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K-FLEX POLSKA

MATERIALISING SUCCESS IN THE INSULATION MARKET powered by Inside Sustainability

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K-FLEX POLSKA

I PROFILE

MATERIALISING SUCCESS IN THE INSULATION MARKET

K-FLEX Polska provides flexible elastomeric insulation materials that have specialist thermal and acoustic properties. As a subsidiary of K-FLEX, the company has access to a wide network of partners and a rich history rooted in quality assurance and innovation. Project Manager Kamil Maszczyk discussed the company’s latest investments, in a report by Imogen Ward.

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E

xcitingly, K-FLEX Polska is currently

Previously a feature for the Inside Industry

involved in five major European

magazine, K-FLEX Polska has been busy

projects, all of which are funded by

growing its capabilities over the past

Horizon 2020 and promote a sustainable

two years.

and co-operative circular economy. “We started our adventure with the European projects in 2020,” Project Manager Kamil Maszczyk said. “It was a bit strange, developing this during the pandemic, because our main task was to meet people and gather information. Out of all the projects, FRONTSH1P is by far the biggest project for us; it is the first one we have fully coordinated, and it has so much potential for development.”

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K-FLEX POLSKA

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Flexing new capabilities

develop its production capabilities. K-FLEX

The greatest developments at K-FLEX Polska

has decided to develop its own OEM multi-

come in the form of two new warehouses,

layer piping with integrated insulation.

in Uniejów, Poland. “In 2022 we opened a

“We are currently the only manufacturer

new warehouse that has an area of 8,000

that produces both multilayer piping and

square metres,” said Mr Maszczyk. “In May

the insulation itself,” Mr Maszczyk explained.

this year we expanded our capacity again

“Before, the pipe manufacturer would send

with the commission of our biggest ware-

their products to get them insulated; we

house to-date. With a floor space of 32,000

would then have to send them back once

square metres, this addition takes our total

complete. That means the customer would

production warehouse space to 100,000

be paying for the cost of transportation –

square metres.”

it also results in a bigger carbon footprint.

This increase in capacity provided K-FLEX with the perfect opportunity to further

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Often these pipe companies would be in different countries and the client would be

K-FLEX POLSKA

I PROFILE

close to us in Poland, so it made no sense to

circular solutions into four of the region’s

continue this way.

main production processes. As a result, the

“Now we have everything under one

project is expected to lead to an improve-

roof, we can manufacture the pipes and

ment in the region’s decarbonisation and

insulation at the same time. We have sold

general regeneration efforts.

more than 50 per cent of our insulated

“FRONTSH1P is not only focused on

pipes to companies in Europe, with 10 to

the businesses in Łódzkie, but also aims

20 per cent being here in Poland, and

to engage the citizens in the circular

this number is still growing: we expect

economy,” Mr Maszczyk said. “The project

it to reach 50 per cent within the next

is focused on four different areas: food

three years.”

and feed, water and nutrients, plastic and

Multilayer pipes are great for underfloor

rubber waste, and wood packaging. In our

heating, which is an area that K-FLEX intends

case, we provided scraps from our pro-

to invest in further in. The company is cur-

duction process, which can be thermally

rently developing underfloor heating sys-

treated to produce energy. Some of the

tems and strives to produce all the materials

solutions developed during the project

for this – enabling its customers to purchase

include a waste composter and bags

everything they need from one supplier,

made from recycled plastics. Our scraps

which makes lead times shorter, reduces

helped make these bags.”

the cost of the project and makes the whole process much simpler and stress-free.

Biodegradable bags were made to reduce the number of plastic bags ending up in landfill. Locals can also get involved

Project success on the horizon

by donating their domestic waste to the

K-FLEX always endeavours to make a

project – making it a community-wide

difference within the wider community.

effort. Following the success in Łódzkie,

As part of this commitment, the company

the project has also been extended to four

is involved in five major Horizon projects.

other European regions: Campania, Italy;

The largest of which, FRONTSH1P, began in

Sterea Ellada, Greece; Norte, Portugal; and

2021. Based around the progression of the

Friesland in the Netherlands. This number

circular economy within the Polish region

is set to expand, as time progresses, to

of Łódzkie, the project has implemented

create Circular Regional Clusters that will

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work in unison to ensure the success of the

Made without the use of halogens, the

FRONTSH1P vision.

K-FLEX SCR ECO creates non-toxic

The company is also working on three

fumes in case of fire. In this instance, the

projects that promote the innovation

product’s protective jacket also slows

of building practices. RINNO, InCUBE

down the emission of smoke and fumes.

and REHOUSE are dedicated to creating

“This product is perfect for customers

a standardised and cost-efficient way

that need insulation material with the

of developing infrastructure that is both

best fire-resistant properties,” said

sustainable and economically efficient.

Mr Maszczyk. “This has been available

The final project, FLEXINDUSTRIES, pro-

since 2018 and has been upgraded to

motes the development of energy efficient

increase the maximum service tempera-

and sustainable solutions for electrical and

ture and fire-resistance.”

heating networks worldwide. Following the

Going forward, the company hopes to

success of these five projects, K-FLEX has

continue expanding its reach in the mar-

committed to two new projects which

ketplace to secure its position as a market

should start before the end of 2023.

leader. “We have plans to implement new products relating to the different types

Products that protect

of insulation,” Mr Maszczyk said. “We also

Currently, the company’s most successful

want to develop a new type of pipe for the

product is rubber insulation. As the largest

cooling systems, and plan to create a

provider of this material in Europe, K-FLEX

strong presence in DIY stores. K-FLEX is a

hopes to encourage more companies to

global enterprise, with 17 plants spanning

invest in the insulation. “We want to pro-

the globe, and our united goal is to

mote insulation as a crucial energy saver,”

expand into the USA and Mexico.

Mr Maszczyk said. “It is better to spend

“We will continue to support our

the money on installation today rather

customers and provide them with market

than paying ten times as much for heating

leading products that are adapted to meet

over the next ten years.”

all requirements,” he concluded. “We can

On top of this, the company also produces a range of eco insulation.

do that because we are as flexible as our flexible insulation material.”

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