SOPREMA USA Unveils HQ in Ohio

Former Marketing Manager Cieslikowski of National Gypsum Passes

Spackle by Dave Coverly

People News

Holcim to Acquire OX Engineered Products

Report Finds Apprenticeship Investment Helps Job Shortages and Middle-Class Growth

Sika Expands Production in Florida

ClarkDietrich Annouces Acquisition of Oklahoma-based Studs Unlimited

USG Hosts September Quarry Tour Day in Michigan

Holcim to Acquire OX Engineered Products

Holcim has signed an agreement to acquire OX Engineered Products, a U.S. provider of advanced insulation systems for residential and commercial applications, with net sales of $136 million.

With manufacturing facilities in the Midwest and Southeast of the U.S., OX is a preferred provider of high-quality solutions for the nation’s largest homebuilders. With its complementary technologies, Holcim will offer an extended range of building envelope solutions for residential and commercial applications to meet its North American customers’ needs. The acquisition is highly synergistic and EPS-accretive from year one.

“OX Engineered Products is the ideal addition to Holcim’s business in North America, with its complementary range of proprietary technologies and trusted brands,” said Miljan Gutovic, CEO of Holcim. “Its premium solutions enable us to offer the full suite of building envelope systems to our North America customers, from residential to commercial applications. I warmly welcome all 210 employees of OX Engineered Products to the Holcim family and look forward to unleashing our next chapter of growth together.”

This acquisition continues the expansion of Holcim’s Solutions & Products business into the most attractive construction segments, from roofing and insulation to repair and refurbishment. The transaction is in line with Holcim’s commitment to financial discipline and is subject to customary conditions and regulatory clearance in the U.S. It is expected to close in Q4 2024.

Report Finds Apprenticeship Investment Helps Job Shortages and Middle-Class Growth

Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee released a new report, which found that expanding registered apprenticeship programs will expand the pipeline of workers into higher-paying jobs while also meeting the needs of employers. The report also found that workers who completed a registered apprenticeship program saw a 49 percent increase in their earnings.

Additionally, the report found that diversifying and strengthening registered apprenticeships can help broaden the talent pipeline for industries that critically need more workers, noting that apprentices are overwhelmingly male (84 percent) and white (nearly 61 percent). The report explained that some barriers to participating in or completing registered apprenticeships for women include inadequate childcare, lacking pay during the classroom portions, missing full information about career paths, experiencing harassment and exclusion in male-dominated worksites, and unreliable transportation.

The report can be found here.

Sika Expands Production in Florida

Sika has broken ground on a 29,000-square-foot admixture production plant, which is expected to be in operation in late-2025.

The new site in Haines City, Fla., will produce a full range of Sika’s latest admixture innovations, including new ViscoCrete and ViscoFlow polycarboxylate-based technologies for the concrete industry. Sika will create an additional eight plant and logistic jobs in Florida’s Polk County.

“We are committed to providing the highest-quality solutions and services,” said Thomas Strittmatter, executive vice president for concrete at Sika. “Sika’s investment in an admixture facility in Haines City further demonstrates our commitment to the concrete industry and, more importantly, to our current and future customers in Florida.”

Sika’s investment in the Haines City operation is part of its ongoing strategy to optimize supply access to its customers’ increasing demand near key Florida markets. This investment will not only improve finished goods logistics, but also result in a significant reduction of 7,822 tons of CO2 by 2032, demonstrating the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

ClarkDietrich Annouces Acquisition of Oklahoma-based Studs Unlimited

ClarkDietrich announced in October the acquisition of Studs Unlimited, effective immediately.

Studs Unlimited operates out of a single location in Oklahoma City and has served the residential and commercial industries since 2003.

“We are excited to welcome the Studs Unlimited employees to the ClarkDietrich family,” said Brian Panuccio, president of ClarkDietrich. “This geographic expansion will help us amplify our service levels to our customers located in the Midwestern part of the United States, from Texas to Minnesota. We will be significantly expanding the existing footprint of Studs Unlimited by adding square footage and machinery to the operation.”

