International InformationFor Our Customers

Issue 2February 2002armacell-Report International

armacell-Report International | February | 2002 | Page 1

Armacell – Market Leader in FlexibleTechnical Insulation

rmacell has been able toestablish itself as the mar-ket leader in the area of

flexible technical insulation sincethe development of Armaflex inthe early 1950s. This categorymakes up around 25% of theworldwide market for insulatingmaterials, which is dominated byproducts for structural insulation.Whereas technical insulation designates the insulation ofpipelines, air ducts, containersand fixtures of all types in thearea of sanitary facilities andheating, of cooling and air-condi-tioning systems and of industrialapplications, the insulation of thebuilding frame (walls, ceilingsetc.) is defined as structural insu-lation.

The Worldwide Market forInsulating MaterialsThe market for insulating mate-rials is dominated by manufactur-ers from North America andWestern Europe and can be differ-

entiated into three main materialgroups: Plastic foams (e.g. expand-able polystyrene, polyurethanes,polyethylenes, elastomers areamong these), cellular glass andmineral wool. In particular thedemand for plastic foams - whichis already the product group withthe strongest current sales on aworldwide basis - will increase inthe next few years according to aforecast by the management con-sulting company Frost & Sullivan.The industrial countries in NorthAmerica and Western Europe willalso represent the most impor-tant markets for insulating mate-rials in the future. However, thecrucial factor for the positivegrowth forecast is the rapidincrease in demand in the Asian-Pacific area, China, and LatinAmerica. After the USA, Germanyis the second largest market forinsulating materials in the worldand is far-and-away the largestmarket in Europe ahead ofFrance, England (UK), Italy andSpain.

Armaflex Conquers the Marketfor Flexible Technical InsulationThe development of Armaflex inthe 1950s revolutionized the mar-ket for technical insulation withlasting effect: Our companyemerged at that time in the insu-lating materials market in theunique position as the sole supplierof this new material. Since then,the flexible elastomeric product hasspawned many imitations. Arma-flex has also become a genericterm like the brand names Coca-Cola or Aspirin. The name is asynonym throughout the worldfor all insulation tubes and sheetsmade of flexible plastic foam. We have been able to maintainand strengthen our position as amarket leader, however, by con-tinually developing and improv-ing our products. In addition totechnical innovations and new ormodified performance require-ments (e.g. because of legal regu-lations, DIN standards or otherlaws), the needs of our business

partners are what, above all else,drive these innovations. It is ourgoal to always offer our customersthe best quality in productsdesigned to be as easy to use aspossible.

Armaflex - The Right ChoiceWhich are the decisive criteria inthe selection of suitable insulat-ing material? Depending on thearea of use, an insulating mate-rial has to meet the followingrequirements:• Dependably prevent conden-

sation water, • Perform to the specified operat-

ing temperatures, • Limit surface temperatures, • Reduce energy loss, and• Reduce structural noise trans-

mission from mechanical systemparts.

In addition to these functionally-important characteristics, thereare safety-related criteria such asfire performance, ecological com-patibility and the health effectsof handling the materials. These

requirements are expressed in thefollowing key evaluation criteriafor insulating materials:• Low thermal conductivity [λ],

[k]• High resistance to the

transmission of water vapor [µ],[perm-in]

• Behavior in a fire that conforms to the standards and

• Easy handling and installation.There are "objective conflicts"that exist between these quality-defining characteristics: If thethermal conductivity of an insu-lating material is improved, forinstance, this can interfere with theresistance to water vapor diffusion.A "sealing of the cells" to improvethe µ-factor can negatively impactfire performance. If one attempts toachieve maximum flexibility, this inturn will have an influence on allthe other characteristics that havebeen mentioned. The essential goal in ongoing devel-opment of insulating materialsis therefore to balance these

requirements, which to someextent conflict with one another.Armacell has the appropriateexpertise at its disposal and canreference over 100 years of experi-ence in the insulating-materialsector. We have succeeded in per-manently improving the technicalmaterial characteristics - the ther-mal conductivity [λ], the resis-tance to water vapor diffusionprocesses [µ], and the practicalbehavior in a fire - since thedevelopment of Armaflex. Wemonitor these central product features in our technical depart-ments, which are fully equippedwith the latest testing equipment.Around 2,000 fire tests, 800 ther-mal conductivity tests, and over1,000 water vapor permeabilitytests are performed in the Münsterfactory alone on an annual basis.In addition, we have entered intocontracts with governmental (inthe case of testing the fire behav-ior) or recognized, independentmaterial testing institutes foroutside monitoring of these values. This system monitoringprovides our customers with aguarantee that the characteristicsof our products comply with ourpublished statements and thatthe same material always meetsall the requirements.

Armacell – The DevelopmentGoes OnWe are continually improving ourproduction technology, makinguse of new scientific findings. We have developed our own computational fluid dynamics(CFD) program in close collabora-tion with software development

A

companies. The program helps ussimulate the production process ofplastic foams. This has led to majortime savings when manufacturingnew products and now enables usto offer our customers prototypes afew days after the receipt of theorder. (Please see p. 3, ArmaFoamcategory, for related information).For Armacell, technical market

leadership is not limited tooffering the best products in themarket. Instead, we would liketo share our knowledge and ourexperience with our businesspartners. We make informationon all central topics of technicalinsulation available to them, andoffer worldwide installationtrainings, application manuals,digital calculation programs andspecifier information. Whetherthrough a visit to our web site(www.armacell.com), an inquiryby telephone to our technical customer service, or through apersonal discussion with one ofour application technicians onsite – customers can profit fromour expertise.

