Since June 2000, the former insulating-material division of Armstrong World Industries Inc. (Lancaster / USA; www.armstrong.com) – previously Armstrong Insulation Products GmbH – has been operating in its own right as Armacell International GmbH (D-48153 Münster; www.armacell.de). The new company has been allocated all the rights to Armstrong´s insulation materials, such as “Armaflex” and “Tubolit”. The current company group achieves annual sales of some EUR 265m with 14 production facilities in 11 countries. The 1,500 or so employees worldwide produce and market thermal insulation materials for domestic and industrial engineering installations. The company reports that it has further improved its global market position, despite the persistent crisis in the European construction industry, which has particularly affected Germany.

Armacell describes itself as the world´s leading producer of flexible engineering insulation materials. CEO Ulrich Weimer and managing director Dr. Karl Patez-Lauter are additionally aiming to “move the company into a leading position in the production and marketing of foamed plastics” over the long term. Since the take-over, the company´s activities have been expanded into further segments of the technical insulation market and the worldwide market for insulating materials through acquisitions, alliances and organic growth. Developments in coated insulating board and hoses for industrial applications have been rapidly implemented in this product field, as well as in pre-insulated pipes for solar and refrigeration facilities. The “Marine & Offshore” and “Technical Foams” departments are working on completely new areas of business. New production locations have been brought into operation in Thailand and Brazil, and capacities in Australia are currently undergoing expansion.