Manufacturer:  VacuPanel, Inc.
Address:  37 S. Detroit Av., Xenia, Ohio, 45385
Phone:  (937) 376-8233
Web Site: http://www.vacupanel.com 
Distributor's web sites:
 http://www.refparts.com,  http://www.technauticsinc.com/vac.htm,
http://www.oceanoptions.com/vpanel/refinsul.htm

Distibutors:  Technautics, Inc., Refrigeration Parts Solution, LLC, Ocean Options

Product Name:  VacuPanel insulation panels.
Insulation Classification: Foam-based Vacuum Superinsulation
Thickness As Tested: 1.00"
Claimed "R" Value: Varies by distributor.  VacuPanel, Inc. "R20-R25", Healy Industries "R24 and higher", Refrigeration Parts Solution LLC "R20", Technautics, Inc. "R30-R40"
Actual "R" Value (at product thickness): see table below
Equivalent "R" Value (per inch): see table below

Product Overview
VacuPanel, Inc. is a small startup company working to develop improved methods of manufacturing low-cost vacuum insulation panels in high volume.  Initially, the company focused on developing and licensing an improved production "process" to manufacturing companies wishing to enter the VIP market.  However, with no licensees, VacuPanel is now, itself, moving into production.  Vacupanel, Inc. does not sell panels directly but has establish a number of distributors around the country.   Unfortunately, most of these distributors specialize in yacht refrigeration, an application for which the product's short life span makes it highly unsuitable.

Foam-Based vs Silica-Based VIP Technology
Vacupanel VIPs are a foam-based product.  Like VacuPanel and others, Glacier Bay has been working with suppliers of foam-based VIP technologies (Dow Chemical - the basic technology used in VacuPanels) since 1995.  Our research has indicated that, at present, the technology cannot be relied upon to produce panels suitable for applications requiring 20+ year life spans.  For this reason, Glacier Bay has not made foam-based VIPs commercially available.  For a detailed discussion of vacumm insulation technologies see Vacuum Insulation Panels - General Information.

Serious Concerns Dismissed by VacuPanel
Glacier Bay has long maintained that foam-based VIPs offer good prospect for the future but are not yet suitable for long-life applications.  In an October 8, 1997 letter, VacuPanel President Chris Meyer reassured distributors that VacuPanels were suitable for long-life applications with several statements including;

"...this foam does not have an outgassing problem and no significant loss in long term life and/or R value will result".

"My statements on projected life are completely in keeping with Dow testing data and projections, and it is scientifically and statistically valid to make such projections".

"Using The Dow Foam and VacuPanel's proprietary evacuation technique, our panels routinely test at R30+ per inch and we have made panels as high as R40.  It should be noted that beginning some time in the last quarter of 1997, VacuPanel will be able to make "premium panels" using a modified version of the Dow foam and a chemically reactive getter.  These getters scavenge barrier permeating gases and some out-gassed agents, resulting in panels that should reach and hold R40+ per inch unit the getter is consumed (nominally several years)."

An Extensive Test
While our Insulation Test Results Table shows the result of some limited testing of  the VacuPanel product, we have also conducted a number of more through tests.  Shown in the table below is the test result from a batch of ten (10) new VacuPanels  purchased by Glacier Bay through a distributor.   These results clearly illustrate the major problem common to foam-based VIPs.  

Note:  These panels were purchasd on 3/18/98 and are the "premium panels" which use a getter as described by Mr. Meyer in his Oct. 8, 1997 letter. (see statement above). VacuPanel was notified of the result of this testing and offered a chance to resubmit ten new panels for an additional test.  They declined.

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