Please see North America Insertfor Update on U.S.Technical Foams

Efforts.

Numerical Simulation of theManufacturing Process

Thomas Schmöller, checking the interior tubediameter in the Armaflex production facility inthe Münster factory.

Insulating Material

Mineral fiber

PUR/PIR

Polystyrene

Cellular GlassPolyethyleneElastomers

Comparison of Insulating Materials

Winfried Eismann, Dr. Georg Stegemann, Jörg Hügemeier, Markus Bohnenkamp and Lothar Wösmann discuss the necessary steps for further developing special tube production for new application areas.

Defined Product Form

PredictedTooling

Arma-Chek D and S: Halogen-Free, Pre-Coated Armaflex forthe Greatest DemandsThe increasing success of theArma-Chek insulation system –a combination of Armaflex, afiberglass network and mastic-type paint – not only in the off-shore industry for oil and gas,

New Armacel l Productsbut also increasingly in otherindustrial sectors – gave us areason to further develop thisproduct to meet the greatestdemands. With Arma-Chek D andS, we are now offering Armaflexcoated in the factory. They notonly combine the positive characteristics of NH/Armaflex

(flexible, closed cells, low toxic-ity, low production of smoke ina fire etc.) and the provenArma-Chek advantages (optimumsurface protection against highmechanical stress), but can alsosave on installation cost andtime. Arma-Chek D (black coat-ing), which is resistant to UVradiation and sea water, hasbeen developed for use in theshipbuilding and offshore industry, and Arma-Chek S(coated with an aluminum-colored metal foil) has beendeveloped for applications inother industrial sectors, such asthe chemical and pharmaceuticalindustry.Both products are offered as coat-ed sheets, tubes and self-adhe-sive strips and have been avail-able on a worldwide basis sinceOctober. If desired, we also deliv-er Arma-Chek in combinationwith other Armaflex products.

armacell-Report International | February | 2002 | Page 2

Arma-Chek S, which is pre-coated at the factory with metal foil, was developed for applications in indus-trial areas that have to satisfy particularly high demands.In addition, Armacell also offers Arma-Chek D, a product specially designed for use in the shipbuildingand offshore industry.

products (walls, ceilings etc.),the manufacturers of linear pipeinsulation resolved to becomeactive themselves: Under thelead management of Armacell,the “WG 10 Ad Hoc Group for FireTests of the CEN TC InsulatingMaterials“ began in 1998. Its goalwas to support the EuropeanCommission and the CEN standardization committee inestablishing the new Europeanfire tests on linear insulatingmaterials.In February of 2001, Ulrich Rohr,Armacell Manager for TechnicalMarket Development in Europe,presented the concept that hadbeen developed to the group ofFire Regulators in Brussels andthe final proposal should be pre-sented to them by the end of theyear. Our commitment in this sectorprovides advantages to allArmacell customers - not justwith regard to the anticipatedlegal certainty or the elimina-tion of technical trade barriersin Europe. If linear productswere subjected to the same rulesand limit values as two-dimen-sional products, this wouldresult in unfavorable classifica-tions and therefore restrictionsor difficulties when using insu-lating materials for piping.

The evaluation of behavior in afire and the classificationresulting from this is crucial forthe use of construction prod-ucts. The current national con-struction-material classes inEurope are being replaced byEuro-Classes binding on all ofthe member countries of the EUwithin the framework of theEuropean harmonization. In the future, the behavior ofconstruction products in a firewill be checked primarily in theso-called SBI Test (SBI standsfor "single burning item"). As the regulation agencies fromthe EU member countries - the group of so-called FireRegulators (FRG) - concentratedon two-dimensional construction

Armacell Pushes Ahead WithEuropean Fire Classification for

Linear Products

Also a leader in the area of testing: Armacell alreadyinstalled the SBI test in September of 2000 and isparticipating in a Europe-wide comparison test with29 institutes and industrial companies. Armaflex isalso among the 10 materials tested.

Measurement tube

Sample carriage

Exhaust hood

Secondary burnerSample

Primary burner

Test chamber

E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n

With the support of theEuropean alliance for energyefficiency in buildings,EuroACE, Armacell is makingan important contribution tothe political efforts to driveforward the necessary legisla-tive proposals for energy savings - and therefore alsofor the reduction of green-house gases – inside build-ings. While the member countriesof the general climate con-vention were still arguingover the implementation ofthe Kyoto protocol at the top-level Bonn conference in Julyof last year, the EuropeanCommission had already start-ed up EuroACE in 1997. Thiswas a direct consequence tothe resolution passed in

After the fundamental analysisof the energy-saving potentialin the area of European build-ings, it has now become theprimary goal of EuroACE tofind opportunities togetherwith the European institutionsto seek appropriate legisla-tion. 40 percent of the danger-ous greenhouse gases – carbondioxide emissions make up thelargest share – are produced in buildings, mainly throughthe heating of buildings andwater heating. The energyconsumed inside buildingscould be reduced by up to 22%by the year 2010 through the implementation of the leg-islative proposals supported byEuroACE - such as a type of"energy certificate" for build-ings, for example.

EuroACE: Armacell Supports the European EnvironmentalCommittee for Honoring the Kyoto Obligation

Kyoto to reduce the greenhousegases worldwide by 5.2% by theyear 2012.The 20 leading European compa-nies that produce, sell or installenergy-saving products wereinvited to Brussels at that time.

