compared to other solutions.” All other Robust Detail masonry party wall constructions force housebuilders to revert to a wet trade internal wall lining, generally involving sand and cement, away from the plasterboard-on-dabs method that had been their preferred one for years. Isover RD35 high-performance acoustic slabs are positioned in the party wall cavity in conjunction with plasterboard-on-dabs dry lining, allowing housebuilders to revert to their preferred method of construction. It is the only Robust Detail-approved alternative to cement-based solutions. As such, it has attracted tens of thousands of plot registrations to date.

26 June 2008 NBT insulation heats up

Natural Building Technologies has launched an innovative new woodfibre insulation board targeted specifically at the repair and refurbishment markets. The Pavadentro board has been created to effectively insulate external walls on the inside, while greatly reducing the risk of condensation build up within the fabric of the building. The Pavadentro boards are ideal for use in refurbishment projects which cannot be insulated externally, such as listed or heritage buildings, where the external appearance must remain untouched. Specification of this woodfibre insulation board ensures a minimal risk of condensation damage to the existing wall structure.

The inclusion of a mineral-based layer, comprising sodium silica, within the new Pavadentro boards provides essential protection for the building fabric. This mineral/woodfibre combination, together with capillary action and hygroscopicity, regulates the passage of moisture travelling to the external wall to avoid the risk of condensation occurring. However, the natural vapour permeability of the woodfibres beneficially ensures breathability and control of any vapour that naturally occurs in an occupied building, thereby maintaining a healthy living environment.

The Pavadentro board does not include a ‘traditional’ vapour control barrier, as they actually block moisture, and may even trap it inside the building structure, which then causes long-term structural damage and ill-health for occupants within the building. Many ‘modern’ insulating materials, cement-based plasters and renders are effectively vapour-closed and can trap moisture in this way, bringing lasting damage to the building fabric if installed incorrectly. It is Pavadentro’s ability to regulate the passage of water vapour that ensures this risk does not occur, especially in the existing wall structure. In addition to protecting against the impact of condensation, the Pavadentro boards provide the highest levels of thermal and acoustic insulation and excellent environmental credentials.

25 June 2008 ShawCor announces contract to provide pipe coating services for Gumusut-Kakap Deepwater Project

ShawCor Ltd. announced its subsidiary, Bredero Shaw, has received a contract with a value in excess of US$35m to provide pipeline coatings for Sabah Shell Petroleum Co. Ltd.'s (SSPC) Gumusut-Kakap Deepwater Project located in the South China Sea 120km offshore Sabah. The contract has been awarded to Bredero Shaw and the project will be executed at the Bredero Shaw facility in Kuantan, Malaysia.

25 June 2008 Aspen Aerogels raises US$37m in funding

Aspen Aerogels has wrapped up a US$37m fourth round of funding. The round was led by Arcapita Ventures and joined by existing investors Lehman Brothers Venture Partners Reservoir Capital Group and RockPort Capital Partners. Its patented aerogels, silica-based jelly-like materials, have a wide range of insulating applications in the apparel, building, transport and energy markets. The firm sells them in fabricated packages and easy-to-apply blankets that it claims are 2-8 times more effective than rival products.

Aerogels are extremely effective insulators — blocking most forms of thermal transfer and minimising heat loss — which makes them invaluable in the construction of energy-efficient buildings. The same technology can be carried over to apparel and footwear, where it can easily be integrated into boots, jackets and other outdoor gear. Aspen’s aerogels are light, thin, waterproof and highly resistant under stress conditions. The company has worked with major corporations like Samsung, Exxon Mobil, Boeing and British Gas. It had previously raised over US$61m.

24 June 2008 Serious Materials scoops up Alpen Windows

Serious Materials, one of the better-funded green building startups with its recent round of $50 million in the bank, has bought up an energy-efficient window manufacturer called Alpen Windows. Started as Quiet Solution, a maker of highly soundproofed building materials, Serious moved more aggressively into green building in 2007. It has several lines of insulating or environmentally-friendly wall material. The acquisition, for an undisclosed price, should help the Serious Materials round out its offerings. Alpen windows are advertised as being better than Energy Star-labeled products, with extremely good thermal insulation properties.

21 June 2008 Australian government promotes green construction methods

The Australian government has launched three publications designed to help Canberrans build and renovate their homes with an eye to the environment. The brochures give advice on solar technology, insulation and building materials that are environmentally sustainable. Planning Minister Andrew Barr says there is also a practical check list of things to look for when buying a home. "So things like the aspect of the house, if it faces north for example," he said.

"The sorts of insulation that will work, the better heating and cooling options that are available for houses, lighting and water supply issues, and so there is quite detailed information in each of the guides to assist consumers. Depending on whether you are looking to build a new home or renovate one there are lists of very practical things you can do to improve the environmental efficiency of your house and then also save yourself a lot of money on heating and cooling and other energy costs."

19 June 2008 New silent board expands the UK's widest range of acoustic products and solutions

The UK’s leading acoustic insulation solutions provider has expanded its extensive range of acoustic insulation products and solutions with the introduction of a new acoustic wall insulation board. JCW Silent Board has been added to the JC Wilkins’ range and offers a proven way to dramatically reduce sound transmission through wall structures. JCW Silent Board can be applied quickly and easily to lightweight wall structures or existing plasterboard. When used with JCW Acoustic Sealant around the perimeter its ability to meet Part E of the Building regulations makes it an ideal way to upgrade walls in ‘noisy neighbour situations’ or walls which have failed pre-completion acoustic testing.

