Gypsum industry news

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.”

Tunisia: Prime minister Youssef Chahed has met with Alexander Knauf, the chairman of Germany’s Knauf. Knauf plans to invest Euro80m and create over 300 jobs in gypsum projects based in the governates of Tataouine and Sidi Bouzid, according to African Manager. Knauf has operated a plaster business in the country since 2004.

US: The commissioners of New Hanover country in North Carolina have approved a US$0.35m incentive package for National Gypsum to open its Wilmington wallboard plant. The package will be offered over five years if the wallboard producer meets benchmarks that include investing US$25m in the plant and hiring at least 51 people at the site, according to the Star News newspaper. The city of Wilmington is also considering offering a package of US$0.23m. However, pollution concerns have been aired at public hearings about re-starting the plant.

Colombia: Grupo Etex is projected to invest US$77m in its production activities. 50% of the funds will be used to increase productivity, with 25% allocated to innovation and further 25% invested in safety and maintenance. According to the manager of Grupo Etex, Mauricio Lopez, the company will focus on rural housing in Colombia, the demand for which continues to grow thanks to the recent peace agreement and development of the agricultural industry.

Furthermore, Lopez anticipates a growth in exports to Venezuela and Ecuador, as well as the Caribbean and Central American regions in 2018, motivated by the recent devastation caused by a series of hurricanes. Currently, Grupo Etex is experiencing a strong demand from Puerto Rico, especially for Superboard cement panels and gypsum wallboard.

Tanzania: Knauf plans to invest an additional US$5m in a production site in Mkuranga district. The German company has already invested US$10m into the unit, according to the Citizen newspaper. The company started operations in the country in 2014 and it employs over 150 people. It is its first unit in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Zachopoulos Georgios, the managing director for East Africa, said that the subsidiary sources most of its raw materials locally and that it mines gypsum in the south of the country. He added that the company is focusing on promoting regular gypsum boards of 9mm and 12mm and boards of 12.5mm for moisture-resistance and fire resistance for the East African region. It will also offer other products from its portfolio, including related powder, steel sections, screws and tape offerings. The company exports 8% of its production at present and it hopes to increase this to 20 – 30% in the coming years.

Peru: Eternit Perú plans to spend around US$8.7m towards security, technology and plant productivity by 2020. Over half of this investment, US$4.4m, will be spent in 2017, according to the El Comercio newspaper. The building materials producer intends to double its gypsum wallboard business by 2020 and it has started a new marketing campaign to support this aim. It has recently won a government tender to build 2600 temporary homes using its wallboard system and it also plans to start exporting products to New Zealand in the short term.

Spain: Alier has announced an agreement with creditors to restructure its debts. The agreement, to be officially settled in court, will make it possible for the plasterboard liner producer to continue the investment plan on industrial modernisation and quality improvements. The deal, supported by the major creditor banks, was made with the majority of the creditors on 28 June 2016.

Alier has forecast that its production of plasterboard liner for the gypsum wallboard industry will be 155,000t in 2016. Following its expansion plan this could reach 200,000t.

Colombia: Etex Group intends to invest US$77m in its Colombian production plants in the next few years. Currently, the firm operates on the local market through gypsum wallboard producer Gyplac and cement producer Skinco Colombit. The expansion plans are expected to create up to 1000 direct and indirect jobs accord to the Portfolio newspaper.

Cuba: Rose Petroleum has targeted Euro1m towards developing opportunities to process and manufacture gypsum and associated building materials. The natural resources company said in a statement that it was in direct discussions with a government-owned gypsum company and the relevant ministries regarding a potential transaction. No terms or specific timing of any transaction have been agreed.

"The Cuba project is a very exciting development for Rose which we believe could deliver significant value in the short term, in isolation of the oil price environment," said Matthew Idiens, chief executive officer. "It is worth noting that, at present, there is no domestic supply or production of gypsum panels or wallboard for the construction of internal walls and providing domestic sources is naturally very important for Cuba and its development."

The opportunity was introduced to Rose Petroleum by Earth Source Investment, who had made initial contacts with the Cuban government, in return for shares in Rose Petroleum and non-executive board seats should the deal compete successfully.

Iran: Ammar Bashare, the director of the Middle East trade development section of Saint-Gobain, has expressed his company's desire to invest in the gypsum plaster industry in Semnan province. He made the comments in a meeting with Ali Asghar Joma'ei, the head of the province's Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture, as reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency.

Bashare said that Saint-Gobain is ready to invest in the local plaster industry and he hoped that his company could have more cooperation with local Iranian companies when the economic sanctions are lifted.

Joma'ei said that around 40 plaster producer companies are active in Semnan province and that foreign investors should bring modern technology into Iran. He also noted the readiness of a number of investors from Turkey and Germany in the industry. He added that the province is ready for 100% foreign investment or joint venture partnerships.

Semnan produces 40,000t/day of plaster. It exports plaster to Iraq, Turkmenistan and India.