AL WATANI Gypsum Company, which launched commercial operations in Yanbu in April this year, claims to be the only company in Saudi Arabia that produces gypsum powder with French specialisation using state-of-the-art technology.
“Despite the presence of six companies producing gypsum powder, Al Watani Gypsum Company is the only company that has been successful in producing French gypsum as per the NF-EN 13279-1 and NF-EN 13279-2 specifications,” says a spokesman for the company.
French gypsum is characterised by its high purity (not less than 98 per cent) and hence its unique colour. It also offers high durability while being highly resistant to humidity, which extends its area of application.
Also equipped with a 1 million-sq-m quarry, Al Watani is said to be the first of its kind in the Middle East to produce various kinds of gypsum including standard gypsum, as well as adhesive gypsum and special gypsum used in the manufacture of sanitary ware.
Al Watani has signed an agreement with Al Baiz Trading Company for distribution of the company’s products in the kingdom. Al Baiz, which is the largest importer and distributor of French gypsum, owns and operates eight branches in the country.
“Through this achievement, Al Watani is playing a major role in boosting national economy through import substitution by replacing the item imported from France with a national product of the same quality,” says the spokesman.
Al Watani is a part of Mohamed A Al Rajhi and Sons Company’s Gypsum Group which consists also consists of Yamama Gypsum factory in Riyadh.
The company’s state-of-the-art facility has been designed to produce 600 tonnes per day of high-quality gypsum of various types – French, ceramic, anti-humidity, medical and Alfa gypsum.
In the next phase – which is scheduled to be operational within two months – the factory will launch its gypsum board production line with an annual capacity of 10 million sq m.