Fire retardant and made from 100% recycled materials, JCW Silent Board is also recyclable itself and is ideal for both new-build and refurbishment projects. A 15mm acoustic layer laminated to a 12.5mm acoustic board creates a slim, 27.5mm profile which is just half that of most other systems. This allows JCW Silent Board to take up minimal room yet still provide outstanding insulation performance, and it is also compatible with any type of decorative finish. UKAS-accredited laboratory and site tests data is available from JC Wilkins to illustrate the outstanding acoustic insulation performance of JCW Silent Board.

The JC Wilkins range of acoustic products and solutions is the widest in the UK. It includes everything from leveling pods, acoustic decks and battens to acoustic underlays, matting, tiles and isolating strips. All products are supported by a rapid 24-hour nationwide delivery service, plus a full spectrum of technical expertise and advice which is available from JC Wilkins.

10 June 2008 Birmingham Airport extension will cost £12m in noise insulation

Birmingham International Airport’s runway extension will trigger a bill of at least £12m on noise insulation for homes and schools because of increased air traffic.
Without the multi-million pound investment, up to 1800 residents living near the airport would be "seriously annoyed" by the noise, according to a new health impact report. And the concentration levels and educational success of children attending nearby schools would also be adversely affected unless proper insulation is provided.

Joe Kelly, the airport’s acting managing director, said: "We expect the overall costs of environmental mitigation attributable to the runway extension will be around 10% of the entire project - a significant element. This includes the capital costs of environmental mitigation plus ongoing costs of sound insulation."

Total costs of the project, which would see the runway extended by 405m towards Bickenhill and Hampton-in-Arden, will be around £120m. The development is expected to see up to 17,000 extra flights a year and create more than 2000 jobs.

6 June 2008 Saint-Gobain buys controlling 43.64% of Japanese insulation company MAG

Saint-Gobain said it is buying a 43.64% stake in Japanese glass wool manufacturer company MAG from Nippon Sheet Glass for 1.75bn yen.

Following completion of the transaction, Saint-Gobain will have operational control over MAG and be the company's joint-largest shareholder together with Taiheiyo Cement. MAG posted sales of 20.21bn yen in 2007 and has about 440 employees, the French construction materials company said in a statement.

6 June 2008 Habitat for Humanity selects Spray Foam Insulation in California

Spray Foam Energy Solutions, a California based Spray Foam Insulation contractor, and Habit for Humanity have teamed up on a five home project in California to extend the benefits of Spray Foam Insulations considerable energy efficiency and increased interior comfort to Habitat homeowners.

Numerous people involved with Habitat for Humanity were present during the two day installation process and we had the opportunity to answer many questions and explain how much more energy efficient, quiet, healthy and comfortable homes are when Spray Foam Insulation is installed. Everyone involved was thrilled to see the installation and learn about long term benefits spray foam add to the homes.

The future homeowners were equally excited to learn that the energy costs for the home would remain significantly lower for the life of the home and be more comfortable to live in at the same time.

5 June 2008 Kingspan lead the way at awards

Kingspan Insulation led the way at the annual Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce Awards, held at Eastnor Castle. The Pembridge-based company scooped the coveted title of Business of the Year.

The firm is the world’s leading manufacturer of rigid phenolic and rigid urethane insulation and specialises in the solution of insulation problems, offering one of the widest ranges of insulants available from any UK manufacturer. 2008 saw a record-breaking number of entries, doubling last year's tally.

5 June 2008 Tai Tokerau insulation project announced

An insulation project for 4000 houses has been announced in Kaitaia, New Zealand. The five year project promises warmer, drier and healthier homes. It is being jointly funded by a number of NZ Government agencies, the ASB Trust and Northland power companies.

Tai Tokerau healthy homes group chairman Chris Farrelly says all low income Northland people who live in houses built before 1978 will be eligible. He says research by the Wellington School of Medicine has shown that links between housing and health are indisputable.

The project will cost about NZ$1.8m in its first year and run for five years.

4 June 2008 LaPolla signs definitive agreement to acquire AirTight

LaPolla Industries, Inc., a leading national manufacturer and supplier of spray foam and coatings designed to reduce energy consumption in the commercial and residential markets, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of AirTight Marketing & Distribution, Inc. ('AirTight').

Based in Rutledge, Georgia, AirTight is one of the southeast's leading spray foam insulation distributors. AirTight's staff has decades of experience in the insulation market and offers one of the top turn-key start-up and training programs in the United States.

Financial terms of the AirTight transaction were not released. The transaction is subject to completion of customary and ordinary due diligence and closing on 1 July 2008.

4 June 2008 UK Govt. grants for home insulation

Fylde Low Waste and Energy (FLoWE) and Fylde Borough Council are backing the Home Carbon Saver scheme operated by Energy Services which is committed to helping improve the energy efficiency of all private properties in the Central and Park Wards of the Fylde Borough area.

FLoWE supports the UK Government’s initiative to drive down the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2010 and has sourced substantial funding to help all residents to do the same. As part of the scheme, Home Carbon Saver offers householders grant funded discounts on loft and cavity wall insulation. Residents of Fylde may also qualify for fully funded insulation work depending on individual circumstances.

Over the next few weeks Energy Services, an external organization, will be sending surveyors some parts of the Fylde to deliver letters to households. They will then go door to door with free energy saving advice and confirm what residents are entitled to under the scheme.

Andrew Loynd, Project Manager of FLoWE said “Most people have some loft insulation but in the majority of cases it is not as much as there should be. The Energy Saving Trust recommends a depth of loft insulation of 270mm.

