Photo by Prasanthi Vasanthakumar

At the grand opening of Roxul's production facility, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty commended the project for putting the province at the forefront of energy-efficient business operation.

An insulation manufacturer, Roxul Inc., has unveiled the continent's largest mineral wool factory in Southern Ontario. Last Wednesday, it officially opened its 65,000-m²(700,000-sf) production plant in Milton. The two-year, $150-million expansion project will reportedly create up to 100 new jobs while tripling production of the company's mineral-based insulation.

As one of the most advanced plants of the 24 facilities operated globally by Denmark-based parent Rockwool International, the expansion project received a $10-million, interest-free loan from Ontario's Advanced Manufacturing Investment Strategy (AMIS) program.

Despite the increase in insulation production, emissions will remain below the provincial limit due to innovative emission control technologies. Additionally, the Milton plant will feature these green practices:
• recycling of all waste products, delivering no waste to landfills;
• reuse of water in production processes; and
• recycling of heat from manufacturing to heat the factory and warehouses.

Despite the slowing construction market, Roxul president Trent Ogilvie views the insulation field with optimism.

"Roxul Inc. continues to see opportunity for growth in the $7-billion North American insulation market," he told Construction Canada Online. "Retrofitting existing structures to current standards and the trend to increased building codes creates opportunities not only for insulation manufacturers, but also to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions."

Photo courtesy Roxul

The 65,000-m² (700,000-sf) Milton, Ont., production facility will reportedly create up to 100 new jobs and triple production of insulation.