Canada: Fortune Minerals has appointed Worley Canada Services to lead an updated feasibility study and assist with permitting for the NICO bismuth, cobalt, copper and gold mine project in Northwest Territories. Dow Jones Institutional News has reported that the project includes a hydrometallurgical plant in neighbouring Alberta that will precipitate gypsum for sale.

Fortune Minerals secured US$12.5m in funding from Alberta Innovates, Natural Resources Canada and the US Department of Defence. The finances will support studies, including for the hydrometallurgical plant, environmental assessments, management plans and authorisations.

US: Cold-formed steel framing products company ClarkDietrich has acquired fellow framing producer Studs Unlimited from building materials distributor Foundation Building Materials. ClarkDietrich says that the Oklahoma City-based business will help to accelerate its growth.

ClarkDietrich president Brian Panuccio said "We are excited to welcome the Studs Unlimited employees to the ClarkDietrich family. This geographic expansion will help us amplify our service levels to our customers located in the Midwestern US. We will be significantly expanding the existing footprint of Studs Unlimited by adding square footage and machinery to the operation."

US: Xeriant has partnered with a ‘leading US-based compounding facility’ for lab-scale production and testing of its Nexboard alternative wallboard. Dow Jones Institutional News has reported that the collaboration will centre on modification of Nexboard’s intumescent system. The aim is to increase its fire resistance in line with the NFPA 286 fire test-based safety standard for interior wall and ceiling finishes.

Xeriant CEO Keith Duffy said "This collaboration leverages decades of experience in processing and testing plastic composite formulations. Their vast knowledge base, combined with the ability to produce and test small samples, allows us to compress the product development life cycle, lowering costs and shortening the timeline to full-scale production."

India: Knauf India says that all of its products are compliant with Indian Standards Institution (ISI) norms, as dictated by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

The Hindustan Times newspaper has reported that Knauf India CEO Sumit Bidani said "Knauf India is proud to be the first company in the market to achieve full compliance with the new ISI standards for plasterboards. This milestone is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to quality, safety and sustainability. We believe these standards will further enhance the trust our customers and partners place in us."