“This project is on the back of funding that all utility companies have to provide to improve domestic energy efficiency. Under this funding anyone is able to get some form of support (normally a reduction in the cost of installation) while anyone who is over 70 or on certain benefits can obtain free insulation”

3 June 2008 Water-based insulation adhesive eco friendly

Design Polymerics, a manufacturer of sealants, adhesives and mastics for the HVAC and insulation industries, now offers DP 3000 water-based insulation adhesive. DP 3000 is a LEED compliant, 0 VOC, fast tack insulation adhesive for the commercial and residential hvacr applications. DP 3000 is supplied in a convenient pressurized canister spray system which is both portable and cost effective. It yield 8000 square feet of coverage from a single canister. DP 3000 eliminates the flammability and VOC issues commonly associated with solvent-based canister spray systems and solvent-based adhesives in general.

2 June 2008 Major expansion plan set to triple manufacturer's production capacity within five years

Rubber World Industries (RWI), the leading manufacturer of closed-cell rubber insulation 'Gulf-O-flex' in the Gulf and South East Asia and part of the international business conglomerate, the Memon Group of Companies, announced that it has invested AED30m in the construction of a new production facility as part of its expansion plans for 2008.

The new plant is expected to triple the manufacturer's production capacity within a five-year period to address the surging demand for rubber insulation products amidst the current construction boom in the region.

At present, the manufacturer holds 80% of the Middle East rubber insulation market and has recorded over AED10m in sales revenues in 2007. The company is also currently supplying 75% of the region's requirements for rubber insulation pipes and sheets, and other rubber-derived products. By reinforcing its current production capacity, RWI is gearing up to address the rapid growth in demand for rubber products, which is forecasted to increase by 4% annually to reach 26.5Mt by 2011, in addition to the soaring orders from developers within the burgeoning property development market in the region.

1 June 2008 Shuttle Discovery loses chunks of foam

Five thin pieces of insulating foam broke off the external fuel tank during the launch of the shuttle Discovery, but they are not believed to have damaged the shuttle. "We saw maybe five pieces of foam break away. We don't consider this a big thing," Bill Gerstenmeier, NASA associate administrator for space operations said. "They were late in the ascent. They can't build up enough velocity that they can hit the orbiter and cause any significant damage," he said. Gerstenmeier said the pieces broke off later that the first two minutes and 15 seconds of the flight, when officials of the US space agency say the danger to the shuttle from shedding insulation foam is greatest.

Chunks of foam from the massive external fuel tank damaged the insulation tiles on the Columbia shuttle during its January 2003 launch, leading to its tragic break-up during re-entry on 1 February 2003, killing all seven astronauts aboard.

Gerstenmeier said that the first piece to break off in the shuttle's launch on 31 May 2008, several seconds past the danger period did not strike the shuttle, and that later ones may have hit but did not have enough velocity to harm the shuttle. "They may be large in size but they appear to be lightweight," he said. Gerstenmeier said that otherwise the launch of Discovery, carrying the main pressure module of Japan's Kibo space station, along with one Japanese and six American astronauts, was near perfect. "What a great day for the launch, things were really smooth," he said.

30 May 2008 Maze-like material keeps buildings cool

Nano-sculpted materials could be key to improving the efficiency of buildings, if a company called Industrial Nanotech has its way. A few weeks ago saw the mysterious 'nano goop' used by solar start-up Sunrgi, but this time the goop is described in a tad more detail. Industrial Nanotech’s Nansulate is an insulating material that controls thermal conduction by passing it through a dense network of nanoparticles that stops heat transfer in its tracks. It’s a spray-on material, rather like paint, and can be applied to any surface as a finish.

First question: Does it work? The company’s web site describes a homeowner in Dallas who attempted to find out. This fellow wanted to insulate his attic against the summertime heat: When outside temperatures climbed to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, the attic could reach 143deg F. A crew of workmen coated the attic with Nansulate and found that on a 103deg F day, the temperature inside the attic fell to 101 F. That’s a dramatic drop in heat transfer into the attic, making it also easier to keep the rest of the house cool and comfortable.

Second question: Is it cheap enough? Industrial Nanotech isn’t sure. Even in these heady green times, energy savings and cost reductions must march in lockstep. “While cost savings will vary according to application, our residential customers regularly report experiencing energy savings between 20% to 40%,” reads a recent press release.

The company and its insulation products have been around for a few years, and they’ve yet to gain real momentum. In April 2008, however, the European Union certified that the company’s coatings meet EU building codes, which are stringent. And a year earlier, the company received a significant boost when the Brazilian oil and gas giant Petrobras ordered 50,000 gallons of a Nansulate coating for a pipeline project. Perhaps with further orders from large industrial customers, the company will be able to achieve some economies of scale and improve its reach into residential and commercial building markets.

The nano part of Nansulate is an engineered particle called hydro-NM-oxide. As the company explains it, the internal architecture of the material is a complex, three-dimensional network of those tiny particles, forming a maze for heat to travel through. Another company, Nanopore, describes its thermal insulation material similarly, attributing the insulating properties to the miniscule size and unique arrangement of the material’s pores and the tiny connections between nanoparticles within the material.

Yet another nanotech approach to insulation uses aerogels, which can be made to be highly porous, consist of chains of nanoscale particles that create a tangle of fibres and can also perform well as barriers.

22 May 2008 Owens Corning pursuing LEED certification of foam insulation facility

Owens Corning announced that it has registered with the US Green Building Council to pursue a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) New Construction (NC) certification for its Gresham (Oregon) foam insulation facility. The Gresham facility would join the company’s Toledo, Ohio world headquarters in being LEED certified.

"Our decision to pursue LEED certification of the Gresham facility reflects our strong commitment to sustainability," said Kim Howard, vice president and general manager, foam insulation. "As a leader in energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction, it’s important that we have a building in Gresham that is on the forefront of sustainable construction."

21 May 2008 Cabot Aerogel to provide insulation for Gulf of Mexico pipeline

Cabot Aerogel's insulating Nanogel aerogel Compression Pack has been chosen to line a 60km subsea oil pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico, operated by Energy Resource Technology. The pipeline is expected to grab accolades as the longest aerogel-insulated pipeline. Light and well-insulating, aerogels are also thought of as 'frozen smoke.'