As a leading company of flexibletechnical insulation worldwide,Armacell is a founding member of this European alliance. Theuse of Armacell insulating mate-rials in building and sanitary-facility engineering is leading to a substantial reduction inenergy losses. On the one hand,natural resources are conservedbecause of this. On the otherhand, greenhouse gas emissionsare reduced.

The pre-insulated copper pipe was specially developed by Armacell for Split air-conditioners. It is resistantto high temperatures and UV radiation and considerably reduces the time and effort involved for assembly.

Armaflex SPLIT – The Easy-Handling Solution for Coolingand Air-Conditioning SystemConstructionAir-conditioners can be easilyinstalled today almost every-where. In particular, so-calledSPLIT systems that consist of aninterior part (evaporator and aer-ator) and an external part (cool-ing system, compressor and con-denser) are enjoying a great dealof popularity due to their effi-ciency, their low noise level andthe simple and economicalmounting. The copper pipe Arma-flex SPLIT, pre-insulated withhigh-temperature insulating mate-rial, was specially developed forthe connection of these two-sys-tem parts. The product is resis-tant to high temperatures and UVradiation, and considerably reducesthe time and work involved in the

assembly. The bright protectivefoil provides additional protectionagainst mechanical stress andmakes direct routing on facadespossible with a pleasing appear-ance. The product is offered ascontinuous material. Thus, thepre-insulated pipe can be cut tothe desired length directly at thesite where the work is being done.In addition to the application in air-conditioning system construction,

the product also represents a costand time-saving alternative forsimilar applications with coolingsystems, cooled counter areas andprocess heat systems. It was pre-sented in the middle of October atthe international trade fair forcooling and air-conditioningequipment (IKK) in Hanover,Germany and is available inalmost all European countries.

Elastomeric insulating materialscontract in cold temperaturesand become brittle at very lowtemperatures. As a result, hightensile stress can develop onthe glued seams, which couldlead to a cracking or openingof the glued seam.Therefore, at temperaturesbelow -40° C, the first layer ofinsulating material must havelarger dimensions thanrequired by the pipe diameter.This can be implemented byusing the next larger size oftube diameter or with a corre-sponding additional amountwhen working with sheetmaterial. If pipelines and objects withtypical media temperatures areinsulated below the boilingpoint temperature of liquidoxygen (-182.5° C), the dangerexists that liquid oxygen willform on the pipelines orobjects to be insulated or inthe core area of the insulation.The liquid oxygen could reactexplosively in combinationwith organic materials - suchas elastomeric insulating mate-rials, for instance.

Customers Ask – Armacell Answers

This is why the insulating fea-tures have to dependably pre-vent the oxygen from diffusinginto and precipitating in thecore area of the insulation. Inthese cases, we recommendthat aluminum foil (50-100 µm)be glued in place over the fullarea of the first insulatingmaterial layer as a supplementalbarrier to prevent oxygen fromdiffusing in, as well as the measures described above. Workcan then continue in the usualmanner over this. We recom-mend, as a general principle,that oxygen lines should not be insulated with elastomericinsulating materials.You can obtain further infor-mation on working withArmaflex in the sub-zero temperature range from ourtechnical customer service.

What has to be taken intoconsideration when workingwith Armaflex in the sub-zerotemperature range?

Hubert Helms, Supervisor for TechnicalCustomer Service, Armacell GmbH Germany,Benelux, Scandinavia and the Baltic states.

+++ armacell-news +++ armacell-news +++ armacell-news +++ armacell-news +++ armacell-news +++

armacell-Report International | February | 2002 | Page 3

In March of last year, ArmacellInternational took over the Thaicompany P.S. Insulflex Ltd. andformed a Thai subsidiary compa-ny. The new factory is in Ban

Pong in the province ofRatschaburi (west of Bangkok).Armacell will expand its positionin the Asian-Pacific economic areafrom here.The elastomeric insulating materi-al Armaflex was already intro-duced in the Asian market in theearly 1970s through a sales officein Hong Kong. Subsequent tothis, Hong Kong turned into aheadquarters for the region. Tosatisfy the increasing demand,Armstrong founded a factory in1994 in Guanqiao Shilou town,Panyu District, Guangzhou. In themeantime, Armacell (Guangzhou)Ltd. has around 160 employeesand the factory is equipped withthe most modern production facil-ities for manufacturing Armaflextubes and sheets. Dealers inChina, Singapore, Hong Kong,Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Indonesia

A r m a c e l l P r o d u c t s o n t h e H i g h S e a s

tion. Besides corrosion, the dangerof fire is a central topic in ship-building and in the offshore indus-try. Armacell offers a flexible,halogen-free elastomeric productwith NH/Armaflex that has a verylow smoke density in the case of a fire. In a comparison test by the US Navy, the halogen-freeinsulating material was the onlyproduct that met the high require-

M A R I N E & O F F S H O R E

ments with regard to smokedevelopment and toxicity andhas been used since then in theUSA in military shipbuilding. Ourlatest product development com-bines the advantages of Arma-Chek and NH/Armaflex: SinceOctober, we have offeredNH/Armaflex, pre-coated at thefactory, in an on-shore design -Arma-Chek S for industrial appli-cations, for instance in thechemical and pharmaceuticalindustry - and in an offshore ver-sion – as Arma-Chek D, which isresistant to UV radiation andseawater. (Please see p. 2, NewProducts, regarding this).The Marine & Offshore Team,which is active on a worldwidebasis, now consists of 3 womenand 5 men. Mae Wei-Ju Kuo asthe new Sales and MarketingManager for the Asian-Pacificmarket and Dr. Horst Gräter as theDevelopment Manager joined theteam recently.

