Gypsum industry news

UK: Cuddy Recycling Ltd, a start up company that is supported by the Welsh Government, plans to invest Euro1.49m to create the first wood, wallboard and gypsum recycling centre in South Wales. It will create 22 jobs.

Backed by Euro285,000 from the Welsh Economic Growth Fund, the purpose-built centre will be based on the former Wern Works site in Briton Ferry, Neath Port Talbot which, subject to planning, will be partially demolished and redeveloped. The new centre will process and recycle demolition aggregate from construction and demolition projects across Wales, as well as waste timber and wallboard from the construction industry and civil amenity sites.

It aims to provide a green alternative to landfill with waste timber used for animal bedding, panel board manufacture and biomass fuel, with the option of introducing a garden mulch product at a later date.

Aggregates will be sorted for reuse in construction companies. Wallboard will, where possible, be taken back to wallboard manufacture, or the gypsum recycled as a soil conditioner for agricultural purposes. There is also potential for use as a cement additive.

"This project supports two of our key economic sectors, providing a specific service for the construction sector while the new business will operate in the energy and environment industry, one of the fastest growing sectors in the Welsh economy with waste management - the largest sub sector," said economy minister Edwina Hart. "Companies working in this area are not only making a significant contribution in terms of job creation and financial impact, but by reducing waste to landfill they are helping us achieve recycling targets and ensure that we create a sustainable environment for future generations. The proposed new centre will provide an important facility to deal with construction and demolition waste and I am pleased to support this new start up through the Economic Growth Fund."

Canada: CertainTeed Gypsum is reportedly looking at opening a new gypsum mine near Canal Flats. The company currently mines at its Elkhorn Quarry West property near Windermere, which is projected to have between seven and 12 years of gypsum reserves left. The new mine, called the Kootenay West Mine, is projected to employ around 18 people, including drivers. The project start date for the new mine is 2017.

UK/Belgium: Siniat has boosted its sales of its premium thermal wallboard by 56% year-on-year with a marketing campaign. Taxi Studio, a creative firm in Bristol, UK, devised a campaign to extol the benefits of using the premium thermal wallboard to persuade merchants, builders and homeowners to trade up from using a standard thermal wallboard to Siniat's premium offering.

Siniat's marketing and communications manager Fiona O' Callaghan said that the decision to bring in people with more expertise has paid off: "We had no experience of executing a national marketing campaign and the benefits of the thermal plasterboard are complex ones to communicate," she said. "What's more, having recently rebranded there was very little knowledge of the Siniat brand. Taxi Studio managed to devise a campaign that dealt with all aspects as well as creating a real internal buzz around the company. We're absolutely delighted with the results and the creativity of the campaign has really opened our eyes."

Indonesia: Vanguard Mining Corporation has agreed with Yupolo Resources to buy 80% equity interest in the cement plant and to co-develop a 3.5km² gypsum and limestone mine in Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia. It is expected that the gypsum deposits will be in excess of 30Mt, while the limestone deposits are approximately 400Mt. The proposed mining concession is 4km away from the newly-expanded Menanga Sea Port. The companies plan to develop the concession in four stages.

UAE: Mustafa Furnishing Industries, FZC, a manufacturer of carpet and wood furniture, has announced plans to open a gypsum wallboard plant in Sharjah Airport Free Zone (SAIF Zone). The US$6m project will be constructed over an area of 1000m².

Waseem Ahsan Chaudhary, Managing Director and owner of the group, said, "The construction of the new factory will begin within two months and production will commence by the end of 2015."