Sales from German company Knauf's recently opened factory in Suez could reach $15m in Egypt and Africa during the first year of production, said Alexander Knauf, Managing Partner of the company. The company, which specialises in modern building materials, plans to sell 8m sqm of gypsum boards during the first year of operation, Knauf said in a statement on the sidelines of the factory's opening. He mentioned that the factory's investments amount to $50m, and covers 133,000 acres. The production is allocated to the domestic market, alongside African markets like Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania, in addition to other markets in the east of the continent, Knauf added. Knauf added that the mother company is studying expansion in the Egyptian market by offering new products related to modern building materials. Engineer Hamdy Shabrawi, Manager of Knauf for Gypsum Boards, said the factory specialises in three products, notably gypsum boards, steel beams and powder gypsum. Shabrawi said the annual capacity of gypsum board production line amounts to 15m sqm, while the capacity of steel beams reaches 25m linear metres annually. As for the powder gypsum, the factory produces 90,000 tons annually. German Knauf is a specialised company in insulation materials, plasters and accessories, and dry lining systems. Moreover, the company produces thermal insulation composite systems, paints, construction equipment and tools. The company operates in 60 countries with 26,000 employees worldwide made around €6.27bn in sales volume in 2013.
