Welcome to Inside Standard, a quarterly newsletter designed to share impactful stories and news across Standard Industries.
Our New Corporate Video:Get to Know Standard Industries
From world-class building solutions to performance materials, Standard’s businesses sit at the intersection of technology and the physical world, and our more than 20,000 employees are innovating across industries. Watch to learn more.
Standard Industries co-CEOs David Winter and David Millstone hosted the Standard Livestream, wherein they discussed their focus on going “back to the basics,” GAF Energy’s integration with GAF, our talent strategy, and more.
Watch the opening remarks below and the Q&A here.
In Case You Missed It: David Winter and David Millstone’s February 25 Standard Livestream
In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, the women’s networks across Standard Industries co-hosted a panel discussion featuring Susan McPherson, author of “The Lost Art of Connecting,” and women leaders across the enterprise: Janine Dymala, HR Director, BMI; Keally DeWitt, External Affairs, GAF Energy; and Brenda Kelly, President, Materials Technology, Grace.
In Case You Missed It: Women’s Networks Co-Host International Women’s Day Panel
Standard Launches Digital Academy to Advance Digital Transformation Across OpCo Manufacturing and Operations
In late February, Standard’s Digital Product and Talent teams hosted the inaugural Digital Academy, a pilot program designed to advance digital transformation and innovation in manufacturing and supply chain across Standard Industries.
Nineteen manufacturing and operations employees from across Standard’s operating companies—from process, quality and maintenance engineers to key plant contributors and managers—gathered in Austin, Texas for the four-day offsite, many meeting in person for the first time.
Through interactive workshops, Digital Academy explored essential digital transformation topics, ranging from “digital twins”—virtual replicas of entire factories or machines that allow businesses to test ideas and improve processes—to the industrial Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, data strategy, and more. Participants also learned about key manufacturing trends, engaged in a leadership development session, and gained insights from founders of tech companies.
During Digital Academy participants toured GAF Energy’s 450,000-square-foot world-class solar roofing production facility in Georgetown, Texas, which opened in May of last year. Participants observed GAF Energy’s digital transformation initiatives, including the use of vision systems—advanced cameras and software that inspect and analyze products.
“The tour of the new GAF Energy plant was incredibly insightful,” said Jordan Halabrin, a Production Engineer at Grace’s Chattanooga, Tennessee plant. “Witnessing these tools and applications in action has given me new ideas for my own processes. I now have a completely refreshed perspective on digital transformation.”
The Digital Academy also included a pain point mapping and prioritization workshop, which uncovered shared challenges across teams and identified opportunities to leverage collective experience and knowledge for innovative solutions.
“It was eye-opening to discover during our pain points discussions that we all encounter similar obstacles at our respective sites,” shared Katie Durning, Process Engineer at GAF’s plant in Baltimore, Maryland. “Identifying solutions to these shared challenges has the potential to generate immense value across Standard Industries.”
Tim Wuensch, Equipment Team Leader at BMI based in Heusenstamm, Germany, added, “Networking with colleagues across countries and OpCos was extremely valuable in helping to share knowledge and avoid reinventing the wheel in each business unit.”
Digital Academy is a part of a growing list of cross-company initiatives aimed at sparking collaboration across the enterprise and developing leaders. The program comes on the heels of the Standard Digital team’s second annual Supply Chain Summit, which brought together Supply Chain leaders from across the operating companies in Las Vegas, Nevada a week earlier and the Operations Technology and Manufacturing Leaders Summit that took place in Chicago, Illinois last December.
Following the in-person gathering in Texas, cross-OpCo teams of Digital Academy graduates will come together for a virtual “Shark Tank” challenge in May, and will apply their newly acquired skills and knowledge to conceptualize and pitch digital solutions to executives across Standard Industries.
“The program’s success proves that collaboration fuels transformation,” shared Ohad Axelrod, Vice President of Product at Standard Industries. “By empowering our engineers and plant leaders with the tools and capabilities to lead the digital charge, we’ve taken an important first step. This is only the beginning as we will continue to work together with our OpCo partners to foster digital transformation and achieve tangible results.”
Innovation and Industry Firsts Unveiled at the International Roofing Expo
GAF, GAF Energy and SGI product innovations were recently showcased at the International Roofing Expo (IRE), the largest roofing and exteriors trade show in North America.
