BASF launches NEOPOR EPS website for North America

BASF launches Neopor® EPS website in North America
More information, organized for the convenience of customers
FLORHAM PARK, NJ, July 7, 2010 – BASF announced a new website for its Neopor® expandable polystyrene (EPS), a forward-looking solution to improve insulation in newly built and renovated buildings. The result is a more robust Internet resource that makes it easier for customers to learn about Neopor’s ability to improve a building’s insulation performance.  Neopor is silvery grey in color because it contains graphite that considerably increases insulation performance.
The new website has been especially designed for the North American market and its content offers an increased value to BASF’s customers.  The features of the site, www.neopor.basf.us include:
A literature section that contains product specifications and regulatory information, along with downloadable information, such as insulation investment payback, technical data sheets, MSDS data, application profiles and brochures;
A spotlight on the latest building success stories and links to customers showcasing their use of Neopor in commercial applications;

• An expanded marketing section describing the properties and versatility of BASF’s Neopor demonstrating how it adds value in building and construction applications;
• An online customer information service that puts users in touch with a BASF Customer Relationship Specialist, a single point of contact for answers to many common questions

“Our objective is to provide a comprehensive and user-friendly online resource that will enable our customers and users of our product to find the information they need quickly and easily,” said Aaron Wood, Marketing Manager at BASF. “The site delivers an important, value-added capability for our customers by saving them time and giving them instant access to a wealth of information about our products and services and about the marketplace.”.
The Neopor site is open to all users and requires no registration to receive non-secure information. Customer account information and other secure data are protected with advanced safeguard measures.
BASF - The Chemical Company.

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $13 billion in 2009. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.us.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

For more information, contact:
Kathy Dennis
BASF Corporation
Tel: (973) 245-6288
E-mail: Kathy.dennis@basf.com

BASF's Styropor EPS used in innovative application for radiant heating industry- Helps keeps heat rising

Creatherm “walk-it-in” radiant floor panels provide an efficient thermal and sound barrier between the ground and heated slab while saving contractors time and money.

FLORHAM PARK, NJ, – Until now, installing radiant heating has been a time consuming and labor intensive process for contractors. Home and building owners benefit from radiant heating because it is a clean, comfortable and energy efficient solution. Creatherm™ radiant floor panels, manufactured by Creatherm out of BASF Styropor® EPS, offer contractors an innovative foam installation process that saves time and money.

As with Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs), Creatherm™ radiant floor panels are easily installed. Interlocking panels help reduce labor costs and improve installation efficiencies by allowing for precise tube layout that eliminates the need to tie, clip, staple, or screw the PEX [cross-linked polyethylene] tubing to the substrate.

Styropor®, an expandable polystyrene (EPS) was invented by BASF in 1952 and today is a classic among the raw materials employed for cost-effective con­struction, as well as efficient and reliable packaging. The most important properties of Styropor® EPS include:

excellent thermal insulation capacity

high compressive strength

outstanding impact absorption

low weight

design capabilities

BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.® BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany.

BASF employs more than 15,000 in North America and had sales of approximately $16.4 billion in 2007.

For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail,visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from oil and gas to chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF has more than 95,000 employees and posted sales of almost €58 billion in 2007. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

About Createc Corporation Headquartered in Whitestown, Ind., a northwest suburb of Indianapolis, CreathermTM offers innovative foam products to the building industry. As a subsidiary of Createc Corporation, manufacturers of ICF panels, Creatherm’s Radiant Floor Panels were their first product to reach market, and sales have more than doubled since launch in 2005. For more than 35 years, Createc Corporation, as a second-generation family-owned business, has been a leader in the beaded foam industry, providing everything from protective packaging to automotive, component and specialty foam products. Strengths include in-house product design, quality manufacturing, and a large production capacity backed by timely delivery and attentive customer service. The ability to solve design problems offers Createc Corporation distinction as a valued business partner to companies nationwide.

