INTRODUCTION
|Knauf, a family name, and a corporate group of global dimensions. A leading | ||manufacturer of building materials worldwide, including plasterboards, | ||plasters, insulation materials and external renders, with a turnover of Euro| ||2.5 bn. With over 100 plants in Europe, Asia, USA and South America, it is | ||through technical innovation and high quality standards that Knauf leads the| ||development of markets across the Globe. Committed to the environment, Knauf| ||is active in retaining the natural balance across all our operations. | ||[pic] | || ||[pic] || |[pic][pic] || |Established in 1932, Gebr. Knauf Westdeutsche Gipswerke, Iphofen, is not | || |only one of the leading manufacturers of building materials in Europe, but | || |also a global group whose activities are no longer limited solely to the | || |production of gypsum-based building materials. | || | | || |The families of Alfons and Karl Knauf still wholly own the strongly | || |expanding company. Their oldest sons, Baldwin and Nikolaus Knauf are the | || |managing partners. | || | | || |The company is based in Iphofen, midway between Nuremberg and Frankfurt. | || | | || |All the other shareholders also belong to the family and some are | || |responsible for the various business activities of the company both at home | || |and abroad. | |
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Established in 1932, Gebr. Knauf Westdeutsche Gipswerke, Iphofen, isnot only one of the leading manufacturers of building materials in Europe,but also a globally operating group whose activities are no longer limitedsolely to the production of gypsum-based building materials. The families of Alfons and Karl Knauf still wholly own the stronglyexpanding company. Their oldest sons, Baldwin and Nikolaus Knauf are themanaging partners. The company is based in Iphofen, midway betweenNuremberg and Frankfurt. All other shareholders also belong to the family; some are responsiblefor the various business activities of the company both at home andabroad.
Profile
Knauf nowadays operates more than 100 production plants in over 30countries. Annual sales of more than € 2.5 billion are achieved with more
than 16,000 employees. The main markets are to be found in northern,western and central Europe as well as the entire Mediterranean areaincluding Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey. In recent years Eastern Europe,the former CIS states and China, in particular, have made an increasinglysignificant contribution to the development of business. Knauf was one of the first companies to invest in modern plants ineastern Germany, Eastern Europe and the CIS. In 1997 a new Knaufplasterboard factory was opened in Wuhu, near Shanghai, a second plantsupplies the markets in Canton, Hong Kong and southern China with Knaufplasterboards. A third factory was acquired in 1999 from Siam Cement, whichproduces in Tianjin, near Peking. Knauf has spent recent years building up the Brazilian and Argentinemarkets. The first Knauf plasterboard factory in South America commencedproduction since 2000 in Queimados, near Rio de Janeiro. A further factoryproduces in Mendoza in Argentina directly on the border to Chile to servicethe Argentine and Chilean markets. In addition to plasters and plastering accessories, Knauf manufacturesinsulating materials made from glass fibers at four sites in the USA. A further business field is the production of distended pearlites thatare used in plastering, cement bound boards and dry mortars. With the production of carton for Knauf boards Knauf has continued itsstrategy of vertical diversification. Knauf owns two paper factories;Inland AB in Lilla Edet, Sweden and St Petersburg Polygraphie- undKartonkombinat in St. Petersburg in Russia, and also holds shares inTecnokarton located in Mayen. Lime and lime cement plaster and even bricks round off the productassortment offered by the Knauf group. The range of products for the drywall sector is rounded off by plasterfiberboards that are manufactured in factories in Satteldorf, Germany, inVidin, Bulgaria, in Dzershinsk and Tscheljabinsk, both in Russia. A new business sector is the production of moulded plastics in France,Italy, Spain, England, The Netherlands, Brazil and Poland. The constructionof a factory in Belgium for the production of polystyrene is a further stepin the strategy of vertical integration pursued by Knauf in this sector aswell. -3-Its diversified portfolio of partner companies also highlights thecommitment of Knauf to the construction industry.
The company Putz- und Fördertechnik (PFT) located in Iphofen leads themarket for the development and manufacture of machines for the machineapplication of plasters for interior and exterior use. The plaster machineG4, which is legendary in industry circles, is probably the best-knownproduct manufactured by PFT.
Richter-System, a leading manufacturer of metal profiles and angleprotectors in Europe, is also a member of the Knauf group.
With more than 30 furnaces in nine factories, Knauf is Europe’s largestproducer of distended Perlites that are used in the production of drymortar to improve the heat insulation qualities.