Residential Innovations
GAF Energy, now a business unit within GAF, joined the GAF booth at IRE and debuted its next-generation solar product Timberline Solar® ES 2. The solar shingle is compatible with the complete GAF Timberline shingle collection and delivers 23% more power than its predecessor, with a refined aesthetic.
“Timberline Solar ES 2 represents everything we’ve learned about solar roofing, enhanced by extensive feedback from contractors and homeowners,” said GAF Energy President Martin DeBono. “It’s an innovation that delivers a solar shingle that is more powerful, even easier to install and more versatile than ever before. And now, we are able to harness GAF’s might in the marketplace and its best-in-the-business customer relationships to accelerate this product’s growth.”
Another GAF residential product innovation at IRE was its TimberSteel™ Premium Metal Roofing System, the company’s first metal roofing product. TimberSteel is a class 4 roofing product, achieving the highest level of impact resistance, and is built with the contractor in mind. Designed for easy application with an asphalt crew, the TimberSteel system can be installed in approximately half the time of a standing seam metal roofing system.
Additionally among the comprehensive suite of products and services on display at GAF’s booth was the Timberline HDZ® RS (Reflector Series)—a product made using SGI’s Gen 4 Solar Reflective Roofing Granules.
Watch GAF President John Barkhouse and Chief Technology Officer of Residential Joe Dennes talk about Timberline HDZ RS and SGI’s Gen 4 granules.
The team behind SGI’s Gen 4 Solar Reflective Roofing Granules took the product from concept to commercialization in less than 9 months, working to perfect formulations while running at or above capacity to fulfill ongoing customer needs.
SGI’s Gen 4 Solar Reflective Roofing Granules are now being used in GAF’s Timberline HDZ® RS and Grand Sequoia® RS shingles. The latest generation of SGI’s solar reflective product achieves higher reflectivity and reduces the ambient temperature of a roof, while maintaining a range of rich colors for customers to choose from.
“This product is really going to separate us from our competition and drive demand,” said SGI President Justin Dunlap. “When you compare our Gen 4 colors to our standard product line, it’s almost indistinguishable. To do that and still maintain the reflective characteristics is a phenomenal feat by all those in R&D and at the plant.”
Commercial Innovations
GAF’s Commercial business showed up at IRE this year with more innovations than ever before. The business debuted several groundbreaking products including a number of industry firsts:
A TPO aerosol accessory line, including TPO Quick Spray, Quick Spray LV50, Primer, and Cleaner, simplifying repair and maintenance, and reducing equipment needs, waste, and cleanup time
EverGuard® Primerless TPO Cover Tape, a new TPO cover tape that eliminates the need for primer and significantly reduces installation time
EverGuard SA Flexible Flashings, a new line of self-adhered, flexible flashings that simplify installation for challenging details and are particularly useful for repairs and maintenance applications
Backpack Welder, an ultra-portable solution for contractors designed to accommodate detailing membrane, accessories, and other tools for small welding repairs
In another industry-leading move, which demonstrates GAF’s commitment to sustainability, GAF has made its full line of EnergyGuard™ NH TCPP-Free Polyiso products available at standard pricing, ensuring that customers can achieve their environmental goals without the added cost. GAF was the first in the market to launch Non-Halogenated TCPP-Free Polyiso Insulation, which are free from potentially hazardous flame retardant chemicals and offer superior thermal performance.
At IRE, our businesses demonstrated a commitment to listening to customers and delivering innovative solutions that meet their needs.
David Winter Visits Expanded and Upgraded BMI Slovakia Plant That Will Strengthen Its Position in the Flat Roofing Market
Investing in and enhancing our manufacturing facilities for growth is a key priority across Standard Industries. At BMI, one example of a strategic investment that will strengthen the company’s position in the European flat roofing market is the Štúrovo, Slovakia plant.
Štúrovo plays a central role in BMI’s Project SynNet, an initiative to address the increased demand for synthetic roofing solutions and drive the company’s competitiveness in Europe, a market that is growing by about 10% annually, while improving the efficiency of BMI’s supply network.
In February, the Štúrovo team welcomed Standard Industries co-CEO David Winter BMI CEO Thomas Casparie, and BMI Chief Supply Chain Officer Daniel Pettifer for a walkthrough showcasing the project’s progress.
