Wednesday, April 23, 2025
With a fully automated plant in Poland that can create 8 million square meters of insulation material annually, Unilin begins the siege of Eastern Europe. “The market in that region is still in full flux,” outlines Jeroen De Temmerman, President of Unilin’s insulation division.
In summary:
For what reason is Unilin constructing a new insulation facility in Poland?
In the words of Division President Jeroen De Temmerman: “Unilin Insulation is active in two major markets: the Western European market and the United Kingdom & Ireland. Our average market share is 20%. The Eastern European insulation market is still in full flux. Take Poland, a rapidly expanding market consisting of just two local players. A second reason is the central location of the new plant. Within a 500 km radius around Leśnica, we can service a large part of the Polish, East German, Czech, Slovakian, and Hungarian markets. The expansion to a third large region is also of strategic importance. By investing in Eastern Europe, we are also diversifying our risk for the future. Every market has its specific character and cycles. By being active on several fronts, we can bolster the stability of our position.”
Why is that 500-kilometer radius important?
“As soon as insulation needs to be transported over a distance of more than 500 kilometres, it is neither economically viable nor ecologically responsible. Insulation is a volume product. Trucks can carry 75 cubic metres of insulation. As soon as they have to drive more than 500 kilometres, this not only eats into your margin, but the carbon footprint also becomes too large. Moreover, we have a reputation for great service. The greater the distance to your end customer, the greater the odds that the service will not be up to the standards you set for yourself.”
Is the time of delivery that important for insulation materials?
“Yes, especially for large worksites. When worksite managers rent a crane starting at 7 am on Monday to unload insulation and deliver it to the right location, our trucks have to be there at precisely that time, and neither sooner nor later. Period.”
In this market, how significant is sustainability?
“In Poland, we see two evolutions that reinforce each other. Firstly, the market in and around Poland is growing rapidly. Secondly, in the Eastern European member states, insulation standards are tightening as well under pressure from the European Green Deal. In other words, the Polish government will drive a nationwide effort to better insulate buildings. It is Unilin’s ambition to play a prominent role in this evolution. At the new plant, PIR insulation boards under the Utherm range will be manufactured for both pitched and flat roofs, floors, and walls. Insulation products such as these play a crucial role in the development of energy-efficient and future-proof housing.”
What sort of plant will Unilin construct in Leśnica?
“This will be our ninth plant, and it will be home to our eighth insulation board line. It’s a fully automated line that will produce up to 8 million square metres per year. This will be a state-of-the-art line capable of delivering top-quality products at a rapid pace. The line will support automatic dosing of recycled raw materials, making it completely future-proof!” The site in Leśnica spans 12 hectares – large enough to expand storage space or perhaps even add a new activity or extra line. There will be forty people employed at the new site.”
Will this have any effect on the other lines of insulation?
“No. The new plant is an expansion. It is not our intention to replace the activities from other sites. In anticipation of the construction of the new plant, the production lines in Belgium will work extra in preparation for the Polish market.”
When is the new plant going to be available?
“In the coming months, we will start the preparatory groundworks for the construction of an advanced, fully automated production facility. The goal is to be operational by late 2026.”
Read more news on: Unilin, insulation, carbon footprint, flooring, construction, sustainability
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