Gypsum industry news

US: CertainTeed has launched its new Habito wallboard, which it says is the strongest and hardest 1/2-inch (12.5mm) wallboard on the market.

Dave Engelhardt, President of CertainTeed Gypsum, said that the product helps eliminate the frustration homeowners have when hanging heavy objects as Habito can hold heavy objects without involving anchors or wall studs.

"Habito continues our emphasis on providing innovative products that offer practical solutions to builders and homeowners," said Engelhardt. The manufacturer pointed to the following features:

• Fastening capability: Fixing capabilities that eliminate the need for threaded wallboard anchors or nailing to wall studs for fixtures under 13.6kg.
• Builder and developer upgrades: Offers professionals an upmarket option, replacing standard wallboard in high-traffic and high-impact areas of the home.
• Better acoustics: Delivers homeowners better sound insulation than traditional wallboard.

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.

US: Gypsum Management & Supply (GMS), a Georgia-based distributor of specialty interior building products, has bought Gypsum Supply Co. Inc. for an undisclosed sum. Gypsum Supply has one location in Toledo and seven sites across Michigan.

"We are thrilled to welcome Gypsum Supply Co. to the GMS family," said the President and CEO of GMS, Mike Callahan. "The acquisition positions us to capitalise on markets throughout Michigan and Northwest Ohio. We plan to leverage the long-term relationships and reputation that Gypsum Supply Co. has built to enhance our presence in this strategic market. We believe that the company and its employees are a natural partner for our growing company as their culture and dedication to excellence mirrors our own mission."

China: Rescuers have dropped provisions to four Chinese mine workers trapped for 10 days in a wrecked gypsum mine and are slowly drilling a route to save them, according to Reuters.

The men are trapped more than 200m below the surface and state media has reported that they are in good condition. Because the ground is so fragile, the rescuers managed to drill only 25m deep after more than 40 hours. Rescue leader Du Bingjian said that he could not give a time when the men would be pulled up. The mine collapse on 25 December 2015 in Shandong killed at least one person. 13 others are missing and 11 made it to safety or were rescued earlier.

China's mines have long been the world's deadliest, but safety improvements have reduced deaths in recent years. In 2014, some 931 people were killed in mine accidents in China, drastically down from the year 2002, when nearly 7000 miners died.

China: Rescuers have found eight survivors five days after a gypsum mine collapse in Shandong Province. The accident happened on 25 December 2015 in Pingyi County when 29 people were working underground. One is confirmed dead, four managed to escape, and another seven have been rescued so far. The owner of the mine drowned himself by jumping into a well when working with the rescue team on 27 December 2015. The cause of the accident is under investigation.