Through CertainTeed, the Exterior Products Division enjoys a leading position on the US home construction market, with a wide range of products.
All across the US, CertainTeed offers top-of-the-line asphalt roofing shingles in a wide range of colors, along with PVC windows and cladding, and cement-fiber weatherboarding. These products are renowned for their easy maintenance, smart appearance and weather resistance. Another CertainTeed product line covers full outdoor-equipment solutions for individual homes, with fencing, deck fittings and balustrading.
CertainTeed also manufactures vinyl pipes and fittings for water supply and drainage, and pipe systems for industrial, mining, irrigation and pressurized drilling applications. The global strategy adopted by the Exterior Products Division is rooted in:
●bolstering CertainTeed’s leadership position on the US market;
●achieving preferred-supplier status among professionals;
●actively contributing to sustainable development by improv- ing the environmental profile of its plants and products.
Operations in 2005
For CertainTeed, 2005 was an exceptional year, largely owing to sustained record-level business on the US construction market. Throughout the year, CertainTeed managed to pass on steep rises in raw materials and energy costs in higher sales prices. Improvements in the product and customer mix also had a positive impact on margins.
On the production side, 2005 was notable for the continued improvement in the industrial performance of its plants. Capital expenditure remained steady, and was mainly directed at ongoing efforts to improve environmental performance and productivity, as well as to develop new products.
Outlook for 2006
2006 should see a slight fallback in construction in the US and strong inflationary pressures on the cost of raw materials and energy. CertainTeed will therefore pursue its determined efforts to raise sales prices and improve industrial and logistic performance.
For the production side of the business, the end of 2006 will see the startup of the new asphalt shingle line at Oxford and the construction of a third cement-fiber plant in the Midwest. Panorama, CertainTeed’s new range of PVC railings.
58
ners, the Industrial Mortars Division is able to provide much- appreciated support on project requirements and product use to clients, contractors, tradespeople, architects and home- owners.
Operations in 2005
Net sales recorded by the division rose sharply in 2005, in line with the increases posted in recent years. On all of its markets barring Germany and Austria, 2005 was a successful year for Saint-Gobain Weber. It made a number of major capacity investments in the year, most notably in Spain and Brazil, and also started operations in China, India and Bulgaria. In addi- tion, various minor acquisitions were carried out to strengthen positions on regional markets.
Outlook for 2006
The outlook for 2006 is bright, in terms of growth in both net sales and profitability. An investment program directed mainly at emerging countries and aimed at increasing capac- ity is set to be rolled out, in order to meet the rising demand in the market.
GYPSUM
Gypsum is the fifth division of the Construction Products Sector, and was created following the acquisition of BPB by Saint-Gobain in December 2005. BPB is the world’s leading The Industrial Mortars Division, operating under the Saint-
Gobain Weber banner, is a multi-regional business. Saint- Gobain Weber boasts a leading position in tiling adhesives* and grouting, is Europe’s number-one wall facings business*, and holds the top spot in Europe and Brazil for mortars.
The Industrial Mortars Division offers a comprehensive range of solutions for:
●cladding facades consistent with the surrounding environ- ment and architectural styles;
●decorating both new and old facades, for individual houses and housing units as well as industrial and office buildings, with the right combination of style, color and surfacing;
●protecting facades with technical applications such as wastewater systems, thermal insulation and waterproofing;
●developing technical applications adapted to the skills and know-how of users, and that offer comfort, safety and resistance. For all of the challenges of tiling, both in the new construction and renovation markets, Saint-Gobain Weber offers specific solutions that guarantee secure and simple application while respecting local customs and practice.
Saint-Gobain Weber also offers a comprehensive range of ready-to-use or ready-mix cement, polymer and resin-based mortars designed for:
●sticking all tiles onto any surface;
●decorative and technical tile grouting;
●cleaning and protecting tiles. Mortars for decorative tile grouting.
Weber & Broutin France’s one-layer facade coating.
C
onstruc
tion Pr
oduc
ts
59
supplier of plasterboards* and plaster* as well as one of the front-ranking suppliers of expanded polystyrene, ceiling tiles, insulation products and other interior building solutions. The Gypsum Division is seeking to become the preferred supplier for innovative and high-performance interior building solutions.
Extensive international coverage, with a workforce of 12,500 across 130 production sites, ensures close adaptation to local customer expectations.
The division’s quality control processes ensure a top-range service and serve to bolster its position as world leader in plasterboard and plaster-based applications.
BPB’s plasterboard systems continue to record one of the lead- ing rates of market penetration and growth within the interior building solutions market.
The Gypsum Division offers clients and contractors worldwide a comprehensive range of solutions designed to satisfy their needs in terms of fire and damp resistance, thermal and acoustic insulation, and comfort and interior aesthetics. It is committed to meeting ever-stricter technological standards on energy efficiency and safety in world construction markets. The division currently supplies approximately one-fifth of all worldwide plasterboards sales. However, demand looks set to grow at an even sharper pace due to a fast market penetra- tion rate in emerging countries and the wide-ranging appli- cation of easy-installation systems in developing and industrial markets.
BPB’s traditional-style and lightweight plaster products account for a large portion of its local sales on the highly industrialized markets as well as on developing and emerging markets.
With total annual sales in the region of 5.8 million tons, Saint- Gobain Gypsum is the world’s leading supplier of superior- quality plaster products.
The division’s straightforward growth strategy aims to expand the worldwide potential for gypsum-based products, and targets:
●profitable sales growth through investment in both equip- ment and resources to bolster its worldwide leadership posi- tion;
●absorption into the Construction Products Sector and the generation of synergies with the Insulation and Industrial Mortars divisions;
●continued cost reductions;
●exploiting employee know-how by providing sales teams with greater autonomy to manage local activities.
Operations in 2005
The Gypsum Division’s results for 2005 advanced significantly, despite plasterboard sales volumes being undermined by capacity shortfalls on certain key markets, especially the US. Nevertheless, overall plasterboard and building plaster vol- umes increased by more than 6% on 2004.
The increased sales prices of its best-selling products easily offset the impact of the sharp increase in energy costs. In its three main regions, Europe, North America and emerging mar- kets (essentially South Africa, Asia and South America), the division posted record results.
As part of an output capacity increase program targeting medium-term sales growth, new plasterboard plants came on stream in Romania and Thailand during fourth-quarter 2005. These will be followed by more new plants in early 2006 to address high-growth markets in Malaysia and India.
Outlook for 2006
The outlook for the Gypsum Division in 2006 remains encour- aging, despite rising energy prices. The division should see sales volumes advance in 2006 on the back of sustained demand across all of its markets. It will also endeavor to pass on the sharp rise in the cost of energy and raw materials to sales prices.
In order to satisfy demand in Eastern Europe and Asia, four new production sites are set to come on stream in 2006. The Gypsum Division will also increase its production capacities and exploit synergies with the Insulation and Industrial Mortars divisions.
BPB plasters used on interior walls at an auditorium in Santa Cruz Tenerife (Spain).