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Johns Manville

Johns Manville Has Leadership Changes in Two Businesses

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Berkshire Hathaway’s Johns Manville, a global building and specialty products manufacturer and a Berkshire Hathaway company, announced leadership changes in two of its businesses. Bob Wamboldt, currently Senior Vice President and General Manager of Roofing Systems, will become Senior Vice President and General Manager of Insulation Systems, and Joe Smith will become Senior Vice President and General Manager of Roofing Systems.

Wamboldt will succeed Fred Stephan, who is leaving Johns Manville for another opportunity.

“Johns Manville is a leader and innovator in the many global markets we serve,” said Mary Rhinehart, Chairman, President and CEO. “We are confident Bob and Joe will continue making JM the supplier of choice for our customers, and we are thankful for the service Fred has given JM over the past 12 years.”

Wamboldt joined Johns Manville in 2003 and has held senior leadership positions in the company’s Engineered Products business and in Roofing Systems. He began as Strategic Accounts Manager and later worked as Vice President and General Manager of Engineered Products North America and as Leader for the North American Fibers business in the Engineered Products Group. He has led the Roofing Systems business since 2011. Before joining JM, Wamboldt worked 16 years at PPG with key roles in their Fiber Glass and Coatings divisions. He earned a degree in Chemistry from Lehigh University and is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.

Smith will assume Wamboldt’s current role in the Roofing Systems business. He has been General Manager of Building Insulation since 2012 and has played important roles at JM for more than 28 years. He began his tenure as a roofing sales representative, and in 1998 he moved to Denver as a marketing manager in JM’s Roofing Systems Business. For the next 14 years, he worked in a variety of marketing, product management and roofing services positions. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Management and a master’s degree in Business Administration from St. Leo University.

About Johns Manville

Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2001, Johns Manville has annual sales of approximately $2.6 billion, and employs approximately 7,000 people.

The company has 44 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China.

© 2017 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Johns Manville

Johns Manville to Benefit From Growth in Global Roofing Insulation Market

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Insulation manufacturer Johns Manville will be among the companies benefitting from a growing world-wide market for roofing insulation according to a new report by analysts at Research and Markets.

In “Global Roof Insulation Market Analysis & Trends – Industry Forecast to 2025,” the analysts predict the market for roofing insulation will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 5.1% over the next decade to reach approximately $13.9 billion by 2025.

Positive factors cited in the report include increasing attention towards energy-efficient building in the construction sector, and improved demand for insulating materials in extreme weather countries.

About Johns Manville

Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2001, Johns Manville has annual sales of approximately $2.6 billion, and employs approximately 7,000 people. The company has 44 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China.

© 2017 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Johns Manville

Johns Manville to Benefit from Robust Global Market for Acoustic Insulation

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Insulation manufacturer Johns Manville will benefit from a growing market for acoustic insulation according to a new report by analysts at Research and Markets.

In their report “Global Acoustic Insulation Market – Segmented by Type, Application and Geography – Trends and Forecasts (2016 – 2021),” they forecast a robust market that will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.32%, during the forecast period 2016-2021.

The global acoustic insulation market was valued at USD 12.48 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach USD 17.03 billion by 2021.

The acoustic insulation market is mainly driven by factors such as government regulations for controlling noise pollution and the growing interest of consumers towards acoustic insulation for commercial and residential purposes. Rise in construction activities in North America is another factor that is currently driving the market. However, the slow paced construction market in Europe, owing to a feeble economic condition in the region, may act as a roadblock to the growth of the market.

Demand for aesthetic and fire resistant insulation products would serve as an opportunity for the future growth of the acoustic insulation market. Apart from this, increasing usage of stainless steel wool and aerogel for soundproofing applications is expected to boost the growth in future.

About Johns Manville

Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2001, Johns Manville has annual sales of approximately $2.6 billion, and employs approximately 7,000 people. The company has 44 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Johns Manville

New Report Forecasts Strong Growth for Global Roofing Systems

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A new report by Research and Markets forecasts strong world-wide growth over the next five years for roofing manufacturers, including Berkshire Hathaway’s Johns Manville.

The report, “Roofing Systems Market by Material (Asphalt, Metal, Plastic, Clay, Concrete), Product (Shingles & Plates, Tiles), Construction Type (New Construction & Reform Construction), End-Use Sector (Residential & Non-Residential) – Global Forecast to 2021,” notes that the global market for roofing systems is projected to grow from USD 109.72 billion in 2016 to reach USD 157.56 billion by 2021.

The compound annual growth rate is estimated to be a robust 3.06% from 2016 to 2021.

The report cites growth in the construction industry throughout the world as well as government regulations regarding zero energy building codes and green roofing have played a huge role in providing the necessary momentum to the roofing systems market, after the economic slowdown between 2007 and 2009.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Johns Manville

Johns Manville Increases Investment in Engineering Thermoplastics

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Johns Manville (JM), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, is expanding its glass fiber operations plant in Etowah, Tennessee, to service the increasing needs of the engineered thermoplastics industry. The expansion is underway and will be finished in 2016.

The expansion in Etowah includes a new furnace to support the launch of the next generation of global products for reinforced thermoplastic composites and further support the drive to lightweight materials use. The new furnace is scheduled to start up in August 2016, and will allow for production growth and flexibility within JM’s product families for polyamides, polyesters and polypropylenes.

“Current and future trends in the composites industry will continue to drive increasing demand for glass fiber products in transportation, electrical and consumers segments,” said Brian Sapp, Global Fibers Business Director for JM Engineered Products. “We are making this investment to support our customers’ plans for growth, and we are continuing to pursue innovations in technology and product development in fibers to support existing and future customers.”

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Johns Manville

Johns Manville Building Second TPO Production Line at Alabama Plant

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With new construction starts continuing to slowly grow, Berkshire Hathaway’s Johns Manville, a manufacturer and marketer of building and specialty products, is adding a second production line at the company’s Scottsboro, Alabama, manufacturing facility.

The new line will increase production capacity for the company’s TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin), a roofing membrane that is used by commercial roofing contractors, consultants and building owners.

The new TPO production line will bring Johns Manville’s total investment in commercial roofing over the past eight years to approximately $200 million.

In October 2008, Johns Manville opened the state-of-the-art TPO facility in Scottsboro. The company furthered its investment in single ply in 2012 with the opening of an EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) manufacturing plant in Milan, Ohio.

To meet recent demand for Johns Manville TPO, the company began a capacity expansion project in March 2015 at the Scottsboro plant. Construction was completed in May, and now work will begin to construct the second production line.

“The plant expansion was a huge success and made our Scottsboro facility what is, in our view, the most productive and efficient TPO facility in the United States, enabling us to meet our customers’ needs for the foreseeable future,” said Jennifer Ford-Smith, Johns Manville’s Director of Marketing and Single Ply. “This new line will give Johns Manville the ability to supply our customers with even more TPO than was previously available.”

About Johns Manville

Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2001, Johns Manville has annual sales of approximately $2.6 billion, and employs approximately 7,000 people. The company has 44 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China.

© 2015 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.