1. In the 1970s, our products got their familiar red-and-white-striped packaging.
2. A loft can be a tight space, making it challenging for insulation slabs. During the 1970s, insulation was typically installed in attics using rakes.
At the end of the 1990s, one of our customers gave us the idea to use a blowing machine for installation. We also figured out that blowing allowed us to utilize the cutting waste. Blowing wool thus solved two problems at once: how to work in tight spaces and what to do with waste. It quickly became one of the hottest items on the market.
Today, blowing wool is the most common insulation solution for pitched roofs. For the house owner, it saves time and money. It is also good for the environment, as cutting waste ends up in the attic instead of at the dump.
1. 2016 exceeded expectations for innovation sales. The best metric for our innovation work is the percentage of sales from innovations. In 2016, sales from our innovations increased by a massive 74% over 2015. This represented 20 percentage points over the target we set ourselves for 2016. It is important to note that innovation sales case from both new solutions and improvements in the production process.
We began a large investment in our Polish factory located at Trzemeszno. The objective of the project was to upgrade an existing production line and thereby improve the productivity and increase the capacity by 30%. The upgraded one of the production lines enabled delivery of more advanced technical insulation products to Central Europe.
In 2016, in we generated over 250 documented ideas for improvements in product, technology and processes. Around two thirds of the idea came from R&D teams. But a growing portion (currently around 20%) came from employees that are outside R&D through, for example, innovation competition.
2. Paroc becomes a member of Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Nachhaltiges Bauen e.V., a non-governmental organization, focused on promoting sustainability throughout the constriction and real estate sectors in Germany.
1. Sustainability requirements are driving change among our customers, suppliers, stakeholders and end users. The change is both a significant opportunity and a huge challenge. Paroc wants to be at the forefront of this change.
Over the years, we have aimed at both short- and long-term environmental, social and economic sustainability by developing operations with a focus on resource and energy efficiency. In more recent years, we have started and participated in several projects dealing with everything from our products’ environmental impact to knowledge on how to build energy-efficient houses and how to make energy-efficiency renovations as cost effectively as possible.
We can proudly claim to have pioneered both low-energy house concepts as well as cutting edge concepts for cost-effective energy refurbishments. As we develop our offering, we aim to reduce the energy use in the built environment – without forgetting aesthetic values. The built environment consumes 40% of all energy in the EU. This presents a huge opportunity for solutions that make a difference.
2. Our wool recycling service to customers demonstrates responsibility, enhances our reputation and helps meet EU regulation and building certification schemes. There is clearly increasing interest from customers in rewool. However, the service does not come without challenges. Currently, the wool is often contaminated, arrives in relatively small bags and cannot be stored inside. All this means that there is a high percentage of costly manual work involved, even before we can begin to process it. To improve the cost efficiency of rewool and reuse it for production as opposed to the current lower-value bi-products, such as briquetting, we are looking at increasing the involvement of external waste management partners and also helping customers to reduce the amount of waste themselves.
Our main metric for waste is measuring the amount of waste out from plant. Our target is to recycle more materials ourselves. In 2016, we fell short of our target of 11% (actual 15%) due mostly to the new line we installed at our Poland Trzemeszno plant and closing our Lappeenranta factory in Finland. In addition, there was an impact on waste from a quality issue at Russia’s Tver factory and installation of new machinery at our Hällekis plant in Sweden. Despite this temporary setback in reducing waste, we can still see and overall trend of waste reduction in Paroc – 85% of the total amount of waste was recycled.
1. PAROC Air – the roof insulation solution against moisture. Paroc's innovative ventilated roof insulation against moisture is the clear market leader. All our competitors can do is copy it. Moisture has always been a problem in building construction.
In the middle of the 1980s we developed a flat roof insulation solution with ventilation to solve the moisture problem.
Today this solution is known as PAROC Air. It is the most popular flat roof solution in many of our markets. All our competitors in the insulation business can do is copy it.
2. Paroc carefully studies industry trends when developing new solutions.
PAROC® Prewis™ for seamless rendered facades Architects’ love for rendered facades inspired us to develop our own prefabricated, insulated rendered facade panels.
