Gypsum industry news

US: Albér Gypsum has developed an adhesive gypsum-based plaster ‘board’ product that can be used in place of traditional gypsum wallboard. Using the new process gypsum powder is first mixed with water into a mixture lightweight cement sprayer. The company has also designed a special spray gun for this purpose. The plaster is then sprayed onto the wall construction or/and insulation, evened out and left to dry for up to six hours. A patent is currently pending for the new method.

The developer says that the gypsum-based plaster product eliminates air pockets in a wall, covers electrical wires and tubes thereby reducing fire risk and is stronger than traditional wallboard. It takes half the installation time of regular wallboard and does not require fittings such as bolts or nails. The company says that the sprayable plaster creates less waste, is easily recyclable and does not use paper. Not using paper also prevents any cases of black mould. The gypsum mix used can be modified to create a harder or softer surface depending on the desired room acoustics.

Denmark: Tentoma has launched its new XL Power gypsum wallboard packing machine. The supplier says that machine can pack up to 19m-long boards. For shorter lengths, it can stretch film for more boards per packaging cycle, increasing the packaging speed for the products by up to 25%. Tentoma built and sold its first XL Power packiaging machine to replace an orbital wrapper.

Denmark: Gypsum wallboard cutting robot producer Kobots is preparing to seek external investment via UK-based equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs. The supplier is seeking to raise Euro1.4m to fund international expansion. The company launched its Amigo robot in 2020. It was developed by Danish carpenter Peter Hartvigsen to automatically cut drywall using measurements entered in a phone app.

Amigo robots are currently delivering on a 40,000m2 gypsum wallboard cutting contract for the Lighthouse housing development in Copenhagen. The supplier says that its equipment eliminates the dustiest task in gypsum wallboard preparation for construction work. It has already secured a partnership with Australia-based James Hardie.

Developer Peter Hartvigsen added “Any company that has had a demo of Amigo has either purchased or leased the robot.”

Denmark: Saint-Gobain has completed the sale of its Optimera construction materials distribution business to Davidsens Tommerhandel. The sale is part of its portfolio optimisation strategy. It follows the divestment of its Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Deutschland (SGBDD) business in Germany, its construction glass business in South Korea and its K Par K wood and windows business in France.

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.