Articles on the gypsum industry from Global Gypsum

Throughout the building products manufacturing industry, there is a persistent effort to reduce thermal energy consumption in order to remain cost competitive and to meet growing requirements for reduced carbon emissions. In areas where the cost of thermal energy is relatively low, it is difficult to justify capital expenditures for energy saving initiatives. This article describes an effective approach to identifying opportunities for thermal energy savings and for implementing energy-saving measures with minimal risk. Case studies demonstrate energy-saving projects that have resulted in substantial energy savings with minimal capital investment.

The United States of America is the third largest,¹ third most populous¹ and richest nation in the world.² It also has the world's largest gypsum wallboard industry, which, like other aspects of the construction industry, has suffered badly during the recent recession. However, the US has been showing increasing indications of a full-blown gypsum market recovery, alongside a general economic turnaround.

Poor water resistance is the primary disadvantage of construction materials that use gypsum as a binder. Gypsum dry-mix mortars, in particular, have so far offered only limited options for minimising water absorption in the long-term in end products that have set. Now, however, a novel, highly-efficient water repellent is available for use in dry-mix processes. This powdered additive opens the door to dry-mix mortar formulations that are universally suitable for use throughout home interiors.

GIPS AD has been active in the gypsum and plaster market in Bulgaria for many years. It sells not only calcined plaster directly to the market but also raw gypsum from its own underground mine to building material companies. The old calcining plant from the early 1970s was based on Russian kettle calcining technology with a heavy fuel oil hot gas generator and electrostatic filter.

Gypsemna has made a bold move by building a 110MM²/year-capacity gypsum wallboard plant in the UAE with facilities to supply the rest of the Middle East and further afield. Opening in the middle of an economic downturn was not part of the plan, but Gypsemna is biding its time and is waiting for the upturn to come again.