The acquisition strengthens ClarkDietrich’s ongoing commitment to quality, service and sustainability. Studs Unlimited is known for its quick-turn services, specializing in fast and accurate fabrication. Like ClarkDietrich, Studs Unlimited is a member of the Steel Framing Industry Association.

ClarkDietrich is acquiring the assets for Studs Unlimited from Foundation Building Materials.

USG Hosts September Quarry Tour Day in Michigan

USG recently hosted a public tour of its newly opened gypsum quarry in Alabaster Township, Mich.

Guests gathered for a short presentation at the garage/office, and tour groups were transported into the quarry using large passenger vans.

USG has hosted free quarry tours in the summer for years. Plant manager Jon Blazic said the tour days are locally popular, drawing hundreds of visitors interested in the local geology, company history and USG’s work in the area.

“We want people to know what we do, how we do it and why it matters,” Blazic said. “The operation will be running during the tour day, so people can see how it works. The Avery Quarry was years of hard work in the making, and we are excited to show it off to neighbors and interested visitors.”

The Avery Quarry, named to honor longtime USG president and Michigan native Sewell Avery, began production in May. It is expected to produce up to 750,000 tons of native gypsum annually.

https://www.wconline.com/articles/96639-usg-hosts-september-quarry-tour-day-in-michigan

SOPREMA USA Unveils HQ in Ohio

SOPREMA celebrated the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art headquarters in Wadsworth, Ohio, in September. The event brought together key stakeholders to mark a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to sustainability, innovation and growth in the United States.

The grand opening celebration began with a cocktail reception, allowing guests to mingle and enjoy the new facility’s modern spaces. Attendees included customers, industry professionals, media representatives, and local and regional business and community leaders. Adding to the event’s significance was the presence of SOPREMA staff from across the United States, France and Canada, including the company’s global president and owner, Pierre-Etienne Bindschedler, who traveled from France for the occasion.

“We’re excited about our new headquarters and what it means for SOPREMA’s future,” said Tim Kersey, CEO of SOPREMA’s U.S. operations. “It’s more than just a building—it’s a space where our team can work collaboratively to develop innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of the building industry.”

A highlight of the evening was an innovative drone light show, which featured 300 synchronized drones. The aerial display illuminated the night sky with an array of the company’s logos and intricate illustrations of the company’s products and processes. The cutting-edge presentation not only showcased SOPREMA’s commitment to innovation, but also paid tribute to its valued customers and the solutions that have made the company a leader in the industry.

“The drone light show was a demonstration of our innovative spirit and a gesture of appreciation to our customers, who have been central to our success,” said Jennifer Grisez, director of marketing and product management at SOPREMA. "It symbolized how we’re constantly pushing boundaries, not just in our products and services, but in everything we do.”

Former Marketing Manager Cieslikowski of National Gypsum Passes

Renee Ann Conrad Cieslikowski, 70, of Lake Wylie, S.C., passed away peacefully this October in Charlotte, with her husband Mark by her side. Many Walls & Ceilings readers knew her through her lengthy tenure at National Gypsum as its Marketing Manager before her retirement several years ago.

Renee and Mark moved to Charlotte in 1978 as her employer, National Gypsum, relocated its headquarters from Buffalo. From Senior Stenographer to Creative and Marketing Director of the company, she excelled in managing the production of technical and marketing literature, advertising, and pulling together the company’s first consumer-facing campaign, the PURPLE family of products. Her diligence and focus on client relationships garnered her projects numerous advertising awards and she received the 2013 President’s Excellence Award at National Gypsum. One of her proudest accomplishments was completing her college education and receiving her BS in Business from Pfeiffer University.

Together with their dear friends, Brian and Linda Rich, Renee and Mark formed the Q2U BBQ team. They later opened a restaurant in Lake Wylie known for their award-winning BBQ, catering and community involvement. This BBQ was shared with W&C and many drywall subcontractors in 2012, when National Gypsum held a plant tour and contractor roundtable at the company’s Mt. Holly facility in North Carolina (see the cover article “A Dialogue in Process,” W&C June 2012).

W&C considered Renee a great friend and a hard worker, with a great personality always willing to help answer questions, provide editorial assistance and partner with the magazine on special projects. We as a team are saddened to hear of her death.