Paroc Ltd

Tommy Lindgren, Head of Insulation R&D, recently summed up our decarbonization strategy as – “instead of throwing money at the problem, we are trying to improve & innovate wherever possible to change for the better, by simplifying the process, increasing productivity while reducing the needed capital investments to decarbonize.”The most important question: ‘How?’Change is coming whether we want it or not, but we can choose how we approach it. Lindgren talked about decarbonizing our process and Owens Corning‘s goal to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030, compared to 2018 emission level. We could just throw money at the problem, or we could seize the opportunity to make our process simpler and better. To make a real change.In the last couple of years, we have done just that.In a nutshell, the effort can be summed up by the question ‘How?’ How do we change our process so that we achieve our goals and decarbonize our production? We started by going through all the areas in the production process and identifying the ones that generate the most emissions. In OC Paroc’s stone wool production, that area is cupola melting, where the stones are melted using coke as the energy source.Two melting technologies are used in OC Paroc's factories: cupola melting and electric melting furnaces. Whereas cupola melting is powered by coke, electric melting furnaces are powered by electricity. OC Paroc currently has three electric melting furnaces: one in its Finnish factory and two in its Polish factory. Work is underway to establish our biggest production line in Sweden called Natura Line, which will utilize the low CO2 electric melting technology.During 2020, we studied several melting technologies and compared their pros and cons, in addition to several renewable fuels that are available today or are up & coming. It became clear that electric melting was the most energy-efficient option: the production process using electric melting furnaces powered by renewable electricity creates 80% less CO2 emissions than a cupola furnace.New innovationsThen the real work began. It has consisted of going through ideas, ways, and calculations to further develop and improve the electric melting process. This means thinking not only about money, but also about how to spend it to achieve the most efficient, smooth, and low-carbon outcome possible.The work has been a huge learning experience, during which we have found numerous innovative solutions. And we are not only banking on converting the cupolas into electric furnaces: We are further exploring options to reduce CO2 emissions elsewhere in the process. The promising options will be trialled in the near future.A huge step in Poland: renewable electricityLet's take a step back for a moment. When we looked into the components of our production process that generate the most CO2 emissions, electricity came in second. Our factories in Finland and Sweden have been using renewable electricity for some time, but our two electric melting lines in Poland were powered by conventional electricity. As electricity in Poland is still mainly generated using coal, this was reflected in emissions.To change this situation, we started looking into different options for switching to renewable electricity in our Polish factory. In late 2021, this effort was rewarded when Owens Corning signed a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement, or VPPA, with Octopus Renewables.Under the agreement, the Polish factory and its two electric melting furnaces switched to wind-generated electricity at the beginning of 2022. The transition is significant and considerably reduces the carbon footprint of the products manufactured in the electric melting lines of the factory. It is also a big step forward on our decarbonization journey.When I had the introduction meeting with Tommy Lindgren in my first days on the job, he said another thing that stuck with me and continues to be a guiding principle for this work on decarbonization. It was that, as a company, we compete on product quality, which is a strength. It means that no change or innovation we make should compromise the quality of our products.When we are looking for ways to decarbonize our process, price should not be the only criterion nor the most important one.We are not changing for the sake of change, but for the sake of the future. Although our goal is for 2030, we are making a change already today.Ayush Mishra, Global Decarbonization Lead, Green Vision 2030 Project Lead.

