AL WATANIA Gypsum Company of Saudi Arabia has launched production of gypsum plaster, which is used in producing moulds for the manufacture of ceramic products.

The ceramic-mould plaster, which is the first of its kind to be produced in the kingdom, offers several advantages such as water repellence, the ability to withstand high temperatures and high durability, according to Fahad bin Abdullah Al Abbad, general manager of the company.

“By producing the gypsum plaster, the company is trying to fulfil a requirement for this product which has been imported hitherto, due to a lack of local manufacture. Thus, while boosting Al Watania Gypsum’s product range, the firm is also adding value to the economy through import substitution with local products of the same quality but at a lower price,” says Al Abbad.

Since its inception, Al Watania has focused on growth. The company has already started production of Watania French plaster, and is considered to be the first company in the kingdom to produce this kind of gypsum. This has been achieved by acquiring the latest machinery and equipment, Al Abbad says.

Al Watania Gypsum is now gearing to produce plaster boards from its Yanbu factory. The new production line will have a total capacity of 8 million sq m annually, to meet the growing needs of the kingdom.

The firm is also planning to produce plaster boards from its Al Kharj factory near Riyadh by June next year, with a total production of 10 million sq m, which will position it as the second-largest producer of plaster boards in the kingdom.

The company intends to produce four kinds of gypsum boards:

• Regular gypsum boards (GKB), which are used in general building applications such as suspended ceilings, partition walls and internal beams for exterior areas;

• Fire-resistant gypsum boards (GKF), which comprise metallic fibres and additional materials that enable the gypsum boards to resist fire;

• Moisture-resistant gypsum boards (GKI), used in areas subject to high humidity. These boards feature a liner containing a fungicide and the gypsum itself has been formulated to prevent the absorption of water; and

• Fire and moisture-resistant gypsum boards (GKI-I) for areas that require high protection from both fire and moisture.

Al Watania will manufacture these gypsum boards at its state-of-the-art facilities, using high-quality raw materials and highly specialised production technology. All boards will be produced as per German specifications DIN 18180, and American specifications ASTM C-36.

Equipped with a 1-million-sq-m quarry, Al Watania is said to be the first manufacturer 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.

The company is initially targeting the markets of Makkah, Madinah, Yanbu, Jeddah, Taif and Jizan as well as the GCC markets. To ensure that its products are well received in the regional markets, the company’s executive committee recently met to establish a sales strategy. The firm has also set up offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Yanbu.
Al Watania Gypsum is an affiliate of the Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Rajhi & Sons Company, which has various steel and real estate interests.