Gypsum industry news

Kazakhstan: JSC ZhambylGypsum has started operation of a gypsum unit and a calcium carbonate unit at a production site in the Zhambyl region. The project cost around US$78m and each unit has a production capacity of 0.27Mt/yr, according to InterFax. The production units are intended to become part of a larger gypsum plant that will be built at a later date.

Germany: Hamburger Containerboard has restarted production at its Gelsenkirchen plasterboard plant following a Euro20m upgrade project. The plant can now produce 0.25Mt/yr of uncoated containerboard, an increase of 20% from previously. During a three week shutdown the production width was widened to 5m and the film press and drying section were updated. In addition, a new pope reeler for wider tambour diameters and an upgraded soft-nip-calander were installed.

"With the restart at the start of the year we are happy to be online with probably one of the most efficient machines in the market again," said Andreas Noss, general manager of Hamburger Rieger.

Hamburger Rieger, with its three German paper mills in Spremberg, Gelsenkirchen and Trostberg is part of the Hamburger Containerboard Division with a total of seven paper mills and 2Mt/yr of produced container board. The Gelsenkirchen plant produces white testliner and grey plasterboard liner.

Kazakhstan: Kazupak Trade has released information about the construction of its 500t/day gypsum plant in Taraz. Construction work at the site started in 2015 and it was commissioned in October 2016. Equipment for the plant was bought from Turkey's Erişim Makina. The plant started full operation in November 2016. The gypsum producer intends to build a second production line within the next 10 years. It sells gypsum under the brand 'Kazgyps.'

Cuba: Rose Gypsum has thanked Grenzebach and GPM Engineering for the company's help in negotiations with Empressa Materiales de Construccion. The companies have been in talks with the state-owned company to build a gypsum wallboard plant for Cuban and the Caribbean market. The plans also include production facilities for ceiling panels. Rose Gypsum described the tendering process as 'extremely challenging.' It is currently waiting for a response to its latest proposal.

Oman: The Gulf Mining Group is considering building a gypsum wallboard plant in Salalah. The project is part of a portfolio of planned investments scheduled for 2017 and 2018 announced by the company, according to Al-Bawaba News. Other schemes include a potash mine, a calcium carbonate project, a ferro-manganese smelter and a manganese beneficiation facility.

Australia: The framework is in place for a new wallboard plant that Knauf Plasterboard is building at the Port of Bundaberg in Queensland. A 27.8km gas pipeline that will support the project has also been laid, according to the Bundaberg Newspaper. The next step will be to commission the pipeline and commission off-takes. First gas flows are scheduled for mid-February 2017 whereupon it will supply the new Knauf plant that is expected to start production in June 2017.

US: Gypsoil is stopping production at its pelletised gypsum fertiliser plant in Winona, Minnesota. The plant has been shut down due to poor market demand, according to the Winona Daily News. The US$5m plant opened in early 2016. It used synthetic gypsum from coal smoke stack scrubbers in Ohio.

Vietnam: Knauf Vietnam has officially inaugurated its 20Mm² gypsum wallboard plant in the Dinh Vu Industrial Zone in Hai Phong. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, Le Thanh Son, Vice Chairman of Hai Phong People's Committee and Christian Berger, German Ambassador to Vietnam attended the opening ceremony amongst other dignitaries and representatives. Construction of the plant originally started in 2014.

"We have been in Vietnam for just over two years in which time we have set up an effective distribution network, with a strong customer base throughout the country. We are currently supplying the Vietnam market with our locally produced wallboard using leading German technology. All of our products have passed the strict requirements of TCVN 8256:2009 and ASTM C1396 and we have received a lot of positive feedback from our valued customers," said David Thomas, General Director of Knauf Vietnam.

India: Grenzebach BSH has signed a deal with Classic Gypsum of Kolhapur, Maharashtra to supply a plaster and plasterboard plant. No value for the contract has been announced. The deal was formalised at the 16^th Global Gypsum Conference that took place in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Philippines: Knauf and the German Investment and Development Corporation (DEG) are to build a 16Mm² gypsum wallboard plant in Bataan. The two companies will invest Euro40m in the joint venture project, according to the Philippines News Agency. The agreement was signed at the Philippine embassy in the presence of the Philippine ambassador to Germany Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek, Knauf CEO Manfred Grundke and Christian Laibach and Klaus Helsper on behalf of DEG.

The new plant is planned to be completed by early 2018 and is expected to create 100 direct jobs. The proposed investment was granted pioneer status, to provide tax incentives, by the Board of Investments and the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre-Berlin earlier in 2016.