Cabot Aerogel is a business unit of Boston-based materials company Cabot Corp. Cabot has been producing Nanogel in a manufacturing facility located near Frankfurt, Germany, since 2003. Energy Resource Technology is a wholly owned subsidiary of Helix Energy Solutions Group of Houston.

19 May 2008 Zotek foams awarded FM Global 4910 approval

Zotefoams Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturer of cross-linked block foams, has announced that its ZOTEK F 42 HT LS PVDF foam line has been awarded FM Global 4910 clean-room materials flammability test approval. It is believed that ZOTEK F 42 HT LS is the first foam insulation to meet the standards of this rigorous test protocol.
ZOTEK F 42 HT LS is a high-temperature foam recommended for use in a variety of sealing and insulation applications in the semiconductor, pharmaceutical and chemical-processing industries where exceptionally low smoke release and flame propagation is required in the event of fire.

It can be used over a wide temperature range (-48°C to 155°C), during which the material maintains its ductility and resilience. ZOTEK F 42 HT LS also exhibits exceptionally low out-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under Semiconductor Standards for clean rooms. This purity is based on Zotefoams' manufacturing process that expands engineering resins, such as ultra-pure Kynar PVDF resins, into high-performance foams through the use of only inert nitrogen gas, heat and pressure. ZOTEK F line of foams also show excellent chemical and UV resistance, primarily due to the base properties of Kynar PVDF polymers that are used in harsh chemical environments, and UV-resistant coatings for external structures. ZOTEK F foams exhibit only slight reduction in mechanical properties and show color retention even after long exposure to UV light.

A successful application of ZOTEK F 42 HT LS in clean environments is T-Tubes, an advanced insulation system that has been specifically developed for operator protection on hot steam lines in the Biotech industry. The closed-cell nature of ZOTEK F 42 HT LS allows for cutting and installing in clean environments without particulating. Combined with the sealed surface of the thermally molded T-Tubes, ZOTEK F 42 HT LS provides moisture and mold-growth resistance, and removes the need for the cumbersome jacketing that is used in other pipe-insulation systems. The insulation system is easy to install with custom-moulded fittings such as elbows, Ts and valve covers with an overlapping self-adherent tape.

18 May 2008 New insulation business formed

Mark Roningen, Ken Traynor and Stace Gendreau have formed Insulation Systems to deliver closed cell polyurethane insulation to the Bismarck-Mandan community in the US. Insulation Systems offers both closed cell spray polyurethane insulation as well as blown-in cellulose products. Closed cell products with an R-value twice that of standard insulation per inch and none of the mould, water or allergen issues associated with fibreglass or open cell products affords the homeowner a means to insulate their home.

15 May 2008 NZ$53m in the budget for state house insulation

More than NZ$50m is going to be spent insulating state houses, New Zealand's Green Party announced today. The project is a budget bid by the Greens under their Healthy Homes policy. Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said that after five years every state house would be insulated. That is double the current rate of progress for existing insulation programmes.

"The Greens see this as an investment in the future health of New Zealanders," Ms Fitzsimons said. "We estimate that the country will recover this investment four-fold in 20 years in energy and health savings." Ms Fitzsimons said the $53.4m would be spent on the remaining 21,000 uninsulated state houses, with most of the work done in the first two years. "Research indicates that insulated homes use on average a fifth less energy than uninsulated homes," she said. "People report health improvements, including half the number of respiratory symptoms. Children in insulated houses had half the number of days off school."

Ms Fitzsimons said that as well as installing insulation, the project included draft-proofing windows, wraps for hot water cylinders, putting in energy efficient shower heads and lagging pipes. She did not think there would be problems finding people to do the work because it took only two weeks to train them.

Housing Minister Maryan Street said the funding would dramatically accelerate the existing programme. "Almost 12 homes a day will be insulated," she said. "There is mounting evidence linking poor housing conditions with negative health and social outcomes. Over half the people in state homes are under the age of 20, and 10% are over the age of 60." Ms Street said Housing New Zealand owned and maintained about 68,600 properties. Many were built before 1978, before insulation was mandatory.

15 May 2008 UK over-70s to get free home insulation

People aged over 70 are to be offered free home insulation as part of a UK-government-backed campaign to encourage action on climate change. Retailer B&Q said it would offer to install insulation for over 70s and those on benefits beginning with 700 employees this summer.

The pledge was among several made by business leaders at a summit this week to encourage consumer support for the 'Together' climate change campaign. The campaign said consumers could save up to three tonnes of carbon dioxide and up to UK£1,152 on household bills a year by choosing 'green' products.

It aims to help each UK household save 1t of carbon dioxide over the next two years. The initiative, launched last year by former prime minister Tony Blair, initially involved eight companies, including Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Royal & SunAlliance.

13 May 2008 NASA insulation wins award

The 2007 NASA Government Invention of the Year is a heat shield material slightly more dense than balsa wood that is designed to protect spacecraft during their fiery re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. The Lightweight Ceramic Ablator material (LCA) is a low-density material that weighs one-fifth as much as conventional heat shields, but can withstand temperatures up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, according to project engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California. The material has a foundation made of fibres coated with a thin layer of organic polymeric resin. The resin, traditionally used as a bonding agent, creates a light, durable, heat-resistant shield.

"This material will play a key role in NASA's future space missions as we mount human and robotic missions to the moon, asteroids, Mars and throughout the solar system," said S. Pete Worden, Ames center director. "This is indeed an honor and I'm very proud of the Ames team that developed this critical technology."

