Gypsum industry news

Pakistan: An explosion in a gypsum mine in Khewra, Jhelum District left three people dead and seven others buried under rubble on 15 April 2014, according to local press. The explosion, which was a planned explosion carried out to expand the mine, appears to have gone wrong.

US: Saint-Gobain's CertainTeed and home improvement retailer Lowe's have teamed up to offer the latest in backer board technology for easier, faster and more cost-effective tile installation projects.

Reinforced with embedded glass mats for added strength, moisture and mould resistance, Diamondback Tile Backer features a patent-pending polymer coating with a unique textured surface that creates a strong bond, reducing tile slippage during installation. Diamondback weighs 40% less than traditional cement boards and is much easier to handle, cut and install, saving installers valuable time. Highly mould resistant, CertainTeed's patented, proprietary Embedded Glass Reinforced Gypsum technology eliminates the need for an additional moisture barrier. Diamondback has also achieved GreenGuard Gold Certification.

"We are very excited about this partnership with Lowe's, which makes our innovative tile backer much more accessible to the homeowner DIY and contractor customer base," said Kelly Kuethe, marketing manager of CertainTeed.

US: Saint-Gobain has announced plans for a new, state-of-the-art North American corporate headquarters in Pennsylvania, USA.

Saint-Gobain said that the relocation will position it for greater growth and expansion in North America. The new headquarters will, for the first time, allow the company's local research team, which is currently based in Maryland, to be integrated with the company's operations team on one site. Saint-Gobain expects to accommodate future job growth and have the flexibility to relocate additional business units to the integrated site.

"This headquarters marks a step change in Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed's ability to serve our North American markets and it will be a shining example of a 21st century manufacturing business," said John Crowe, president and CEO of Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed Corporations. "With the building industry continuing to rebound, we've seized the opportunity to create a focal point for innovative design and development on the Eastern Seaboard, a place where our businesses and employees can continue to grow in a fully integrated, modern space that promotes collaboration across our business units, while offering significant room for future expansion."

By leveraging the full range of Saint-Gobain's portfolio of sustainable products and technologies, the headquarters is expected to achieve the US Green Building Council's LEED® Certification. The goal is to create a workplace that is energy-efficient, has superior air-quality and moisture management and makes a material difference in the comfort and health of employees.

Worldwide: The NuGyp Corporation has reported that patent coverage of its NuGyp Process continues to expand. The granting of the 14th patent now gives protection in 20 countries and a further 18 applications are pending worldwide covering all existing and potential markets for low water demand plaster, including wallboard, blocks, floor screed and special plasters.

The process reduces the water demand of plaster to yield major cost savings in energy and water use during product manufacture. The new patents mean that the process is now covered in Australia, China, Columbia, Eurasia (Turkmenistan, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Tajikistan, Russia, Azerbaijan Republic, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Republic of Armenia), Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Ukraine and the United States.

Discussions are in progress with a number of companies interested in acquiring the intellectual property fully to exploit its market potential.

Brazil: Etex has started the construction of a new wallboard plant in Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro with an investment of Euro60m. The plant will open in mid-2015.

"The investment enables Etex to expand its footprint in Latin America, an emerging market of strategic importance. Brazil plays a leading role in the economic development of the region. The country's wallboard market is growing rapidly, at twice the rate of the construction industry,'' said Fons Peeters, Etex's CEO.

Construction work for the new plant started on 31 March 2014. An estimated 150 employees will manufacture three types of high-performance wallboard: standard, humidity-resistant and fire-resistant. The plant will serve markets in the south and southeast regions of Brazil. The new plant will be Etex's third wallboard production facility in the country joining its existing plants in Pernambuco state.