About gypsum industry trends
Vladimir Vitalievich Balitsky, Director of Technology and Quality at SGC CJSC, shared his thoughts on the market, its development and the place of "quality" in SGC's activities.
Analyzing the market situation of recent years, it becomes obvious that the basic principle of production of building materials based on Portland cement in Russia has finally been reversed. Practice has shown that the use of gypsum plasters, putties, self-leveling floors, etc. allows you to carry out interior finishing faster, more comfortable, and better. Today, the stereotype associated with the water resistance of gypsum has been overcome: previously, moisture resistance was the main advantage of cement-based materials, but the experience of using modern additives has proved that modified gypsum materials can be used in rooms with high humidity. Manufacturers who traditionally specialized in the production of cement-based dry mixes have begun to increase the production of gypsum-based mixes, and some even create their own production of gypsum binders. In general, looking at the current market, the increase in the volume of gypsum materials is obvious.
How strong is the competition in the industry and what is SGK doing to maintain its status as a leader in the production of high-strength gypsum?
The competition in the market today is great. And we understand that in order to continue to compete with growing companies, we must constantly improve the competitive advantages of our products, as well as modernize existing production facilities and increase capacity.
Over the past 3 years, the Samara Gypsum Plant has achieved undeniable success in the field of product quality and production organization. This confirms the stable, progressive growth of sales, as well as the number of claims, which is currently reduced to almost zero. To remain a leader, we work in different directions. SGK is increasing its gypsum stone production capacity from its own quarry. We regularly monitor the market, track new products, test analog products for improved properties, and systematically conduct comparative tests. As soon as we notice a significant shift in a competitor's product, we take this into account and strengthen it with our own developments. At least once every six months, the SGC adjusts the recipes, which ensures the transition to a higher competitive ability of our products. Finally, we make extensive use of our absolute and unique competitive advantage — our own-made HVAC systems. Now we offer the market plaster FORMAN 01, a series of unique self-leveling floors based on GVVS.
What are the SGC's future development plans?
On the one hand, we, like any manufacturer, are interested in developing products that will provide the greatest marginality. On the other hand, we produce products that support our reputation as a specialist in the field of gypsum. A specialist who can create products for a specific task. This category includes most of the products that we produce for industry markets - in particular, for dentistry, mechanical engineering, and oilfield services. We experiment by combining high-strength gypsum with new modern materials, and this allows us to achieve a combination of unique properties. So in our line appeared "semi-finished products", which can be used as a basis for the production of various dry building mixes and, depending on the type of product, provide it with the required consumer properties. Another example is SGC products for the oil industry, which can be used at both positive and negative temperatures. And of course, we continue to develop and improve products for the construction industry, and before the end of the year we will present several new products of TM FORMAN to the market.