GIB® Plasterboard supply update

As New Zealand continues to build at record pace, the high levels of demand for plasterboard continue to exceed our production capacity putting pressure on lead times and causing delays and shortages of GIB® plasterboard.

We are very conscious that this situation is challenging for the industry and want to reassure you that we are doing as much as we can to maximise supply, including: • Operating our Auckland and Christchurch manufacturing plants 24/7 at record levels. • Looking for ways to bring forward the manufacture of board at our new facility in Tauranga which is currently under construction.

I can also confirm that earlier this month, in line with the on-allocation process, we provided merchants with the monthly volumes of plasterboard we are forecasting to supply them for the period July through to September. As you plan your builds, please discuss your specific needs and timeframes with your merchant store. This will help them advise when they can allocate product for delivery and help them prioritise orders. We can all play our part to ensure an equitable supply of products across the industry. Primarily this involves the industry working together to schedule delivery of their plasterboard as close as possible to when it will be installed. One step we are taking in this area is to only operate our Delivered to Site service to those sites that are plasterboard ready, which requires the roof to be installed and the building to be weatherproof. If your timelines change, please communicate that to your merchant and ask them to reschedule your delivery.

The GIB® plasterboard on-allocation model is a temporary measure until completion of our new facility in Tauranga, currently scheduled for June 2023, which will increase our capacity above current and forecast levels.

Thank you for your patience as we work through this period of high demand.

For more information on a Plasterboard Ready Site visit, https://bit.ly/3vfWrdG

GIB® plasterboard allocation model – trade customer FAQ’s

From early April, Winstone Wallboards has begun engaging with merchant stores around the key details of the GIB® plasterboard allocation model. This includes providing stores with their monthly allocation volumes for July to September and specific process detail to help merchant stores work with customers when placing plasterboard orders under allocation when it comes into effect from the 1st of July 2022. It’s also important to be aware the GIB® plasterboard allocation model is a temporary measure until the new Tauranga manufacturing plant is operational in mid-2023. Once the new plant is operational and sufficient additional plasterboard has been produced to service current market demand the plasterboard allocation model will look to be discontinued.

What does ‘allocation’ mean for merchant stores

Under the plasterboard allocation model merchant stores will have a pre-determined forward monthly volume of GIB® plasterboard which they can then distribute amongst their customers to help facilitate the maximum amount of plasterboard to reach building sites just prior to when it is required for installation.

Common customer allocation questions

Q: When can I begin placing plasterboard orders with my merchant? Merchant stores should now be in a position to work with you on your upcoming plasterboard project needs. Merchant stores should be able to give guidance on whether or not they are in position to assist you with supplying plasterboard for your desired month of delivery.

Q: Does Winstone Wallboards have any suggestion to help me work with merchants so they can accept my order? Like other high demand building materials currently on allocation we would suggest engaging as early as possible with your preferred merchant and including all the order information you would normally supply. For example, square meterage, product mix and desired delivery date. If possible try to give your merchant store as realistic a view as possible on when you will likely need your plasterboard delivery. This will help them to assess their current plasterboard commitments for your desired delivery month and advise you if they are in a position to take your order.

Q: Can I still request a specific delivery date for my plasterboard order? Yes, just do this as you normally would through your merchant. Winstone Wallboards will attempt to deliver stock as close as possible to the desired delivery date, however this will be dependent on delivery capacity for a given day or week.

Q: What if my project is delayed? Winstone Wallboards understands that construction delays happen. If you become aware that your project is likely to be delayed, we strongly suggest you get in touch with your merchant store as soon as possible to have the best chance to reschedule a plasterboard delivery to a more suitable date. This is particularly relevant for GIB® Delivered to Site (DTS) orders as the plasterboard will not be delivered if the site is not plasterboard ready.

Q: What is a Plasterboard Ready Site? To enable a GIB® Delivered to Site delivery to occur the site needs to be ready to accept plasterboard.

For interior plasterboard deliveries: • The roof is installed, and the building is weatherproof (i.e. closed in) so that the GIB® plasterboard can be kept dry and fully protected from weather. • The site has clear and unobstructed access to the plasterboard drop points on-site. • The floor area where the plasterboard is to be stored is clear, dry and free of obstacles. For exterior product deliveries: • When the floor slab has been completed. • When framing has arrived on-site.

Q: Should I consider placing the same plasterboard order across multiple merchant stores? Winstone Wallboards strongly suggests customers place only one order per job with your preferred merchant. This will help ensure merchant allocations are fully utilised every month and will help improve plasterboard stock availability for the wider market.

Lastly thank you once again for your patience as we work through this period of high demand. Winstone Wallboards does recognise the effect the current high level of demand is having on customers, and we are working as quickly as possible to address the situation.

For further information on GIB® plasterboard customer allocation process, visit https://bit.ly/3EkD2ws

Winstone Wallboards are Strategic Partners of NZCB and New Zealand’s only manufacturer and largest marketer of gypsum plasterboard, drywall systems, associated products and services. For more information visit www.gib.co.nz or call 0800 100 442.