US: Gypsum Management & Supply Inc. (GMS), has acquired the assets of Brown Machinery, a commercial and residential supplier of stucco, exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), concrete blocks, masonry and related products. Brown Machinery has four locations that serve Oklahoma and North Texas.

The newly-acquired company is expected to continue operating under its existing branding and will further support GMS’s presence throughout Oklahoma and surrounding markets. General Manager Justin Owens will continue to lead the business going forward, ensuring continuity and consistency for its customers, suppliers and employees.

John C Turner, Jr, President and CEO of GMS, said “We are pleased to welcome Brown Machinery and its team of respected and knowledgeable professionals to GMS. Reflecting the continued execution of our growth strategy, bringing the Brown Machinery team into the GMS family of brands will further expand distribution coverage of our Complementary Products throughout Oklahoma and surrounding markets while providing an even higher level of service to our customers.”

US: Saint-Gobain North America has launched a new programme of partnerships with high schools in US host communities called Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities. The producer will supply partner schools with a curriculum of classes on manufacturing, with accompanying visits to its plants.

The launch follows earlier pilots at schools in Granville, North Carolina, and Shakopee, Minnesota. It will expand to include 10 additional sites in the 2025 – 2026 school year, followed by further planned expansions throughout the US and Canada.

Saint-Gobain North America and CertainTeed President and CEO Mark Rayfield said "Our Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities programme is a win-win for students, the manufacturing industry and local economies. In the manufacturing industry anyone can have a long and successful career, and by bringing manufacturing directly to high schools, we aim to show students the rewarding role they can play in building the future of the industry."

Russia/Germany: A prospective buyer has reportedly ‘broken off’ talks over the sale of Germany-based Knauf’s Russian business. The producer says that it will continue its efforts to withdraw from Russia ‘in accordance with the applicable sanctions,’ under ‘very difficult conditions.’

AK&M News has reported that Knauf owns 20 Russian companies in industries that include gypsum. The assets remain exclusively under local management, without any profit currently passing to Knauf.

Spain: Formatt Building Products Spain plans to build a new gypsum wallboard plant in La Rioja. The project will use technology supplied by Canada-based Gypsum Technologies (Gyptech). The unit is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2026. Formatt is part of BS Group and it sells lightweight construction products and systems under the Technogips brand.

Gyptech says that the project will use various innovations in process automation and environmental engineering to reduce the plant’s CO₂ emissions. It will use a reduced emissions dryer system with a heat pump system, which is intended to reduce dryer-related emissions altogether. The facility will also feature automation, digital process control and safety and maintenance systems. Board-handling systems will be included to maximise edge quality and uniformity.

Petar Kaloyanov, General Manager of Formatt Group, said “This investment will strengthen Formatt’s position as one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of modern building products and systems. Through our Technogips brand and our portfolio within the Formatt Group, we are committed to becoming a one-stop shop for lightweight construction solutions that reduce CO₂ emissions and work in harmony with nature. Our ambition is clear: to establish Formatt among the top four brands for modern construction systems in the European Union.”