Armacell was the insulator manufacturing
division of
Armstrong World Industries, until a
management buyout in June 2000. Founder Thomas Armstrong created the division in 1899, when
Armstrong World Industries, started producing insulated
corkboard and
brick. In 1954, the division experienced success after launching Armaflex, a flexible technical insulator for pipe connections. In 1960,
Armstrong World Industries laid the foundation for Armstrong Kork GmbH in
Germany to produce flooring. The company opened its first distribution office in
Düsseldorf as part of their expansion in
Europe. This became the foundation of Armstrong's European headquarters. A new factory was erected in
Münster in 1967, to handle increasing demand for Armaflex. The
1973 oil crisis led to innovations in heating-system insulators. Growth was propelled by
West Germany's "
Energieeinsparverordnung", a law obliging building owners to construct buildings that use as little energy for heating as possible. In 1984,
Swiss company Rothrist and its brand Tubolit were taken-over, adding insulations based on
polyethylene to the range of products. In 1991, the Münster site was equipped as a center for advanced research for insulation solutions. In June 2000, the insulation division became independent company Armacell International Holding, with all rights to Armaflex and Tubolit. In 2001, Armacell founded a new company division with a focus on technical foams. At the end of 2019, the financial investor Blackstone sold the majority of the capital in Armacell to PAI partners, while the minority shareholder
Kirkbi, who has held a stake in Armacell since 2016, increased its stake at the same time.
Expansion and acquisitions The company expanded into
Asia the following year, acquired a Thai producer of technical insulation and founded a new division for technical foams. In 2004, Armacell acquired Ensolite and Oletex and the associated facilities from the US-American RBX group. In 2005, Armacell took over American foam slab stock producer Monarch Rubber and Fagerdala Benelux S.A., a European producer of thermoplastic foams. In 2008, Armacell purchased MDS Leuze, a manufacturer of blank-sheet cable coatings and PropaCene. == References ==