Protection built from the ground up

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Decades of manufacturing experience have helped shape a broad portfolio of roofing underlayments, construction tapes and protective solutions. 

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with Tanya McNeil, who leads business transformation and commercialization at IPG, about the company’s history, workplace culture and expanding roofing product portfolio. IPG has operated for more than 55 years as a global provider of packaging and protective solutions. Its manufacturing roots include carpet backing and garbage bags, which relied on equipment and processes that later supported the development of woven and coated construction materials. 

Today, IPG manufactures products ranging from pressure-sensitive and water-activated tapes to stretch films, protective packaging and woven and nonwoven materials. Tanya explained that the company’s building products grew naturally from this manufacturing experience. Emphasizing the company’s direct oversight of production, Tanya noted, “We are the manufacturer of our roof underlayment. We're not hiring someone else to make this for us.” 

For residential steep-slope roofing, IPG offers the Palisade® and NovaSeal® product families. Palisade products include mechanically attached and self-adhered options, along with a patented dotted grip surface designed to provide traction. NovaSeal underlayments feature a nonwoven grip surface and are available in several weights, including NovaSeal Pro, NovaSeal Prime and NovaSeal Peak. 

The company has also introduced Palisade Butyl HT Plus, a self-adhered underlayment made with a pure butyl adhesive. Tanya shared that the adhesive remains tacky across cold and hot temperatures while resisting the melting or oozing that can occur in high heat. Demonstrating the product’s strong adhesion, she explained, “Once you're putting it down, it's going down to stay.” 

Beyond product development, Tanya emphasized the importance of safety, teamwork and personal connections throughout IPG’s manufacturing culture. Highlighting the value of stronger workplace relationships, Tanya explained, “I really feel like stressing the importance of teamwork, but the importance of valuing the people and to get to know the people for who they are is very important at IPG.” That collaboration helps the company maintain product quality, improve manufacturing efficiencies and respond to changing market conditions. 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the conversation to learn more about IPG’s manufacturing history, roofing products and people-centered culture!