INSULATION from Kuwait Insulating Material Manufacturing Company (Kimmco) provides the benefits of comfort, energy savings, acoustic buffering and sustainability all in one product, says the Kuwait-based manufacturer.
Although developed three years ago, these products are state of the art and preferred by the market, it adds.

A leading insulation solution provider in the Middle East, Africa, the Far East and other Asian countries and a world leader in fibreglass insulation, Kimmco manufactures and supplies customised reflective, acoustic and fire-resistant insulation solutions.

Using Kimmco products enhances the Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of a building, says Hannes Visagie, general manager. “In the current context of green building and sustainability, Kimmco products are the choice since they are environment-friendly and recyclable. The thermal, acoustic and fire safety features are all required for the comfort and the well-being of human beings and property,” he says.

“Kimmco insulation products improve a building’s energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption. As a result, they can help conserve non-renewable energy sources and lower greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the recycled content of Kimmco fibreglass insulation meets the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) recovered material guideline for fibreglass products – 20 to 25 per cent consisting of pre-consumer and post-consumer glass cullet.”

Given the increasing awareness for sustainable buildings, Kimmco says many of its products that were developed three years ago continue to maintain their popularity the market. Some of these products include the Kimmco Clean Liner and the Kimmco Duct Insul Plus.

“Kimmco Clean Liner is an ideal substitute for the conventional acoustic liner for HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) ducts that fails to meet the requirement of ‘zero fibre migration’ throughout the life of the system. It is also a solution for providing efficient sound insulation for a variety of structures, and/or sensitive facilities as home theatres or studios and curtain-walls,” he explains.

The Kimmco Clean Liner is supplied with factory-applied black glass fabric facing, which is strong, durable and dimensionally stable, and has high mechanical strength besides being easy to clean.

The Kimmco Duct Insul Plus is an ideal substitute for conventional thermal insulation products for HVAC ducts that may require costly and labour-intensive work at site to protect insulation by jacketing or weather-protective coating (canvas and adhesive). It is supplied with factory-applied Aluglass facing, which is durable and dimensionally stable, has high mechanical strength, and achieves zero water vapour permeance.

Another product, the Kimmco Lamella Insul is a solution for large pipes and pipe clusters, where preformed insulation is not appropriate; square or rectangular HVAC ducts where full insulation thickness on corners is to be maintained; tanks and vessels where required compression resistance cannot be achieved by standard fibreglass insulation products; and decorative roof surfaces such as domes and arches, where standard insulation products cannot be used, he adds.
Kimmco is a subsidiary of Alghanim Industries and a licensee of Saint Gobain, Isover, the world leader in fibreglass insulation.

Commenting on the company’s performance, Visagie says: “Last year was challenging. We look forward to positive growth this year as with the improving global economy, we expect demand to increase.”

The firm has supplied to prestigious projects in the region such as Burj Khalifa and Dubai Metro in the UAE (Dubai).
“Also, Kimmco takes pride in supplying insulation products to the prestigious Princess Nora University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,” Visagie states.

The company was a participant at this year’s inaugural Big 5 Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, where it presented its range of insulation rolls and boards of glasswool and rockwool products. Also at the show, the company launched a new product – acoustic decoration ceiling tiles.

Kimmco has a capacity of 35,000 tonnes per year of insulation products that are manufactured to comply with international standards such as ASTM, DIN, BS, ISO, and certified and listed by UL (Underwriters Laboratories, US) and DCL (Dubai Central Laboratories, UAE).

It also has production facilities in Hyderabad and Silvassa, in India.
Kimmco’s products are used in private, commercial and industrial buildings for floors, walls, roofs, air-conditioning and piping as well as in the petrochemical and process industries. Its product line includes building rolls, building slabs, duct insulation (thermal), duct liners (acoustic), clean liners (sound insulation), ALU duct (air distribution systems in HVAC), rigid pipe covering (thermal insulation) and Kalining (thermal and acoustic insulation for walls), and Kafi (acoustic floor insulation), to name a few.

 Products are offered in rolls and boards with a density of 10 to 120 kg per cu m and pre-formed pipe coverings up to 36 inches in diameter – all of which can be ordered with or without reflective vapour barriers or acoustic facings for use with continuous working temperatures up to 230 deg C.

Kimmco has to its credit ISO 9001 (quality management system), ISO 14001 (environment management system) and OHSAS 18001 (occupational health and safety management system) certifications; complies with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations and respects the environment during its manufacturing processes.

The company, which was established in 1977, has sales offices in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam), Qatar and the UAE, and employs a staff of about 400.