New industry up and running
The long-anticipated, first stone wool acoustic ceiling products rolled off the presses last week in Marshall County.
Rockfon began production at its facility in the Chickasaw Trail Industrial Park July 19, according to a press release.
It is the company’s fifth stone wool ceiling production facility in the world. It is located next door to Roxul, the first U.S. stone wool insulation manufacturer that has been in operation about two years.
The companies are subsidiaries of the Danish company ROCKWOOL Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of stone wool products.
Justin Hall, executive director of the Marshall County Industrial Development Authority, is pleased the new manufacturing facility is open.
“It is very exciting to see the Rockfon facility begin production,” he said. “Rockfon is bringing quality employment opportunities for Marshall County residents with the opening of this facility. Marshall County has worked closely with Rockfon to ensure the project is a success and all construction goals were met on time or ahead of schedule.
“This project represents $40 million dollars of new investment, great careers for our residents, and will strengthen Marshall County’s manufacturing ecosystem for generations to come. Roxul and Rockfon are great assets to Marshall County and are very community minded, and we look forward to our continued partnership and success,” Hall said.
ROCKWOOL invested about $40 million in the new 130,000-square-foot Rockfon facility in Marshall County. The production line began operating on schedule and Rockfon will have a grand opening this fall.
John Medio, president of Rockfon-Americas, expressed excitement at the opening of the facility last week. He believes the market for this product is strong.
“We listened to the North American market and heard its growing demand for our stone wool acoustic ceiling products,” he said. “Our new facility is a game-changer in the U.S. ceiling products industry. It extends our capacity across the globe and positions us well for future expansion.”
Situated adjacent to the existing manufacturing facility of stone wool insulation, the two facilities – Rockfon and Roxul – open the door and enlarge the footprint of the two companies in North America.
Trent Ogilvie, North American president of Roxul, welcomed Rockfon and said, “ROCKWOOL continually demonstrates its commitment to and investment in our North American market. The successful completion of Rockfon’s first U.S. facility responds to the increased demand for stone wool products and paves the way for further growth and innovation.”
Medio agreed.
“We are fortunate to draw from our global network to support and accentuate the strengths of our local resources,” he said. “Together with our distributors, we are increasing our share of the ceiling panel market in North America.
“Today, we are proud to say our complete ceiling systems are ‘Made in the U.S.A.’ Producing locally makes it easier and faster to supply our customers and distributors with Rockfon’s high quality products.”
He said reduced lead times and a well-maintained, comprehensive inventory in strategically located U.S. warehouses offer increased service levels to customers.
The facility brings more than 90 new jobs, from management to skilled production staff, to the local economy. These jobs contribute to the health and economy of the state and nation, Medio said.
Rockfon is the leading provider of acoustic stone wool ceiling panels, specialty metal ceiling products and suspension systems.
The stone wool ceiling panels are made of 42 percent recycled content. The rest is made primarily of basalt rock – a material of essentially limitless supply.