We launched the solution in 2004. The result combines the ease of prefabricated panels with the beauty of a seamless rendered facade. Rendered facade lamella PAROC Linio 80 is non-combustible stone wool insulation for use as a base layer of thin rendered facade in existing and new buildings. The lamella has excellent thermal insulation and alkali resistance properties. It doesn't accumulate moisture or react to changes in temperature. With rendered facade insulation lamella you can easily create a smooth base layer for thin rendering, improve the sound insulation and increase the fire resistance of walls. Lamellas are installed with adhesive mortar. Separate mechanical fasteners are not normally needed (check the system owner instructions).
1. We recommend a reverberation time of 0.8 – 1.5 seconds at frequencies between 250 – 4000 Hz so that it can be tuned according to different needs. A shorter reverberation time is needed at official gatherings, while a longer time is used for concerts.
If the space is used for multiple purposes, and it differs from the shape of a rectangle surrounding space, use acoustic consultants for designing.
Acoustic solution, halls & auditoriums When designing acoustics for halls and auditoriums, clarify the main purpose of use and use both reflective and absorbing materials on the walls and the ceiling.
Recommended products: PARAFON Classic, PARAFON Colortone, PARAFON Royal
2. PAROC® Pipe Sections insulation – dramatically improved energy savings. Uninsulated or poorly insulated pipes create large energy losses.
Pre-fabricated pipe insulation, pipe sections, dramatically improve energy saving, installation speed and quality. Paroc started pipe section production in 1957. The technology we use is our own invention.
The focus on energy saving creates an increasing demand for the insulation of pipes. The insulation properties of PAROC pipe sections are being improved continuously.
PAROC Hvac Section AluCoat T and PAROC Hvac Bend AluCoat T is non-combustible stone wool pipe insulation for thermal and condensation insulation of pipework in buildings. It has a reinforced aluminium foil facing and tape in the longitudinal seam which prevents condensation and gives a quick installation.
General instructions:
• During the installation, both the object to be insulated and the insulation material should be at a minimum temperature of +10 Celsius.
• Allow the temperature of the insulating material to adjust to the ambient installation temperature.
• Always store the tape at room temperature.
• Check that the surfaces to be joined with tape are clean and dry.
• Ensure that pipe section seams are tight but without extra tension. The same applies at supports and other projecting parts.
1. Paroc named Global Insulation Company of the Year 2016
Paroc Group has been named the Global Insulation Company of the Year 2016 at the 11th Global Insulation Conference – the most important annual event for the insulation industry. Paroc has won the prestigious title for the second time, repeating its success in the 2012 Gala.
This year’s conference, held in Hamburg, Germany at the end of September, saw a growing number of participants representing all stages of investment process – planners, engineers, contractors, insulation manufacturers, as well as construction researchers. The conference has successfully taken place with around 150 delegates from 27 countries, who debated on the newest market trends, manufacturing advances and innovative insulation technologies.
Paroc Group has been given credit for its highly innovative, yet sustainable approach to the insulation market. Last year saw a number of Paroc innovations which helped to create more value from proven materials. The award received by Paroc was largely based on the company's pioneering role in attention to environmental effects.
Apart from the Insulation Company of the Year title, awards were also given in the following categories: Equipment Supplier, Insulation Plant, Insulation Product, Technical Innovation and Personality of the Year. Nominations were received from participants in the global insulation industry in an online voting process. After input from a panel of judges, a final nominations list in each category was put to a final on-line vote, open to all participants in the glob al insulation industry.
Up to this date, Paroc has received two Insulation Company of the Year titles (first one in 2012), as well as the Insulation Product of the Year 2015 award for PAROC eXtra general insulation slab.
2. In Lithuania, we cooperate with Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and Kaunas University of Technology. In addition to giving opne lectures about renovation and construction related topics including fare safety and energy efficiency, in Vilnius Gedelminas Technical University we have established a scholarship for architecture and civil engineer students presenting most advance project design, construction and energy saving solutions.
