France: Saint-Gobain says that it is confident it can offset inflation in raw material and energy costs in 2022 through price rises and hedging its energy costs. In an update on its first quarter results the group said that it expects its energy and raw material costs to increase by around Euro2.5bn in 2022 as a whole compared to 2021. Much of this inflation is related to the European market where the company says it has hedged around 80% of its natural gas and electricity purchases for 2022. It noted that it increased its prices and sales volumes by 14.5% and 1.9% year-on-year respectively in the first quarter of 2022.

The company added it had prepared contingency plans in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic should there be any disruptions to natural gas supplies from Russia. These include the classification of priority industries, using alternative energy sources already prepared at certain sites, and increasing the flexibility of its production capacities.

Saint-Gobain’s sales rose by 16% year-on-year to Euro10.4bn in the first quarter of 2022 from Euro12bn in the same period in 2021. The group said growth was driven by building renovation in Europe and by construction in the Americas and in Asia.

Japan: Germany-based Knauf Group has launched a public tender offer to increase its stake in the Japanese wallboard producer Chiyode Ute from 50% to 75%. Knauf is the largest wallboard producer by installed capacity outside of China.

Speaking to Global Gypsum, Chiyode Ute’s Vice President and Representative Director Frederick Knauf said that the founding family Hirata would retain a 25% stake in the company. He added “For Knauf Group this is very exciting. Japan is the world’s third-largest wallboard market and one in which Chiyode Ute has a 20% market share. It is also a challenging market, where customers expect the best in terms of quality, delivery and customer service. We will continue to work with the Hirata family to further develop the company’s capabilities to better serve this demanding market in the future. Chiyoda Ute will be fully integrated into the Knauf Group.”

Germany: Gypsum products manufacturer CASEA has ordered a Robotpac type robotic palletiser from Beumer due to increased demand for its products. The new palletiser will be equipped with a fork gripper and a pallet gripping device will be used for handling special product mixtures. Delivery of the order is planned for the third quarter of 2022. CASEA already uses a Beumer palletiser at its Dorste plant in Osterode am Harz, which was installed in 2017.

Turkey: France-based Saint-Gobain and building materials producer Dalsan have signed a joint-venture agreement, pursuant to which they will merge their gypsum wallboard operations in Turkey. The merge will give the new joint venture a gypsum wallboard production capacity of over 100Mm²/yr. It will also see the companies’ plaster production consolidated under their new subsidiary.

The partners said “This partnership will offer Turkish customers access to the most innovative and complete portfolio of light and sustainable solutions for the construction and renovation of the building envelope, as well as internal partitioning.”