Gypsum industry news

Spain: Saint-Gobain Placo’s gypsum wallboard board plant at San Martin de la Vega near Madrid has been awarded bronze status in the World Class Manufacturing program. The plant is the first Saint-Gobain unit in the world to achieve the certification. The scheme is intended to train individuals to assess operational excellence, as well as improve employee morale, individual and company performance, and company profits.

France: Saint-Gobain’s sales rose by 4.3% year-on-year to Euro21.7bn in the first half of 2019 from Euro20.8bn in the same period in 2018. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 8.4% to Euro2.42bn from Euro2.23bn. Growth was reported for its gypsum business in all territories apart from North America. Particular growth was noted in its Asia-Pacific region.

Switzerland: Sika’s net sales grew by 7.6% year-on-year to Euro3.38bn in the first half of 2019 from Euro3.14bn in the same period in 2018. Its operating earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 14.5% to Euro565m from Euro493m. The building chemicals producer noted that its takeover in the reporting period of Parex, a globally leading producer of facade mortar, technical mortar, tile adhesives, and waterproofing systems, was the largest acquisition in its history.

US: The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on a proposed expansion of a USG gypsum quarry and associated water lines in Imperial County, California. USG wants to replace an existing water supply line to its Plaster City gypsum wallboard plant. The project will cost US$110m. The comment period will last until early September 2019.

India: Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHE) has been awarded the contract to supply emissions control systems, including a flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) system, at the Nabinagar Thermal Power Project. The project is a 4x250MW coal-fired power station being built by Bhartiya Rail Bijlee Company, a joint venture between NTPC and Indian Railways. BHE's scope of work includes design, engineering, civil works, supply, erection and commissioning of wet FGD system along with auxiliaries, including limestone and gypsum handling system and wet stack on a full engineering, procurement and construction basis.

Previously BHE installed a FGD system at Tata Power's Trombay Unit 8 in 2008. Including the latest order, BHE is presently executing FGD systems for 27 units of NTPC and its joint ventures.