Knauf Insulation announces plans for new €120 million glass mineral wool insulation plant in Malaysia

Knauf Insulation is to build a €120 million plant in Malaysia to meet soaring demand for its Mineral Wool insulation solutions across the Asia Pacific region.

The new plant, which will be located in Johor Bahru in the southern part of the country, will have a capacity of 75,000 tonnes a year. The plant is scheduled to be completed in early 2020 and will create 180 jobs in Malaysia as well as a further 60 new positions across the region.

“We have seen record sales due to increasing energy costs across Asia and more stringent energy-saving building regulations in countries such as Australia, Japan and Korea,” said Stuart Dunbar, Regional General Manager for the Asia Pacific Region at Knauf Insulation.

“This is a reflection of the growing preference our customers have for the exceptional quality, performance, ease of handling and sustainability of our solutions.”

The new facility will build on this success providing a major competitive edge for the company as well as significant advantages for customers. It will feature state-of-the-art technology and control equipment making it one of the most efficient and sustainable insulation plants in the Asia Pacific region. The plant will use up to 80% post-consumer recycled glass in the manufacturing process and feature Knauf patented high compression packaging. All products will be made using Knauf Insulation’s revolutionary bio-based binder, ECOSE® Technology*.

The facility will offer customers enhanced services and a wider product range for residential and non-residential buildings specifically tailored for the Asia Pacific market, as well as solutions for HVAC systems and domestic appliances such as ovens, cars and fridges.

Highly efficient shipping logistics from Malaysia will also enable Knauf Insulation to develop new distribution partnerships in South-East Asian countries and strengthen its presence in the major insulation markets of Japan, Australia, Korea, New Zealand and Singapore.

 “The new facility will open many opportunities to our customers and partners to expand their participation in the developing market for sustainable and energy efficient buildings in the region,” said Mr Dunbar.

Knauf Insulation’s Group COO, David Ducarme said, “We are delighted to announce our new plant in Johor Bahru. This investment testifies the long-term commitment of the Knauf Group to develop its insulation activities worldwide as one of its core business pillars. And it marks another major milestone on our company’s journey to become the world’s leading provider of innovative high-performance insulation solutions.”