Gypsum industry news

US: Saint-Gobain's CertainTeed and home improvement retailer Lowe's have teamed up to offer the latest in backer board technology for easier, faster and more cost-effective tile installation projects.

Reinforced with embedded glass mats for added strength, moisture and mould resistance, Diamondback Tile Backer features a patent-pending polymer coating with a unique textured surface that creates a strong bond, reducing tile slippage during installation. Diamondback weighs 40% less than traditional cement boards and is much easier to handle, cut and install, saving installers valuable time. Highly mould resistant, CertainTeed's patented, proprietary Embedded Glass Reinforced Gypsum technology eliminates the need for an additional moisture barrier. Diamondback has also achieved GreenGuard Gold Certification.

"We are very excited about this partnership with Lowe's, which makes our innovative tile backer much more accessible to the homeowner DIY and contractor customer base," said Kelly Kuethe, marketing manager of CertainTeed.

US: Saint-Gobain has announced plans for a new, state-of-the-art North American corporate headquarters in Pennsylvania, USA.

Saint-Gobain said that the relocation will position it for greater growth and expansion in North America. The new headquarters will, for the first time, allow the company's local research team, which is currently based in Maryland, to be integrated with the company's operations team on one site. Saint-Gobain expects to accommodate future job growth and have the flexibility to relocate additional business units to the integrated site.

"This headquarters marks a step change in Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed's ability to serve our North American markets and it will be a shining example of a 21st century manufacturing business," said John Crowe, president and CEO of Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed Corporations. "With the building industry continuing to rebound, we've seized the opportunity to create a focal point for innovative design and development on the Eastern Seaboard, a place where our businesses and employees can continue to grow in a fully integrated, modern space that promotes collaboration across our business units, while offering significant room for future expansion."

By leveraging the full range of Saint-Gobain's portfolio of sustainable products and technologies, the headquarters is expected to achieve the US Green Building Council's LEED® Certification. The goal is to create a workplace that is energy-efficient, has superior air-quality and moisture management and makes a material difference in the comfort and health of employees.

US: CertainTeed has invited North American building professionals enter the ninth Saint-Gobain Gypsum International Trophy Awards, which are held every two years.

"We are always excited to review projects and recognise those that show creative and exceptional uses of CertainTeed gypsum products," said Dave Engelhardt, president of CertainTeed Gypsum. "The Saint-Gobain Gypsum International Trophy is a great way to show our appreciation and respect for the top talent among our building professional partners. Balancing the complexity of material performance specifications, meeting client needs and staying on time and on budget is a challenging feat. To further contribute to a project with an outstanding, notable design is worthy of recognition."

The competition promotes gypsum-related skills in the categories of innovation, residential, mixed use, sector specific, finishing applications and gypsum board craftsmanship and design.

CertainTeed will select the top projects completed or projected to be complete between April 2012 and February 2014 and work with principals on project presentations for the international competition. A representative from each of the chosen projects will be awarded an all-expense paid trip to Berlin, Germany to compete in the finals, meet counterparts from other countries and view projects submitted from around the world. The winning projects will also receive national and worldwide publicity, including press release and social media promotion.

US: More than a dozen lawsuits alleging price-fixing on the part of major manufacturers of wallboard have been consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The location was chosen as most of the parties are located in the area and a majority of the parties advocated for consolidation in that district. US District Judge Michael Baylson will handle the case.

"From at least September 2011 to the present the defendants, manufacturers of gypsum board, combined and conspired to fix and raise the prices at which they sold gypsum board in the United States beginning with large and coordinated price increases that all became effective on or about 1 or 2 January 2012," according to the complaint filed in one case originating in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Janicki Drywall versus CertainTeed.

Major manufacturers of wallboard have annual sales of more than US$5bn, according to the complaint and the defendants are seeking treble damages. The defendants in the suit account for more than 99% of wallboard sold in North America, according to the complaint. They are USG, National Gypsum, CertainTeed, Georgia-Pacific, American Gypsum, Lafarge, Temple-Inland and PABCO.

In a previous status conference for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania cases, Steven Bizar of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney was named as interim liaison counsel for the defence, while H Laddie Montague Jr of Berger & Montague had been named interim liaison counsel for the plaintiffs.

US: CertainTeed Corp has reduced energy consumption by 15% and water usage by 24% over the past four years, according to a release. In addition, it has decreased the amount of waste going to landfills from its facilities by 33%.

"Our world-class team of employees at CertainTeed play a pivotal role in increasing the sustainability of our operations," said Chris Altmansberger, vice president of operations support and process sustainability at CertainTeed. "Through our collective efforts, we have established a strong culture of respect for the environment that will continue to help preserve and protect the communities in which we live and work."

During 2010 and 2011 approximately 6000 CertainTeed employees received various types of sustainability training, which has helped drive energy, water and waste reductions. Additionally, more than 30 plants have achieved ISO 14001 certification.

"Our increased emphasis on sustainability has helped us identify and implement critical initiatives that reduce water and energy use as well as divert waste from landfills," said Altmansberger. "We have learned that even simple modifications can have a big impact."

North America: CertainTeed Gypsum, a Saint-Gobain subsidiary, has announced that UL Environment Inc. has completed its independent Environmental Claims Verification (ECV) process for products manufactured at five of its sites in North America. The company says that the move demonstrates a strong commitment to environmental responsibility and transparency.

UL Environment's ECV process has been completed for products manufactured at CertainTeed's Cody (Wyoming, US), Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada), Toronto (Ontario, Canada), Seattle (Washington, US), and Moundsville (West Virginia, US) manufacturing facilities. Specifically, UL Environment confirmed the pre- and post-consumer recycled content, origination of source materials (and adherence to ASTM D 3273 mould-resistance standards, if applicable) for 19 CertainTeed products. The validation process is currently underway for products manufactured at the company's remaining North American plants.

"CertainTeed has taken a unique approach by seeking validation for environmental product claims based on the specific plant in which they are manufactured," said Steve Wenc, president of UL Environment. "This demonstrates CertainTeed's commitment to providing detailed product information and an unprecedented level of transparency."

"Third party verification of environmental claims is a critical component of today's green building culture, as it provides independent evaluation and enhanced transparency," said John Donaldson, president of CertainTeed Gypsum. "CertainTeed has made significant strides in ensuring that building and design professionals have access to sustainable, high-performance gypsum products that help them to achieve their goals in the responsible development of our built environment."

US: CertainTeed is introducing a new wallboard solution, the 'Easi-Lite' wallboard. Easi-Lite boards are up to 30% lighter than normal wallboard and can be used in both interior ceilings and walls in residential and commercial applications.

Its lightweight characteristics make it more easy to transport, stock at worksites and install by hand, helping to reduce muscle strain and worker fatigue. The new product is also easier to score and snap for improved installation. It has been designed with sag resistance in mind and as such it is ideal for 12mm (0.5-inch) ceiling applications, allowing for one board type to be used for interior ceilings as well as walls.

Easi-Lite wallboard panels have a high-strength, sag-resistant gypsum core with a 100% recycled face and back paper and they enable installers to achieve the same high performance standards of a traditional wallboard. It is Greenguard® Children and Schools certified and designated as a low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting product.

"Building professionals are constantly looking for innovative ways to streamline their processes to maximise profitability without sacrificing quality," said President of CertainTeed Gypsum John Donaldson. "The introduction of Easi-Lite complements CertainTeed's comprehensive product line and strengthens our position as a single source for products that meet a wide range of performance attributes and specifications."