An investment that underscores the strategic reorientation of the German insulation market: ROCKWOOL is strengthening its commitment at the production site in Flechtingen, Saxony-Anhalt. The Danish manufacturer of mineral wool is responding to sustained high demand for non-combustible insulation materials of fire class A1 according to DIN EN 13501-1 and is expanding its capacity in the Börde region.
The investment in Flechtingen follows a clear industrial logic: The plant benefits from a central location in Germany and proximity to important markets. Stone wool insulation materials produced at ROCKWOOL from basalt rock and recycled material have thermal conductivity (λ-value) between 0.033 and 0.040 W/(m·K) and achieve bulk densities of 30 to 200 kg/m³ depending on product type. These material properties make insulation materials from stone wool particularly relevant for use in multi-story buildings and façade systems where high fire protection and sound insulation requirements apply.
For planners and architects, the capacity expansion means improved supply security in a market segment that recently suffered from bottlenecks. ROCKWOOL is thus positioning itself against competitors such as ISOVER (Saint-Gobain) and Knauf Insulation, which are also investing in mineral insulation materials. Demand for A1-classified systems is rising particularly due to stricter fire protection requirements in state building codes and the increase in high-rise projects.
From a sustainability perspective, stone wool scores points through high recyclability: production waste is recycled in-house up to 100 percent. Environmental product declarations (EPD) show for stone wool insulation materials a global warming potential of approximately 2 to 4 kg CO₂ equivalents per kg of material – a value that can be further optimized through the use of green electricity and recycled material. The investment in Flechtingen thus strengthens not only regional value creation, but also strategic positioning in the segment of circular building materials, as is increasingly relevant in recycling initiatives of other insulation manufacturers.
