In Ghimbav, in the Brasov Industrial Park, Romania’s first PIR thermal insulating panels factory was inaugurated – a 20 million euros investment by Romanian companies TOPANEL and ICCO. It is the largest production unit of its kind in South-East Europe and marks the local industry’s entry into a new phase of the European renovation wave.
On an area of 30,000 square meters, with a production hall of 9,000 square meters, the THERMOTOP factory has an annual capacity of 6 million square meters of insulating panels. In the first months, production is calibrated at 30,000 sq.m per month, with the objective to reach one million sq.m in 2026. The new unit creates new jobs and strengthens the profile of the Brasov Industrial Park as a regional economic development pole.
The performance of the products is characterized by a thermal conductivity coefficient of only 0.022 W/mK, which recommends them for the renovation of existing buildings, including where urban planning restrictions limit the thickness of interventions. “PIR tiles are a solution for both civil and industrial constructions, and thanks to their competitive prices they are an attractive option for the domestic market and the South-East European market”, explained Irina Tănăsescu, Topanel’s Commercial Director.
For Călin Costan, CEO of ICCO, the inauguration represents both a strategic investment and a symbolic step, as it comes at a time when the demand for sustainable solutions is growing: “This greenfield investment is a continuation of the development of the Brasov Industrial Park. At the same time, THERMOTOP introduces ICCO to the building materials market”.
A state-of-the-art factory
At the heart of the new Ghimbav facility is an automated production line, built in Italy by one of the world leaders in the field. The state-of-the-art technology integrates the most modern mechanical, electrical and hydraulic components, and the entire process is computerized, with a reduced number of operators. Each parameter is monitored in real time to guarantee the constant quality of the PIR thermal insulating panels.
This fall, the plant is still in the testing phase, but trial production has already started at the official inauguration.
The Ghimbav factory confirms that Romania can develop local resources for the thermal insulation of the future. Through modern technologies and substantial private investment, the construction market is aligning with passive house requirements and nZEB standards, paving the way for an accelerated energy transition, where efficiency and sustainability become the fundamental benchmarks.