Gypsum industry news

US: The gypsum wallboard and suspended ceilings distributor GMS Inc. has acquired substantially all of the operating assets of Pennsylvania, US-based Washington Builder’s Supply Company (WBS) to expand footprint in Western Pennsylvania, according to a company release. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

WBS will join Ohio Valley Drywall Supply, a GMS company acquired in 2015, which serves residential and commercial customers in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas.

WBS and Ohio Valley will stock a wide variety of products including wallboard, steel, insulation and construction accessories, along with a full range of commercial and residential services, such as after-hours and weekend delivery as needed.

GMS operates a network of more than 210 distribution centres across the United States. The company’s product offerings include wallboard, suspended ceilings systems and complementary interior construction materials.

Denmark: Environmental services company Reconor, a subsidiary of private equity firm Agilitas, has purchased Mijodan for an undisclosed sum. Mijodan, based in South Jutland, recycles a number of products, including gypsum wallboard.

US: USG’s Washingtonville gypsum wallboard plant in Pennsylvania plans to spend US$8m towards automation upgrades in 2017. Plant manager Nicholas Latkovic told the Daily Item newspaper that the company also expects to spend US$8m or higher in 2018. The upgrade will include 20 automated guided vehicles and automated board handling equipment to speed up the production process by 20%. The investment is also expected to add four or five people to the total workforce of 125.

Colombia: Gypsum wallboard producer Gyplac and cement producer Skinco Colombit will rebrand as Grupo Etex. The group also has investments worth US$77m planned over the next five years, according to Dinero magazine. The company holds a 12% share of the building materials market locally.

Argentina: Centurion Minerals is in the process of buying the remaining 50% share in the Ana Sofia Agri-Gypsum Project from its joint-venture partner Demetra Minerals. The final transaction will be subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.

"Owning 100% of the Ana Sofia Agri-Gypsum Project has been our goal since we were first introduced to the project. Despite unprecedented weather-related disruptions for the agricultural industry in South America in 2017, we see these short-term challenges as long-term benefits that will drive increased agri-gypsum demand," said Centurion's president and chief executive officer, David Tafel.