A r m a F o a mN e w A p p l i c a t i o n s f o r

P l a s t i c F o a m s

Armacell Expands in the Asian-Pacific Economic Area

and other Asian countries are sup-plied from here. The companyreceived the “National Double-Excellent Foreign-FundedEnterprise Award” in 1998 and, in

1999, the “Award for Foreign-Funded Enterprise”.In addition to Guangzhou and the newly-acquired factory inThailand, Armacell has anothersubsidiary company in the region:Armacell Australia Pty. Ltd.,which was already founded in1979, and is in Braeside close toMelbourne (Victoria). In additionto the Australian market, Arma-cell Australia Pty. Ltd. also sup-plies New Zealand and theSouthern Pacific islands.The network of sales offices in theregion has also become more andmore expanded in the past fewyears: In addition to eight nation-al sales offices in China, Armacellhas two offices in Australia andone each in Hong Kong, Singapore,Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand.Armaflex was used in over 5,000projects in the past few years in

China alone. The use of around2,000 m3 of Armaflex in the inter-national airport Pudong inShanghai (Please see site reporton p. 4) is only one example of

the outstanding reputation thatArmacell has in the market fortechnical insulation in the Asian-Pacific region. "Armacell becomingan independent company providesadvantages to our business part-ners in Asia and the entire world.We are now more flexible in theimplementation of our businessstrategies and have the resourcesrequired for this. The acquisition ofa factory in Thailand - an ASEAN-member country from which wewill supply our customers in theASEAN-region – demonstrates theimportance that the Asian-Pacificmarket has for Armacell’s globalgrowth," according to HiromasaOkubo, General Manager forBusiness Development in theAsian-Pacific area, during an inter-view in the Chinese Chamber ofCommerce in Bangkok.

The economic development ofBrazil is currently in a phase ofstagnation, but Armacell isnevertheless convinced of thegreat potential of this market.Armacell will further intensifyits sales activities and cus-tomer service in the Brazilianmarket with the formation ofthe new company.

Armacell insulating materialshave long been used with a greatdeal of success in civil and mili-tary shipbuilding, as well as onplatforms and drilling rigs for oiland gas extraction. In contrast,the development of special prod-ucts for these applications is rel-atively new. In 1994, we intro-duced Arma-Chek, the first insu-lating system specially devel-oped for the marine and offshoreareas. The flexible product withlow weight consists of a combi-nation of Armaflex and a fiber-glass network, which is embed-ded in a mastic-type paint. Arma-flex, as a closed-cell material,represents very effective, long-term protection against watervapor diffusion and dependablyprotects lines and fittingsagainst the increased risk of cor-rosion in the seawater environ-ment. Arma-Chek distinguishesitself, moreover, by its very highmechanical stress-bearing capa-bilities, its low weight and resis-tance to seawater and UV radia-

The Marine and Offshore Team (from left to right): Pat Johnson (Technical Manager), Dr. Horst Gräter(Development Manager), Helmut Thoennessen (GeneralManager), Robert Dizel (Sales Manager for North America),Gary Dwyer (Sales & Marketing Manager for Europe), MaeWei-Ju Kuo (Sales & Marketing Manager for the Asian andPacific Market); in the lower right-hand side of the pic-ture: Hiro Okubo (General Manager, Business Development,in the Asian and Pacific areas. Other members of the team:Gayna Bibby (responsible for communications) and IngeWalz (assistant and coordinator).

Always "at the top“: The Chinese sales and marketing team during this year's sales meeting on the peak of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which has an altitude of 4,500 m, close to LiJiang City in the Chinese province of Yunnan.

After successfully sellingArmaflex in the Latin Americanmarket since the mid-1990s,Armacell has now formed asubsidiary company in SaoPaulo, Brazil. Armacell Brasil, Ltda. is serv-ing to consolidate the businessin Brazil and expand thestrategic position in the Latin-American economic region.

Armacell Forms a Brazilian Subsidiary Company

Pe r s o n a l D a t a :

Hiromasa Okubo is the New General Manager forBusiness Development in the Asian-Pacific Area

pany headquarters inLancaster, Pennsylvania, andfinally in Tokyo. In his newposition, he works in closecooperation with Chris Leung,General Manager of Armacell in the Asian-Pacific area. While

Chris Leung contin-ues to be chieflyresponsible for theo n g o i n gbusiness in theAsian market, it willbe Hiro Okubo's job to find new businessopportunities.

After over 25 years atArmstrong World IndustriesInc., Hiro Okubo left the com-pany in April of last year andchanged over to Armacell, theformer insulating-material divi-sion of the Arm-strong Group.He started his careerin 1974 as a market-ing representativefor floor coveringsand, after this, tookon various manage-ment tasks in HongKong, Singapore, atthe Armstrong com-

Hiro Okubo, General Manager forBusiness Development in theAsian-Pacific area.

