sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report

Construction
Products
12
Saint-Gobain Construction Products markets interior
and exterior solutions through its Gypsum, Insulation, Exterior
Fittings, Pipe and Industrial Mortars divisions. The Sector
has products for every need, both technical (such as noise
control, insulation, sheathing or waterproofing) and
non-technical (for example, easy installation or stylish design),
backed by highly professional teams, well-known brands
and robust strategic positions.
The highlight of the year was the March acquisition
of the Maxit group, which has doubled the size of the industrial
mortars business and lifted it to the position of leader (1)
in Germany and the Nordic countries.
In the coming years, we will continue to expand in the
renovation markets by providing innovative energy-saving and
noise control solutions.
Interior Solutions
Gypsum
The Gypsum Division is the world’s leading supplier of
plasterboard and plaster (1) . Its operations consist of extracting
gypsum - an abundant mineral found in the earth’s crust –
and converting it into a wide range of plaster-based products
used for construction and decoration.
Our comprehensive line-up of plaster-based solutions for
partitions, wall linings, ceilings and floors meet high technical
specifications in terms of fire and damp resistance and thermal
and acoustic insulation, while also responding to customer
demand for a comfortable and visually pleasing home
environment.
Our aim is to become the preferred supplier of innovative
and high-performance solutions for building interiors and light
buildings.
With over 13,000 employees and 135 production facilities
worldwide, the Gypsum Division offers its customers
easy-to-install systems complying with increasingly demanding
energy efficiency, safety and comfort specifications.
Marketed under well-known brands such as Placo®, Gyproc®,
Rigips® and CertainTeed®, the ranges of traditional and light
plaster products hold significant market shares in both
developed countries and emerging markets.
Identified reserves at our 75 gypsum quarries represent several
decades of production at current extraction rates. We also use
large quantities of synthetic gypsum and have set up
plasterboard recycling systems to expand our sources of raw
material.
The Gypsum Division’s strategic objectives are to:
• Achieve profitable growth by investing in equipment
and resources to bolster its worldwide leadership position.
• Leverage research capabilities to drive product development
and showcase high value-added systems.
• Set up production facilities in emerging countries to keep pace
with expansion in local construction markets, particularly
in Eastern Europe, North Africa and Asia.
• Continue implementing programs to enhance the
performance of manufacturing infrastructure, cut costs
and reduce energy consumption.
• Generate further synergies with the Insulation and Industrial
Mortars Divisions.
Insulation
The Insulation Division provides a range of solutions involving
glass wool made using the TEL process, rock wool and expanded
polystyrene foam (EPS). It helps to keep buildings warm and
quiet with increasingly energy-efficient solutions marketed
worldwide under the Isover® brand and in the United States
under the CertainTeed® brand.
Saint-Gobain - 2008 Annual Report
(1)
Source Saint-Gobain.