Brazil: Knauf plans to set up a plant in Camaçari, Bahia with an investment of US$61.5m. Commissioning is due in 2014. The plant will produce gypsum products and the metallic structures for construction systems. It will be the second such plant in Brazil after the first in Queimados, Rio de Janeiro. Knauf's total capacity in Brazil will grow from 24 Mm² to 44Mm² of gypsum products.

Australia: Boral has announced that it expects net profit after tax (NPAT) before significant items for the first half of financial 2014 to be US$90m, subject to finalisation of an audit review.

The result is underpinned by favourable weather conditions in Australia, strong volumes from major projects, a significant turnaround in the performance of the Building Products division and benefits from prior year restructuring activities. For 2014, the company expects a significant skew of earnings to the first half of the year compared to the second half of the year, due to lower contributions from major projects and reduced contributions from Boral Gypsum. The latter is expected following the move from a 100% owned division to a 50% joint venture, upon completion of the transaction with USG during the second half of 2014.

Australia/US: USG Corporation has announced that it and Boral Limited continue to progress toward completion of their 50/50 strategic joint venture. While completion was originally anticipated to occur by 31 January 2014, it is now expected to occur on or before 28 February 2014, due to additional time being necessary to obtain regulatory approvals.

UK: Siniat has invested more than Euro300,000 in the construction of a new laboratory facility at its manufacturing plant in Portbury, Somerset.

The lab provides a high-specification environment for Siniat's production, maintenance and quality assurance teams and has enabled it to consolidate all three functions, which were previously based in different parts of the site, in one central, integrated location at the heart of the plant. Construction work began in May 2013 and is now complete, with the lab fully operational.

The facility will also act as an area where Siniat can welcome customers and other visitors to discuss its latest innovations and demonstrate key product performance capabilities such as fire and water resistance.

The project is just one step in a long-term vision for improving the site, says Stephane Mettavant, Plant Manager. "We've embarked on an ambitious programme of change for our Bristol plant since becoming Siniat (in October 2012). It's focused on improving facilities for our customers and our employees and creating an environment in which we can share our expertise."

"The programme has already delivered tangible results and helped us to streamline our processes throughout the plant," said Mettavant. "We have been successful in reducing the number of customer complaints we receive to industry-leading levels and the new lab represents the next stage of reinforcing that quality assurance.

Siniat was formerly known as Lafarge Plasterboard. It was acquired from Lafarge by Belgium's Etex group at the end of 2011 and began trading as Siniat in October 2012.