Gypsum industry news

Canada: Dalhousie University, in collaboration with the Canada and US joint Gypsum Association and Divert NS, has entered Phase 2 of its research project into uses of construction and demolition waste gypsum in concrete. The research, continuing until September 2023, will test the durability of various concrete mixes containing gypsum powder recycled from waste drywall. It will examine 81 specimens under three environmental exposures and three exposure durations. The team will use the results to understand the performance and environmental benefits of concrete containing recycled gypsum over the life of a structures. Study leader and Canada research chair in sustainable infrastructure Pedram Sadeghian said that Phase 1 of the study had demonstrated that gypsum could be a viable supplementary cementing material when combined with fly ash in concrete.

Sadeghain said “Our research group aims to study the durability of concrete containing recycled gypsum by monitoring compressive strength and potential expansion after exposure to selected environmental conditions, such as moisture and salt particle penetration, that are common to concrete structures exposed to the environment.”

Gypsum Association executive director Stephen Meima said “The gypsum industry is committed to landfill diversion of construction and demolition gypsum panel waste, and Professor Sadeghian’s work demonstrates that waste gypsum panels may have value beyond their service life in buildings and homes.”

New Zealand: The New Zealand government has announced the lifting of Level 4 lockdown outside of Auckland. Radio New Zealand News has reported that this will enable construction to resume. Inside Auckland, gypsum wallboard is among four ‘critical products’ that the government has allowed to resume production.

The Building Industry Federation (BIF) said that the government had listened to suppliers' concerns.

Spain: Saint-Gobain Placo has launched a new technical manual on environmental certifications of buildings. The Saint-Gobain subsidiary says that the manual will help professionals when addressing all certification requirements in Spanish construction. It takes a practical approach and details all processes and evidence necessary for each certificate. The company hopes to advance sustainable development by facilitating more comprehensive planning.

China: Sales revenue from China National Building Materials’ (CNBM) new materials business grew by 28% year-on-year to US$3.36bn in the first half of 2021 from US$2.63bn in the first half of 2020. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from the segment, which includes gypsum producers BNBM and Taishan Gypsum, rose by 66% to US$873m from US527m. The gypsum wallboard producers reported a combined sales volume increase of 41% to 1.12Bnm² from 0.79Bnm_². The group said that BNBM had also been working on the development of the first domestic automatic edge keel packaging machine for a ‘super large’ production line of gypsum wallboard with an output of 120Mm²/yr.

Overall across all business lines the group’s revenue grew by 14% to US$18.9bn from US$16.5bn in the same period in 2020. Adjusted EBITDA rose by 13% to US$3.98bn from US$3.51bn. Total revenue benefitted from particular gains from its New Materials and Engineering businesses.

Belgium: Etex recorded first-half consolidated sales of Euro1.45bn in 2021, up by 18% year-on-year from Euro1.23bn in the first half of 2020. Its recurring earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (REBITDA) rose by 50% to Euro308m from Euro206m. The group increased its profit for the period by 98% to Euro139m from Euro70m. Its building performance division’s sales increased by 29% on a like-for-like basis to Euro1.03bn. Its residential segment recorded particular growth due to ‘dynamic’ renovation activities. All of the division’s operating regions performed well, with all product ranges progressing year-on-year in sales, volumes and margins terms.

Chief executive officer Paul Van Oyen said, “Although the on-going Covid-19 pandemic was still heavily impacting people’s lives, as well as the global economy, in the first half of 2021, the consequences for Etex cannot be compared to what we have experienced last year. The company benefitted from a very dynamic market, especially the home repair and improvement activities, as well as from the fact that our operations were hardly halted - whereas we suffered from several weeks of plant lockdowns in different countries during the second quarter of 2020. Moreover, the ambitious cost control measures we rapidly put in place last year continued to bear fruit in 2021” He added “Overall, we maintained our focus on local decision-making, enabling our leaders on the field to take the right steps and inspiring the trust of our people. More importantly, we never lost sight of our ‘Inspiring ways of living’ purpose in the face of many challenges. All of this while keeping our relentless dedication to the safety and well-being of our people, which is and will always be our number one priority.”