After more than half a centuryof experience as the marketleader for flexible technicalinsulation, Armacell is nowentering new areas. Under themanagement of Dr. Karl Paetz-Lauter, the Technical FoamTeam that was established thisyear is developing and market-ing new products that willopen up new business seg-ments under the trade name"ArmaFoam". In addition tosports mats and protectivepadding made of elastomericmaterials, high-density elas-tomeric sheets are manufac-tured that are firstsplit into thinsheets by end-application p r o d u c e r sand subse-q u e n t l ypunched outinto seals fordiverse applica-tions. WilliamOberle andR a l fS p r i n g u bjust recentlyreceived a General ManagersAward for their exemplary"intercontinental" cooperationin the development of a high-density foam product with afine cell structure, new for us,which is to be sold in the USA.The most diverse forms of polyethylene profiles are chiefly manufactured in

Pfaffnau, Switzerland, but alsoin Oldham, Great Britain. Inthe past, weeks to months hadto be given as an estimate forthe development of the outletopening at the extruder tofinally be able to dependablyproduce the profile requestedby the customer. Dr. MikaMeller, polyethylene developerin Pfaffnau, represented Arma-cell in a leading role with soft-ware developers in creating a program that simulates thecomplex material flow, includ-ing swelling and consolidationin the end product. Armacell

has a leading-edgetechnology with

these pro-grams that permits usto presentthe initialprototypes

of the finalpro-duct withinjust a few days

after receiptof the cus-t o m e r

requirements.Our 50 years of experience as aleading global company in theapplication of plastic foams,coupled with innovativeapproaches to scientific devel-opment, provides a promisingfoundation for successful prod-uct developments in this newbusiness segment.

New Armaflex application areas in the leisure industry.

cooling-water lines of the air

conditioners and the hot-water

lines in the arrival and departure

building in the 50,000 m2 freight

area and in the airport hotel were

therefore insulated with Arma-

flex. On top of this, the air ducts

in the terminal building were

insulated with 8,000 m2 of Arma-

flex sheet material.

On the whole, almost 2,000 m3 of

Armaflex were used in this project.

Shanghai is considered to be the

birthplace of modern China: No

other city in the people's repub-

lic has changed its appearance so

completely in the years follow-

ing 1990 as the port city at

Changjiang (Jangtsekiang).

Shanghai is not only the largest

city, with a population of 14 mil-

lion, but is also the economic

center of the country and will

possibly even replace Hong Kong

in the near future as far as its

significance as a national finan-

cial metropolis goes. An immense,

completely new city district was

built from the ground up vis-à-vis

the historical Bund (Zhongshan

Dong Lu) - the impressive, monu-

mental mansions from the early

20th century that gave Shanghai

the name "Paris of the East":

Pudong represents the economic

opening of China. Banks, hotels,

A r m a f l e x a t I n t e r n a t i o n a l A i r p o r t s

N e w s l e t t e r f o r a l l c u s t o m e r s o f A r m a c e l l

Publisher:Armacell GmbH

Robert-Bosch-Straße 10

48153 Münster, Germany

Internet: www.armacell.com

Editorial Team:Dr. Karl-Paetz-Lauter (Armacell Interna-

tional GmbH),

Georgios Eleftheriadis (Armacell Interna-

tional GmbH),

Christine Schmidt (Armacell GmbH),

Gayna Bibby (Armacell UK Ltd., Great

Britain, South Africa and India),

Ken Cook (Armacell Australia Pty Ltd.),

Sébastien Diez (Armacell France S. A.),

Shanghai's Newest Gateway to the World: The International Airport Pudong

With the docking of theAmerican research module"Destiny" in January 2001, theinternational space station has

Liane Eleftheriadou (Armacell GmbH, Bene-

lux, Scandinavia and the Baltic states),

Muriel de Jong (Armacell Iberia, S.A.,

Spain, Portugal and South America),

Anke Kock (Armacell GmbH, Germany),

Malcolm P. MacDougall (Armacell LLC,

North America),

Berta Steiner (Armacell Switzerland AG,

Switzerland, Italy and Central Europe),

Helen Zhao (Armacell Guangzhou Limited,

China)

Concept and Production:PR Office Rullmann, Münster (Germany)

Layout:Schäfer & Partner, Karlsruhe (Germany)

department stores, office com-

plexes, industrial plants and ele-

vated highways have been built

at a breathtaking speed here in

the last 10 years.

Shanghai: A City with Two

Airports

The international airport Pudong

was built in the record time of

only 2 years on a marshy area

40 km2 in size. Shanghai there-

fore has two international air-

ports, the only city in China with

this: The Hongqiao Airport with

a capacity of 9.6 million passen-

gers a year and the new Pudong

Airport, with a capacity of 20

million passengers and 750,000

tons of freight. After the second

construction phase is completed

(with 3 additional runways), as

many as 80 million passengers

and 5 million tons of freight are

to be handled from the Pudong

Airport annually. Pudong Airport

would thereby be the largest air-

port in Asia.

Pudong is already one of the most

progressive airports in the world,

with a 280,000 m2 terminal build-

ing and a 4,000 m runway that

offers passengers and interna-

Armaflex in Space, Part 2: AP/Armaflex in the International Space Station

armacell-Report International | February | 2002 | Page 4

Armacell insulating materialshave been used at a multitudeof international airports overthe entire world. Approx. 20 kmof HT/Armaflex and approx. 10km of OKA-Therm claddingsare currently being installed inthe expansion of the Zurich air-port, on the "Dock Midfield".

come a step closer to its intendedpurpose: The "flying constructionsite" is slowly being transformedinto a space research location. Armaflex is also on board of theflying laboratory, which is aboutthe size of a bus and which has acost of about 1.4 billion US dollar- the most advanced and diversespace research facility that hasever been built. Not only are medical, biologicaland ecological experiments car-

ried out in "Destiny" byresearchers from throughout theworld, the life-support system(ECLSS) of the module also sup-plies the entire space stationwith oxygen and monitors the

temperature and pressure condi-tions of the air.To prevent the appearance of condensation water and tokeep the temperature of themedium used at 4° to 7° C, thecooling-water lines of the airconditioner were insulated withAP/Armaflex. In addition to theoutstanding technical values

(resistance to water vapor diffu-sion, thermal conductivity, firebehavior), the elastomeric insulat-ing material was desired above allbecause of its excellent flexibility."There is an acute shortage of

space in the space station, andmany of the cooling-water lineshave very short turning radii.This is why many of the linesconsist of flexible, interwovenstainless steel hoses. Most of theinsulating materials are much toorigid to bear this extreme bend-ing," says Paul Hough, at thetime technical manager of Arma-

tional airlines first-class service.

