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A majority vote from the members of the Thermal Insulation Association of Southern Africa (TIASA) to become independent from the Association of Architectural Aluminium Manufacturers of South Africa (AAAMSA) Group has led to the establishment of a new legal entity, the Thermal Insulation Products and Systems Association SA (TIPSASA).
AAAMSA has been the administrator since 1999 and we are grateful for the services provided over the past 16 years,” Des Schnetler, TIASA’s chairperson, notes. “However, times have changed and the markets have evolved rapidly, with diverging opportunities and challenges.”
ABOUT THE COMPANIES
AAAMSA, the registered entity, will continue to move forward with their current activities as the trusted and reliable source in the glass and aluminium industry and other group interests.
TIPSASA will focus on the thermal insulation industry with particular emphasis on energy-efficient products and systems. As a non-profit company, it will continue to serve its members, professionals and consumers.
RATIONALE FOR THE SEPARATION
TIASA’s board of directors made the decision to become a legal entity in its own right, hence the registration of TIPSASA as a non-profit company. Over the past six months TIPSASA has implemented a common operating model, streamlined its cost structure, improved its go-to-market performance and brought in proven leadership.
On the commercial side, members seek partners with a deep understanding of their business who can help lead with their transformations. In the public sector, energy demands are increasing and clients want providers with specific experience in energy-focused innovation.
By separating, each association will focus on their respective categories, as well as the focus to meet unique customer needs and market requirements. The two associations have different growth profiles and cash-flow dynamics. The separation will allow both entities to better optimise their capital strategies and cost structures, and will provide members with distinct development opportunities. The market has become highly competitive. As two independent, focused and market-leading organisations, each association will be better positioned to serve its industry.
Based on these factors, TIASA’s board of directors believes that the next phase will be the growth of the industry, which will be enhanced by training and customer focus. “We expect this change to enable both associations to enhance innovation and improve delivery, in ways that are consistent with the rate and pace of the markets they serve,” says Schnetler.
MOVING FORWARD
“The progress we’ve made, coupled with the changing demands of the market, make this a good time to give these two businesses room to thrive as independent companies and enable them to move decisively to capture the opportunities in front of them,” Schnetler states.
LEADERSHIP
The current board members of TIASA, the stalwarts of the thermal insulation industry in South Africa, will serve as the new directors of TIPSASA. They are Lisa Reynolds (Saint-Gobain), Alf Peyper (Insulation Convertors and Distributors), Lammie de Beer (Technopol SA), Gary Rowley (Vedder & Moffat), Grant Richardson (Granric Insulation) and Gary Sweeney (Spunchem International).
Des Schnetler and Grant Richardson have been re-elected as chairperson and vice-chairman of TIASA respectively and will also serve in this capacity at TIPSASA.
INDUSTRY-LEADING PARTNERSHIPS
TIPSASA will be affiliated with the Southern African Association for Energy Efficiency (SAEE). With South Africa experiencing critical energy constraints, it is time to take personal action to save electricity and achieve a more energy-efficient South Africa.
The energy-efficiency regulations were promulgated in September 2011, and are applicable to new buildings and extensions. “We should now concentrate on existing building stock by retrofitting (adding insulation on top of the ceilings). In many existing buildings, the roof and ceiling are often not insulated properly or not insulated at all. Many people fail to realise that a building system can have a huge impact on a building’s energy efficiency. The building envelope plays a critical role, as it forms the barrier between a building’s interior and exterior environments. A well-insulated and/or well- designed building will provide year-round comfort, cutting cooling and heating costs and reducing greenhouse emissions,” Schnetler explains.
The affiliation with SAEE is in line with TIPSASA’s vision of answering the broader energy-efficiency and conservation needs for South Africa.
Karel Steyn, President of the SAEE comments, “We welcome and fully endorse the strategic decision taken by TIASA. The formation of TIPSASA within the SAEE will enable the industry to work together towards further promoting and establishing the use of industrial insulation to eliminate energy waste.”
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