Global Industrial & OEM Insulation

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This study analyzes global supply of and demand for industrial and OEM insulation. Historical data (2008, 2013, and 2018) and forecasts for 2023 and 2028 are provided for demand by material (in dollars and metric tons) and market (in metric tons) on a country-by-country basis. Demand is also provided in square meters R-1. Demand in value terms is shown at the manufacturers’ level and excludes distributor and retailer markups.

Materials broken out include:

• foamed plastic
• fiberglass
• mineral wool
• other materials (e.g., aerogels, calcium silicate, cotton, foamed glass, perlite, radiant barriers, reflective insulation, vacuum panels, and vermiculite)

The major market segments analyzed are:

• industrial and plant equipment (includes coverings for machinery, boilers, pipes, and tanks)
• commercial HVAC/air distribution equipment (coverings and linings for HVAC equipment and ductwork)
• major household appliances (includes clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, freezers, ovens, refrigerators)
• transportation equipment (includes motor vehicles, aerospace equipment, ships and boats, and railroad equipment)
• other insulation markets (includes insulated coolers and thermoses, insulated packaging, furniture, bedding, nonbuilding/infrastructure construction, and heavy off-road equipment)

Both thermal and acoustic insulation are included in the scope of this study.

Demand for insulation in both residential and commercial buildings installed in wall, ceiling, attic, floor, roof, crawl space, and garage applications is excluded from the scope of this study. HVAC/air distribution insulation used for ductwork in the residential market is also excluded from the scope of this study.

The metric measures of thermal value used in this study cannot be converted to English units (those used in the Freedonia Group’s US insulation studies) simply by converting square meters to square feet. The metric version of thermal value defines heat transfer in metric units (watts) and is based on a material sample one meter thick; the English version of thermal value defines heat transfer in British thermal units and is based on a material sample 1 inch thick.

Taking into account all of the differences in measurement, approximately 16.4 square meters of R-1 value (metric system) is equal to 1,000 square feet of R-1 value (English system).