The project consolidates BMI’s synthetics production into an upgraded and expanded facility at Štúrovo that includes a brand new state-of-the-art production line for Polymeric PVC membranes, as well as new production halls, a laboratory, warehouse and new site infrastructure. Once the project is finalized in 2026, the site will be able to produce over 13 million square meters of advanced synthetic roofing materials for customers all across Europe and will serve as the hub for BMI’s synthetics manufacturing.
“Štúrovo is a fantastic opportunity for BMI to continue investing in and growing a strategically important technology, while continuing to drive the development of our core flat roof capabilities,” said Anna Wagrowska, Flat Roof Portfolio Director and Project SynNet lead. “The whole team involved in the Štúrovo project is committed and proud to have reached so many milestones since the project launched in 2022—no easy feat given the region and size of the project!”
Led by plant manager Štefan Balog, the Štúrovo plant produces a range of synthetic products, including monomeric PVC, polymeric PVC, PVC specialties, and polyethylene (PE) membranes. The site has more than 150 employees, and the highest percentage of women represented in BMI’s plant network.
It’s Not Just About Science, It’s About People: Watch Grace’s New Video
Grace recently launched its new corporate narrative with the release of this video, describing who the company is and what it believes. Watch the video and read excerpts from Grace’s narrative below to learn more about Standard Industries’ Performance Materials business, led by CEO Ed Sparks and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland.
Global Leader
A global leader in specialty chemicals, Grace produces high-performance chemicals and science-based solutions that enable industries to enhance modern life.
Grace scientists and engineers are some of the visionaries behind renewable fuels and refining processes that use fewer resources, lighter weight, stronger industrial plastics, building materials that withstand the elements, and life-saving vaccines and medicines.
Strategic Partner
As strategic partners to its customers, Grace innovates chemical applications and processes and manufactures essential catalysts and materials technologies that help customers solve problems and achieve their business goals.
Within Grace’s Refining Technologies business, the company helps customers optimize oil and gas refinery operations, increase efficiency, maximize yields and reduce environmental impact with advanced catalysts and additives.
In its Specialty Catalysts business, Grace enables manufacturers to produce essential polypropylene and polyethylene precursors and resins with the required characteristics—such as weight, durability, sterility and recyclability—to meet customer needs.
In Grace’s Materials Technologies business, the company brings to market silica-based materials that improve product performance and enhance manufacturing processes in segments like consumable goods, health and beauty, architectural coatings and automotive.
Finally, as a North American Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), Grace offers Fine Chemical Manufacturing Services that equip pharmaceutical and nutraceutical providers to transform active molecules from small clinical trials to large-scale commercial offerings, efficiently, effectively and with the highest quality.
Standard and GAF Cycle for Survival Team Breaks New Record, Raising Over $215,000 for Rare Cancer Research
For the last four years, Standard Industries has participated in Cycle for Survival, an annual cycling event that raises funds in support of rare cancer research and clinical trials led by Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Research Center.
On Thursday, March 6 at Cycle for Survival 2025, a combined Standard and GAF team of 64 members had a monumental showing, raising more than $120,000—the highest fundraising achievement yet—ahead of the event. Standard amplified this achievement with a dollar-for-dollar match, bringing the team’s total to more than $215,000 so far this year.
To date, Standard has raised more than $500,000 for rare cancer research through MSK.
Watch the video to learn more about the event and the team’s collective impact.
If you would like to donate, you can do so here through April 15. 100% of the funds raised will go to MSK’s groundbreaking rare cancer research.
GAF Teams Step Up to Support LA Wildfire Relief Efforts
When devastating wildfires swept through Los Angeles and San Diego in January—displacing more than 200,000 people and destroying thousands of homes—GAF employees at its Shafter and Fontana plants in California stepped up to support those on the front lines.
GAF team members provided meals to firefighters who were working tirelessly to contain the fires and protect communities. GAF also donated to the California Fire Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides critical assistance to firefighters, the families of fallen firefighters, and those affected by fires across California.
“As a roofing manufacturer, we protect what matters most by making roofs that protect homes and everything inside of them. It is this promise that makes it so important for us to support those who stand on the frontlines, protecting what matters most to all of us,” said GAF CEO John Altmeyer.
