Ireland Foam Supplier Produces Castor Oil Spray Foam
CROSSMOLINA, IRELAND - March 16, 2011 - While spray foam has been increasing in popularity in the US, it has also been gaining traction overseas. Bio Foam Spray Insulation (BFSI), located in western Ireland, focuses on Castor oil-based foam, a popular material in Europe due to its “green” properties. The company currently distributes primarily in Europe but is looking to further develop their distribution networks.
Joe Fagan of BFSI explains the current market conditions in the area as well as a brief history of spray foam in Europe: “The spray foam industry in Europe is a small market with significant competition. Spray foam insulation has been used in Ireland for over 35 years, primarily in the agricultural and commercial sectors. It was in the last 8 years that water blown open cell foams were introduced to the Irish market and started to become more widely available, but these first foams were very expensive. It was at this point in time which we focused our attention on the development of a sustainable, bio-renewable castor based spray foam, and in late 2006, these bio-renewable foams first appeared on the Irish market. Spray foam is now well known in Ireland and is slowly developing awareness in continental Europe.”
“Castor oil foams have become one of the more preferred spray foams in Europe due to the sustainability of castor oil versus soy oils. Soy oil is a direct food product which made it unappealing to environmentally aware developers in the European market. Alternatively, castor oil is primarily used in sectors such as health, cosmetics, paints and bio-fuels. We are currently the only certified supplier of Castor based foams in Europe.”
We have developed a wide range of water-blown, castor based foam systems. Biofoam 800 is a open cell breathable soft spray foam insulation, designed specifically for use in domestic structures. Our Biofoam 1600 foam is a semi rigid, closed cell spray foam insulation, designed for use in both commercial and domestic structures. Lastly, our Biofoam 2700 foam is a rigid, closed cell spray foam insulation, designed for use in both commercial and domestic structures. These products contain 60% bio-renewable content (including polyols from recycled plastics on the B-side) which Fagan states is “the highest bio-renewable content of any other spray foam on the market today.” The company has also recently developed a high density roofing foam for external insulation. “We are constantly striving to produce foams which are better for the environment and for our customers.”
Fagan also talks about the challenges facing spray foam in Europe, “One of the biggest issues affecting spray foam in Europe is unprofessional craftsmanship due to poor training, product knowledge and traceability from some suppliers. Bio Foam Spray Insulation is proud to have a full training program and ISO 9001 quality control system in place. All our installers are fully trained in product knowledge, sales ethics and installation practices.”
About BFSI
Bio Foam Spray Insulation, based in Western Ireland, began operation in 2007 committed to providing alternative construction and energy-related products that are environmentally sustainable, ecologically responsible, energy efficient and economical. “Our goal is to provide products that facilitate near zero energy usage homes and buildings.” For more information, visit http://www.biofoamsprayinsulation.ie.