The airport received the Golden

Award at its opening, during an

awards ceremony on the occasion

of the 50th anniversary of the

founding of the People's Republic

of China. The modern design

reflects the harmony between

people, architecture and the

environment in the 21st century.

Dependable Prevention of

Condensation on the Water

Lines with Armaflex

The particular geographic and cli-

mactic conditions of the project

had to be taken into considera-

tion in the technical planning.

The Pudong airport is directly

on the coast, which results in

very high humidity in the entire

region. Dependable prevention of

condensation water was therefore

a crucial issue in the selection of

the material for the technical

insulation, in addition to the

reduction of energy loss. The

Shanghai Pudong Airport: The new airport in the "city over the sea" will be the largest airport in Asia after its completion.

Cooling-water lines insulated with Armaflex inthe boarding corridor of the arrival and departurebuilding of the Pudong Airport.

The US research module Destiny. (Photo: NASA)

cell LLC, North America. Beforebeing installed, Armaflex wassubjected to an entire battery oftests: The air pressure behaviorwas tested under extreme condi-tions, and Armaflex was testedfor VOC (Volatile OrganicCompounds) and fiber and dustparticles in the air.Approximately 300 m of Arma-flex tubes and sheets in an insu-lating-layered thickness of 25 mmwere used on the Destiny. Thecooling lines have a diameter of28 mm and were insulated with a double layer in a few appli-cations – where the angles wereespecially sharp. Armaflex wasnot glued, but instead sealed witha silicon sealing substance, andthe insulated lines were subse-quently wound with a high-techtape to protect them from wearand tear caused by the continuousconnection and separation. Armaflex has also been tested foruse in other modules of the ISSsince the launch of the US spacelaboratory Destiny.

Armaflex at International Airports

Local InformationFor Our Customers

Issue 2February 2002armacell - North America Report

armacell-North America Report | February | 2002 | Page 1

Hundreds Visit Armacell at 2002 AHRExpo, Get Solutions from the Specialists

recently selected AP ArmaflexDuct Liner for all of its duct-work because they want to dowhatever they can to eliminatefibers in the airstream. AP Ar-maflex Duct Liner is, of course,fiber-free.

Easy-Clean, Fast and Cost-Effective

More headlines about our ductliner come from one of the lead-ers in the news media. The SanFrancisco Chronicle chose APArmaflex Duct Liner because itis easy to clean in addition toresisting dirt accumulation.Printing a mass circulation dai-ly newspaper leads to lots ofdust and ink particles in theductwork, often requiring a

Market Continues to Convert to AP Armaflex Duct Liner

When we first introduced AP Ar-maflex SA Duct Liner approxi-mately two years ago, we calledit the "alternative". If recentinterest in this product is anyindication, our closed-cell ductliner is fast becoming the pre-ferred insulation solution forindoor air handling systems.There are currently a number ofmajor facilities in the U.S. andCanada installing -- or evenswitching to -- AP ArmaflexDuct Liner, and in nearly everyinstance it was a clear prefer-ence over fiberglass. The rea-sons these owners insist on Ar-maflex for their ductwork arethe same that we communicat-ed when we introduced it:

cleanliness,sound atten-uation, quickinstallationand fiber-freeperformance.But now wecan let themarketplacedo the talk-ing.

Resists Dirtand Contam-inationSeveral schoolsand healthcare facilities are in-stalling AP Armaflex Duct Linerand replacing fiberglass in theprocess. A primary reason isthat these facilities want toprevent the accumulation ofdirt and contamination in theirair systems. AP Armaflex DuctLiner is smooth surfaced, resist-ing the accumulation of dirtand debris. Its closed-cell elas-tomeric foam structure won’tabsorb moisture, so it helps re-duce or eliminate conditionsthat lead to biological contami-nation and bioaerosols in com-mercial air systems.

Fiber-FreeOne of the largest high schoolsin central Pennsylvania, Cum-berland Valley in Carlisle,

Rosemary Wright Named NewNational Sales Manager

Rosemary Wright, New National Sales Manager

Armacell LLC has announcedthat Rosemary Wright, former-ly sales manager for our EastRegion, is now National SalesManager, North America forMechanical Insulation. Thiscomes exactly 10 years afterRosemary first joined the insu-lation group as a senior salesrep covering much of theMidwest.In her new position, Rosemaryassumes a broad range ofresponsibilities and an activerole representing Armacellwith customer groups andindustry organizations. Shewill continue to work from herstrategic central location in St.Louis.Rosemary leads a sales organi-zation consisting of sevenArmacell territory managers, aspecification manager and aCanadian rep firm, while inte-grating an extensive U.S. man-ufacturer’s rep network intothe Armacell sales structure.In addition, she spearheadsmost Armacell sales initiativesin our mechanical insulationbusiness, including:

• Intensive customer contactwith Key Accounts on anexecutive level

• Implementation and monitor-ing of mechanical insulation,distribution and pricingstrategies and tactical plans

• Direct sales responsibility forArmacell’s vital lineset busi-ness

• Monitoring and measuringcustomer satisfaction –working closely with ourCustomer Service team

A former President’s Awardwinner and top-ranked (insales) executive marketing rep,Rosemary brings proven leader-ship and people skills to thiskey position in addition to herproven expertise.

registered at the Armacell exhib-it. Customers especially appreci-ated our focus on one-on-onedialogue and problem solving.Hot Products• AP Armaflex Duct Liner: It’s no

longer just an "alternative" tofiberglass duct, but fastbecoming the preferred solu-tion, as evidenced by theinterest shown at the Armacellexhibit. Engineers and ownersare turning to our Duct Linerbecause it’s clean (and staysclean), fiber-free, andits closed-cell struc-ture won’t absorbmoisture. It resists bio-logical contamination andbioaerosols in air handlingsystems. Contractorsliked the self-adher-ing benefit of faster(as well as fiber-free)installation.

