Gypsum industry news

Chile: El Volcan, a company owned by Matte Group and Saint-Gobain, plans to spend up to US$50m on building a new gypsum wallboard plant in Puente Alto. The builder's merchant intends to upgrade an existing production site to produce wallboard and plaster, according to the El Mercurio newspaper. Permits have been secured for the project and the plant is expected to be ready by early 2018. The company also intends to start selling its full range of products in Peru.

UK: British Gypsum has released plans to use natural gypsum instead of synthetic gypsum at its Sherburn-in-Elmet wallboard plant in North Yorkshire. The company wants to extend its mill building to aid the conversion as well as make some minor logistical changes at the site. The details were released as part of a planning application made to the local council, according to the York Press. If approved, British Gypsum says that the conversion will safeguard 130 jobs at the plant.

According to the planning statement, the current forecast for synthetic gypsum supply to the Sherburn plant projects that in late 2017 or early 2018, the plant's ability to continue manufacturing would be under threat. The plant is currently unable to grind natural gypsum rock on-site and operates solely on the use of desulphurised gypsum supplied from the Drax Power Station. The statement claims adequate and appropriate infrastructure is in place to meet the needs of the proposed development, including appropriate drainage to ensure there would be no increased risk of flooding from surface water run-off. It adds that the proposed development will be energy efficient and minimise energy consumption.

Iran: Azerbaijani company Matanat-A plans to build a gypsum wallboard plant in Iran according to comments made by Mohsen Pak Ayeen, the Iranian ambassador to Baku, reported upon by the Trend News Agency. Jafar Sarghini, Iran's deputy industry minister for mining and mineral industries, said that the company has obtained a license to operate in the country.

Colombia: Etex Group intends to invest US$77m in its Colombian production plants in the next few years. Currently, the firm operates on the local market through gypsum wallboard producer Gyplac and cement producer Skinco Colombit. The expansion plans are expected to create up to 1000 direct and indirect jobs accord to the Portfolio newspaper.

Germany: The European Commission has approved Euro33m investment aid to Hamburger Rieger. It designated the aid as being in line with European Union (EU) state aid rules, in particular the Guidelines on Regional State Aid for 2014 -2020, because it furthers regional development without unduly distorting competition in the single market. The German producer of paper and plasterboard liner has plans to invest Euro363m to upgrade its paper production capacity by setting up a new stock preparation process and building an additional paper machine in its plant in Spremberg.

"It's important that public investments foster economic growth in disadvantaged regions in Europe. We have carefully assessed the project. The investment aid to Hamburger Rieger will further develop the region without distorting competition and will help bringing truly innovative production processes to market," said EU Commissioner in charge of competition policy Margrethe Vestager.

India: Gyp Elite India Private Limited in Nellore, Andra Pradesh plans to build a new gypsum wallboard plant in southern India. The plant will have a 300t/day calcination production capacity and a 10Mm²/yr wallboard capacity. It will also be able to produce ceiling tiles, grids and steel sections. Construction is set to start in August 2016 with commercial production scheduled for late March 2017. The project has an investment of US$15m.

Vietnam: Knauf Vietnam has inaugurated a 20Mm²/yr gypsum wallboard plant in Haiphong. The plant had an investment of Euro30m.

"After only two years of operation in Vietnam we have gained product presence in key market segments and regions, which we believe will increase with the supply of our new locally produced products," said General Director David Victor Thomas to state media.

South Korea: USG Boral plans to increases production at its Dangjin, South Chungcheong wallboard plant by at least 30Mm². Currently the plant, operated by USG Boral Korea, has a production capacity of 70Mm². Work on the upgrade will start in the fourth quarter of 2016 and the extra manufacturing lines are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2018, according to the Korea Times.

Malaysia: BRB has opened a 10,000t/yr silicone synthesis plant to manufacture additives for the construction industry. The multipurpose silicone plant was officially opened on 2 June 2016 by Dutch ambassador and representatives from the Malaysia Investment Development Authority and the Royal Malaysia Custom Department.

The plant is designed to manufacture vinyl silicone fluid, silicone polyether, low viscosity polydimethyl siloxane fluids, cross-linkers and chain extenders, gum blends, silicone emulsions and silicone antifoams. Its silicone additives can be used in gypsum wallboard production and it has applications in the construction industry including mineral wool insulation materials.

BRB International has invested US$11m in the project. Construction began in May 2014 and was completed in the second quarter of 2016.

US: Owens Corning has dedicated a new plant for manufacturing glass fibre non-wovens in Gastonia, North Carolina. The plant will produce a glass veil that can be used to make gypsum wallboard, carpet and ceiling tiles and vinyl flooring and can be used in automotive applications. The unit is also capable of producing Sustaina veil products that use a bio-based, formaldehyde-free binder system.

"Our investment in Gastonia encompasses the most advanced glass veil manufacturing technologies – with the ability to make a broad range of products for diverse customers – a sustainable footprint and a highly trained workforce," said Suman Raha, general manager of Non-Wovens - North America, Owens Corning.