Isopartner and Paroc deliver insulation that ensures the performance of new innovative energy technology from Phoenix Bio Power and SiteConcept.The projectClimate change, global warming and ever-increasing energy costs are issues that affect everyone's lives and have become major challenges for all of us. There are no easy solutions: To limit the effects of climate change, the amount of electricity supplied from renewable sources must be doubled at least every ten years, and this is what Phoenix Bio Power wants to contribute to.Products:Paroc Pro Section 100Paroc Pro Section 140Paroc Pro Bend 100Paroc Pro Bend 140Paroc Pro Wired Mat 100Located in Stockholm, Sweden, Phoenix Bio Power is developing a new scalable and cost-effective technology that can double the electrical efficiency of biomass. SiteConcept AB has delivered and installed a large part of the pilot plant, such as the flue gas purification in the form of a ceramic hot gas filter, all process pipes and certain electrical components. SiteConcept has also carried out the electrical installation and participated in testing the facility. Insulation is an important factor in making this ambitious project a success. The optimal insulation solution was identified using PAROC Calculus.What was the insulation task?In the rig that Phoenix Bio Power had built and which was planned to be commissioned in May 2022, tests will be carried out on gasification integrated with ultra-wet combustion. Since the syngas produced (synthesis gas is a mixture of carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, otherwise produced industrially, especially from coal, which is used as a raw material in the production of synthetic chemicals) contains tar in gaseous form, it was important to maintain a high gas temperature throughout the system to avoid cold parts and condensation of tars which can be very sticky. For this reason, high efficiency insulation was required to handle the temperature difference between the gas stream (400 - 900 ° C) and the ambient air.In addition to the syngas stream, the process also includes injection of saturated (200–300 ° C) and superheated (500–550 ° C) steam. This steam is produced in a boiler and superheater. Superheaters are used in boilers to increase the temperature of the steam and thereby reduce water droplets in the steam. All pipes are equipped with electric tracers to maintain the medium temperature.As this is a pilot plant, the insulation had to be as cost-efficient as possible but still meet the highest requirements for personal safety and exterior appearance. That was the reason why an aluminum finish was chosen.“At Phoenix BioPower, we are developing a groundbreaking technology that is expected to have a major impact on European energy systems and have a globally measurable positive global impact on the climate. Developing this scaled-down experiment requires great attention to scaling effects and temperature control is a very important factor. Therefore, the right insulation was very important for our result ", says Henrik Båge, CEO of Phoenix Biopower.The project was supported by SiteConcept AB from Norrtälje Sweden, a consulting and manufacturing company of everything in a climate-smart energy sector. SiteConcept AB, as the general supplier of Tenmat's ceramic filters in Scandinavia, delivered the flue gas purification and helped, among other things, to choose the right insulation and with corresponding calculations.“SiteConcept AB is proud to be involved in Phoenix BioPower´'s innovative and important projects for a sustainable future. As SiteConcept's subcontractor, Paroc has contributed an important part to implementing this pilot facility at KTH, Stockholm Sweden, ”says Peter Blomdahl, CEO of SiteConcept AB.Special challengesThe temperature was of course the biggest challenge and for this reason AES fiber mat (Superwool) was used as the first layer on the pipes. Then insulation with Paroc Pro Section 140 and 100 pipe sections and bends. Paroc Pro Wired Mat 100 has also been used in the project. Stone wool was chosen because of the high temperatures and durable product properties.The 3D design of the insulation in combination with the correct estimate of the thickness of the insulation proved to be another challenge but this was handled with the help of PAROC Calculus. As SiteConcept's subcontractors, Håkan Glöckner at Paroc has been an important and great help with calculations and material selection.Micael Forslund at Isopartner AB collaborated with Håkan Glöckner at Paroc in the project and handled deliveries and logistics. Knivsta VVS-Isolering AB was chosen as the insulation contractor. Anders Nyström already knows Peter Blomdahl at SiteConcept and with his broad competence, Knivsta Isolering has isolated other projects for Peter. In addition to the work of assembling the insulation on site, many mattresses were sewn for the project.

The Vehkala school project in Vantaa combines energy efficient construction with a modern learning environment. PAROC Hvac Lamella Mat AluCoat and PAROC Hvac Section AluCoat T meet the project's energy efficiency requirements.The ProjectVehkala School in Vantaa is a significant project that, upon completion, will provide a healthy and safe learning environment for over 2,000 students and 225 staff members. The building features versatile spaces specifically designed to meet the demands of technical fields, such as aircraft assembly workshops and heavy equipment training areas. At Vehkala School, students will engage in a wide range of studies, including social and health care, electrical, automation, information and communication technology, automotive, aviation, and logistics sectors.The building is designed to meet sustainable development requirements, and according to the city plan of Vantaa, at least half of the energy used by the building is produced from renewable energy sources. Energy efficiency is enhanced by systems such as geothermal heating and solar energy. In addition, PAROC stonewool products support the building's energy efficiency goals with their excellent thermal insulation properties.PAROC solutions for demanding insulation needsThe technical insulation solutions for Vehkala School have been primarily implemented using PAROC Hvac Lamella Mat AluCoat and PAROC Hvac Section AluCoat T products, which are designed to support the fulfillment of energy efficiency requirements in the HVAC systems. These products provide effective thermal and condensation insulation that meets the higher levels of fire safety standards. In addition