National Gypsum Co., based in
Charlotte, N.C., announced it has entered a joint venture with Panel Rey S.A.
to produce PermaBase and PermaBase Flex cement board in Mexico. Panel Rey,
based in Monterrey, Mexico, has sold PermaBase to over 300 distributors
throughout Mexico and Latin America under an agreement with National Gypsum for
the past seven years. The new joint venture company will be called PermaBase de
Americas, and target Mexico as well as Central and South America.
Craig Robertson, general
manager for National Gypsum’s PermaBase business, said his company was “ready
to take our partnership with Panel Rey to the next level.” The joint venture
plans to open its first plant in Monterrey, Mexico, in the fourth quarter of
this year.
“The
new plant in Mexico will allow us to streamline the supply chain by reducing
freight and eliminating customs fees and duties,” Robertson added.
Nicholas
Alverde, CEO of Panel Rey, said the partnership comes at a time of “dramatic
growth” for the product. “With the expanding economy in Mexico and Latin
America, this product is ideally suited to meet our country’s needs for
renovation, rebuilding, and new construction,” he added.
National
Gypsum currently operates four PermaBase plants in the United States and
Canada.