Gypsum plant in Bernalillo has limited reopening

The American Gypsum plant in Bernalillo, which closed in January 2010, has reopened on a limited schedule, with about 30 full-time employees, plant Manager Mark Cubbage said Friday.

Cubbage said the plant started test operations in July and began producing gypsum drywall last month.

It started hiring the employees about a year ago because “there is a great deal of training that goes into this,” he said.

He said he could not comment on whether there are plans to hire any more workers.

American Gypsum was awarded $345,574 in state funds last October to pay for training for 28 jobs.

The company is owned by Eagle Materials, which spun off from Centex Corp. in 2004.

American Gypsum also has a plant in Albuquerque.

The company manufactures drywall for the residential and commercial building industry, as well as for “do-it-yourself” customers, Cubbage said.

While it had kept open a maintenance shop after its 2010 closure, last month marked the first time since then that the plant began producing its signature product, Cubbage said.