KING OF HOT AND COLD

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: 40% of all the energy consumed worldwide is used in buildings principally for heating and cooling. Rockwool, which manufacturers stone wool insulation, says that if insulation and energy efficiency were optimised, the 40% figure could be halved.

Rockwool is a Danish company with global operations in insulation and building products based on stone wool. With energy efficiency high on the agenda worldwide, optimism is similarly high at Rockwool because “the product is amazing, and will be sought-after for years to come”.

“Two of our most important markets, North America and Russia, have also discovered the importance of insulation. In Russia there is even greater awareness than dictated by legislation,” says group chief executive Jakob Sørensen of Rockwool International. “But we work hard to get the message across about how profitable insulation is, and how to save on CO₂. At the same time standards of building insulation are being raised everywhere in order to prevent costly energy waste.” The Russian authorities have invited Rockwool to help set standards for insulation. In Rockwool’s publication “Environment 2006” it is estimated that by using efficient insulation, the energy consumption of buildings can be halved.

New markets in Europe and the USA
Rockwool has two stone wool factories in Poland and two in Russia. Jakob Sørensen remembers Rockwool’s first years in Russia, immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, as a considerable challenge.

“There were significant differences in working practices,” says Sørensen. “As a Danish company we are used to operating with demanding environmental and safety requirements. After a concentrated initial period, the two factories are now running well. In fact our Moscow facility has recently won a prestigious safety prize.” On the North American market, Rockwool has manufactured stone wool since 1937, when it started modest production at a factory in Hedehusene, west of Copenhagen. In 2005, the company generated annual revenues of EUR 1.35 billion. Today Rockwool is the world’s largest manufacturer of stone wool, and is listed on Copenhagen Stock Exchange.

Rockwool has two factories in Canada, close to the US border. The market for stone wool is relatively small, accounting for just 5% compared to glass wool and foam insulation, and according to Jakob Sørensen the reason is the construction industry’s conventional habits.

“Our products have great market potential, not least because they are more fire-proof. This is one of the messages we communicate to trade associations, architects, consulting companies, contractors and politicians. So far, North America accounts for only 5% of Rockwool’s total annual revenues, but it will grow,” says Jakob Sørensen.

Major new investments
Rockwool’s strategy is to expand its activities abroad. The company has initiated a major investment programme including construction of a new factory, and is also focusing on growing its thermal insulation business, having acquired a factory in Malaysia.

Because insulation material mainly consists of air and is expensive to transport, Rockwool focuses on establishing business operations in densely populated areas with high concentration of companies. “In Europe we have a fine-meshed network of factories,” says Jakob Sørensen. “And in the long term we aim to do the same everywhere else, since there is a limit to the distances one can transport the products.” Rockwool is determined to get the message across that insulation is sound economic sense. “It cannot pay not to insulate,” says Jakob Sørensen. “Energy efficiency must be thought into the building right from the start in order to optimise the end results.”

http://www.rockwool.com

Rockwool has manufactured stone wool since 1937, when it started modest production at a factory in Hedehusene, west of Copenhagen. In 2005, the company generated annual revenues of EUR 1.35 billion. Today Rockwool is the world’s largest manufacturer of stone wool, and is listed on Copenhagen Stock Exchange.

Erupting volcano The most energy intensive part of the production process of Rockwool is the melting of the stone which takes place at 1,500°C – comparable to an erupting volcano. The stone is converted into lava, and spun into fibres while the material is fluid. Nonetheless, during its service life Rockwool insulation typically helps to save 128 times the amount of energy used to produce it.	Sound insulation Rockwool not only insulates against heat and cold, but also functions as sound insulation. The Rockfon subsidiary is among Europe’s largest companies producing acoustic ceiling plates, which are made of painted stone wool and cut to size. The ceiling plates are frequently used in open plan offices, institutional buildings, schools and factories.