Gypsum industry news

Germany: Gebr Pfeiffer will build a MPS 160 B vertical roller mill at the Siniat Hartershofen gypsum wallboard plant. The mill will replace the existing Pfeiffer MPS 125 A at the site. The new mill will be set up in an annex next to the old grinding plant and the majority of the existing equipment will be reused.

The scope of services comprises delivery of the mill, adjusting equipment including a hot gas generator, process ducting, electrics, buildings and foundations, including installation and connection works as well as integration into the existing process. Switch-over and commissioning of the grinding plant is planned for December 2016.

Germany: The European Commission has approved Euro33m investment aid to Hamburger Rieger. It designated the aid as being in line with European Union (EU) state aid rules, in particular the Guidelines on Regional State Aid for 2014 -2020, because it furthers regional development without unduly distorting competition in the single market. The German producer of paper and plasterboard liner has plans to invest Euro363m to upgrade its paper production capacity by setting up a new stock preparation process and building an additional paper machine in its plant in Spremberg.

"It's important that public investments foster economic growth in disadvantaged regions in Europe. We have carefully assessed the project. The investment aid to Hamburger Rieger will further develop the region without distorting competition and will help bringing truly innovative production processes to market," said EU Commissioner in charge of competition policy Margrethe Vestager.

South Korea: USG Boral plans to increases production at its Dangjin, South Chungcheong wallboard plant by at least 30Mm². Currently the plant, operated by USG Boral Korea, has a production capacity of 70Mm². Work on the upgrade will start in the fourth quarter of 2016 and the extra manufacturing lines are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2018, according to the Korea Times.

Kazakhstan: A new gypsum building mixtures plant will be launched in Zhambyl by the end of 2015, according to the Kazinform International News Agency. The project has been initiated under the state programme, 'Industrialisation Map of Kazakhstan.'

JSC Zhambylgips is modernising the existing plant for US$9.09m. Once complete, the plant will have 270,000t/yr dry compounds and gypsum products capacity and will employ 50 people. It is assumed that the plant will produce about 600t/day of gypsum. The products will be delivered to local and foreign markets, mainly in Russia and central Asia.

Uzbekistan: Knauf has started a new US$52.5m investment project at two of its plants in Bukhara. The move follows the signing of a new agreement in 2014 by Knauf and Uzstroymateriali JSC to boost economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Germany.

Knauf has already invested US$51m in Uzbekistan. It has two plants in Bukhara: JV JSC Bukharagips, which produces dry building mixes and Knauf Gips Bukhara, which produces gypsum wallboard. The 60,000t/yr capacity Bukharagips plant started operations in August 2009, while the 20Mm³/yr capacity Knauf Gips Bukhara plant was built in 2011.

Belarus: According to Volma's chairman of the board of directors, Yuri Goncharov, a contract with Germany's Grenzebach for the supply of modernisation equipment for the Belgips plant in Minsk has been concluded. The plant will be operational by the middle of 2015.

Under presidential decree No.34, which was signed on 16 January 2014, Volma was required to invest Euro43m to modernise the Belgips plant by 1 July 2018, including Euro24.7m by 30 June 2016. Within the funding, Volma had to transfer at least Euro2.5m to Belgips. "We will meet the investment project deadline, " Goncharov noted.

According to local media, Belgips' business is being threatened by multiple factors. The supply volumes to Russia haven't changed, but the product prices have fallen by 20 - 25%. There's also a negative effect on Belgips' position by the Polish companies that, according to Goncharov, offer their products on the Belarusian market at much cheaper prices than their domestic ones. There are also challenges regarding the procurement of raw materials.

In response, Volma plans to improve the quality of products through modernisation of the operating facilities. It will also decrease its prices. However, according to Goncharov, prices cannot get much lower. Volma also plans to improve its raw materials supply chain via imports. Goncharov expects to see Belgips in profit in 2015.

Uzbekistan: Knauf plans to invest up to US$50m to double its production capacity in Uzbekistan, according to Akbar Muhiddinov, a senior manager of Uzstroymaterialy (Uzbek Construction Materials). Knauf currently produces gypsum wallboard at its 20Mm2/yr Knauf Gips Bukhara plant in the Bukhara region that was built in 2011. Including a gypsum-based mix plant, Knauf has invested more than US$51m in the region.

Russia: A US$150m upgrade to a wallboard plant producing GIPSELL brand products in the Kabardino-Balkaria republic has been announced, according to a statement from the local government. Wallboard output is anticipated to grow to 3MM³/yr. After the upgrade the plant will employ at least 400 workers. The launch is planned for August 2013.