Ted TALK #3: “Due Diligence!”

Ted TALK: “Due Diligence!”

Dyplast’s ongoing survey of below-ambient insulation applications indicates that over 65% of projects fail to exercise reasonable due diligence that would have otherwise resulted in lower capital costs while achieving higher thermal efficiencies.

I’ve spoken on this before, particularly at Conferences, on Panels, and within Industry Magazines. Due diligence expresses the care that a reasonable person exercises to research, analyze, and prepare for a transaction, process, or strategy. 

My many esteemed colleagues will echo my personal astonishment regarding how many insulants are selected without the supplier even demonstrating compliance with applicable Codes and Standards such as ASTM, CINI, etc. - - measured by an independent third party - - not by an in-house lab, and not a product formulation different from the product delivered. And since insulants are meant to insulate over the long term, due diligence is also intended to ensure the life-cycle balance of cost versus performance is achieved.

It is increasingly incumbent on engineers, specifiers, asset owners, and stakeholders to be diligent regarding the facts, the relevance of the facts, and full disclosure of facts. A life-cycle costing of the insulation system is also warranted in the majority of applications.

Respectfully

Ted Berglund

President

Dyplast Products

www.dyplast.com

Ted TALK #2: “Honest Talk”

Ted TALK: "Honest Talk"

Okay, yes, a rather direct statement - - yet more-so a promise from Dyplast to customers and others in the industry. You’re receiving this message either because we’ve either worked together in the past, may work together in the future, or you have somehow followed us. In my first Ted TALK I jumped into the fray with the “Mechanical Insulation Value Chain” blog assuming you knew me and understood the context. The responses were positive but I wanted to step back and explain where I was coming from. 

Dyplast is entrenched in Mechanical (pipe/equipment) Insulation and Panel Insulation, indeed mostly for temperatures less than ambient, yet we’re also innovative in Composite and Core Foams. Within those product/market contexts, you can expect to hear honest comments about issues and trends that affect us.  To the extent that you disagree with me, I welcome your input. In this highly technical and complex industry, I have heard that you feel many suppliers misrepresent or do-not-disclose the real story which is why I will be offering you my honest opinion to help inform you.

In my next Ted TALK I’ll get back to meat-and-potatoes issues.

Approaching the Holiday season, everyone at Dyplast extends to you our best wishes!

Respectfully

Ted Berglund

President

Dyplast Products

www.dyplast.com

Dyplast publishes New "Ted TALK" series of Insulation industry conversations

Ted TALK:

Mechanical Insulation Value Chain:

I actively encourage my staff's dialogues with individuals and companies up, down, and across the value chain for mechanical insulation for low-temperature pipe and equipment. ISO-C1® polyisocyanurate is of course Dyplast's brand, yet this blog is generic. You may ask me "why exert so much effort to engage all these conversations?" My answer, which I hope is echoed below, is we each benefit and the industry benefits!

The value chain for the End-User (typically the Asset Owner) ends when the optimal insulation system is finally installed. Yet where does it begin, and where can it be broken? Frankly, the value chain has many participants and the more players there are, the higher the risk.

This first Ted Talk blog on the subject of Value Chain focuses on Installation Contractors, who clearly play key roles and each of whom can be considered the last cog in this value chain. They are often the final contractors squeezed by schedules, blamed for late commissioning, and when a system's thermal performance is "less than design" can be sued.

When Dyplast calls or visits an Installation Contractor we're almost always welcomed openly and with respect. Then when the conversation is all business we hear:

"We only "put on" what we're told"

"We're just basically a middleman"

"We do not actually buy the insulation"

"We don't write the specs"

"But what can we do?"

My general response is:

"Like it or not you each know you have potential liability!"

"Wouldn't it be better to know that what you are putting on is of the highest quality?"

I relate the story when I was asked by an "old time" player "why did Dyplast do all that testing?" My reply was "I really like to sleep at night."

If you've been so kind to read my blog thus far, I guess you know I can be a bit long on words. Indeed!  Yet in my own defense - - this is a complex subject. I will strive to use more sound-bites. Don't hold your breath!

Respectfully

Ted Berglund

President

Dyplast Products

www.dyplast.com