Germany-based Knauf, a leading manufacturer of plasterboard and drywall systems, is eyeing the Middle East market for the promotion of its new range of ceiling systems.

The company, which had introduced three ceiling systems at last year’s Big 5 show, hopes to gain a firm foothold in the fast-growing regional market.
The tiles include the Knauftile, Vienna and Berlin systems, which according to the company will find popular use in the region.

Innovative products
Mounted with a visible lay-in grid system, Knauftile comprises smooth white ceiling panels, which are environmental friendly and at the same time can be used in rooms with relatively high humidity.
“This makes the tiles systems an ideal choice in the humid environment that is prevalent in the Middle East markets,” says a company spokesperson.
The Vienna ceiling system is a narrow grid system that is fast to install and easier to adapt as the edges remain covered by the grid system.
Berlin is a semi-recessed ceiling system that comes with regular and bevelled edges. The tiles guarantee a directionally-stable ceiling system that is less prone to damaged edges, she says.
“Besides introducing its new products in the region, Knauf is also promoting a wide range of speciality acoustical ceilings. We can now produce ceiling tiles that are painted or laminated in three acoustical designs - bevelled or square edged, and in full board length. We are also working towards providing complete speciality systems,” says the spokeswoman.
Knauf has a wide range of products that include partitions, linings, ceilings, ceiling systems, encasements, shaftwalls, steel buildings and aquapanel cement board for exterior systems, metal components and accessories, plasters, and plasterboards.
Established in 1932, Gebr Knauf Westdeutsche Gipswerke, Iphofen (Knauf) is not only one of the leading manufacturers of building materials in Europe, but also a globally operating group whose activities are no longer limited solely to the production of gypsum-based building materials.
The company, which operates more than 100 production plants in over 30 countries with more than 18,000 employees, boasts of annual sales figures of approximately € 3 billion. Knauf’s main markets remain in northern, western and central Europe as well as the entire Mediterranean area. However, in recent years, the markets of Eastern Europe and China, have made an increasingly significant contribution to the development of business.
Knauf is also renowned for its gypsum boards, which it says forms an ideal component in all types of dry interior construction.
“We manufacture gypsum boards as a tried-and-tested basic element of numerous flexible construction systems in various application-specific thickness and versions,” she says. “We use the strict criteria of Knauf quality as a guideline in our manufacturing process.”
The entire manufacturing process and the internal logistics are subject to constant documentation and quality control in accordance with the criteria of DIN and ISO 90002.
“In this way, every Knauf gypsumboard is absolutely smooth and of top quality when it reaches the hands of the specialist company,” she says.
Elaborating on the benefits of its gypsum boards, she says: “The slim, sturdy dry construction panels of Knauf help maximise the floor area of a room. In addition, it offers cost savings through short assembly times and Knauf’s large construction panels offer top sound insulation properties and virtually limitless design possibilities.
“Our gypsum board wall partitions and ceilings are designed for dry lining of new or old solid walls made of brick, block or concrete and can be used for a range of projects that can include: administration buildings; hospitals and clinics; housing; offices; institutes and laboratories; restaurants, bars and pubs; exhibition halls; airports; schools and theatres,” she concludes.