The product range of Deutsche Perlite GmbH, one of the leading processorsof perlites, also includes the cement-based Perlconboard, dry compositionfloor elements and perlite charges.
Group member AMF is a manufacturer of high-quality mineral fibre boardsused to form innovative ceiling systems.
Knauf Bauprodukte GmbH offers the most extensive range in Europe ofbuilding chemicals for DIY and professional users.
Marmorit GmbH located in Bollschweil, to the south of Stuttgart, producesand sells an extensive range of lime and lime cement renders.
This extensive and diverse product programme ensures that Knauf is the onlygypsum-based manufacturer in the market offering this complete range ofservices and products.[pic][pic][pic]
[pic][pic] [pic]
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As expectations for the performance of our buildings rise, so must theperformance of the materials used in their construction. As a result, the
demand for gypsum is on the increase. Due to its exceptional performancecharacteristics, we call it the magic material.Nature is innovativeNature possesses exceptional innovative spirit. Gypsum, a sedimentary rockthat is over 200 million years old, is so easy to handle that it has beenused for building purposes for thousands of years. For example, 11,000thousand years ago, the walls and floors in ancient Jericho were made ofgypsum. The utilisation of this building material reached a new peak in thestucco masterpieces and cornice-work of the Baroque Age. Today gypsum isused to create a comfortable living environment through both plaster andplasterboard. And it continues to be used for creative interior designing.
Securing the raw material base
It is little wonder that we constantly need more of this magic material.Knauf combines modern energy-saving methods with state-of-the-artproduction processes to ensure that enough of this superb building materialwill be at our disposal well into the new millennium.The ecological outcome is positive
At Knauf, gypsum is extracted, manufactured and transported in a safe andenvironmentally friendly manner.
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The white natural stone gypsum was formed in several geological eras 100 to200 million years ago. Defined chemically defined, gypsum bears the namecalcium sulphate and has the formula CaSO4 2H2O. It sediment when waterevaporated in shallow bays around the earth. In the course of the earth’s history, when the gypsum deposits were coveredby other masses of rock or exposed to additional geological influences,gypsum lost its crystallisation water, and anhydrite (CaSO4 ) was formed.As soon as water-free anhydrite comes into contact with water again, itwill slowly be reconverted to gypsum.
Both natural materials are important for the manufacture of our products.Both above ground and underground extract them.
In many countries, legislation requires that power plants fired with
fossil fuels have to be equipped with flue gas desulphurisation (FGD)systems. This was a great step towards keeping the air clean.We at Knauf made a decisive contribution towards the further development ofthe desulphurisation technology. It is a simple, wet cleaning process usingnatural lime, in which the final product is fine FGD gypsum. This gypsumcan be introduced directly into the economic cycle of the constructionmaterials industry as a raw material.
Both the desulphurisation technology and the development of the processesof using FGD gypsum in the building materials industry are based on ourresearch and development work and our comprehensive know-how, as well asthe close cooperation with the operators of power plants.
-6- FGD gypsum is formed according to the same natural laws as naturalgypsum. The only difference is that the process takes place at an enormousvelocity, within a few hours, whereas nature needed millions of years toform its gypsum deposits. A study on the quality of FGD gypsum, which wascarried out over several years and is recognized in internationalscientific circles, confirms that its properties are identical to those ofnatural gypsum. Just like its natural counterpart, FGD gypsum is also a completely harmlessbuilding material, with regard to both health and ecological constructionprinciples. We constantly check its quality in accordance with our own highstandards, in the same way as with natural gypsum.
We use FGD gypsum for the manufacture of high-quality gypsum products.Every available tone of this renewable resource is processed in our ownworks.
In both function and effect, the surface of the wall made of gypsum isvery similar to the human skin. Knauf plasters meet the highest standards:good insulation, excellent humidity regulation, high impact resistance andan attractive surface finish. All this leads to a comfortable living
environment.A skin for the wall
Gypsum is the ideal surface for a wall because it has the same P H valueand thermal conductivity properties as the human skin. Gypsum is made up ofminerals, and is free of any materials that could negatively influence asense of well-being. Gypsum is not harmful to human skin: modern medicineuses gypsum directly on the skin to set broken bones; dental technologyuses gypsum for moulds. It is not surprising that gypsum is extremelypopular with the installers – protective gear is not necessary when workingwith any pure gypsum Knauf materials.Feel the warmth
Building materials made of gypsum always feel warm when touched. This is nodeception as gypsum possesses low thermal conductivity properties. As aresult, gypsum building materials store warmth within a building.Balanced Climates
The secret of a balanced room climate lies primarily in balanced humiditylevels.
