You may be well aware of drywall partition and ceiling systems with high sound insulation performance (due to the fact that sound waves when striking the hard surface of walls and ceilings will normally bounce back). Now, you are introduced with drywall and ceiling systems with high sound absorption features (when striking the surface of walls and ceilings the energy of sound waves will be highly absorbed). Initially, it seems contradictory because materials with high sound reflection ability generally have poor sound absorption, and vice versa. Hence, what is the secret for gypsum plasterboards to have high sound insulation in one case and present good sound absorption in another case, when used as a lining board for partitions and ceilings?

High sound insulation drywall partitions and ceilings are often lined with two or more layers of gypsum boards that have smooth surfaces (either Standard Core or Fire Resistant or Moisture Resistant or Impact Resistant plasterboards can be used). Whereas, good sound absorption drywall partitions and ceilings are lined with perforated plasterboards that have numerous punched-through holes over their surfaces (the hole shape can be either round or square or long-narrow rectangular or polygonal). Depending on the holes' shape, holes' size, distribution pattern of holes over the plasterboard surface, types of sound absorption membrane/batt placed over the back of the plasterboard, and the air gap thickness behind the wallboard, each drywall partition or ceiling system will exhibit its own weighted sound absorption coefficient. In theory, the NRC index (Noise Reduction Coefficient - under American standard ASTM C473) or the a _{w index} (Weighted Sound Absorption Coefficient - under European standard EN ISO 11654) may have the value from 0.0 (the tested surface will totally reflect sound waves) to 1.0 (the tested surface will fully absorb sound waves' energy). Better sound absorption partition or ceiling system surely has higher weighted sound absorption coefficient. 

Until recent days, very few building projects in Vietnam are equipped with sound absorption partition or ceiling systems lined with perforated wallboards. The Sound Recording Studio at the Hochiminh city Television Broadcasting station, and the Ben Thanh theatre in Hochiminh city are among the exception. As a result, local architects, interior designers, and building contractors rarely have access to these special acoustic systems. Luckily, a tiny miracle has just happened! You are invited to visit TONG HY showroom to witness the impressive sound absorption walls lined with Gyptone  wallboards (a special perforated gypsum board of SAINT-GOBAIN group with 4 tappered edges, punched-through holes, acoustic fleece integrated at the back liner), and meet with our experts, discussing in details about practical solutions and systems of sound insulation and sound absorption for building components.


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Are you investors, developers, architects or contractors involved in the building industry? If so, you may need to know the following  information about major manufacturers of gypsum boards (wallboards, plasterboards) in the world. Data is recorded in 2009.

1)   SAINT-GOBAIN (multi businesses, multi national, France base): with a production capacity at 1450 million m2, accounts for 15.85% of the world production capacity of gypsum boards, their manufacturing plants are located throughout North & South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
       In 2005, SAINT-GOBAIN acquired BPB group (UK base) and since then have become the world largest gypsum plaster products. The brand GYPROC (coined from Gypsum & Rock) stands for global top quality and prestige.

2)   KNAUF (trans-national, Germany base): production capacity = 1200 million m2 = 13.11% of world production capacity. Started in 1932 in Germany, today KNAUF remains a family company with manufacturing plants in South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

3)   USG (USA): production capacity = 1125 million m2 = 12.30% of world production capacity. SHEETROCK is the most preferred brand name of gypsum plaster products in North America. Established in 1902, USG is the oldest gypsum board manufacturer in  the world with manufacturing plants in North America (US, Canada, Mexico).

4)   LAFARGE (multi businesses, multi national, France base): production capacity = 1035 million m2 = 11.31% of world production capacity. Their manufacturing plants are located in North & South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia.

5)   NATIONAL Gypsum (USA): production capacity = 780 million m2 = 8.52% of world production capacity. Established in 1925 with the well-known brand name GOLDBOND. Their manufacturing plants are located in the US.

6)   GEORGIA-PACIFIC Gypsum (subsidiary of GEORGIA-PACIFIC group, USA): production capacity = 540 million m2 = 5.90% of world production capacity. Their manufacturing plants are located in the US.

7)   YOSHINO Gypsum (Japan): production capacity = 520 million m2 = 5.68% of world production capacity. Their manufacturing plants are located only in Japan. Their brand name "TIGER" is very popular in Japan.

8)   BNBM (multi businesses, Chinese state-owned corporation): production capacity = 480 million m2 = 5.25% of world production capacity. Their manufacturing plants are located only in China.

9)   LAFARGE BORAL Gypsum in Asia (joint venture between LAFARGE group, France and BORAL group, Australia): production capacity = 370 million m2 = 4.04% of world production capacity. Their manufacturing plants are located in Asia.

10)   AMERICAN Gypsum (subsidiary of EAGLE Materials Inc., USA): production capacity = 320 million m2 = 3.50% of world production capacity. Their manufacturing plants are located in the USA.

11)   Other manufacturers with a combined production capacity = 1330 million m2 = 14.54% of world production capacity.

In Vietnam, since 2007 gypsum plaster products of world #1 and world #9 have been produced via their subsidiaries, SAINT-GOBAIN Construction Products Vietnam (GYPROC brand) and LAFARGE BORAL Gypsum in Vietnam (LAGYP brand).