Gypsum industry news

UAE: French-based Saint-Gobain Gyproc’s Habito gypsum wallboard has received the Green Product of the Year Award at the Middle East and North Africa Green Building Awards for setting standards in environmentally friendly production. Saint-Gobain says that sustainability is at the core of its long-term strategy.

Ireland: Gyproc has confirmed that it did not carry out subsidence monitoring on a disused County Monaghan gypsum mine which subsided in September 2018, damaging community buildings and sports fields. The company revised its position on the checks after a ‘fresh and detailed analysis of records’ following an investigation by the Irish Independent. The newspaper reported that, having recorded a slowing of subsidence to millimetres per year, the company decided that six monthly monitoring, the norm in the area according to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, was unnecessary.

Gyproc’s activities further caused a road to fall into a sinkhole in December 2018.

The subsidiary of Saint-Gobain has applied to install an open cast mine on a site including that of the erstwhile popular sports facility.

Ireland: Gyproc has launched what it says is the country’s first wallboard recycling service at its Kingscourt plant in County Cavan. The subsidiary of Saint-Gobain hopes to recycle 0.5Mt of wallboard by 2028. It has spent Euro1.5m on the upgrade to the plant and it has increased the number of employees to 220.

“We’re very proud to be the first and only plasterboard manufacturer in the country to offer recycling of our products on the island,” said Brian Dolan, Managing Director of Gyproc. “As a market leader in this sector we are determined to be at the forefront of innovation in new products and services, and in the sustainability and environmental benefits of those services.” The manufacturer sources gypsum from its Drummond mine in County Monaghan.

Finland: Construction materials manufacturer Saint-Gobain has transferred some of the manufacturing of Gyproc Habito wallboard from the UK to Kirkkonummi in Finland. Deliveries from Kirkkonummi started at the beginning of 2017. Habito products are exported from Kirkkonummi to the Baltic and the Nordic countries.

The company has invested Euro1m in Gyproc Habito production at its Kirkkonummi site in 2017. Investments have been made in the laboratory, product development, personnel training and the production line. Virpi Riekkinen, Business Director at Saint-Gobain Finland, expects further investments to be made in 2018. Gyproc Habito accounts for roughly 10% of the production of the Kirkkonummi factory. The company expects to recruit around five new employees for the Kirkkonummi site in 2018.

Sweden: Gyproc Saint-Gobain has commissioned a new Claudius Peters type EM 65-592 grinding and drying mill, to be installed at its Gyproc Balsta plant.

The project, which includes dismantling of the existing mill and erection of the new one within a six-week time frame, uses Claudius Peters' newly developed hydraulic tensioning system for adjustment of grinding pressure. This system, installed here for the very first time, has been specially developed to optimize the efficiency of the grinding and drying processes and also to aid maintenance.

"This new EM drying and grinding mill, representing the very latest in technology from Claudius Peters, delivers unprecedented levels of efficiency and precision. We are delighted to be partnering with Gyproc Saint-Gobain in this project," said Stephan Oehme, sales director for Claudius Peters.

Commissioning of the new mill is planned for the middle of July 2016.

Sweden: Gyproc has awarded a contract to Claudius Peters Projects for the supply of a gypsum grinding and drying mill type EM 65-592. The mill will be installed at the Gyproc Balsta plant in Sweden. The contract was signed in October 2015.

The scope of supply includes the dismantling of the existing mill as well as the supply and erection of a new mill, including all connections to the existing periphery. A special challenge for this project is the tight schedule for the dismantling and erection of the equipment, within six weeks. Additionally, Claudius Peters Projects' newly-developed hydraulic tensioning system to adjust the grinding pressure will be installed for the first time.

Commissioning is planned for middle of July 2016.

Thailand: Thai Gypsum Products Public Company Limited, which produces gypsum products under the Gyproc name, has launched a new distribution warehouse on Chaiyaphruk Road, Nonthaburi. The warehouse opening is part of its plan to support growth of the business sector before the introduction of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by the close of 2015.
The new facility can support import-export operations between consumers and dealers more efficiently. It also benefits from an exceptional strategic location, Chaiyaphruk Road, which stretches from Pak-Kred Nonthaburi to an immediate road connection to central areas of Bangkok or regional destinations.

"Gyproc now has six distribution warehouses; in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Chonburi, Ayutthaya, Suratthani and the newly-launched Samutprakan facility," said Thongchai Kamolpattana, commercial director of Thai Gypsum Products Public Company Limited. "Our latest Chaiyaphruk Road depot is a spacious hub and is located in a great spot strategically. It's an area in which we see opportunities for local product sales growth. It connects with the city easily and offers ready access to a six-lane road to allow cargo to go to different regions as quickly as possible."

Thailand: Thai Gypsum Products, the manufacturer of Gyproc brand gypsum products in Thailand, has reaffirmed its positive outlook regarding market conditions in the second half of 2014 with its commitment to build a new warehouse / distribution centre in Surat Thani Province. Following its strategic plan to achieve 5% growth before the introduction of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, Thai Gypsum Products continues to expand its national footprint following the opening of the 5th Gyproc Centre, which was launched recently in Phuket.

"Gyproc aims to become the market leader in gypsum production following the AEC integration," said Thongchai Kamolpattana, commercial director. "As Thailand is located centrally within the region, we believe that many foreign investors will be attracted to invest in the country, whether by development of properties they own or the expansion of their regional offices, both sectors requiring materials for construction."

Thailand: Thai Gypsum Products Plc (TGP), a subsidiary of France's Saint-Gobain, expects sales of its Gyproc construction and finishing materials will expand by 5% in 2014, citing continuous growth in home renovations and building markets.

Thongchai Kamolpattana, the commercial director for the Gyproc brand, said that demand from housing projects and home renovations had increased since 2013 and would allow TGP to earn higher revenue in 2014. Kamolpattana added that provincial markets would keep Gyproc sales afloat even if political problems persist in Bangkok.

Earlier in 2014 TGP experienced a minor negative effect from the prolonged political impasse that caused consumers to delay decisions to buy condominium units in Bangkok. "Demand for condominiums declined because customers in Bangkok took a wait-and-see stance," said Kamolpattana. "However, our market still did well in other provinces." He added that if political problems continue until year-end, TGP's performance in Bangkok might be affected. "If so, consumer confidence would be badly affected and that might reduce demand for our products. However, business confidence has rebounded since the coup."

Gyproc has expanded into modern-trade malls, particularly in Chiang Mai and Chon Buri provinces, helping the brand to boost sales by 5%. The products are available in 400 malls, resulting in greater brand awareness and accessibility to its products among contractors and homeowners nationwide.

The company plans to open more Gyproc solution centres in 2014, including in Phuket, in order to prepare for rising opportunities under the Asean Economic Community, which is due to kick off late in 2015. According to Kamolpattana, gypsum boards have gained strong market recognition in 20 Asia-Pacific markets, particularly the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.

UAE: Gyproc Middle East has launched a new wallboard that actively removes volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the air in indoor environments. Activ'Air board incorporates a mineral-based additive into its gypsum core that captures VOCs such as toxic formaldehyde and converts them into harmless inert aldehydes.

"Initial discussions with building owners and developers have shown there is already significant interest for these products in the education and healthcare sectors," said technical development manager Jason Hird. Gyproc Middle East is marketing the product as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional powered air filters. The new technology is available across a range of existing Gyproc products.