Oct 18, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. BPB, a manufacturer and marketer of wall and ceiling products throughout North America, announced on Tuesday the location for its newest high-speed gypsum wallboard plant. The new facility will be constructed in Marshall County, West Virginia approximately five miles south of Moundsville on State Route 2, adjacent to American Electric Power's (AEP) Mitchell Plant. This new plant will provide significant environmental benefits for the local community. BPB will use synthetic gypsum, a by-product generated by AEP's clean air emissions project at the Mitchell Plant, as a high quality raw material for manufacturing its ProRoc(R) Brand Gypsum Board. In addition, like all of the BPB plants in North America, this plant will utilize 99% recycled paper in the manufacturing process. "We are delighted to be working with AEP on this project. This process of using synthetic gypsum illustrates BPB's and AEP's commitment to the environment," says Brent Thomson, president and CEO of BPB America Inc. "By utilizing synthetic gypsum, we put to productive use what would otherwise be sent to landfills." The new facility will operate at world-class manufacturing standards and will be commissioned in late 2007 to meet sales volume growth and improve customer service levels in the eastern US region. "BPB has a lot of experience worldwide manufacturing wallboard with synthetic gypsum," says Mr. Thomson. "This will be the third BPB plant in North America using this technology." Today, BPB operates 13 wallboard plants, 6 finishing plants and 3 ceiling plants in North America, and more than 130 plants worldwide. "We look forward to being a part of this West Virginia community," said Mr. Thomson. "This site provides easy access to natural gas, rail and the interstate highways, as well as a quality workforce. We expect that this new plant could create up to 100 direct jobs and 100 indirect jobs for the area." BPB currently employs over 2,000 people in North America. Governor Joe Manchin said, "I am gratified at the trust that a company of the global stature of BPB has in West Virginia and our improved business climate. We are particularly pleased that this company represents about 100 good paying jobs for Marshall County's future. The Marshall County Commission, OVIDBC and AEP have been valued team members on this project. This project serves as a model for cleaning up the environment and utilizing those materials in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. West Virginia will be a leader in this process." This investment complements BPB's plans for a similar high-speed gypsum wallboard plant in Roxboro, North Carolina that is expected to come on-stream in late 2008. BPB is the world leader in the supply of plasterboard and gypsum plasters, and a major supplier of insulation, ceiling tiles and related products for interiors, serving growing markets for building systems in over 50 countries. It supplies gypsum-based products and other building materials, plasters, plasterboard, and paperboard products.