Press Releases
04/13/10 - Two members of IKO’s shingle line-up qualify
for ENERGY STAR® rating
Super White Cambridge 30 AR and Marathon Ultra AR shingles: now consumers have an eco-friendly choice
KANKAKEE, IL – April 13, 2010 – IKO,
a pioneer in the residential and commercial roofing business,
is very pleased to announce that two members of its asphalt shingle
product line recently qualified for an ENERGY STAR rating.
The ENERGY STAR program is a joint venture of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. It was established
to help consumers save money and protect the environment by promoting
the use and sale of energy-efficient products and practices.
According to the ENERGY STAR’s official website, the program
helped Americans save enough energy in 2009 to avoid greenhouse
gas emissions equal to those from 30 million cars, while saving
nearly $17 billion on their utility bills.
Most homeowners would be stunned to discover that their homes can be bigger polluters than their cars, causing up to twice the amount of greenhouse gas emissions! Plus, heating and cooling cost the average homeowner more than $1000 per year. That’s nearly half the home’s total energy bill. (Source: www.energystar.gov)
Andy Lodge, IKO’s Technical Director, says, “Highly-reflective roofs reflect the sun’s rays back into the atmosphere. In some areas, that can reduce a roof’s temperature by as much as 20% in the summer. The attic stays cooler and air conditioning costs can go down.”
Light-colored granules are largely responsible for the shingles’ reflectant properties. In many areas of the country where summer heat is especially extreme, the climate can also be humid. The two IKO shingles that qualified for the Energy Star rating are the Super White Cambridge 30 AR & Marathon Ultra AR.
“Now homeowners have an eco-friendly alternative for both new home construction and renovation. There’s no longer a need to sacrifice performance, quality or comfort when making the environment -conscious choice,” says Mr. Lodge.
Everyone wins. The consumer AND the environment.
04/08/10 - IKO Building on Contractors’ Business Skills
KANKAKEE, IL – April 8, 2010 – IKO is working closely with its distributor network to present a series of one-day seminars in many of the US markets that the company serves.
According to IKO’s Director of Marketing, Carol Perkins, “Our roofing contractors are concerned about the economy and how it might impact their ability to generate leads, sell projects and make a profit. Helping our contractors better anticipate and respond to these challenges is the best possible investment our company can make. Suffice it to say that we want to help our contractors make the most of their business opportunities.”
John DeRosa Jr. Manager, Sales & Contractor Development for IKO was chosen to facilitate the sessions, which have already been offered in thirteen different states. With more than twelve years of relevant sales, marketing and training experience in the building industry, Mr. DeRosa is highly qualified to work with the company’s valued roofing contractor clients.
These IKO supported contractor seminars cover a variety of topics related to the sales, marketing and estimating aspects of the roofing business. Contractors learn the importance of differentiation, and develop skills to help them to identify the best strategies to sell those differences to their customers. The benefits of setting a profit goal and budgeting their business to help them achieve that goal, are also discussed in depth.
Ms. Perkins says. “We’re confident these contractor seminars will aid the roofing professional who attends by providing some valuable knowledge to reach new heights of profitability.”
03/24/10 - IKO to Break Ground in the Southeast US
Leading North American manufacturer of roofing materials to build a brand new facility and expand into a new market.
KANKAKEE, IL – March 24, 2010 – IKO, a North American pioneer in the residential and commercial roofing business, has announced plans to build a state-of-the-art, high-performance shingle plant in Sylacauga, Alabama, with completion slated for fourth quarter 2011.
According to Keith Lowe, Vice President – Sales, US, the Sylacauga plant represents a substantial investment of capital and expertise. “Sylacauga is IKO’s first real entry into the Southeast market. Our long-term strategic plan calls for continued expansion in order to be a true national supplier in the United States. The southeast represents one of the few remaining regions into which we can expand our operations in order to reach that goal. This flagship facility will spearhead our ambitious, yet attainable goal of breaking into this new market. Sylacauga will be the combined product of our most up-to-date technology, manufacturing processes and pioneering research and development – the culmination of everything we’ve learned from all our existing operations. By allowing us to be ever more responsive to the needs of our growing customer base, we’ll maximize the return of our investment in Sylacauga.”
The Sylacauga facility will be a state-of-the-art 4-wide laminator.
Like other IKO facilities, Sylacauga will have the capability
to produce both architectural and 3-tab shingles.
IKO’s new plant will be fully supported by the company’s existing Research and Quality Control facilities, as well as by its central marketing group.
Andy Lodge, Manager of the Research and Quality Control facility
says, “The opening of every new plant is a synergetic learning experience. While Sylacauga will build on the strengths of all our other facilities, those plants will also benefit directly from the new equipment and innovative processes we will pioneer at Sylacauga.”
Although the Sylacauga plant will be largely automated, IKO
anticipates the creation of fifty new jobs, with more positions
being added as the plant expands its capabilities in the future.