1. The Grolsch Brewery is built on a huge 25 hectare area south of the town of Enschede near the German border. It replaced two older breweries of the Dutch beer producer Royal Grolsch N.V. The total area of the brewery complex will be 120,000 m2 including a tank building, process and bottling facilities, offices, and a distribution centre as well as a power plant. The brewery produces 3.2 million hectolitres (320 million litres) of beer annually and employs some 650 people.
The architect Andreas Helstedt from the Danish company HMT, specialists in brewery planning, wanted to create an impression of cassettes on the complex facades with PAROC shadow panels. Their V-shaped joints form a clear profile between the panels and emphasise the smoothness of the panels. In the high, massive tank building, “larger cassettes” were created with a new design where shadow joints were applied only to every second panel joint.
The Grolsch Brewery is one of the largest single projects in Paroc Panel System’s history, including approximately 50,000 m2 of PAROC panels:
Facades: PAROC shadow panels
Partitions: PAROC line 200 panels
PAROC corner panels.
2. The indoor football arena is the first and biggest object for sport and entertainment events in Belarus, located in the centre of Minsk. The well-insulated sports arena, with a synthetic football field and 5 000 seats, is also used for exhibitions and concerts. The flat roof is insulated using two layers of fire safe Paroc roof slabs.
Products used: PAROC ROS 60 and PAROC ROB 80.
What is wool?
Facts about wool 1: Term
While in the United States the term “wool” is usually restricted to describing the fibrous protein derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles in sheep. In the UK the term may be used of any long curling fibre such as “wood”, “wire wool”, etc.
Facts about wool 2: Shearing
Sheep shearing is the process by which the woolen fleece of a sheep is cut off. After shearing, the wool is separated into four main categories: fleece (which makes up the vast bulk), broken, bellies, and locks.
Facts about wool 3: Scouring
Wool straight off a sheep, known as “greasy wool” or “wool in the grease”, contains a high level of valuable lanolin, as well as dirt, dead skin, sweat residue, pesticides, and vegetable matter. Before the wool can be used for commercial purposes, it must be scoured, a process of cleaning the greasy wool.
Facts about wool 4: Quality
The quality of wool is determined by its fibre diameter, crimp, yield, colour, and staple strength. Fibre diameter is the single most important wool characteristic determining quality and price.
Facts about wool 5: Production
Global wool production is approximately 1.3 million tonnes per year, of which 60% goes into apparel. Australia is the leading producer of wool which is mostly from Merino sheep. New Zealand is the second-largest producer of wool, and the largest producer of crossbred wool.
Facts about wool 6: Uses
In addition to clothing, wool has been used for blankets, horse rugs, saddle cloths, carpeting, felt, wool insulation and upholstery. Wool felt covers piano hammers, and it is used to absorb odours and noise in heavy machinery and stereo speakers.
Facts about wool 7: Market
United States sheep producers market wool with private or cooperative wool warehouses, but wool pools are common in many states. In some cases, wool is pooled in a local market area, but sold through a wool warehouse.
Facts about wool 8: Organic Wool
Organic wool is becoming more and more popular. This wool is very limited in supply and much of it comes from New Zealand and Australia. It is becoming easier to find in clothing and other products, but these products often carry a higher price.
Facts about wool 9: Bedouins
Bedouins (desert dwellers) have worn sheep wool and sheep wool fabric blend for centuries.
Facts about wool 10: Non-allergenic
Wool is also naturally non-allergenic. Allergic reactions to wool are either due to lanolin, or the many harsh and toxic chemicals that go into the treatment, and finishing of conventional wool garments and bedding.
Source http://infactcollaborative.com
General insulation slab PAROC eXtra is made of non-combustible stone wool and used for thermal, sound and fire insulation applications, such as walls, attics and floors, in all kinds of buildings. The highly insulating general insulation slab is soft and rigid. The slab is easy to handle, cut and install for different kinds of applications. The insulation doesn't settle, shrink or lose its insulation properties during its lifetime. The greater density of the slab is not prone to convection so the thermal resistance of the product is maintained even during extremely cold winters. To insulate a house of 300 m
2 you would need 7 pallets of the Paroc eXtra with total weight of little over 2,5 tons. A young African Elephant has the same weight!