Gypsum industry news

Japan: Chiyoda-Ute plans to mark the packaging of its gypsum wallboard product with a ‘green electricity’ mark when it has been manufactured at a plant using electricity generated from a renewable source. The company first started using electricity supplied from sustainable sources at its Yokkaichi wallboard plant in April 2023. It intends to extend this to its other plants in the near future.

US: CertainTeed has updated its visual branding, including its logo. The new design was officially launched at the International Builders’ Show that took place in Las Vegas from late January 2023. The light building materials producer says that the exercise “represents a major paradigm shift for the manufacturer – reinforcing its customer-focused, comprehensive offering of light and sustainable building solutions and systems.”

CertainTeed’s chief executive officer Mark Rayfield said “As a leader at the forefront of the building sector, we recognised an opportunity to evolve how our customers specify our products." He added, "We're taking 'one-stop shop' to the next level by serving as a preferred source for cohesive systems and complementary products that not only help builders grow their reputation, but make it easier than ever to deliver on what matters most: performance, sustainability, and longevity."

The company says that the new visual identity is inspired by the creative ritual of reviewing and selecting materials in the early stages of construction or remodeling. Logo details, such as the cartouche, borrowed from the logo of parent company Saint-Gobain, serve as a nod to their connection, while the interlocking pattern acknowledges CertainTeed as an interdependent collective of connections - in its work, its communities, and the planet.

Saudi Arabia: USG Boral Middle East has rebranded as USG Middle East (USG ME) with the tagline ‘Innovative Solutions Everytime.’ The company is a joint venture between Knauf-subsidiary USG and Juman Industrial Investment Company. It was originally founded in 1985 and later become part of USG Boral. It produces gypsum wallboard, ceiling, interior finishing, substrate and metal framing products.

Saudi Arabia: Mada Gypsum plans to reposition itself as a solutions provider, while retaining its core offer of gypsum wallboard. Accordingly, it has launched a new brand identity under the motto Building Excellence. Gulf Construction News has reported that the company is seeking to increase its offering of gypsum wallboard internal lining solutions and to maximise its production of components for its system solution in-house.

President Greg Smith said “Mada Gypsum has been repositioning itself and building capabilities with a focus on promoting itself as a system provider. This shift from being a plasterboard supplier to systems supplier was an important differentiator that allowed us to leverage the strength we have with our other products such as metal profiles, ceiling tiles, glass matt sheathing, fibre cement boards and joint compound.” Smith concluded “Our evolution now to a solution provider is a natural progression, as we have the structure, the people and the products in place.”

Germany: Weig-Karton has started its 'Driven by care' marketing campaign to reposition itself ahead of the 17th Global Gypsum Conference taking place in Poland in October 2017. The initiative originated as part of a process to engage with responsibility concepts for business partners, employees as well as the environment and wider society. It connects to the company's Uniplac plasterboard liner product line and its security of supply. The campaign will be represented by a visual of a globe in the form of two clasped hands.

"As a family-managed company, our thinking and actions are based on dependability, independence and a long-term view. That's why we, as a company group, stand for diligence, reliability and 'taking care of things,' said Michael Balzer, Sales Director at Weig-Karton.

The subsidiary of Weig Group produces its Uniplac line at plants in Germany and Paraguay. Both sites use their own supply of raw material with recycled waste paper.

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.

Peru: Eternit plans to re-launch its image to better target the local construction sector. The aim of the marketing re-launch is to increase sales of gypsum wallboard and fibre cement the country, according to an interview with CEO Fegale Manzur in the Gestion newspaper. The two lines represent half of the company's sales driven by its US$77m Huachipa plant that was built in 2015.