-7-The Knauf group and the Swiss Alcopor conclude a strategic alliance
The German Knauf Group, one of the leading worldwide building materialcompanies is taking 50% participation in the Alcopor subsidiary AOC, whichcomprises the European activities of the Alcopor Group in the field ofglass wool and XPS (expanded polystyrene hard foam). The participation ismainly through capital investment. The joint venture needs only theapproval of the European Competition Commission. AOC is one of the leading European producers of insulating systems inbuilding and includes the former activities of the American Owens Corningin Europe in the field of insulating materials.
The company sells its products in about 10 countries and runs sevenproduction plants in Europe (Belgium, Italy, Spain and four plants inEngland). They produce both insulating materials based on mineral wool(glass wool and rock wool) and XPS. Mineral wool accounts for 80% of sales.
With about 1,000 staff, AOC has an annual turnover of around € 235 million.
The company is the market leader in England and the Benelux countries andis one of the most important companies for the leading European markets inthe trade. The Knauf Group and Alcopor, or their subsidiary AOC expect furthergreat stimulus for business development in both groups, from thepartnership. · The groups complement each other almost ideally, both geographicallyand in their products. AOC has a strong position in Europe and adequateproduction capacity in the mineral wool field, while Knauf has a verystrong position in the expanded polystyrene hard foam field, especially inFrance. The European glass wool works of AOC will gain access to Knauftechnology, a technology which has proved itself in the USA.· The strong sales organisation of the Knauf Group will give considerablesupport to AOC and their sales activities. AOC’s presence will bestrengthened particularly in those countries where Knauf is already wellestablished. The partners expect a considerable increase in sales by theopening of further sales channels for AOC and its glass wool products. Thiswill further optimise the capacities of the AOC glass wool works.
· Knauf has an important logistic capacity in Europe. The integration ofthe logistics and distribution functions will result in significantoptimisation of costs and a further improvement in customer service.
· New product developments (system products as combinations of differentmaterials, such as plaster boards with glass wool) will open additionalmarket opportunities and further demonstrate the technological competenceof AOC.
The Knauf Group and Alcopor will direct their main attention to thisobvious potential for synergy.
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CONCLUSIONS
In my project I wrote about “Knauf “ it is firm leading manufacturerof building materials worldwide, including plasterboards, plasters,insulation materials and external renders. With over 100 plants in Europe,Asia, USA and South America, it is through technical innovation and high
quality standards that Knauf leads the development of markets across theGlobe. Established in 1932, Gebr. Knauf Westdeutsche Gipswerke, Iphofen, isnot only one of the leading manufacturers of building materials in Europe,but also a globally operating group whose activities are no longer limitedsolely to the production of gypsum-based building materials. Knauf nowadays operates more than 100 production plants in over 30countries. Annual sales of more than € 2.5 billion are achieved with morethan 16,000 employees. With more than 30 furnaces in nine factories, Knauf is Europe’s largestproducer of distended Perlites that are used in the production of drymortar to improve the heat insulation qualities. As expectations for the performance of our buildings rise, so must theperformance of the materials used in their construction. As a result, thedemand for gypsum is on the increase. Due to its exceptional performancecharacteristics, we call it the magic material. The utilisation of thisbuilding material reached a new peak in the stucco masterpieces and cornice-work of the Baroque Age. Today gypsum is used to create a comfortableliving environment through both plaster and plasterboard. And it continuesto be used for creative interior designing. It is little wonder that weconstantly need more of this magic material. Knauf combines modern energy-saving methods with state-of-the-art production processes to ensure thatenough of this superb building material will be at our disposal well intothe new millennium. In both function and effect, the surface of the wall made of gypsum isvery similar to the human skin. Knauf plasters meet the highest standards:good insulation, excellent humidity regulation, high impact resistance andan attractive surface finish. All this leads to a comfortable livingenvironment. My opinion about this firm is really good because I use “Knauf“materials and didn’t think change in another. Gypsum need for as and beneeded in future, so use this material and enjoy your life.-9-
LIST OF LITERATURE
WEBPAGE : WWW. knauf. com
Firm booklets from exhibition
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VILNIUS COLLEGE OF CONSTRUCTION
Prepared by:
Lecturer:
Vilnius 2001 m.
