Katepal and Recticel's long partnership is based on the smoothness of projects and strong technical expertise
Katepal and Recticel have been collaborating since 2018, developing roofing solutions where bitumen membranes and polyurethane insulations work seamlessly together. The smoothness of the joint projects, mutual expertise, and technical reliability of the solutions have built strong trust between the companies.
We interviewed Katepal’s product manager, Rami Mustonen, who explains how the collaboration with Recticel has strengthened mutual trust over the years.
Could you tell us about your role as a product manager at Katepal?
Rami Mustonen: I have worked at Katepal for almost ten years, responsible for product development and collaboration with various stakeholders, from designers and contractors to industry partners. My core responsibility is to ensure that our products and solutions work in practice as they should.
How long have you been collaborating with Recticel, and what kind of projects have you had?
Mustonen: The collaboration began in 2018 when Recticel started polyurethane insulation production in Finland. To use PIR insulations in the same structures with Katepal bitumen membranes, compatibility had to be tested and approved. The goal was to ensure that customers could combine our products safely in the same structures. All fire testing and other approvals had to be in order to meet the industry's requirements.
What has kept you collaborating for so long?
Mustonen: Smooth daily operations and effective communication. In the construction industry, trust is built on getting things done when needed. Recticel has been an exceptionally reliable partner from the start: responses come quickly, and the technical support always meets expectations.
How do you assess Recticel's reliability as a supplier and partner?
Mustonen: Recticel has demonstrated its reliability on a practical level. In a recent roofing project, the site manager gave special praise for their technical support and quick response. The overall coordination with our products went smoothly. Customer feedback has been exclusively positive, which speaks volumes about the cooperation's effectiveness.
In what situations has Recticel's reliability been particularly evident?
Mustonen: In situations where schedules are tight and quick decisions are needed. Recticel's experts are always reachable and respond quickly. When something is marketed under our name, it must be of high quality and credible. With Recticel, it always has been.
How important is technical support in your projects, and how has Recticel helped with that?
Mustonen: Extremely important. My expertise is focused on bitumen membranes, so in other technical matters, Recticel's support has been crucial. They have been an exceptionally active partner. Both our experts and those from Recticel are genuinely present and push things forward.
Could you share an example where Recticel's expertise helped you progress more calmly with a project?
Mustonen: When we developed a new insulation solution for flat roofs, Recticel's support was central. Together, we created a completely PIR-insulated roofing solution where Recticel's insulation and Katepal's bitumen membranes form a complete, tested system. This solution facilitates roof design, ensures the quality of the structure, and brings added confidence to contractors and clients.
How does Recticel support you in sustainability and responsibility challenges?
Mustonen: Both Katepal and Recticel invest heavily in responsibility. In 2025, Katepal received the ISO 14001 environmental certification, which is an important step for us in developing responsibility. We already have products that use recycled raw materials and where bitumen is replaced with renewable additives, such as pine oil-based additives. In the future, we want to develop solutions with Recticel that provide the customer with a ready-made and responsible package. We have also discussed how we could leverage each other's expertise in environmental assessments and carbon footprint calculations.
What do you think are the biggest challenges in construction and project management in the coming years?
Mustonen: Sustainability and quality will remain at the forefront. Construction regulations are tightening, and customer expectations are increasing. Traditional roofing solutions will remain, but they are continuously being developed to be more low-emission and sustainable.
Recticel's new slogan is "We build trust." What does this mean to you personally and professionally?
Mustonen: It perfectly encapsulates what our collaboration has been over the years: an expert and human-centered partnership where, in addition to roofs, strong trust has been built. It has been great to see how Recticel has brought new thinking to a traditional market and built trust step by step.
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