Business Idea: Manufacture of Joint Compounds

Building Materials Business in Europe and America

No construction project can be completed without the essential building materials. Bricks, reinforced concrete, slag blocks, construction mixes, and more are always in demand in growing cities where the need for housing, warehouses, factories, and office spaces continues to rise. This creates lucrative opportunities in the construction materials business even in the present day.

Construction has evolved over centuries, with continuous improvements in the quality of materials. Not only have the fundamental properties of these materials improved to ensure high-quality construction work, but advancements have also been made in their storage conditions and shelf life.

We recently explored the business idea of manufacturing metal roofing tiles, but there are other promising avenues as well, such as the production of dry construction materials.

The use of construction mixes in the European and American territories dates back to the 1960s. Initially used for stone and brick laying, as well as plastering, the early dry mixes had simple compositions and lacked high plasticity.

They were unsuitable for thin-layer applications and not very user-friendly. However, after decades of refinement, many issues with dry mixes were resolved, establishing them as a valuable segment in the construction materials industry. They are now widely used in construction, renovation, and finishing works.

Construction Mixes

There are two types of construction mixes used for building purposes: ready-made mixes and dry mixes. Ready-made mixes are delivered to the construction site in a premixed form and require no further preparation. Dry mixes are prepared on-site by adding water in the required quantity and mixing them just before application.

Dry construction mixes are composed of fillers, aggregates, mineral binders, and modifying additives. Different mixes contain various additives that accelerate or decelerate setting processes, enhance or reduce the mix's response to water or air, suppress foam formation, and offer additional properties.

Many construction firms prefer dry construction materials over wet ones due to several significant advantages:

• Preparing a dry mix on-site is quick and simple. The homogeneous nature of the ready mix enhances cohesion, water retention, and structural strength.
• Dry mixes are more cost-effective, requiring less material and suitable for thin-layer construction works.
• They have a long shelf life in dry form, are easy to store, and maintain their properties even at subzero temperatures, needing protection only from water exposure.
• Transport costs are significantly reduced as they do not require specialized vehicles and are lightweight.
• Produced in factory conditions, ensuring consistent high-quality material composition.

Previously, dry mixes were mostly imported, making them expensive. Nowadays, the market for dry construction mixes primarily comprises domestically produced goods. These mixes find extensive use in both exterior and interior works, ensuring year-round demand unaffected by seasonal temperature variations, unlike many other construction materials.

Dry gypsum-based mixes, including spackling compounds, self-leveling mixtures, and similar products, have seen increased demand compared to cement-based mixes, offering a faster return on investment for businesses venturing into dry mix production.

Setting Up a Dry Construction Mix Production

To establish a production facility, initial capital is required to set up the necessary infrastructure, including:

• A space of at least 50 m2 with high ceilings (>7m) to accommodate the production equipment. Expansion can be considered once a stable income is generated.
• Equipment for manufacturing and packaging dry mixes. This equipment can be sourced from European, domestic, or Chinese manufacturers. Opting for domestic or Chinese equipment can be cost-effective. Different options, such as plaster production stations and packaging machines, are available to suit various production capacities and budgets.
• Raw materials for product manufacturing and packaging sourced from domestic or European suppliers, with cost differences to consider.
• Launching this business idea requires significant initial investments, but with a well-organized workflow, equipment, and costs can be recouped within 10-18 months of starting production.

In Europe and America, there exist industry associations supporting dry construction mix manufacturers, providing training, advertising assistance, and advocacy services when required.