• AP Armaflex Coil: This product,introduced at last year’s Expo,is still capturing newfoundinterest, especially among theHVAC audience. Booth visitorswere drawn to Coil’s continu-ous lengths for fewerseams and less waste,and the convenientlysized packaging.

Armacell SpecialistsWhile the Armacell exhibitfeatured the products thatcustomers expect to see,the real focus was on thespecial services thatArmacell provides.

One of our busiest special-ists was BobDizel, recog-n i z e dthroughout

the industryas an expert in

insulation appli-cation procedures.

New products are usually thehighlight of trade expos, butsometimes it’s an existing productthat steals the show. That wasthe case at the Armacell exhibitat AHR 2002 in Atlantic City,where three products already inour line were seen as excellentsolutions to increased marketneeds. Customer reactions con-firmed that Armacell correctly

anticipated trends over the pastseveral years with AP ArmaflexDuct Liner, continuous-length APArmaflex Coil and white APArmaflex W.Although many Expo attendeessensed a drop-off from the 2001event, and in fact there were 200fewer exhibitors, the Armacellexhibit hosted a steady flow ofvisitors. In all, nearly 300 visitors

Bob demonstrated special instal-lation techniques and answerednumerous questions that con-tractors had on working withinsulation, including fabricatingspecial fittings. Bob often holds

installation clin-ics and workswith wholesalergroups to traininstallers.Other Armacellspecialists whowere activelyengaged by boothvisitors and who

can be contacted atany time by customers includedCustomer Service Manager MikeNiles and Technical SpecialistKartik Patel. The intent was toremind customers that Armacellcan partner closely with individ-ual companies, each requiring itsown unique solutions.

Bob Dizel, Applications Specialist

S P E C I A L R E P R I N T

For More Information and physical data on AP Ar-maflex SA Duct Liner, call 800 866-5638 or fax919 304-3847 (request publication 021-001).

thorough cleaning every threemonths or less. The Chronicleknew that it’s easy to wipeaway whatever small amount ofdirt that might settle on AP Ar-maflex Duct Liner surfaces.There’s a very important sidebarnews item to the Chronicle story.

Because it’s self-adhering, ourduct liner saves installationtime. In fact, this installation isestimated to have saved 100hours labor.

Armacell Exhibit Before the Crowds Came

Three-quarter inch thick AP Armaflex Self-Adhering insulation lines the insideof the ducts in this renovated McDonnell Douglas fan room.

armacell-North America Report | February | 2002 | Page 2

While continuing its leadership inmechanical insulation markets,the makers of Armaflex were qui-etly establishing a market leader-ship position in the anti-fatiguemat segment of technical foams,using Armacell quality and ser-vice to win customers over.Today, Armacell is the exclusivesupplier to the largest OEMaccount in that segment, andbeginning to work with other

Armacell’s U.S. Technical FoamsBusiness Having a Big-time Impact

vides comfort through cushioningand weight distribution that youcan’t get standing on a hard,unforgiving surface.Armacell’s biggest mat customercites three "value-added" reasonsfor selecting and staying withArmacell as their preferred sup-plier: Armacell Customer Service,consistent on-time delivery, andunmatched quality control.

try listings at the bottom.Simply click on North America,and it will take you into ourpages.Here’s some of the informationyou can retrieve:• Products organized by market

segment application –mechanical insulation andtechnical foams

• Whom to contact, includingCustomer Service reps foryour area

• How and where to obtainArmacell products• Product literature and

technical data sheets• MSDS sheets• Installation information• Specification guides• Technical bulletins and

Test Reports• News, including information

about newer productsThere’s much more, and it’s alleasy to find. When you do, andwhen you have a chance, pleasesend us your comments (byusing Contact Us). This is a ser-vice for our customers and wewant it to meet your needs.Your suggestions will help makeit another value-added servicefor your business.

If you haven’t been to theArmacell website recently,you’re in for a treat when youget there. The recentlyrevamped website went "live" afew weeks ago and will continueto become a more useful tool forArmacell customers.The North American site hasbeen updated with cleaner andeasier navigation, as well as lat-est product information andtechnical data, which is easy toaccess and quick to download.

