20 Jul 2007
Knauf Continues its Development in China with its State-of-the-Art Plasterboard Plant in Taicang
Taicang, China July 20th, 2007 – The Knauf Group, a world leader in plasterboard manufacturing announced today its further expansion in China. Knauf will build a new plasterboard manufacturing plant in Taicang, China with the initial (first phase) capacity of 30 million m2, per year, this state-of-the-art facility will be capable of producing more than 100 million m2 of safe, environmentally friendly and energy efficient plasterboard systems each year. This newest edition to the Knauf Group-China moves them into the position of the biggest foreign invested manufacturer of plasterboard in China. Pu Ronggao, Party Secretary of Taicang, Mr. Frederick Knauf, Director, Knauf Trading, David Gregory, CEO, Knauf East Asia and leadership team were in attendance today for the Taicang Plant Ground Breaking Ceremony to celebrate its grand success.
“Building the Future”, one of Knauf’s position statements across the globe is certainly proving true in China with its newest expansion valued at over $60 Million USD (470 Million RMB). This is Knauf’s 4th plasterboard production facility in China besides the other 3 in Wuhu, Tianjin and Dongguan respectively. The new plant to be built will use the most advanced manufacturing techniques known in the industry. This new technology will allow Knauf to meet the growing demand for safe and high-quality products. It will also greatly increase Knauf’s current plasterboard production capacity by an additional 40% to 120% per year once fully completed. The integrated resource of multiple locations enables Knauf to better respond to the local and technical demand throughout China.
Knauf, as one of the leading material suppliers to high-profile projects across China has earned a reputation for being the preferred supplier to high level and famous projects in China, providing the best technical support and the most advanced technical solutions to large commercial projects. The client list for Knauf includes: World Finance Centre (Shanghai), World Trade Centre (Beijing), Ice Cube Olympic Venue (Beijing), Sailing Olympic Venue (Qingdao), Tomorrows Square (Shanghai), Guangzhou FedEx headquarters and many other famous commercial projects.
Each of Knauf’s plants across the globe strictly abides by local and internationally recognized environmental protection legislations. As China implements stricter environmental standards to battle air pollution and to save energy, Knauf is well positioned with its advanced technology and environmentally friendly products in China to support the new Chinese policies and to provide safe, green products to the highest known standards. Frederick Knauf introduced: “Choosing Taicang to set up our new plant has provided a close cooperation with the Taicang power plant, which is just opposite of our plant. As new legislation in China requires power plants to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions through desulphurization, Knauf is able to use the by-product of the desulphurization process, flue gas desulphurization gypsum or gypsum REA, and turn it into building materials and reduce the impact on the environment and further protect people’s health. The desulphurization process requires a certain level of expertise that Knauf has been practicing for 30 years in Europe.”
“This factory, for the first time in China, will make use of the off-steam of the Taicang power plant, thereby increasing the total energy efficiency to a level which has never been achieved up to now in China. The decision to support this plant therefore helps the creation of a healthy living environment for the population and further reduces the inefficient use of energy.” Frederick Knauf added.
The Knauf Group in East Asia currently operates 4 state-of-the-art plasterboard plants and 1 XPS Insulation plant in China. The Taicang plant will be the 6th facility in East Asia with construction scheduled to start in 2008. “We are extremely excited about this new plant in China.” According to David Gregory at the ceremony: “Our dedication and commitment in China goes back a long way witnessed by the fact that some of our employees have now been with us for around 10 years! We have shown that we are committed to our business here and to the industry as a whole and this additional capacity will allow us to consolidate our position in certain key markets and pave the way for further expansion as we continue ’Building the future’.”
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About Knauf
Knauf is a family name, a multinational producer of building materials and construction systems. A strong characteristic of Knauf is the courage for visions, innovation and investments as well as simple decision-making processes and a wealth of ideas on the part of its personnel.
Originally a producer of conventional gypsum, Knauf has developed into a group of companies in the industrial sectors of dry wall installations, insulation technology and plastering.
For more details please visit：www.knauf.com.cn
