National Gypsum

838 Sunnyvale Drive, Wilmington

No. of local employees: More than 60
 
Year locally founded: 1979 (operation restart in 2018 after the plant shut down in 2009)
 
Top local official: Lance Davis, Wilmington plant manager
 
Company description: Charlotte-based National Gypsum is a manufacturer of gypsum wallboard and a provider of interior finishing products, cement board and other products for the construction industry. National Gypsum is a vertically integrated manufacturer, with about 2,500 associates and more than 40 manufacturing plants, paper mills, mines, quarries and support facilities in the U.S. and Canada.
 
Products made locally: National Gypsum’s Wilmington plant currently produces the company’s flagship product, Gold Bond BRAND gypsum board, XP gypsum board and eXP glass mat sheathing, which are part of its PURPLE family of products.
 
What made the company decide to make its goods locally? Davis: “Much of the raw material that is used in making gypsum wallboard here – specifically, natural gypsum rock – comes from our quarry in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is delivered by ship. The deep-water access provided by our location on the Cape Fear River is a key advantage that Wilmington provides. In addition, we try to locate our board plants close to markets where our products will be used, so the booming coastal North Carolina region is a great place for us to be. Finally, the quality of the workforce in the Wilmington region as well as quality of life is unmatched.”
 
What’s your target market? Davis: “Traditionally our customers have been large building products suppliers who serve the construction industry. While most of our product is still sold through these channels, in recent years homeowners who are doing remodeling or renovation projects on their homes have become a growing target for National Gypsum because of the innovative products we have brought to market that address different needs for different rooms in their home.”
 
What’s planned next? Davis: “National Gypsum continues to innovate and provide new solutions that improve people’s lives by adding features such as impact resistance, mold and mildew resistance, and sound reduction. But we are also improving products from the contractor’s perspective.”
 
EDITOR’S NOTE: To be considered for the Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s MADE feature, contact [email protected].