Ohio rubber manufacturing site installs solar on flat roof
By Kelly Pickerel | May 29, 2026
Roofing company IKO has completed a solar energy installation at its Blair Rubber manufacturing facility in Seville, Ohio. The system, installed by Artisun Solar, supports Beyond, IKO’s sustainability program focused on advancing responsible operations across its North American facilities and communities. The installation also marks the first commercial solar project in Seville.
Blair Rubber Company is an affiliate of IKO, manufacturing a complete line of corrosion-resistant rubber linings and conveyor belt splice products.
The 503.1-kW solar system is expected to generate equivalent to 16% of the facility’s total energy demand. Over its lifetime, the installation is projected to deliver more than $2.7 million in avoided energy costs.
The newly constructed roofing system utilized IKO Innovi TPO, IKOTherm Polyiso, and IKOTherm Covershield. The Artisun team noted that the system was installed with specific design measures implemented to protect long-term performance. “At the Blair Rubber facility, we focused on a design that delivers high energy output while preserving the roof’s lifespan. The result is a solar array that supports IKO’s power needs and keeps the facility’s structural integrity intact,” said Peter Whitney, Vice President, Artisun Solar.
“Projects like this at Blair Rubber demonstrate how we are putting our Beyond program into practice at the facility level,” said Darren Rafter, Director, Sustainability, IKO North America. “While renewable energy is one part of the approach, we are also focused on advancing resource efficiency across our operations.”
Through Beyond, IKO continues to focus on energy efficiency, responsible resource management and increased transparency across its operations. In the past, IKO has implemented initiatives such as product waste recovery and reuse systems at its commercial roofing plant in Hagerstown, Maryland, and an in-line asphalt shingle recycling system at its Hawkesbury, Ontario, facility designed to reduce raw material use and landfill waste.
News item from IKO