2014-06-04 / Press Release

insulbar RE has now been on the market for a number of weeks. What makes it special: The insulation profile, which is used to create a thermal barrier between the inner and outer shell of the metal frames of windows, doors and facades, is made of 100% unmixed recycled PA66, making this a truly resource-saving option. Plastic specialist Ensinger processes this high-quality material using an upcycling process which renders its properties directly comparable to those of new material.

This means that insulbar RE – just like the classical insulbar product line from Ensinger - provides excellent thermal insulation and helps to save energy and costs for room heating and cooling. During the manufacturing phase, it generates 85 % fewer greenhouse gases, as well as using 89 % fewer fossil-based resources. This claim has now been backed by the Institute for Window Technology (ift) in Rosenheim, which has issued an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) additionally endorsed by an independent expert.

"The excellent values documented in the Environmental Product Declaration are testimony to the outstanding suitability of insulbar RE for system manufacturers and processing firms in the field of window and facade construction to address current and future demands, particularly given that sustainability is set to play an ever more vital role", explains Dr. Michael Möller of the Research and Material Development Department at Ensinger. "The EPD also offers planners, architects and property developers a reliable data basis for improving the eco balance of their building project."

The EPD forms the basis for ecological building assessment. In accordance with the international standards EN ISO 14025:2011 and EN 15804:2012, it encompasses all the relevant information about the environmental impact of a product over the entire life cycle - from extraction of the raw materials through to recycling. This provides a basis for comparison of the data from individual EPDs, which can be collated using a modular system to create a building's eco balance.

ISO Type III declarations are a requirement in many building tender specifications, in particular for public buildings or large-scale corporate investment projects, as according to the LEED, BREEAM, BNB and DGNB standards or similar certification systems, the entire building process and the construction materials used are classified in ecological, economical and functional terms on the basis of EPDs.

When manufacturing insulbar RE, Ensinger ensures that the customary high standard of insulbar quality in compliance with DIN ISO 9001:2008 is seamlessly adhered to. Impressive features of the recycled profiles alongside their energy efficiency include their good mechanical properties, the customary parameters for subsequent coating, their long service life and the same long-lasting functional reliability users have come to expect from the material PA66. This makes a simple changeover from insulbar to insulbar RE possible at any time.

For more information in the internet, go to www.insulbar-re.com.

Ensinger GmbH is among the world's leading developers and producers of insulating profiles for window, door and facade construction. The profiles marketed under the brand name insulbar create a thermal separation between the inside and outside shells of metal frames. Insulation systems using insulbar profiles achieve optimum values in terms of energy savings and cutting the cost of heating and cooling. At the same time, insulbar profiles comply with the most stringent quality standards in every respect. They have been in successful operation around the world for over 40 years.

For more information, go to www.insulbar.com

The Ensinger group is engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of compounds, semi-finished materials, profiles and technical parts made of engineering and high performance plastics through extrusion, machining and injection molding. With a total of 2,100 employees at 27 locations, the family-owned enterprise is represented worldwide in all major industrial regions with manufacturing facilities or sales offices.

For more information, go to www.ensingerplastics.com

Karin Skrodzki