The design phase of the new plasterboard manufacturing and distribution facility is now complete, with our Winstone Wallboards’ Tauriko Development team, lead designers Eclipse Architecture and Strata Group, incorporating innovation and sustainability to deliver a new state of the art plasterboard facility.

Located in the Tauriko business estate in Tauranga, on a site over two and a half times the size of the current Penrose site, the new plant is scheduled to open in 2023 and will ensure Winstone Wallboards can meet growing demand for plasterboard.

Designed with sustainability in mind, the new plant will reduce carbon emissions, achieving up to a 10% reduction, and providing a good base to achieve the targeted 30% reduction by 2030.  Plans include extensive recycling capability on site for both water and plasterboard waste, with up to 10% of waste board recycled back through the plant into new board.

Incorporating the latest international innovations in plasterboard manufacturing technology and automation, Winstone Wallboards will manufacture the full range of plasterboard products.  This, coupled with quicker change over times between products, will provide a greater degree of flexibility and result in our improved ability to rapidly respond to varying market demands.

This month marks a significant milestone for the new Winstone Wallboards facility as construction works began on the foundations of the site. In preparation for this, the new site was blessed in December 2020 with representatives from the Ngai Tamarawaho and Ngāti Hangarau hapu (sub-tribes). The ceremonial whenua (or soil), was removed as part of the blessing and was given to nearby Taumata School, who will be the kaitiaki (guardian) of the land until the facility is complete.

The news of Winstone Wallboards moving to Tauriko has been very well received by the Tauranga region. The new facility will bring significant economic benefits to the Bay of Plenty region, with up to 300 workers involved on site during the construction phase, and once opened, the operation looks set to create around 100 new permanent jobs.