Lafarge to increase its plasterboard capacity by 50%, UK

Lafarge announced that it will invest approximately EUR45m in a new plasterboard plant in the Midlands, which will increase its capacity by 50% in the UK with an additional 25Mm2. The launch of the construction will start in 2005. Once completed this new plant will create employment for more than 60 persons.

The plasterboard market in the UK has been growing rapidly since 2001. This new plant will use state of the art manufacturing standards to offer a range of quality plasterboard products to serve the increasing demand from its customers across the country.

Key to making this investment was the group’s recent agreement to secure a source of synthetic gypsum from EDF Energy’s coal-fired power station at Cottam, near Retford in Nottinghamshire.

Nearly half the gypsum used by Lafarge worldwide is synthetic. Processing synthetic gypsum follows Lafarge’s actions in the field of sustainable development by preserving natural resources. Plasterboard is an environmentally friendly product