Our approach to thewebsite is that it willalways be work inprogress: a dynamicportal for customersand engineers to keepthemselves up-to-date onArmacell products, services,innovations and company news.New information will appear onthe site weekly, if appropriate.The navigation of the Armacellglobal homepage, your firstscreen, is also slated to changesoon to make it even easier toaccess the North American site.Meanwhile, go to www.arma-cell.com, and be sure to scrolldown if necessary to the coun-

Surf’s Up: Ride the Newer, Betterwww.armacell.com

Neoprene Industrial Gaskets Sealing Many DealsAnother very important seg-ment of technical foams that’sbeginning to benefit from newArmaFoam products is industri-al gasketing (IG), where theArmacell manufacturingprocess has proved to be a realplus for foam fabricators.Armacell is the first valid alter-nate source for a roll foamproduct.Currently, Armacell is working

but also because of the prod-ucts’ smooth, usable skin sur-face. Also, Armacell can pro-vide some customers withunique gauges not previouslyavailable to the industry.As Armacell’s IG businessincreases, we are establishing acredible network of authorizedfabricators who have experi-ence in meeting the strictdemands of OEM customers.

with some of the largest foam fab-ricator-distributors in the UnitedStates. The ArmaFoam productscan be used in a wide variety ofapplications, including gasketingand seals, automotive, specialtyinsulation, vibration dampeningand vibration isolation, and shockattenuation.Armacell has made inroads withits ArmaFoam products not onlybecause of the alternate sourcing,

Turf athletic fields have come along way since the Sixties, whenRichie Allen, rookie of the yearthird baseman for thePhiladelphia Phillies,grumbled about histeam’s new playingsurface: "If cowswon’t eat it, I won’tplay on it." Or wordsto that effect.Today’s turf surfacesare precision engi-neered to optimizeplayer safety, mini-mize risk of injury,and meet strict stan-dards and testing that can be dif-ferent for different sports. Andfor the first time in worldwidesports, there’s a credible alternatesource for the turf underlaymentsthat are the hidden key to thesecomposite green carpets. Thatsource, of course, is Armacell, andwe are also the only supplier withglobal manufacturing capabilitiesfor a world that’s sometimessports crazy.Like a well-tuned multi-sportathlete, Armacell was well pre-pared to expand into the turfunderlayment field based on

years of leading experience infoaming technologies. With sub-stantial resources at its disposal,and a new but industry-wise

ArmaFoam teampointing the way,Armacell has wonsome impressivestadium jobs dueto superior quali-ty and service.Already,ArmaFoam isinstalled or spec-ified as the turfunderlayment ina number of

high-profile jobs:• US Training Center,

International Field Hockeyfacility in Virginia Beach.

• 2 collegiate soccer fields• 2 National Football League

stadiums.

• Collegiate baseball trainingsite, U of Georgia

• 2 indoor arenas in the ArenaFootball League

• Golf mats, at a growing numberof courses and driving ranges

How has Armacell come so far sofast on world playing fields? Oneadvantage that Armacell brings toour new partners such asAstroturf – in addition to qualityand service – is technical compe-tence. But perhaps the mostimportant strength is the uniqueexperience that team memberslike Trey Moody, our nationalsales manager for technical

foams, have in workingwith OEM requirementswithin the segment. Itjust goes to show thatthe best teams combineskill, experience and adesire to excel.

Come on down (or up, or over)!We’re proud of our still-new facil-ities in Mebane, North Carolinaand have hosted a number ofcustomer visits to the land ofNASCAR, barbecue, ACC basket-ball… and Armaflex.Since relocating our NorthAmerican headquarters fromLancaster, Pennsylvania,Armacell has provided a numberof customers with in-depth toursof world-class manufacturingand warehousing facilities."Customer tours give customers achance to see our quality manu-facturing and meet the peoplebehind it," says John Walter,Mebane plant manager.Another highlight of a visit toMebane is the 180,000-sq. ft.distribution center with its elec-tronic warehouse management

Visit Armacell: We’re Rolling Out theCarpet for Customers

system, now fully operational.Armacell invested in the systemto provide best stock rotationand shipping accuracy.But as John Walter points out,customers often seem mostimpressed with the attitude andgenuine commitment of theArmacell team, from those on theproduction lines, to warehouseforklift operators, to ourCustomer Service group. A plantvisit provides an excellent oppor-tunity to meet with your cus-tomer service rep and discuss anyspecific needs or issues in person.Last year, one major contractorcustomer had this comment aftervisiting Armacell LLC: "The ener-getic enthusiasm displayed by allthe people we met gives proof towhy Armacell is #1."Armacell plant tours are usuallyorganized through our territorymanagers. Y’all contact yours ifyou want to visit our ArmacellNorth American headquarters.We’d be very happy to show yousome real Carolina hospitalityand Armaflex spirit.

large mat manufacturers.Armacell supplies the foam usedfor anti-fatigue mat underlay-ment: two closed cell vinyl nitrileproducts in different densitiesand compression-deflections.The Armacell foams – part of theArmaFoam family – provide theoptimum shock attenuation torelieve fatigue for people whosetasks require prolonged standing.The right engineered foam pro-

Our facilities in Mebane, North Carolina

Newest ArmWin CDProvides ProductData, ThicknessCalculations

The newest version ofArmWin, the information-packed CD used by mechanicalengineers and insulation con-tractors, is now available fordownloading.ArmWin 3.2 contains lots ofuseful, timesaving informa-tion. One part, the "engi-

calculations fast and easy, areliable tool for selecting theright insulation to control

condensation, heatflow and more.

To obtain ArmWin3.2, contact yourArmacell sales orcustomer service

representative, orsubmit your

request via Armacell’swebsite, www.armacell.com.

neering binder", contains all thelatest easy-to-downloadArmacell product literature,technical bulletins, mate-rial safety data sheets(MSDS), and specifi-cation guides. Thecomprehensive CDalso contains plentyof graphic outputs.Many users find thatone of the most valuablefeatures is the calculation pro-gram. ArmWin makes thickness

Armacell Bursts onto Sports Scene with Winning Underlayments

Market Leaders in Anti-Fatigue Mats