U.S. cement companies are currently engaged in an aggressive $3.6 billion expansion that will increase clinker capacity by 16.2 million metric tons by the year 2010. According to a report issued by the economic research department of the Portland Cement Association, this represents a 17.3 percent increase in capacity compared to 2005 levels.
Master Wall has announced Phil Cantrell has been named plant manager of the company's Lithonia, Ga., location. Glen Smith has been named manager of product and process engineering.
Demand for gypsum products in North America is forecasted to advance 1.7 percent per year through 2009 to 50 million metric tons. Gains as measured in dollar value will rise 3.7 percent per year to $4.9 billion, an acceleration from the 1999-2004 period which saw gypsum board prices fall significantly.
Architectural Contractors Trade Association, of Farmington Hills, Mich., recognized four area subcontractors for their construction projects at the 11th Annual INTEX Achievement Awards in April.
Dietrich Metal Framing announced that it has signed an exclusive sublicensing agreement with Clark Western Lath & Steel Framing for UltraSteel metal framing products using patented technology of Hadley Industries PLC.
European company Gypsum Recycling International is opening its U.S.-based operation Gypsum Recycling America LLC, which recently received permits and approval from the state of Massachusetts, as well as the city of Cambridge, Mass., to open a recycling facility that is geared to handle scrap gypsum.
FinishPro Tools LLC announced that it has acquired the Goldblatt and Pacesetter brands from the Stanley Works. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Stanley originally acquired Goldblatt in 1992 and later moved it out of Kansas City, where it originated in 1885.
Activant Solutions Inc. announced that it has been endorsed as a "Business Service Partner" by Nemeon, a purchasing cooperative for independent roofing and siding distributors, to give its members access to industry-specific business management technology solutions licensed by Activant.
The Nathan Kimmel Co. turns 50 this year. Beginning in the garage of Nathan and Bella Kimmel, the company has since served the wall and ceiling industry as a source for tarps, machinery, parts and supplies.