Because of their durability and low-density, the LCA family of protective materials is expected to play a significant role in future NASA missions every time a spacecraft enters a planetary atmosphere. The materials quickly are becoming the industry standard for heat shields on commercial spacecraft. The invention may lead to the application of heat shields specially tailored for broader commercial and government applications.

NASA applied a type of this innovative heat shield material, the Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA), on the Stardust sample return capsule, which brought back to Earth the first comet particles and interstellar dust samples in January 2006. Stardust holds the record for the fastest Earth re-entry speed of any human-made object. PICA is planned for use as the heat shield on the new Orion crew vehicle and the Mars Science Laboratory mission. Other LCAs were used to protect the Mars rovers during their descent to the surface of the Red Planet.

12 May 2008 CertainTeed launches CertaSpray(TM) foam insulation

CertainTeed have launched CertaSpray(TM) foam insulation, a new polyurethane spray foam. CertaSpray creates an air seal and can be used in whole house and building applications or in combination with fibreglass insulation, particularly in hard to reach areas such as cathedral ceilings, knee walls and roof decks. By reducing air leakage, CertaSpray minimises hot and cold spots and provides outstanding comfort and indoor air quality by impeding the penetration of moisture and outdoor allergens.

"In expanding our product line into the rapidly growing spray foam segment, building professionals now have the freedom to choose from a wide variety of high-quality insulation products from a company and brand they trust," says Howard Deck, President of CertainTeed's Insulation Group. Consisting of a two-component foam insulation, CertaSpray is sprayed into a building cavity and quickly expands to fill every opening that can potentially leak air. The open-cell formula expands to create a soft, flexible insulation, and the closed-cell formula results in a hard, rigid consistency that provides added structural integrity to walls.

"Compared to other spray foam insulation products, CertaSpray sticks to surfaces and stays put, making roof deck and cathedral ceiling applications much easier and with less waste," says Mike Allen, a manager at Suncoast Insulators of Citrus County, Florida. "When adding CertaSpray insulation to existing houses, homeowners appreciate the absence of a strong odor, which, with other products, can linger for more than a week."

CertaSpray can be used in a wide variety of applications, including interior and exterior walls, cathedral ceilings, roof decks, stairways and around windows, doors, plumbing and recessed lighting. The product is only installed by CertainTeed qualified contractors in order to achieve the most rigorous quality standards and helps meet the requirements of an Energy Star® home.

"Since becoming a qualified CertaSpray contractor, we have helped more than 100 new homeowners ensure their home's energy efficiency through the use of CertaSpray insulation," added Allen. "Once they have seen how the product works and how tightly the insulation seals their home, they are absolutely thrilled that they made the investment."

9 May 2008 Borealis develops faster cross-linking of PE cable insulation

Borealis of Austria has introduced 'Visico FX' to speed up the manufacture of cable insulation from cross-linked polyethylene. According to the company, cross-linking is twice as fast as with conventional Visico grades and up to five times faster than with XLPE grafts. Rapid curing speeds up the production process and saves energy.

8 May 2008 Spray Foam Nation unveils online spray foam insulation resource - SprayFoamNation.com

An online resource for spray foam insulation, to help consumers with effective energy conservation, was recently unveiled by Spray Foam Nation. This is a complete virtual store offering quality spray foam supplies, guidance and information. The website is located at http://www.sprayfoamnation.com

7 May 2008 Isover helps with energy levels

Space and hot water heating accounts for almost 90% of a household’s energy costs but coincidentally 90% of that could be saved if the home was insulated to Passive House standards, according to Saint-Gobain Isover UK. Data in Isover’s new guide to planning and realising the Multi-Comfort building of the future shows the energy demands of a typical one-family house can be as low as 15kWh/m²a for a very low energy home while its CO2 emissions can be just 2kg/m²a.

At the other end of the spectrum, the energy demands for a home with completely insufficient thermal insulation can be as high as 300kWh/m²a with CO2 emissions of 60kg/m²a. A home like this could use as much as 30 litres of heating oil per m² of living space per year.

In between, a low-energy home could have energy demands of 40kWh/m²a and CO2 emissions of 10kg/m²a while a home with just insufficient thermal insulation (typically those built in the 1950s and 60s but ripe for renovation) up to 150kWh/m²a with CO2 emissions of 30kg/m²a.

Optimum building location and positioning of windows and doors as well as very high levels of insulation and a tight building envelope all help to reduce the energy consumption of a standard house built to current Building Regulations from Euro8/m² per year to Euro1/m² for a Multi-Comfort House.

'Built for the future – The Isover Multi-Comfort House' discusses the concept, advises on how to design and plan to it, and shows case studies of new-build and refurbished houses, apartments, offices and schools. It also details the sustainability of mineral glass wool insulation and is available from Isoverpr@saint-gobain.com.

6 May 2008 Thermore® introduces Rinnova® 100% recycled PET insulation

Milan-based Thermore® S.p.A., a manufacturer of thermal insulation for outerwear and related products, has introduced Rinnova® 100% insulation made from 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres derived from plastic bottles. According to the company, a typical jacket made using the insulation can save energy equivalent to that used by a 100-watt light bulb for 60 hours.

“Even after we introduced the original Rinnova back in 2005, which featured a 50% minimum recycled content, Thermore continued to further research and develop an insulation made completely from 100-percent recycled materials,” said Joe DiGirolamo, director of sales, North America. “Our development team was able to achieve the higher recycled content and soft hand our customers wanted, while still maintaining the functional aspects that make Thermore so appealing for cold weather products.”

Rinnova 100% will be offered in multiple weights for a variety of climatic conditions. There also will be two thickness options per weight, including High Loft for bulkier articles and Super Compact for form-fitting outerwear and gloves.

