Gypsum industry news

Kyrgyzstan: A new gypsum wallboard plant has begun construction in Dostuk, Jalal-Abad Region, according to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. CA-News has reported that the upcoming plant is the outcome of an agreement signed between Mega Union Industry and China-based Hengshui Decheng Machinery & Equipment in 2024.

UK: Adaptavate has partnered with British Land, Royal London Asset Management Property and office refurbishment company Overbury to test its Breathaboard 50% reduced-CO₂ alternative wallboard at the 1 Triton Square mixed-use development in Camden, London. This is the product’s first large-scale commercial application.

Adaptavate produces Breathaboard from renewable agricultural feedstocks as a scalable, CO₂-sequestering alternative to conventional gypsum wallboard. It offers net reduction of 4kg/m³ of CO₂.

Japan: Sumitomo Osaka Cement has applied for a patent for a method of combining alkali metal hydroxide solutions with CO₂ to produce alkali metal salts that react with gypsum to produce calcium carbonate. Energy Weekly News has reported that the developers used gypsum from recycled gypsum wallboard to demonstrate the process.

Egypt: Industrial House for Building Materials has signed a contract with the General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone to build a new factory in Sinai’s Technology Valley in East Ismailia. Arab Finance News has reported that the producer will invest US$12m to build the plant. When operational, it will produce 4Mm²/yr of gypsum wallboard, 900,000t/yr of plaster and 60m bags annually. Industrial House for Building Materials expects to export 80% of the plant’s total production.

Romania: Knauf Gips has received authorisation from local authorities for the construction of its planned Huedin gypsum wallboard plant in Cluj County. Economica News has reported that the plant will also produce metal profiles.

Germany-based Knauf previously announced its plans for a 35Mm²/yr gypsum wallboard plant in Huedin, but delayed them in 2009. It then announced new plans for a €76m plant in 2022.