By Patrick Raleigh UT On-line/news editorWarsaw-Producers of foamed polystyrene and mineral wool in Poland have agreed a "ceasefire" in a long running insulation product war, according to Polish chemical group Dwory SA-a member of Foamed Polystyrene Producers Association (FPPA).The dispute centres on a "black PR" campaign launched by Mineral Wool Producers Association (MWPA) throughout Europe, said a Dwory statement. This, it added, caused particular concern in Poland, which has one of the largest foamed polystyrene production industries in Europe. Under a deal signed 22 April in Warsaw, the FPPA and the MWPA agreed to end negative advertising about each other's products. This includes any forms of comparison for product promotions in commercials, publications, websites, or during exhibitions. The parties further agreed to "refrain from transmitting any information that could reflect negatively on any of the signatories of the agreement or any of their products," said Dwory.Where a customer requests a product comparison, this can "be based only on objective, genuine data verified and confirmed by an unbiased third party," the Polish group added.In this regard, the FPPA and MWPA are to create a common working team to standardise the overall heat-transfer coefficient ('U') for all types of insulation. The groups will also set up a joint committee to monitor whether all the signatories comply with the accepted rules, according to Ireneusz Nowak, a Dwory's marketing & sales manager, and vice-president of the FPPA. "We hope that other European countries will follow, and similar agreements will be signed," commented Nowak in a 29 April press statement.Dwory's statement makes no reference to polyurethane foams."