30 April 2008 Canadian insulation standard to rise for new homes and renovations

New homes are about become a little cozier as a result of changes to British Columbia's building code. Starting on 5 September 2008, the minimum standard for insulation in ceilings and attic space will rise to RSI 9.0 from RSI 7.7 for homes in northern and central British Columbia, according to information issued by the provincial government's office of housing and construction standards.
According to provincial government estimates, construction costs will rise from 0.3-1.3% depending on the location. Jim Wallace of Durawall Construction Ltd. said the figures appear accurate and may be closer to 0.3% for Prince George. Provincial government officials also estimate the additional cost will be offset by savings in energy costs over four to nine years.

30 April 2008 VFI Awarded Class I Rating for Spray Foam Insulation

Volatile Free, Inc. announced that as a result of ASTM E-84 testing by Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc., VFI has been awarded a Class I fire rating for its VFI-714 closed cell, 1.9lb. spray insulating foam. VFI-714 meets Energy Star standards, is environmentally safe and does not contain urea formaldehyde or VOCs.

29 April 2008 Berger Paints buys Bolix for US$38.6m

Berger Paints India today has signed an agreement for the acquisition of 100% shares of Bolix SA (Bolix), a leading provider of External Insulation Finishing System (EIFS) in Poland, from Advent International, a global private equity group. The acquisition will be made through a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berger Paints India in Cyprus. The acquisition will be carried out at an estimated net purchase price of around US$38.6m. The purchase is conditional upon fulfillment of certain conditions precedent including clearance by the Polish Anti-Monopoly Office. The price is subject to usual adjustments at the time of completion of the transaction. Ernst and Young Private, India, were the financial advisors to Berger on the transaction.

28 April 2008 Better times ahead for thermal insulation in North America

Total North American demand for residential and commercial thermal insulation is estimated to be 374bn square feet at R-1 (abbreviated SFR) and valued at US$7.4bn in 2007, according to Principia Partners. This is down by 10% from 417bn SFR and down by 7% in value from US$7.9bn in 2006. Residential and commercial insulation is comprised primarily of blanket, loose fill, board and spray foam products, made from fibreglass, cellulose and foams and used primarily in walls, attics and floors to reduce thermal conductivity, minimise air infiltration, and in some applications provide acoustical benefits.

A new market study by Principia Partners provides a detailed look into the market for thermal insulation in the residential and commercial construction markets in North America, including current and forecast demand estimates as well material trends, energy codes and the latest promotional programmes.

Residential markets account for 231bn SFR valued at US$3.1bn in 2007. Residential volumes declined 18% from 2006 while value dropped 20% driven by a 25% decline in US housing starts. The primary insulating material in residential construction is fibreglass, representing an approximately 80% of volume and 70% value in this segment for 2007.

In 2007, commercial insulation demand represents 143bn SFR valued at US$4.2bn. While new residential construction in the US suffered its worst decline since 1980, the commercial market continued to grow at a rate of 7% during 2007. Thermal insulation used in commercial applications posted volume growth of 6.7% during this same time while value grew slightly less at 5.5% due primarily to lower pricing. Fibreglass insulation is also the predominant insulation type in commercial construction at just under 48% of total volume followed closely by rigid foam at 39% which is used more extensively in roof and wall insulation. Rigid foam was the largest market value category at US$2.5bn, or 59% of total commercial market value.

On the supply side, significant product volume and revenue are held by a few key players in certain segments. The top ten suppliers overall supply 87% of the volume and 83% of the value, over US$6bn in 2007. Owens Corning holds approximately 20% share of total insulation sales in North America, while Johns Manville and CertainTeed collectively account for a similar share. Smaller fibreglass insulation producers Knauf and Guardian make the top ten ranking. In other insulation types, US GreenFiber is the largest producer of cellulose insulation sold, while Dow is the leading supplier of foamed polystyrene. Atlas Roofing, Firestone Building Products, and Carlisle – primarily supplying commercial insulation – combine to round out the top ten suppliers in North America.

“The major decline in the U.S. residential construction over the past 2 years has impacted the insulation category, but demand from the commercial segment has helped buffer the impact. Overall, it’s a tough market but will improve with the economic and housing cycles going forward,” states John Pruett, Director of Marketing and New Business Development at Principia. Going forward over the next five years, Principia projects that overall demand will increase from 375bn SFR valued at US$7.4b in 2007 to 441bn SFR valued at US$8.7bn by 2012, or nearly 4% compounded average annual growth over this time period.

Principia’s study has analysed the drivers and trends of the residential and commercial insulation market by material type and segment, distribution channel, and region, and provides forecasts for the next five years. Results of the report will provide subscribers with critical market data and analyses essential for planning purposes.

18 April 2008 Bayer AG to buy Dutch insulation maker

Bayer AG said it will buy Resina Chemie BV, a Dutch maker of insulation foams, for an undisclosed amount to complement the polyurethane business of its Material Science division. Resina makes rigid polyurethane foams used in refrigeration and for construction, Bayer said in a statement. The transaction is subject to the approval of antitrust authorities, it added.

18 April 2008 BASF develops new energy saving technology

BASF has partnered with window system manufacturer Aluplast to create an energy saving solution for its glass fibre reinforced nanotechnology using Ultradur PBT High Speed resin. The performance resin is being utilised as a substitute for steel to improve thermal insulation in the Aluplast window profile. The new system is 60% lighter than previous ones and employs current processing technology. It also offers 20% increase in the U-value.

18 April 2008 Knauf to set up a gypsum drywall and thermal insulation plant in the UAE

Knauf has announced plans to set up a new manufacturing plant in the UAE. Once completed, the US$136m plant will produce building materials such as gypsum boards, metal studs, channels, joint compounds, drywall accessories, plasters and thermal insulation products for construction sites accross the UAE and the Middle East. The plant capacity will be approximately 40Mm2 of gypsum boards per year.

