Gypsum industry news
New process extracts more gypsum from waste
11 January 2012India: The Central Salt Marine and Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) has standardised and internationally patented a novel process of converting discharge emanating from soda ash and salt-making units into value-added products, including the extraction of far more gypsum than previously possible.
"A novel cost-effective process that helps derive three times more gypsum from the distellar waste, emanating from soda ash and salt-making units, using the Solvay Process for production, has been standardised and granted a US patent," said Dr Pushpito Ghosh, director of CSMCRI, which is based at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The new process has numerous process and environmental benefits for the processing of certain wastes, including the diversion of aqueous wastes from being dumped in the sea. It could also provide a new source of synthetic gypsum.
Saint-Gobain India plans US100m investment
29 September 2011India: Saint-Gobain Gyproc India is planning to strengthen its gypsum business in India with an investment of up to USD100m over the next three years. The company plans to focus more on emerging markets, including India, for future growth.
"Saint-Gobain's gypsum division has said it will focus more on the emerging markets for its future growth and India is one of them. In the next three years, we may invest USD82 –100m to strengthen our operations here", said Saint-Gobain Gyproc India Managing Director V Subramanian. He added that the company will primarily focus on enhancing its existing production capacities besides setting up new facilities in the country.
"We have already invested about USD61m since 2006 and the future investment will be more as the country provides huge opportunity to grow," Subramanian stated. When asked about revenue Subramanian said, "In 2010 we clocked USD82–100m turnover. We are aiming to double this in the next three years."
Successful tests at mixed fibre-glass / gypsum plant
15 September 2011India: Preparations are reported to be 'in full swing' towards the commissioning of a new fibre-glass-reinforced gypsum wallboard and building materials plant at Kochi by Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers, Mumbai.
Engineers from Rapid Building Systems, Australia, the technology provider for the project, have been in Kochi over the past month putting the finishing touches to the plant before commercial production begins later in 2011. A test run to produce the large building boards has been successful and further tests are being carried out at present.
Unit coming for Ambalamedu
13 July 2011India: FACT-RCF Building Products Ltd (FRBL), a joint venture between Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) and the Mumbai-based Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF), is expected to commission its gypsum-based reinforced wall panel and building components plant by September 2011.
The FRBL plant in Ambalamedu, Kerala is worth USD22.43m and is a 50:50 joint venture between the two public sector fertiliser companies. The unit is being built on 12 acres of land at FACT's Ambalamedu site.
According to a statement issued by the FRBL on 29 June 2011, the project is now 97% complete, with all machinery having been erected. The wet gypsum handling section has now been commissioned.
The calciner has been successfully lit up and some plaster was first made during the last week of May 2011. This unit is now fully operational. The start of the commissioning process for the mixing plant is expected towards the end of July 2011.
A team of engineers from Rapid Building Systems, the Australian technology and machinery provider for the project, is expected to arrive in Kochi and take up the commissioning of the wall panel manufacturing unit in September 2011.
The fibreglass reinforced gypsum panels are expected to revolutionise building culture in Kerala. The project originated with the idea of utilising the nearly 6Mt of gypsum stockpiled at the Ambalamedu and Udyogamandal sites owned by FACT.
The fibreglass reinforced panels can replace brick walls and give substantial savings in time and money invested in conventional buildings. Savings in cement, bricks and scarcer resources such as river sand are highlights of the new building component. Construction time can be reduced to about one-fifth of the normal time taken for erecting a conventional building.
The new FRBL unit has a capacity to produce around 39,000 panels, each of 36m2, per year. Interior wall putty and interior wall plaster will be other products from the new joint venture. The plant will require over 0.1Mt/yr of gypsum.