CONTENS
INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………... 2
THINKING AHEAD –ACTINGAHEAD…………………………………………… 3
PARTNERSHIP..…………………………………………………………… 4
LIVING WITH GYPSUM………………………………………………….5
NATURALGYPSUM…………………………………………………………….…………. 6
COMFORTABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENT…………………………..7
STRATEGIC ALLIANCE…….……………………………………….…..8
CONCLUSIONS………………………………………………………….. 9
LIST OF LITERATURE………………………………………………… 10
Gynimasis My individual work consist of ten pages and nine parts first isintroduction, thinking ahead –acting ahead, partnership, next living withgypsum, comfortable living environment and the last strategic alliance,conclusions and list of literature. My thirst part is about knouf, Knauf is a family name and a corporate group of global dimensions. Aleading manufacturer of building materials worldwide, includingplasterboards, plasters, and insulation materials and external renders.With over 100 plants in Europe, Asia, USA and South America, it is throughtechnical innovation and high quality standards that Knauf leads thedevelopment of markets across the Globe. My second part of project is thinking ahead –acting ahead Established in 1932, Gebr. Knauf Westdeutsche Gipswerke, Iphofen, isnot only one of the leading manufacturers of building materials in Europe,but also a global group whose activities are no longer limited solely tothe production of gypsum-based building materials. The families of Alfonsand Karl Knauf still wholly own the strongly expanding company. Theiroldest sons, Baldwin and Nikolaus Knauf are the managing partners. Thecompany is based in Iphofen, midway between Nuremberg and Frankfurt. Allother shareholders also belong to the family; some are responsible for thevarious business activities of the company both at home and abroad. Firm profile Knauf nowadays operates more than 100 production plantsin over 30 countries. Annual sales of more than € 2.5 billion are achievedwith more than 16,000 employees. The main markets are to be found innorthern, western and central Europe as well as the entire Mediterranean
area including Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey. In recent years EasternEurope, the former CIS states and China, in particular, have made anincreasingly significant contribution to the development of business. Knauf was one of the first companies to invest in modern plants ineastern Germany, Eastern Europe and the CIS. In 1997 a new Knaufplasterboard factory was opened in Wuhu, near Shanghai, a second plantsupplies the markets in Canton, Hong Kong and southern China with Knaufplasterboards. A third factory was acquired in 1999 from Siam Cement, whichproduces in Tianjin, near Peking. Next part is about knouf partners. knauf has now I recite some of them: Putz- und Fördertechnik (PFT), Richter-System, Deutsche Perlite GmbH,AMF, Marmorit GmbH. This extensive and diverse product programme ensures that Knauf is theonly gypsum-based manufacturer in the market offering this complete rangeof services and products. After partnership is part about gypsum. As expectations for theperformance of our buildings rise, so must the performance of the materialsused in their construction. As a result, the demand for gypsum is on theincrease. Due to its exceptional performance characteristics, we call itthe magic material. Nature possesses exceptional innovative spirit. Gypsum,a sedimentary rock that is over 200 million years old, is so easy to handlethat it has been used for building purposes for thousands of years. Forexample, 11,000 thousand years ago, the walls and floors in ancient Jerichowere made of gypsum. Next part is about comfortable living environment. In both function andeffect, the surface of the wall made of gypsum is very similar to the humanskin. Knauf plasters meet the highest standards: good insulation, excellenthumidity regulation, high impact resistance and an attractive surfacefinish. All this leads to a comfortable living environment. Gypsum is theideal surface for a wall because it has the same P H value and thermalconductivity properties as the human skin. Building materials made of gypsum always feel warm when touched. Thisis no deception as gypsum possesses low thermal conductivity properties. Asa result, gypsum building materials store warmth within a building. Next is about strategic aliens. The German Knauf Group, one of theleading worldwide building material companies is taking 50% participationin the Alcopor subsidiary AOC, which comprises the European activities ofthe Alcopor Group in the field of glass wool and XPS (expanded polystyrenehard foam). The participation is mainly through capital investment. Thejoint venture needs only the approval of the European CompetitionCommission. And the last parts are conclusions and list of literature.Myconclusions. In my project I wrote about “Knauf “ it is firm leadingmanufacturer of building materials worldwide, including plasterboards,plasters, insulation materials and external renders. With over 100 plantsin Europe, Asia, USA and South America, it is through technical innovationand high quality standards that Knauf leads the development of marketsacross the Globe. Knauf materials are popular in the world gypsum isstrong, durable, ecologically clean material. This firm is really goodbecause I use “Knauf “materials and didn’t think change in another. Gypsumneed for as and be needed in future, so use this material and enjoy yourlife.