ICF venture adds marketing clout

Bolstered by promising growth in the first six months of its operation, Logix Insulated Concrete Forms has appointed Chris Earl as new vice-president of marketing. Earl has significant experience in the ICF industry, including five years as marketing manager at Coburg, ON-based Arxx Building Products. He will coordinate marketing efforts for Logix, a company created by five North American foam manufacturers.
Made of expanded polystyrene, insulated concrete forms are a structure for poured-in-place concrete walls and foundations. Concrete is poured between inner and outer wall sections made of EPS. Benefits of ICFs include lower construction costs and better energy efficiency of the finished building, compared to wood frame and other building materials.
The five companies, of which three are based in Canada, had all been contract manufacturers of expanded polystyrene ICF components for a large building products customer. When the customer decided to use a single supplier for its EPS components the five manufacturers convened and founded Logix. The Logix product line incorporates a number of innovations suggested by end-users of ICF systems, such as thicker foam sections and re-designed webbing. Logix officials say the brand has already achieved significant market penetration, and the company is looking to expand market its market share in 2003.