Canada: The Gypsum Association has partnered with Divert NS to support research at Dalhousie University into the use of recycled gypsum from construction waste in concrete production. Dalhousie University previously demonstrated that gypsum could be a viable supplementary cementitious material when combined with fly ash in concrete. In this second phase of research, the team aims to expand on the work to optimise concrete production methods and product quality.

Canada research chair in sustainable infrastructure Pedram Sadeghian said “As durability is important for construction materials, our research group at Dalhousie University aims to study the durability of concrete containing recycled gypsum by monitoring the compressive strength and potential expansion after exposure to selected environmental conditions such as moisture and salt particle penetration that are common for concrete structures exposed to the environment.”

Gypsum Association executive director Stephen Meima said “We are very pleased to join Divert NS in supporting research that may improve numerous environmental outcomes. 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.”

US: Pacific Coast Building Products gypsum wallboard subsidiary PABCO Building Products has appointed Phil Bonnell as its new president from 1 July 2021. Bonnell began working at Pacific Coast Building Products in 2003 as Basalite Northwest and Canada operations general manager. He joined PABCO Building Products in 2017 as gypsum and paper senior vice president, and also took over responsibility of the company’s roofing operations in April 2021. Bonnell has a degree from Colorado State University and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

India: The Industries and Commerce Department of the Andhra Pradesh state government has granted Saint-Gobain India an extension to the duration a package of financial incentives will be available for the construction of its new gypsum wallboard plant at Atchutapuram, Visakhapatnam. The company now has until June 2022 to commence commercial production, according to the Hindu newspaper. The producer’s total investment in the project is US$268m. When finally commissioned, the plant will employ 450 locals. It will also manufacture float glass.

Saint-Gobain India also received permission from the department to change its name to Saint-Gobain Industries.

US: The United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) Gypsum in the First Quarter 2021 report has shown a 2% year-on-year increase in sales of gypsum-based board products to 624Mm2 in the first quarter of 2021 from 609Mm2 in the same period in 2020. Calcined gypsum used by board producers rose by 3% to 5.6Mt from 5.5Mt. Natural gypsum production fell by 4% year-on-year to 5.0Mt from 5.2Mt, synthetic gypsum production remained level at 3.6Mt and gypsum imports rose by 14% to 1.6Mt from 1.4Mt.

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