17 April 2008 Unifrax plans a US$20m Tonawanda expansion

Unifrax I LLC said that it plans to invest US$20m to expand its Tonawanda manufacturing plant, adding 50 new jobs.The board of directors of the Niagara Falls-based company approved the project, which will be done with a US$1.5m package of grants and tax credits from the state, including the New York Power Authority, as well as National Grid. The expansion work is to begin this year with completion targeted for 2009.

Unifrax, with three Western New York operations and an employment roll of 300, is a maker of ceramic fibre insulation products. The Tonawanda site employs 180 with the new positions to come in the next two years. In all, Unifrax has 14 manufacturing plants in the US, Europe, Asia, and Latin America and 1200 workers.

16 April 2008 Aspen Aerogels to insulate 21km subsea pipeline in Gulf of Mexico

Aspen Aerogels has been awarded a contract from Helix Energy Solutions Group to supply insulation for a 21km subsea pipe-in-pipe line in the Gulf of Mexico. The line will be located in the Anadarko Petroleum oil discovery on the Power Play deepwater prospect on Garden Banks Block 302.

Helix chose Aspen Aerogels' Spaceloft insulation because it offers the lowest thermal conductivity while being much thinner than other pipe insulations. In a pipe-in-pipe line, this means the outer pipe can be smaller, saving substantially on steel weight and cost. Spaceloft comes in reinforced, flexible blanket form, which greatly simplifies installation. Helix will install the Spaceloft at its spool-base in Port Arthur, Texas, beginning in 2008.

Harry Walkoff, Aspen Aerogels' vice president of sales and marketing, Hydrocarbon Processing Industries, said: "This is the first project among many in which we hope to support Helix, providing our proven insulation materials and delivering performance where it is needed. We are happy to contribute to Helix's success on this project."

31 March 2008 Owens Corning innovates new technology for foam insulating systems

Owens Corning, a world leader in building materials systems and glass fibre reinforcements, has announced that it has developed new blowing agent technology that will allow the company to manufacture its complete line of foam insulating systems in North America with more than a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and zero ozone depletion. Owens Corning has already begun the conversion of its foam insulation manufacturing facilities to the new blowing agent technology. The timetable will ensure the full conversion of its North American manufacturing footprint for foam insulation, inclusive of the start-up of a new facility in Gresham, Oregon, prior to the Montreal Protocol mandate of 2010.

"The development of this new technology and investment in the full conversion of our manufacturing facilities reflects our long-term commitment to our customers and the growth of their businesses," said Kim Howard, vice president and general manager, foam insulation. "We will continue to look for new technologies that better deliver insulating systems, save energy, protect the environment, and meet our customers' needs."

Owens Corning Pink Foamular(R) and Propink(R) Rigid Foam insulating systems save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing a durable exterior sheathing that is resistant to damage, provides an insulating value of R5 per inch, and is moisture resistant. Owens Corning foam insulation products are used in above and below grade applications in residential, commercial and industrial markets.

Frank O'Brien-Bernini, chief sustainability officer, said: "An investment in insulation manufacturing is a long-term investment in energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction. Extruded polystyrene foam board is an important insulation product that meets the market need for efficient thermal performance combined with durability and moisture resistance. Simultaneous with this major technology conversion, we remain focused on further reducing energy intensity and emissions from our manufacturing operations around the world."

31 March 2008 Danish Rockwool ready to make acquisitions in 2008

Danish stone wool group Rockwool International A/S is prepared to make acquisitions already in 2008 as part of its growth strategy, CEO Eelco van Heel said an investor meeting. The group is currently looking for possible acquisition targets as it has both the financial and managerial potential, van Heel said. A large part of the group's ongoing capacity expansion projects are close to be completed and Rockwool could make acquisitions in order to expand further, the chief executive said.

In its financial statement for 2007, released on 12 March, 2008, Rockwool reported a 21% year-on-year rise in turnover to Euro1.875bn (US$2.91bn). The group's net profit more than doubled to Euro263.6m (US$410.8m). Rockwool's sales are expected to benefit from the rising awareness of climate issues and focus on carbon dioxide emissions, since insulation is an effective way to reduce those emissions, van Heel said, adding that the group's biggest rivals on that front would be the producers of renewable energy.

For 2008 Rockwool expects a turnover on par with the previous year and a net profit of some Euro174.3m (US$271.6m). The group's investments are planned to be approximately Euro268m (US$418m).

31 March 2008 BASF opens window on efficiency

BASF has partnered with window system manufacturer Aluplast to create an energy saving solution for its glass fibre reinforced nano-technology using Ultradur PBT High Speed resin. The performance resin is being utilised as a substitute for steel to improve thermal insulation in the Aluplast window profile. The new system is 60% lighter than previous ones and employs current processing technology. It also offers a 20% increase in the U-value.

Download PRo Calendar 2009 (pdf, 150kb) FICEM-APCAC 7-10 September, Bogotá, Colombia How to Exhibit, 24 September 2009, Epsom, UK International Colloquium on Refractories, 23-24 September 2009, Aachen, Germany 3rd Global Capital Conference 1-2 October 2009, London International VDZ Congress 2009 30 September - 2 October 2009 Global Cement Conference Iran 11-13 October 2009, Tehran, Iran 11th UNITECR 2009 13-16 October, Salvador, Brazil 4th Global Insulation Conference 2009, 2-3 November 2009, Prague 7th Arab International Conference and Exhibition on Environment Protection in Cement Industry 10-12 November, Beirut 5th Global Slag Conference, 23-24 November 2009, Brussels, Belgium (note date and venue change) Global Micropayments Conference, 1 December, London 52nd IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Industry Technical Conference, 28 March - 1 April 2010, Colorado Springs 22nd AFCM Technical Symposium, 27-29 April 2010, Danang, Vietnam Global Ash Conference 11-12 May 2010, Düsseldorf 4th Global Alternative Fuels Conference for Cement and Lime, June 2010, Washington DC, US Hillhead quarrying show, 22–24 June 2010, Buxton, UK 10th Global Gypsum Conference and Exhibition, 25-26 October 2010, Paris, France

