Rockwool has enhanced its Trade Range to deliver what it claims is now the UK & Ireland’s most thermally efficient stone wool insulation. PBM puts the questions to Product Manager James Francis who shares more about the manufacturer’s latest product additions, made using NyRock technology, and how the firm is looking to support merchants.
Q: Starting with the basics, just what is NyRock?
A: Rockwool insulation is made using diabase rock that’s naturally produced by the earth’s crust. We melt down this rock then spin it on machinery to form a fleece that’s then made into a variety of sizes and densities for insulation. With NyRock technology (pronounced ‘new’ and the Danish translation of the word, reflecting the firm’s Scandinavian heritage), we’ve built on our production processes by — amongst other things — adding new spinners to make a more efficient fibre structure that’s denser and traps more air.
This extra air helps slow the transfer of heat further and means we’ve made a range of insulation with greater thermal performance. In fact, our new range is the most thermally efficient stone wool insulation available currently in the UK and Ireland.
Q: What products are in the NyRock range?
A: We have two new products that we’re adding to the Rockwool Trade Range: Thermal Insulation Cavity Slab 032 and Thermal Frame Slab 032.
The former is for masonry cavities and can be used in both full fill and partial fill applications. With its 0.032 W/mK thermal conductivity value, it’s a great solution to answer the new higher thermal requirements of Approved Document L in England. When you need to achieve a U-value of 0.18 W/m²K, for example, builders can use 150mm of Thermal Insulation Cavity Slab 032 (depending on the wall build up planned), which is 25mm thinner than the standard stone wool cavity products within the same wall build up.
The second product is Thermal Frame Slab 032 that can be used in a variety of external timber and steel applications, including with a brick outer and with or without a service void.
Q: Why 032?
A: 032 refers to the lambda rating of these products and is measured in Watts per Metre Kelvin (W/mK). Both Thermal Insulation Cavity Slab 032 and Thermal Frame Slab 032 have a 032 W/mK lambda rating. Lambda, represented by the symbol ‘λ’, is a measure of thermal conductivity — how easily heat passes through a specific material. With insulation, you want a material with low thermal conductivity, so a lower lambda value is better.
Q: What are the benefits for builders and why should they try the new range?
A: There are huge benefits to stone wool but until now, levels of thermal performance weren’t quite on a par with other popular insulation types such as glass wool, for example. With these new products, installers can get a new level of thermal performance for stone wool with all the added benefits that will really appeal to customers such as easy fitting.
Rockwool stone wool insulation is built for the long term with independent research showing it remains effective for the life of the building (BBA Certification 22/6252) and as our slabs have a high density semi rigid composition, they will not slump or sag in the cavity.
Stone wool is also able to withstand temperatures in excess of 1000°C and achieves the highest Euroclass A1 non-combustible reaction to fire classification. Its fibre orientation and increased density also helps to trap sound waves and dampen vibrations, significantly reducing outside noise when used in an external wall.
Q: How can customers identify the new products?
A: Across our Trade Range, we’ve updated packaging to make it easier for customers to recognise what they need using graphic devices and symbols. As part of this change, we’ll now be displaying the different lambda ratings within the range, so if a customer needs better thermal performance, look for the lower lambda.
Q: What else is the company doing to support the launch with merchants?
A: We’ll be supporting the launch of Thermal Insulation Cavity Slab 032 and Thermal Frame Slab 032 with a multi-channel marketing campaign, including print advertising, social media support and of course, updated point of sale. As our merchant sales team is on-the-ground and across the UK, they will be visiting customers to share more details and help set up fresh displays to raise awareness of the new products.
We’ve also refreshed our Rockwool Demonstration Experience Truck, which merchants can request to visit their branch to help customers and staff learn more about NyRock technology.
Q: Can merchants expect any further innovation from Rockwool?
A: As business, we’re always looking at ways to innovate. To this end, we’re currently trialling digital point of sale in certain merchant sites across the UK to see how this approach can allow us to be more agile and personalised with content and offers. We’re also further developing an online platform for easier and faster ordering and account management.
Click here for more information on NyRock and about becoming a Rockwool stockist.
Rockwool has also announced that green hydrogen is to be trialled as a power source at the company’s Bridgend factory through an innovative hydrogen pilot supported by BEIS.
The current process for the manufacture of Rockwool’s stone wool insulation uses natural gas in the combustion systems and curing ovens. This new scheme will investigate the viability of converting natural gas usage to on-site produced green hydrogen.
Funded by the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) under the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy through the Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator programme, the project is a partnership between Rockwool, Marubeni Europower and Mott MacDonald to develop a potential end-to-end hydrogen solution in South Wales.
By including electrolytic hydrogen production from local wind and solar renewable power in Bridgend, the project could demonstrate the viability of green hydrogen as an end-to-end fuel solution in industrial processes and a viable on-site production solution, delivering ‘proof of concept’ not only for other Rockwool but also for other industrial sectors across the United Kingdom.
BEIS are supporting the consortium with nearly £400,000 in funding and strategic support for the project as part of a wider announcement of investments into industrial hydrogen projects across the country.
Rafael Rodriguez, Managing Director of Rockwool Ltd and Group Senior Vice President, said: “Action is needed now on climate change. We already produce a net negative product with data showing that over their lifetime, Rockwool insulation products sold in 2022 will save over 100 times more carbon than was emitted during their production.
“However, we want to do more to reduce our operation impact. Rockwool Group has set ambitious decarbonisation targets verified and approved by the Science Based Target initiative, and in line with this, we are looking forward to enhancing our own understanding about the potential for green hydrogen use in our business.”
