Sep. 27—A new global building materials group is moving into the building often referred to as the "Armstrong" building in north Stillwater.
At this location, Kingspan will manufacture and supply commercial low slope roofing solutions. Founded in Kingscourt, Ireland, in 1965, the conglomerate specializes in high performance products for energy efficient buildings. With locations throughout the world, a Kingspan mission is "supporting the design of remarkable buildings that tackle the challenges the built environment is facing today."
The unit of Kingspan in Stillwater is the Kingspan Roofing & Waterproofing Division and the move here "marks a significant step in Kingspan Roofing & Waterproofing's North American growth strategy," said a press release by the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce.
In a report Sept. 19, writer Bryan Gottlieb for "Roofing Contractor" — the largest-circulated national magazine focused exclusively on the roofing industry — reported that Texas-based IB Roof Systems had been acquired by the Kingspan Group.
Gottlieb also reported that although the news — announced in a Sept. 18 press release — offered no timeline for the transaction's close, the move tracks with Kingspan's growth in roofing and insulation in 2023, noting that the buy-out is Kingspan's first foray into the U.S. single-ply roofing space. "It also coincides with Kingspan's independent investments in TPO membrane and polyiso insulation board manufacturing in Oklahoma and Maryland," read Gottlieb's report.
The chamber has said the company's move here "is expected to have a significant economic impact to Stillwater and the State of Oklahoma." The Kingspan facility is projected to generate more than 100 new jobs for the community over the coming years. Additionally, the chamber said there are plans to revitalize rail usage in the manufacturing sector of town, which would see a projected capital investment of $80 million.
"I couldn't be more appreciative of the partnerships between The City of Stillwater, The Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Watco, Meridian Technology and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber that contributed to bringing this opportunity to our community," said Kari Moore, economic development director for the chamber.
She added that the company's investment in Stillwater is "a testament the value of working collaboratively and we look forward to strengthening those relationships as we focus on sustainable economic growth. Kingspan is going to be an asset to our community and we are excited to support them for years to come."