Gypsum industry news

US: Sensortech Systems is looking for client companies to run extended trials of its new Kiln Jam Detector KJD-7000. Part of the trial will be to test the functionality of the sensor and, over a period of some months, check reliability and stability. Another part is to receive input from users as to what features need to be incorporated, particularly in the software design.

The company says that its new radio frequency (RF) gypsum wallboard jam detector product offers a saving compared to previous sensors. The RF sensor requires no maintenance and is unaffected by siloxane build-up or other debris. The Kiln Jam Detector KJD-7000 uses a custom-designed coaxial cable able to withstand the high operating temperatures.

The sensor itself follows the design of open-frame planar sensors used for moisture measurement. The outer frame is formed from 16ga stainless steel; ceramic insulators isolate a stainless-steel centre electrode to which the high temperature cable is attached. The electronics unit is located outside the dryer at each deck level. An on-board 32-bit ARM-Based micro-controller processes signals from up to three sensors and networks via RS-485 to a dedicated programmable logic controller (PLC).

The system software is set to trigger an alarm when either no product is detected over the sensor for a pre-defined time interval, a blockage upstream, or if a failure to detect gaps between boards over a pre-defined time is recognised. All sensors in an array are node addressable on an RS-485 network. If an anomaly occurs at any sensor, the exact position will be known including which deck and its position on the deck (left, right, centre).

Sensortech will be displaying its new kiln sensor at the Global Gypsum Conference & Exhibition taking place in Krakow, Poland on 25 – 26 October 2017.

US: Saint-Gobain has appointed Mark Rayfield as the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of its subsidiary CertainTeed. He will also serve as the Region CEO of Saint-Gobain Construction Products for North America.

Rayfield has worked as the CEO of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution United Kingdom and Ireland since 2013. He started his career with Saint-Gobain in 1999 in a sales role within Abrasives North America, before assuming the role of Vice President of Saint-Gobain Abrasives North America from 2007 to 2011. Prior to moving to the UK, Rayfield was President of the CertainTeed Siding business from 2011 - 2013.

He succeeds Benoit Bazin, who has served as president and CEO of CertainTeed since January 2017. Bazin will continue to serve as president and CEO, Saint-Gobain’s Construction Products Sector and Senior Vice President, Saint-Gobain Corporation.

Oman: Hilal bin Mohammed al-Busaidi, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Public Authority for Mining (PAM), predicts that Oman is set to become the largest exporter of gypsum by the end of 2017. Its gypsum exports are expected to exceed 10Mt in 2018 from 4.6Mt in 2016, according to the Oman News Agency. So far the country has exported 6.1Mt in the first nine months of 2017.

PAM says that Oman has 1Bnt of reserves of gypsum. These are concentrated in the southern part of the country and in some northern regions notably in Al Shuwaimiyah, Thumrait, Sadah, Ghaba and Buraimi. The principal export markets for the product are India, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

Germany: Claudius Peters’ has launched an upgrade to its Rotary Drum Cooler (RDC) that is intended to low energy costs and includes new features. The product operates on the counter-current indirect principle re-using cooling air as preheated combustion air for the hot gas generator, with a reduction in plant energy costs. During the cooling process, the RDC enables homogenisation of materials, with reduction of unwanted calcining by-products such as soluble anhydrites and dehydrates. The cooler can handle up to 100t/hr of product.

“We are proud to have been supplying the gypsum industry with cutting-edge products for more than 20 years. Our Rotary Drum Cooler deploys state-of-the-art technology to maximise plant efficiency by reducing maintenance and energy costs,” said Claudius Peters’ managing director Reiner Fruehling.

Other features of the RDC include trunnion bearings, central axis feeding and discharge, aeroslide feeding and discharge, variable speed motor for soft start-up, improved automatic lubrication system and optional inlet housing for external cooling air.

Colombia: Grupo Etex is projected to invest US$77m in its production activities. 50% of the funds will be used to increase productivity, with 25% allocated to innovation and further 25% invested in safety and maintenance. According to the manager of Grupo Etex, Mauricio Lopez, the company will focus on rural housing in Colombia, the demand for which continues to grow thanks to the recent peace agreement and development of the agricultural industry.

Furthermore, Lopez anticipates a growth in exports to Venezuela and Ecuador, as well as the Caribbean and Central American regions in 2018, motivated by the recent devastation caused by a series of hurricanes. Currently, Grupo Etex is experiencing a strong demand from Puerto Rico, especially for Superboard cement panels and gypsum wallboard.