Growth Remains Steady for Hoosier SIP Manufacturer
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMooresville manufacturing company Thermocore Panel Systems is enjoying continued growth as customers become more educated about energy-efficient construction. Its owner says, while word of mouth accounts for a significant number of construction referrals, good research by builders looking for both savings and manageable energy costs is creating new clients.
Thermocore makes custom-designed structural insulated panels (SIPs) for both residential and commercial construction projects. The panels use the same insulation found in freezers and coolers, polyurethane foam, to create a highly-efficient barrier in exterior walls and roofs. Thermocore says its SIPs are so effective, structures that use them are typically shown to be more than twice as energy efficient as those considered by the EPA to be in a well-built, energy efficient building.
“We manufacture the world’s most energy efficient wall and roof systems for residential and commercial buildings. It’s the best insulation per inch, R-value-wise that you can get anywhere on the market,” says owner Patrick Egan of the panels’ thermal resistance. “Most of our business comes from owner-builders or builders tied into energy efficiency. Energy efficiency in construction is still in its infancy. But when people do their research, there’s no comparison to what’s readily available on the market.”
Egan describes Thermocore’s panels as being one of the best-kept secrets in Indiana, explaining that the company works with builders and architects in the United States and around the world to meet specialized design demands. The panels are then shipped and assembled into the home or building on-site.
“They’re not sexy, and you never see them, but they are highly functional and are zero maintenance when they’re installed,” says Egan, adding that homeowners find the significant return on investment extremely appealing. He also notes that, as public building codes are changed to require more energy efficiency, Thermocore panels are in greater demand for those projects as well. Indiana University, Ball State University, Depauw University and Purdue University all have buildings that use Thermocore panels.
The panels also appeal to businesses seeking out the same attributes. The owners of the popular Sun King Brewery in Indianapolis found Thermocore’s products to be a perfect fit for their extremely specific needs.
“The customization was one of the greatest things for us,” says Omar Robinson, president and part-owner of Sun King. “We’re in a series of old buildings, nothing is standard. These panels were more cost-effective than typical vinyl-clad cooler panels for all our different rooms. Using them let us grow the business for less money, we like to support other local businesses, plus we save energy. The panels are pretty much a win-win for us.”
Between speeding the construction process and actual year-to-year energy savings, Egan predicts Thermocore panels will continue to enjoy increased use, both commercially and residentially, noting, “Nothing you can put in a house will add more to your pocket each month.”
Owner Patrick Egan explains how a national ratings system demonstrates homeowner savings with Thermocore panels.
Sun King president Omar Robinson details the brewery’s use of Thermocore panels.