German gypsum board maker trains PH construction workers 

Knauf Gypsum Philippines, a local unit of Germany’s leading manufacturer of gypsum boards and jointing compounds, has opened a training center to fill the gap for more skilled construction workers in the country.

To be known as the “Knauf Academy,” the facility is envisioned to fill the gap with regard to the demand for more skilled workers in the Philippine construction industry. This is also in line with the company’s expansion in the local market.

Mark Sergio, Knauf Philippines Managing Director, said the academy’s opening is a big milestone for Knauf in the Philippines, being the first gypsum board training center in the country.

“The intent of the training center is two-fold: we want to make sure that we can improve the capability, the workmanship quality and skills of Filipino installers. We also want to make sure that because of this, we’re able to deliver the best customer experience for our architects, developers and contractor-partners,” Sergio emphasized.

Also, he said the other part of the objective is to be able to help improve the employability of Filipino skilled workers in the construction industry, particularly on gypsum board installation. “Most of our installers in the Philippines actually learned the trade on the job, and they later became foremen themselves and eventually owners of their own small contracting businesses. We want to make sure that we improve their livelihood as well,” Sergio added.

For his part, Alexander Schmidt, Acting Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy in the Philippines, was proud that as a German company, Knauf, in cooperation with the German Investment and Development Corporation or DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft) that started this initiative, will further foster good economic relations between Germany and the Philippines.

The Knauf Academy, which can accommodate a maximum of 18 participants, occupies two floors with three main areas: a room at the second floor complete with a classroom setup where trainees learn the theoretical side of gypsum and other standard drywall and ceiling installation techniques; the reception and showroom area at the first floor, complete with a small snack bar where trainees can lounge around during breaks; and finally the Workshop area, also located at the first floor, where trainees can apply what they learned in theory into actual use through the various mock dry wall installations and where their capabilities will be assessed.

The academy’s training modules will help equip learners on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills of Standard Drywall and Ceiling Installation. The 16-hour session will instill the fundamental knowledge and practical skills of interior wall and ceiling system installations to help secure employment and hopefully, strengthen Filipinos’ skills set to make them more attractive targets among construction industry players.

Module 1 involves introduction to the gypsum board where trainees will get to know its history, the production process, its benefits, the various types of the gypsum board, handling and stocking, repair and cutting.

Modules 2 and 3, on the other hand, involves teaching trainees on Standard Partition and Concealed Ceiling System Installation, where they are introduced to the Drywall, Studs Layout, Standard Partition Components and Tools and other procedures. This is also the phase where trainees are introduced to Practical Training that involves Instruction and actual applications of what they learned.

Finally, Module 4 is about Taping and Jointing, the types of Jointing products used and the level of finishes, the Do’s and Don’ts in Jointing, Application Procedures, Joint Deviations and Checking, and then Practical Training through actual application.

Once training is completed, trainees should already be oriented with basic safety protocols, determine the different types of gypsum boards and their proper applications, familiarize themselves with the components of a standard drywall partition and ceiling system, understand the methodology of drywall and ceiling installation, detail connections and techniques, learn the fast and easy way to repair gypsum boards, and avoid damages and wastages through proper gypsum board handling and storage.

Sergio said they made sure that the facility itself and the modules not just follow the Knauf standards but should also consider the Philippine context. “We should also understand how our installers learn, and we can modify the modules based on that, with emphasis on practical training,” he said.

Each course offering can also be expanded further to cater to incoming innovative Knauf products and systems in the Philippines, Sergio added.

The Knauf Academy is open to aspiring drywall and ceiling installers who want to upskill their knowledge of gypsum board installation, architects, engineers, interior designers, students and other partners in the construction industry.

In the Philippines, Knauf manufactures gypsum boards and jointing compounds. It is also a fast-growing gypsum board brand used in various residential, commercial and industrial projects in the country. Knauf products include wall, ceiling, jointing and finishing compounds, acoustic panels and ceiling tiles, acoustic suspension systems, including metal systems.