Isotec: expertise and innovation for 40 years
Isotec is a thermal insulation system developed 40 years ago with a focus on future applications from the outset. In 1984, Brianza Plastica, a company that had not entered the thermal insulation market yet, under the leadership of President Giuseppe Crippa's forward-thinking approach, took a risk on a new patented product, obtaining exclusive rights for the Italian market.
In the early 1980s, people were just starting to pay attention to thermal insulation in buildings. At that time, it wasn’t considered as urgent or important as it is today, with our heightened focus on saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
From the beginning, Brianza Plastica recognised the potential of a roof system that could serve multiple purposes, prioritising high-performance insulation. The company opted for polyurethane, known for its excellent performance, as the insulating core and combined it with under-tile ventilation, which is activated by the metal roof batten integrated into the panel.
The product concept was further developed into various shapes and types through extensive research, also in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano. This collaboration, particularly for the panel version intended for façades, known as Isotec Parete, resulted in continuous improvements over the years. Through these efforts, Isotec has now evolved into a universally compatible system. It can be applied to all load-bearing structures, whether they're newly constructed or undergoing renovation. Additionally, it can accommodate a wide range of roof and wall cladding elements, including roof tiles and bricks (both new and salvaged), continuous or discontinuous metal elements, stone cladding and metal sheets for roofs, as well as stoneware, fibre cement or metal slabs, and various materials like stone, wood or HPL for walls. Over the past 20 years, Isotec has transformed from a single product into a comprehensive range, offering a complete solution for ventilated insulation of entire building envelopes. This versatility makes it ideal for new construction projects and even more valuable for projects aimed at enhancing the energy efficiency of existing buildings.
The system chosen to enhance historical buildings
Isotec quickly gained favour among professionals, who selected it for projects of significant historical, artistic and architectural value. It has been used in numerous projects, some of the most renowned and prestigious being La Scala Theatre, the Fabbrica del Vapore, Royal Palace and Palazzo Marino in Milan, the Petruzzelli Theatre in Bari, the Royal Palace of Caserta, the Civic Museum and the Royal Palace of Monza.
Isotec has been used for the restoration of numerous historical buildings throughout Italy. The building heritage community has placed its trust in Isotec, recognising its ability to provide effective thermal insulation, to act as a second waterproofing layer and protect structures and materials from premature deterioration over time.
Isotec, conceived with a forward-looking perspective, has accompanied historical and contemporary architecture into the new millennium. Its solid foundation in technology, research and innovation has enabled it to establish itself as a leader in the market for thermal insulation solutions for buildings, a position it has consistently upheld year after year.
Drawing from extensive experience gained through continuous study, both within the company and, above all, on-site, solutions and product improvements have been developed to address the wide range of challenges professionals encounter during the design and installation phases. The result is the optimisation of working times along the entire supply chain.
The Isotec systems are valuable allies in the construction of buildings that comply with Green Building criteria. This is due to their high thermal insulating properties, the benefits of ventilation they offer, and the resulting energy savings achieved through their use. The panels come with a declaration of compliance with the Minimum Environmental Criteria (C.A.M.) and have been mapped by the QualityNet certification body, taking the Leed® V4 protocol as a reference.
Committed to continuous innovation aimed at improving performance and reducing environmental impact, Brianza Plastica has recently begun replacing the heat-shrinkable film used in packaging Isotec panels at its main production site in Carate Brianza. They are transitioning to a new, lighter and 100% recyclable stretch film. This decision has led to a reduction in energy usage from non-renewable sources by 21 tons of oil equivalent per year. It has also resulted in a 25% decrease in the amount of plastic used per packaging unit (pack), thus also facilitating disposal operations at the site.
“Forty years since that initial insight, we hope this anniversary is more than just a moment of celebration, but rather a milestone in the journey we have embarked upon and continue to pursue. We remain steadfastly committed to the challenge of sustainability and ecological awareness, recognising its crucial importance for our future success. Furthermore, we plan to continue carrying out activities and providing consultations in this field, a commitment that sets us apart from other companies. As of today, we aim to be the trusted partner for future architecture and sustainable building companies, just as we have been in the past and continue to be in the present,” concludes Alberto Crippa, Managing Director of the company, alongside his brother Paolo.