Knauf Insulation Opens Major Glass Mineral Wool Factory in Romania

Knauf Insulation Romania, part of the German Knauf Group, has officially inaugurated its new glass mineral wool production facility in Târnăveni, Mureș County, following a EUR 140 million investment, supported by EUR 18 million in state aid.

The factory, described by Alexander Knauf, a member of the Knauf Group, as utilising state-of-the-art technology, has an annual production capacity of 75,000 tonnes—sufficient to insulate up to 200,000 homes per year. As the company’s largest investment in Central and Eastern Europe, the site positions Romania as a strategic industrial hub for the region.

From Târnăveni, Knauf plans to supply not only the domestic market but also countries including Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia, Greece, Hungary, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. German Ambassador Angella Ganinger highlighted the strong German presence in Romania, noting that this marks the fifth German investment inauguration she has attended within four months.

Although the factory became operational earlier in 2024, production was temporarily halted over the summer following the environmental incident at the Praid Salt Mine, which disrupted local water supplies essential for the facility’s operations. After a two-month suspension, manufacturing activities have now fully resumed. The plant currently employs 116 workers, with staffing expected to reach 130 in line with expansion plans.

Construction of the unit began in early 2023, following Knauf’s 2022 acquisition of the Gecsat glass mineral wool factory previously located on the same site. The substantial investment aims to bolster supply chain resilience, support energy efficiency objectives in construction, and strengthen the company’s competitive position within the regional insulation market.

Source: Global Insulation