Knauf Drywall has led the technical development of the plaster market over recent years, introducing the UK’s first spray plaster products and systems – and where it has led; the competition has followed with their own versions of spray-applied gypsum plasters.
And with the last 12 months seeing Knauf spray finishing plasters outselling their traditional hand-applied products for the first time; the company has taken the decision to concentrate its research and development resources on continued innovation and to offer only machine-sprayable finishing plasters.
MP75 was Knauf’s first spray-applied plaster and was launched in 1964. Knauf MP75 is still a key part of the UK product range today and is a one-coat plaster can be applied up to 20mm thick in a single application. Suitable for use directly onto blockwork, uneven in-situ concrete or thin joint blockwork, Knauf MP75 has a drying time of 3-4 hours and provides a tough and durable smooth white surface ready to receive decorative finish. Although suitable for application by hand, when machine applied Knauf MP75 offers excellent productivity and is up to three times faster than traditional plastering methods.
Following the success of MP75, Knauf began to develop spray-applied finishing plasters for the UK market. Knauf MPFinish is the result of years of technical development and on-site testing – a spray-applied finishing plaster applied at a 2-3mm thickness. Suitable for use directly over plasterboard or where backing plasters or fully cured sand and cement undercoats have been applied, MPFinish is also suitable for hand application and offers industry-leading coverage of up to 18m2 per 25kg bag. MPFinish is extremely tough and durable, drying in 2 to 2.5 hours to a smooth white surface to receive a decorative finish.
Knauf’s range of Readymix Plasters, manufactured from powdered marble and high-performance polymers, offer an excellent quality finish and are less prone to cracking or chipping than traditional plasters. Supplied pre-mixed to the correct consistency for spray application, no direct water supply is required on site and wastage is less than 1%. There are four products in the range – Knauf Plano, Knauf Deco, Knauf Deco Plus and Knauf Airless – which cover every application including thin joint block systems, pre-cast panels, Aircrete panels, concrete, brickwork, composite boards and refurbishment over previously decorated surfaces.
The new focus on spray finishes means a number of hand-applied plasters will be removed from the Knauf plasters range before the end of 2012. These include Knauf Finishing Plaster, Knauf Multicover, Knauf FP90, Knauf Universal Board Finish and Knauf Pro Board Finish.
“With the market’s most complete range of spray-applied finishing plasters, Knauf Drywall continue to lead the industry”, comments Paul Tollervey, Research and Development Manager. “By focusing our production, research and development resources on these cutting-edge products, we are confident of bringing even more innovations to the market in the future to further improve the quality, speed and sustainability of our finishing plasters.”