For over half a century, IKO has been breaking new ground in
the roofing industry and “setting the standard”. Sylacauga is a proud symbol of IKO’s on-going commitment to serve the needs of its growing markets.
03/19/10 - ShieldPRO plus+™ Contractor Program Goes Online
New program focused on increasing contractor’s profitability
KANKAKEE, IL – March 19, 2010 - IKO, a leading manufacturer of roofing and waterproofing supplies, announced today that it’s popular ShieldPRO plus+™ Contractor Program is now available online.
Participating ShieldPRO plus+™ contractors can register their ShieldPRO plus+™ warranties from the convenience of a home computer or office workstation. They can use the online tool to order brochures, roofing samples, doorknob hangers and other marketing materials. And our online portal also allows contractors to download free IKO training videos and slide presentations.
“IKO roofing contractors can now run their business anytime, anywhere,” said Carol Perkins, IKO’s Director of Marketing. “We’re here to help.”
New Lead Generation Program
As part of the online offerings, IKO is introducing a new, Internet-based lead generation program. The neighborhood marketing program allows contractors to identify and target neighbors who live directly around their current roofing project. These neighbors’ homes are likely the same age – and in the same condition – as the home under repair.
“Our new program gets our contractors’ message in front of homeowners who most likely need their services,” said Perkins. “This highly targeted and cost effective form of marketing is a win for contractors and a win for homeowners in need of help.”
Leading-Edge Podcasts
IKO is also making available training materials and tips as podcasts. Participating contractors can download training materials and learn in the comfort of their own homes, car, or as they are working.
03/03/10 - Atab supplies and installs energy roof in Port of Antwerp
Antwerp, Belgium – March 03, 2010 – ATAB NV, has supplied and installed the first energy roof on Terminal 3 of Zuidnatie NV at the Port of Antwerp. The 8,000-square-meter roof renovation is equipped with self-adhesive solar modules, positioning it as one of ATAB’s largest energy roof sites.
Before ATAB came along, the existing PVC roof covering was not suitable for the adhesion of the PV laminates and was insufficiently durable for the installation of the PV system, which has an expected service life of more than 25 years. The typically lightweight steel construction (steel-deck) used for spanning this type of industrial halls only allows a very limited additional load. It was therefore not possible to use the traditional heavy crystalline solar panels (35 kg p/m2).
Thanks to ATAB, the new roof uses environmentally-friendly, halogen-free synthetic Spectraplan TPE roofing membranes. The solar system installed also avoids any additional dynamic stress on the roof. The roofing is not damaged, and the roof construction can be preserved as it is.
ATAB’s lightweight IKO solar roofing system offers a wide range of photovoltaic solar modules. As a manufacturer of both bituminous and synthetic roofing sheets, ATAB has developed the TPE Spectraplan roofing sheet to act as a perfect and durable carrier for the adhesion of the solar modules. This roofing sheet is, in fact, compatible with all substrates. IKO lightweight solar modules are glued to the mechanically secured synthetic TPE Spectraplan roofing sheet, creating the perfect solution and partnership for the Zuidnatie. ATAB employs its own in-house teams of specialized roofers for the installation, providing the customer with an all-in package, including an all-in guarantee.
“For Zuidnatie, ATAB is the specialist for flat roofs, and the ideal partner for this project”, says Marcel Dubourg, Executive Director of Zuidnatie warehouse and logistics Terminal. “Because a single company is managing everything, and is monitoring and following up the entire project, I have hardly any worries. This also gives me a feeling of security. We are dealing with a large investment here, which requires solid and reliable partners. Zuidnatie expects to become an electricity producer before the end of this year, and that is a very good prospect indeed.”
The installation
As the modules are positioned flat onto the roof, no shadow areas are created by panels that are positioned upright. This results in maximum efficiency. IKO Solar depends less on orientation and slope than crystalline modules, and is therefore also extremely suitable for flat roofs. Furthermore, the modules have been developed using triple-junction technology, meaning they operate as soon as light is available and do not need constant sunshine.
The installation of both the mechanically secured TPE roofing membranes, Spectraplan SM and the PV modules is extremely efficient, and will not affect the activities that are taking place inside the building. In addition, the waterproofing is fully maintained, and the roof with its TPE roofing sheets becomes extremely durable.
The next step is the gluing of 1,200 lightweight IKO PV solar modules on top of the Spectraplan TPE roofing sheets. Thanks to the low weight of these solar modules – a mere 3.5 kg/m² compared to the 35 kg of the classic, crystalline panels – most roofs that are currently unused can offer an ideal location for the production of green electricity in the future. Once again, ATAB offers overall solutions with products that are fully in line with each other.
High efficiency IRR+ 10%
The Zuidnatie installation is expected to supply at least 172,800 Wp, and will cover part of the Zuidnatie’s electricity requirements. After 25 years, this installation is expected to have supplied more than 3.2 million kilowatt hours of green electricity, or the equivalent of 35 domestic households, for a duration of no less than 25 years.
The internal rate of return (IRR) is above 10%, thereby exceeding any financial performance available today.
