en.Wedoany.com Reported - Belgian building materials company Etex has announced an investment of AUD 44 million in its Australian gypsum board manufacturing network, planning to upgrade four Siniat production sites to increase capacity, improve operational efficiency, and enhance supply reliability.
This investment will be used to upgrade plants in Altona, Victoria; Hazelmere, Western Australia; Bundaberg, Queensland; and Matraville, New South Wales. Etex stated that these improvements are aimed at supporting customer growth, with the Australian market expected to see sales volume growth of over 20% by 2032, driven by housing shortages and demand from the non-residential construction sector.
The plan is expected to create 14 new jobs in the Bundaberg and Hazelmere operations, with project delivery scheduled from the second quarter of 2027 to early 2028.
Gavin Burton, Head of Etex Building Performance in the Asia-Pacific region, said the company's success in Australia is built on strong local operations and trust-based relationships with customers. Burton noted that through continuous investment in operations, Etex is positioning its Australian business for long-term growth, while ensuring it can better meet evolving customer needs and expand its presence in the region.
According to the investment plan, the Altona plant will upgrade its calcination workshop and expand gypsum board warehouse capacity. Hazelmere will increase calcination capacity, and Bundaberg will expand warehousing and upgrade logistics operations to support higher output. In Matraville, Etex will improve existing equipment to enhance operational efficiency and optimize plant performance.
Rob Verguizas, Head of Australia, said the investment aims to strengthen the company's manufacturing network to meet future demand. Verguizas stated that these investments reflect the company's commitment to strengthening its operations in Australia and supporting customer growth in a dynamic market, by improving operational performance to better position the network to meet the country's future needs.
This investment follows Etex's acquisition of Knauf's former Australian gypsum board business in 2021 and the acquisition of BGC's gypsum board and fiber cement businesses in Australia and New Zealand in 2024. The company said the latest investment supports its broader strategy to expand operations in high-growth markets outside Europe.
Etex currently operates 23 sites in Australia, employing over 600 people, with brands including EQUITONE, Innova, Promat, Siniat, and Skamol.
