In Malaysia our €120 million new plant at Johor Bahru with a capacity of 75,000 tonnes completed its first deliveries to customers in Australia in May, 2021.
The Energy Efficiency Group (EEG) in Australia was the first company to take delivery of the consignment of Knauf Insulation’s Earthwool solutions.
EEG Managing Director Devin Hall said delivery times had been cut from 10 to 12 weeks to just four to six. “This is going to be a game changer for our business,” he said. “With shorter lead times, we won’t need to have as much stock on hand and we can be more responsive when work comes at any given period.”
The entire product range has also been customised to meet the requirements of residential and non-residential markets in the region in addition to solutions for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and domestic appliances such as ovens and fridges.
Stuart Dunbar, Knauf Insulation’s Managing Director for Asia Pacific, said: “Demand for insulation products that offer warranted quality, sustainability and ease of handling is soaring across the region due to increasing energy costs and more stringent building regulations in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and Korea.”
The first shipment in mid 2021 from Johor Bahru was a celebration of Knauf Insulation’s landmark achievement, especially during the COVID-19 period, and demonstrated the international collaboration within the company.
Plant Manager Erkan Üçok said: “Day after day our international and local teams working on the ground have demonstrated outstanding levels of commitment and safety in extraordinary circumstances. They are living examples of our Knauf Insulation values to challenge.create.care.”
The plant will be fully operational in the first quarter of 2022.
Sustainability at the heart of Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru features some of the most efficient technology available on the market today, and our wide range of solutions are produced from up to 80% post-consumer recycled glass using our ECOSE Technology® binder with no added formaldehyde.
In addition, emissions from shipping and transporting products to their final destination are offset thanks to our unique compression packaging, which allows us to deliver a high volume of products per shipment.
Sustainability is also at the heart of operations at Johor Bahru. The plant recently completed a giant rainwater harvesting system to avoid using potable water for manufacturing processes and to capitalise on Malaysia’s tropical stormy weather.
The new system consists of a piping system that collects water from the roof, a 500 m3 storage tank, filtration units and a pump system. It is estimated that the system will save 20,000 m3 of water every year.
Knauf Insulation’s For A Better World sustainability strategy commits the company to a significant reduction of water consumption in five plants with a focus on potable or city water use that requires treatment. The Malaysia plant’s water system is a showcase example of water saving.
Enjoy our Annual Review 2021