Gypsum industry news

US: CertainTeed has installed new recycling technology at its Silver Grove, Kentucky, gypsum wallboard plant which will enable the facility to divert 15,000t/yr of production scrap paper from landfill. The technology grinds gypsum-contaminated paper into fine pieces for separation. The subsidiary of France-based Saint-Gobain says that it will then be able to reuse both paper and gypsum in its wallboard production at the plant.

CertainTeed’s gypsum general manager and vice president Jay Bachmann said “This project allows us to reduce our waste and reduce our production costs in Silver Grove while also empowering us to increase the efficiency of our use of natural resources.” He added “We will continue to look for ways to minimise our environmental footprint while maximising our company’s positive impact for our customers and the communities where we do business.”

US: International Paper’s net sales fell to US$20.6bn in 2020 from US$22.4bn in 2019, down by 8% year-on-year. Adjusted operating earnings dropped by 15% to US$3.06bn from US$3.61bn. Gypsum kraft paper volumes rose by 5% to 190,000t from 181,000t.

Chairman and chief executive officer Mark Sutton said, "Our performance while navigating through the impacts of the pandemic in 2020 reaffirms my admiration and appreciation for our employees and their on-going commitment to take care of each other and our customers. Above all, the health and safety of our employees remains our most important responsibility." He added, "In terms of results, International Paper delivered solid earnings and outstanding cash generation in the fourth quarter and full-year 2020. Our performance demonstrates the strength and resilience of our employees, our diverse customer base and our world-class manufacturing and supply chain capabilities. In 2020, we returned US$800m to shareholders and reduced debt by US$1.7bn to enhance our financial strength, while continuing to strengthen our packaging business through targeted investments. As we enter 2021, we anticipate continued strong demand for corrugated packaging and pulp and are poised to grow earnings as we take actions to build a better International Paper and accelerate value creation for our customers and shareholders."

Turkey: Hamburger Turkey, part of Austria's Prinzhorn Group, has signed a land purchasing agreement to set up a third paper mill at Kütahya.

The new paper machine will have state-of-the-art technology, a width of 7.80m and an annual production capacity of 480,000t containerboard, mainly light-weight Testliner and Fluting. The Euro300m investment will create 500 new jobs and is planned to be finalised in 2020.

"Turkey is an important market for us and this investment shows our strong commitment to this fast growing region. If all relevant factors, such as governmental permissions and political stability, show a green light we are happy to proceed with the next project steps." said Cord Prinzhorn, chief executive officer (CEO) of Prinzhorn Group.

Hamburger Turkey is part of the Hamburger Containerboard Division of Prinzhorn Group with a total of seven paper mills in four countries and 2Mt/yr of produced containerboard. The two existing paper mills in Turkey are based in Corlu and Denizli.

US: National Gypsum is upgrading its paper plant in Oxford, Alabama. The work includes replacing a boiler at the site first installed in 1950s, according to the Anniston Star newspaper. The investment is intended to reduce operational costs and increase energy efficiency. Paper produced at the plant is used in the manufacture of gypsum wallboard at the company's other plants. No value for the upgrade has been disclosed.

US: The Industrial Packaging division of International Paper has seen its sales fall by 2% year-on-year to US$14.2bn from US$14.5bn in the same period in 2015. Its operating profit fell by 11% to US$1.65bn from US$1.85bn. Overall sales volumes rose slightly to 9.4Mt from 9.3Mt. Paper used for gypsum production rose by 17% to 181,000t from 155,000t. In North America the company blamed the falling profits on fewer shipping days, higher input costs and higher operating costs.