Armed with new next-generation building boards and plans for a new regional production unit, leading drywall building materials manufacturer Knauf is gearing up to create a stir at the Big 5 with the launch two new products: Knauf Cleaneo acoustic boards, and its Aquapanel cement board systems.

Established in 1932, with its headquarters located in Iphofen, Germany, Knauf manufactures its products in 50 countries through 150 plants, employing 22,000 people in Europe, Middle East, Asia, US and Latin America. The company’s product range includes gypsum boards, metal profiles, joint compounds and insulation materials.
Knauf’s Cleaneo acoustic boards, its latest innovation, boast the advantage of reducing air pollution, according to Kerim Caglar, a spokesman for Knauf.
Elaborating on the product, he says: “Knauf Cleaneo acoustic boards are perforated gypsum boards that actually reduce indoor air pollution. This proven ‘air cleaning effect’ is now possible with the addition of zeolite to the core of the boards. Zeolite is a natural water-containing rock of volcanic origin. Knauf Cleaneo acoustic boards are ideal for improving the climate and reducing the concentration of pollutants in indoor air in regions such as the Gulf where people spend most of their time indoors, without proper ventilation. At the same time, they offer all the required acoustical properties and design options.”
Meanwhile, Knauf’s Aquapanel cement boards are the next generation systems for this region, he says. “Developed by Knauf USG systems, Aquapanel is already the ‘next generation’ cement board of choice for construction professionals in Europe, which Knauf is now introducing to the GCC market,” says Caglar.
There are two types of Aquapanel boards available, depending on the application type. Aquapanel cement board Indoor is 100-per-cent water-resistant and is used as a tile-backing board in very damp and wet areas. Aquapanel cement board Outdoor is extremely durable and climate-proof and is used for constructing exterior walls, ceilings and façades. It is a complete drywall system solution for exterior applications.
Besides these two new systems, Knauf will be exhibiting a selection of its products at its 100 sq m stand. On display will be gypsum boards, joint compounds, drywall accessories, drywall hand tools, drywall partition and ceiling systems, access panels, and wall lining systems.
Though the company is mainly recognised as a gypsum board manufacturer, Knauf manufactures all the components of drywall systems. Therefore, the show, according to Caglar, will be an excellent opportunity to showcase Knauf’s product mix and complete systems approach on drywall applications.
With a view to further consolidating its presence in the Gulf, Knauf is in the process of setting up a new gypsum board plant in Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE, with a production capacity of 40 million sq m per year. The factory will also produce plasters and additional components of the drywall systems such as metal studs, channels, joint compounds and drywall accessories. The company has completed the groundworks for the project, which is expected to be completed by the third quarter of next year.
The company has carried out a number of prestigious projects in the region, which include supplying its D112 double grid suspended ceiling systems to Burj Dubai and complete partitions and ceiling systems to the Barwa housing project in Doha, Qatar.
A regular exhibitor at the Big 5 over the past five years, Knauf can be found at Stand T21, in the Zabeel Hall.