ABB Robotics AB
ACC La Jonchere
Air Products S.A.S.
Aislantes Minerales, S.A. de C.V.
Askim Mek. Versted AS
Albemarle Europe sprl
AURA Engeneering
FLSystems (Alvey/SES)
Bayer Material Science
Bayer Technology Services
BING (European) Polyurethane Manufacturers Association
Blom Engineering
Caljan Rite-Hite
CertainTeed Corp.
CertainTeed
CIMA (US) Cellulose Insulation Manufactuerers Assocation
CNBM International Corporation
Dow Italia S.r.l.
Elastogran GmbH
Eumeps European Manufactuerers of Expanded Polystyrene
EURIMA European Insulation Manufacturers Association
Evanite Fiber Corp.
Festo AG & Co.KG
Fibrex Insulations, Inc.
Forberg International A/S
Flumroc AG
Fuji Yusoki Robotics
GCD International
GE Advanced Materials Silicones
Glava A/S
Goldschmidt AG (Degussa)
GrenzebachHaloila Ab
Hennecke
Heraklith AG
Hexion Specialty Chemicals
Honeywell Chemicals
Huntsman (Europe) BVBA
Industrial Insulation Group, LLC
Invista Resins & Fibers GmbH
Isolatek International
Izocam Ticaret veSanayi A.S.
Jacobs Engineering
Johns Manville
KCI Inc
Kinkele GmbH
Knauf Insulation S.A
Knauf Insulation (US)
Konrad Reitz Ventilatoren GmbH
Kuka Robot GmbH
Lachenmeier
Leister Process Technologies
Lenze AG
Leuze Electronic GmbH
Martek-Sapientia
Meckelborg OY
Mercamer Oy
Mondi Belcoat N.V.
Münstermann GmbH
NAIMA North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
(US) National Insulation Association Owens Corning
Oxid Europe
Paroc Group Oy Ab
Pieri
PIMA (European) Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association
Portec (Flomaster)
Premier Tech Systems
Rock Wool Manufacturing Co.
Rockwool International A/S
Roulunds
Roxul, Inc.
SAGER AG
Saint-Gobain Isover S.A.
Seelen
Siegling GmbH
Sloss Industries Corp.
Stepan Europe
Supresta Netherlands B.V
Sweco PIC Oy
Synthesia Española S.A.
Termo d.d.
Thermafiber, Inc.
Univeyor A/S
Ursa International GmbH - Grupo Uralita
USG Interiors, Inc.
Vesme
VÚMS a.s.
Walki Wisa GmbH

Categories:

Global insulation markets

The European insulation industry - challenges faced in 2008 (GI Magazine, February 2008, downloads as eGI_May08_ExaneBNPParibas.pdf, 2.05MB)

Insulation regulations

EN Standard 14933 for EPS in civil engineering applications (GI Magazine, October 2007, downloads as eGI_Oct07_EN Regulations.pdf, 428KB).

EPS

A burning issue - changing the perspectives on the fire performance of buildings (GI Magazine, May 2008, downloads as eGI_May08_EUMEPS.pdf, 1.47MB)

EPS loose-fill cavity wall insulation (GI Magazine, February 2008, downloads as eGI_Feb08_EPS Ineos Nova.pdf, 631KB).

Polystyrene: Expanding into the future (GI Magazine, September 2007, downloads as eGI_Sep07_EPS.pdf, 733KB).

High-performance thermal insulation for load-bearing applications (GI Magazine September 2007, downloads as eGI_Sep07_Extruded EPS.pdf, 216KB).

Mineral wool

Modern binding systems for mineral wool-based thermal insulation (GI Magazine, May 2008, downloads as eGI_May08_TechoNICOL.pdf, 2.30MB)

Country profiles

On the Chinese insulation industry (GI Magazine October 2007, downloads as eGI_Oct07_China.pdf, 207KB).

Misc. insulation materials

FOAMGLAS - a paradigm shift in insulation technology (GI Magazine, May 2008, downloads as eGI_May08_Foamglas.pdf, 1.26MB)

What is 'radiant barrier paint? (GI Magazine February 2008, downloads as eGI_Feb08_RIMA.pdf, 399KB).

Flexible aerogel blanket - a step change in thermal management and energy conservation (GI Magazine October 2007, eGI_Oct07_Aerogel.pdf, 287KB).

Grown materials: Revolutionising the way people produce and use insulation (GI Magazine October 2007, downloads as eGI_Oct07_Greensulate.pdf, 673KB).

Thermal properties of insulating materials prepared from coal ash and thermal asphalt (GI Magazine September 2007, downloads as eGI_Sep07_Asphalt-Flyash.pdf, 218KB).

PVC industry champions energy saving through '2 litre house' (GI Magazine September 2007, downloads as eGI_Sep07_Vinyl house.pdf, 435KB

Packing/palletising/storage

Seelen at Interpack '08 (GI Magazine, May 2008, downloads as eGI_May08_Seelen-Interpack.pdf, 6.10MB)

Shaping more efficiency out of your cold end (GI Magazine February 2008, downloads as eGI_Feb08_Seelen.pdf, 495KB).

Measurement and analysis systems

Advanced on-line gauging system adds value to insulation manufacturing (GI Magazine October 2007, downloads as eGI_Oct07_ThermoFisher.pdf, 1.21MB).