to that the PAROC products have obtained the M1 certificate for good indoor air quality.Tomi Elolähde, division manager at Hewaco Oy, describes the scope of the project and the significance of pipe insulation products:"Vehkala vocational college is currently one of our company's largest construction sites. We have installed approximately 20 kilometers of PAROC stonewool pipe sections in this project. That's a lot, and on this scale, the properties and handling of the products are crucial. In tight spaces where installers often have to work, the good installability of PAROC products supports work fluency and the well-being of the installers."From Hewaco's perspective, this has been a typical building services project, but the opportunity to be involved in constructing a healthy and safe educational institution added a unique aspect to the project. PAROC stonewool was a natural choice for Hewaco in the Vehkala vocational college project.Demanding installation conditionsAccording to the installers, the technical properties of the products also helped them cope with occasionally challenging installation conditions. Installer Juhani Vepsäläinen says:"PAROC pipe sections maintain their shape even in challenging spots, and from a work perspective, it is good that the pipe sections are easy to handle, and the stone wool lamella mats are easy to cut to the desired size. This is important especially when there's a rush."Fire safety as a priorityFire safety is a critical factor, especially in a school environment. PAROC stonewool belongs to the highest possible fire class (A1), which means that it does not produce harmful smoke gases in a fire situation, nor does it form burning droplets."Stone wool is a reliable and safe solution, which also gives us good support," adds Elolähde.Less material wasteHewaco installers are experienced professionals with decades of experience within pipe installations."The longitudinal tape closure of the PAROC Hvac Section AluCoat T's coating speeds up the taping of pipe insulations. And as is well known, various pipe sizes are needed in projects. If multiple different pipe sizes are being insulated on-site, there should be an equal number of different-sized pipe sections available. We also used the PAROC Hvac Combi AluCoat T stonewool pipe section in the Vehkala project, which has the advantage of being able to insulate two, even three different pipe sizes with the same product. This way, we can reduce the need for product storage and material waste on-site. It is nice to work with green products which decrease the environmental impact," installer Tuomas Saarikoski assesses the product's features. Seamless cooperationThe Vehkala school project is a testament to successful collaboration. Elolähde says that the interaction between Paroc and Hewaco has proceeded without unnecessary bottlenecks."If there have been questions, we have received answers quickly from Paroc technical support and product manager," Elolähde summarizes.Less material wasteHewaco installers are experienced professionals with decades of experience within pipe installations."The longitudinal tape closure of the PAROC Hvac Section AluCoat T's coating speeds up the taping of pipe insulations. And as is well known, various pipe sizes are needed in projects. If multiple different pipe sizes are being insulated on-site, there should be an equal number of different-sized pipe sections available. We also used the PAROC Hvac Combi AluCoat T stonewool pipe section in the Vehkala project, which has the advantage of being able to insulate two, even three different pipe sizes with the same product. This way, we can reduce the need for product storage and material waste on-site. It is nice to work with green products which decrease the environmental impact," installer Tuomas Saarikoski assesses the product's features. Seamless cooperationThe Vehkala school project is a testament to successful collaboration. Elolähde says that the interaction between Paroc and Hewaco has proceeded without unnecessary bottlenecks."If there have been questions, we have received answers quickly from Paroc technical support and product manager," Elolähde summarizes.Less material wasteHewaco installers are experienced professionals with decades of experience within pipe installations."The longitudinal tape closure of the PAROC Hvac Section AluCoat T's coating speeds up the taping of pipe insulations. And as is well known, various pipe sizes are needed in projects. If multiple different pipe sizes are being insulated on-site, there should be an equal number of different-sized pipe sections available. We also used the PAROC Hvac Combi AluCoat T stonewool pipe section in the Vehkala project, which has the advantage of being able to insulate two, even three different pipe sizes with the same product. This way, we can reduce the need for product storage and material waste on-site. It is nice to work with green products which decrease the environmental impact," installer Tuomas Saarikoski assesses the product's features. Seamless cooperationThe Vehkala school project is a testament to successful collaboration. Elolähde says that the interaction between Paroc and Hewaco has proceeded without unnecessary bottlenecks."If there have been questions, we have received answers quickly from Paroc technical support and product manager," Elolähde summarizes.Less material wasteHewaco installers are experienced professionals with decades of experience within pipe installations."The longitudinal tape closure of the PAROC Hvac Section AluCoat T's coating speeds up the taping of pipe insulations. And as is well known, various pipe sizes are needed in projects. If multiple different pipe sizes are being insulated on-site, there should be an equal number of different-sized pipe sections available. We also used the PAROC Hvac Combi AluCoat T stonewool pipe section in the Vehkala project, which has the advantage of being able to insulate two, even three different pipe sizes with the same product. This way, we can reduce the need for product storage and material waste on-site. It is nice to work with green products which decrease the environmental impact," installer Tuomas Saarikoski assesses the product's features. Seamless cooperationThe Vehkala school project is a testament to successful collaboration. Elolähde says that the interaction between Paroc and Hewaco has proceeded without unnecessary bottlenecks."If there have been questions, we have received answers quickly from Paroc technical support and product manager," Elolähde summarizes.