Firestone Building Products, Carmel, Ind., recently announced plans to increase investments in polyiso insulation and roofing accessory manufacturing capabilities. This year, the company will open two new plants and expand four of its 13 production facilities located throughout North America.

Firestone shifted personnel, equipment and operations earlier this year from its Denver polyiso insulation plant to a new 262,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Aurora, Colo. The Aurora factory is roughly twice the size of the previous plant and is located 30 minutes from Denver along I-225. Plans are also under way to construct an approximately 250,000-square-foot insulation plant in Corsicana, Texas, by late 2003. In addition to constructing two manufacturing facilities, Firestone will increase storage capacities at existing insulation plants in Salt Lake City and Jacksonville, Fla. The extra inventory space will ensure that the company continues to meet growing demands for polyiso insulation with the timely support and delivery of products throughout the western and southern United States.

Firestone also is making investments in two existing plants. The company will expand its existing TPO production and warehouse facility in Wellford, S.C., by 58,750 square feet. The factory currently operates two TPO lines, while a third manufacturing line will be added to produce vacuum-formed roofing accessories including pipe boots, curb flashings and roof vents. Moreover, the company plans to expand Firestone QuickSeam tape manufacturing capacity at its EPDM plant in Prescott, Ark.

In other news, due to sharp cost increases for nearly all key raw materials used by the commercial roofing industry, Firestone announced price increases for its asphalt-based and single-ply roofing membranes, as well as polyiso insulation. In addition to product price changes, Firestone will add a fuel surcharge for all prepaid truckload shipments to offset rising transportation costs.