EPS = Proven Performance

Expanded polystyrene insulation guarantees stable R-Value and increased energy savings.

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation products have been the subject of extensive research and evaluation over a 30-plus year lifespan in a wide variety of building and construction applications. 

EPS is a closed-cell, thermal plastic material produced from styrene and pentane that can be engineered to meet the specific requirements of commercial, residential, and civil engineering projects. Building owners and contractors recognize the value of EPS due to its unique physical properties and cost savings.

Another Energy Crisis?

During the 1970s, demand for quality building insulation soared when an oil crisis sent heating and cooling costs skyward. In recent months, this same phenomena demands building owners look for even more energy-efficient insulation products. Offering stable R-value, EPS is made up of 95-percent air, making it an excellent insulating material. It can be produced in a wide range of densities and thick-nesses to provide the physical properties and thermal performance required for an application.

The Institute of Research in Construction, a subdivision of the National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, conducted a two-year study, "The Exterior Insulation Basement System" on the performance of EPS in below-grade applications. The results concluded "the key performance factors of thermal conductivity and compressive strength of the EPS specimens were not affected by the 31-month in-situ exposure." In fact, it demonstrated a slight increase in its thermal performance during the second year. This groundbreaking research establishes a new baseline for EPS performance measurements.

Other studies, looking at newer EPS building systems applications like insulated concrete forms (ICFs) and structural insulated panels (SIPs), show increased energy savings over competing materials, up to 25 percent. In a recent test conducted by the Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, FL, a building structure constructed with EPS tested at only 1.8 air changes per hour (ach) vs. 3.9 ach measured for the more antiquated construction type.

Code Advancements

New code developments are also paving the way for increased cost savings when using EPS. Recent fire testing and evaluation reports from some national and state building code authorities make EPS foam insulation even more cost effective when used in steel-deck roofing applications.

The Seymour High School Aquatic Center in Seymour, WI, saved thousand of dollars in roofing construction costs by switching to UL-classified EPS. "We saw an opportunity to save the school district some tax dollars without compromising the safety or performance of the building," says Troy Eick, co-owner of Northeastern Roofing Inc. "Because the Wisconsin building code authority recognized the direct application of polystyrene to steel deck roof assemblies -- without the need for a thermal barrier -- EPS foam was the most cost-effective insulation choice. We were able to save the school district nearly $20,000."

In January 2000, the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) issued evaluation reports approving the use of expanded polystyrene foam plastic insulation for use in roofing systems directly applied to steel roof decks. The Southern Building Code Congress International Inc. (SBCCI) issued similar evaluation reports in 1997. 

With ongoing code developments and technological advancements for new uses of expanded polystyrene, its role as a cost-competitive and high-performance insulation material is expected to increase in upcoming years. Growth projections in ICFs and SIPs alone are in the 20 to 25 percentile. With escalating energy costs, it is more important than ever that building owners seek out materials that deliver consistent performance over the life of the building.

Betsy de Campos is executive director of the EPS Molders Association, Crofton, MD, a partner of EPA ENERGY STAR.

Environmental Bonus

Pentane is the blowing agent used in the manufacture of EPS, and is not harmful to the Earth's stratospheric ozone layer. In fact, Green-peace recognizes EPS as a viable and preferred insulation technology. While pentane dissipates over a brief curing time -- within a few days -- hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) remain within the cellular structure of the foam, for possibly five to 10 years or more, according to the Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN, Therefore, the use of HCFCs can cause a significant loss of R-value, estimated at up to 28 percent.

SOURCE: EPS Molders Association.

Construction Resources Corp. To Distribute Creatherm Floor Panels

For Immediate Release

Construction Resources Corporation, to Distribute
CreathermTMFoam Building Products in Indiana.

