US: Taishan Gypsum and its owner China National Building Material Company (CNBM) say they have settled with Lennar Homes, LLC and US Home Corporation in one of its lawsuits about alleged defective gypsum wallboard. Fellow subsidiary Beijing New Building Material (BNBM) and Taishan Gypsum have agreed to pay the companies concerned US$0.5m and US$6m respectively in instalments by 31 July 2017. In return the plaintiffs have agreed to drop all claims and allegations within three days of receipt of the payment.

UK: British Gypsum has completed a Euro7.4m upgrade of its Barrow-Upon-Soar gypsum mine. The investment is expected to secure supplies of gypsum to produce gypsum wallboard for 20 years at the company's production sites at East Leake in Nottinghamshire and Fauld in Staffordshire, and at British Gypsum's sister business Saint-Gobain Formula based at Newark, according to the Loughborough Echo. The upgrade will allow the mine to be expanded using conveyors, fans and other mining equipment.

US: National Gypsum has published 17 health product declarations (HPD) for a range of products that cover nearly all of its interior wall systems.

"At National Gypsum, we recognize that sustainable building design isn't just a trend but has become the preferred business practice for top architects and developers in the country," said John Mixson, vice president of sales and marketing.

The HPDs cover all product brands and 40 products. They include: Gold Bond Brand; Fire-Shield Type X; Fire-Shield Type C; XP Fire-Shield Type X; XP Fire-Shield Type C; High Strength Fire-Shield LITE; High Strength Fire-Shield LITE 30; SoundBreak XP Fire-Shield; eXP Interior Extreme; eXP Tile Backer; eXP Sheathing; eXP Shaftliner; DEXcell Brand Glass Mat Roof Board; DEXcell Brand Cement Board; and PermaBase Brand Cement Board.

South Korea: KCC has completed the third gypsum wallboard line at its Seosan plant in South Chungcheong. Following the upgrade, the plant has increased its production capacity by 40% to 24.2Mm2, according to the Maeil Business Newspaper. Commercial production on the new line is expected to start in July 2017. KCC also says that it has become the largest wallboard producer in the country.