Durock line opening in Baltimore -- Pictured (from left) are: Andrew Frank, executive vice president, Baltimore Development Corp.; Susan Driscoll, Maryland director of community affairs; Aris Melissaratos, Maryland secretary of business & economic development; Charlie Colman, plant manager, U.S. Gypsum Co.; James Metcalf, senior vice president, USG Corp.; and Martin O'Malley, Baltimore Mayor.



United States Gypsum Co., a subsidiary of USG Corp., recently opened a 500-foot, high-speed manufacturing line dedicated to the company’s Durock Brand Cement Board. The line opening in the company’s Baltimore plant coincided with the 20th anniversary of the introduction of Durock to the marketplace.

The Baltimore line, which moves at 50 feet per minute, joins three other U.S. Gypsum plants in the manufacture of Durock -- located in Detroit, New Orleans and Santa Fe Springs, Calif. U.S. Gypsum sells approximately 200 million square feet of cement board each year.

The Durock expansion adds 90,000 square feet to the plant, and creates 35 new positions, according to the company. The plant also manufactures U.S. Gypsum’s Sheetrock Brand Gypsum Panels and various plaster products.