Indianapolis, IN – November 2008 – CreathermTM is pleased to announce that Construction Resources Corporation, will be a distributor of the manufacturer’s foam building products in Indiana. Construction Resources Corp. will distribute the entire line of Radiant Floor Panels which are ideal for installing PEX hydronic tubing with considerable time savings.

The S45 floor panel is 2’ x 4’ x 2.8” thick and features a staggered snap-tight grid for optimal tubing spacing. On-center points exist every three inches. The S45 Floor Panel can support the installation of ½”, 5/8” or 3/4” PEX Tubing. This newer panel does not support installing tubing at 45 degree angles but offers greater “R” Value due to its thickness. This makes the product ideal for colder climates or new construction.

CreathermTM Radiant floor panels are now manufactured out of BASF Styropor® EPS. Styropor® an expandable polystyrene (EPS) was invented by BASF in 1952 and today is a classic among the raw materials employed for cost-effective construction, as well as efficient and reliable packaging. The most important properties of Styropor® EPS include: excellent thermal insulation capacity, high compressive strength, outstanding impact absorption, low weight, and flexible design capabilities. The foam panels are also quiet, resistant to insects and mold, and virtually allergen free.

Headquarted in Whitestown, Ind., a northwest suburb of Indianapolis, Creatherm TM offers expanded polystyrene foam products to the building industry. Building on a design alliance with Createc Corporation, manufacturers of ICF panels, Creatherm's Radiant Floor Panels were their first product to reach market. Creatherm TM is a proud member of the Radiant Panel Association.



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About Createc Corporation
For over 30 years, Createc Corporation, as a second-generation family owned business, has been a leader in the beaded foam industry, providing everything from protective packaging to automotive, component and specialty foam products. Strengths include in-house product design, quality manufacturing, and a large production capacity backed by timely delivery and attentive customer service. The ability to solve design problems offers Createc Corporation distinction as a valued business partner to companies nationwide.

Creatherm TM and (US Design Patent No. D541396) for the S20 Floor Panel are registered to Creatherm TM.
The S45 Floor Panel design is patent pending.

About BASF Corporation
BASF Corporation, headquarted in Florham Park, N.J., is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. Our product portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/usa.

Creatherm Media Contact: David Treier 317.796.8816
Construction Resources Corp: Steve Cordell 812.333.3050

BuildBlock Building Systems, LLC Signs As First National Distributor For Creatherm Foam Building Products

Oklahoma City, OK – May 2008 – CreathermTM is pleased to announce that BuildBlock Building Systems will distribute the manufacturer’s foam building products throughout the United States using their established distributor network and online platform. BuildBlock Building Systems, LLC, will distribute the S45 Radiant Floor Panel ideal for installing PEX hydronic tubing with considerable time and labor savings.

The S45 Floor Panel is 2’ x 4’ x 2.8” thick and features a staggered snap-tight grid for optimal tubing spacing. On-center points exist every three inches. The S45 Floor Panel can support the installation of 1/2”, 5/8” or 3/4” PEX Tubing. This panel does not support installing tubing at 45 degree angles but offers greater “R” Value due to its thickness, making the product ideal for colder climates or new construction.

Creatherm TM radiant floor panels are now manufactured out of BASF Styropor® EPS. Styropor®, an expandable polystyrene (EPS) was invented by BASF in 1952 and today is a classic among the raw materials employed for cost-effective construction, as well as efficient and reliable packaging. The most important properties of Styropor® EPS include: excellent thermal insulation capacity, high compressive strength, outstanding impact absorption, low weight, and flexible design capabilities. The foam panels are also quiet, resistant to insects and mold, and virtually allergen free.

Headquarted in Whitestown, Ind., a northwest suburb of Indianapolis, Creatherm TM offers expanded polystyrene foam products to the building industry. Building on a design alliance with Createc Corporation, manufacturers of ICF panels, Creatherm’s Radiant Floor Panels were their first product to reach market.

Creatherm TM is also a proud member of the Radiant Panel Association.
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