A view of the GLC Minerals facility in Green Bay is seen July 12, 2021. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A manufacturer in Green Bay is assisting industries impacted by supply chain disruptions related to the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse earlier this year.
Gypsum is a sulfate mineral used widely in construction as a main ingredient in drywall, plaster, ceiling tiles, partitions and building blocks. It is also found in many everyday items, such as toothpaste and shampoo, and can create molds for things like dinnerware and dental impressions.
Because the Port of Baltimore handles the largest volume of gypsum of all U.S. ports, the bridge’s partial closure has created challenges for a number of industries.
GLC Minerals, which is based in Green Bay, produces specialized formulas of gypsum. President Holly Bellmund said the firm has geared up to provide an interim supply of gypsum to manufacturers in need until the flow through the Port of Baltimore is established.
“We are nearly 1,000 miles away from the Port of Baltimore, and we’re seeing the impact this event has had on the market. We’re just pleased to be able to assist and be a stopgap for certain industries until their supply chain is restored,” Bellmund said.
Ed Van Poucke, chief commercial officer at GLC Minerals, said the Port of Green Bay enables the company to help fill the demand.
We’re ramping up gypsum production to help support specific segments of the supply chain until the Port of Baltimore is up and running. We operate a terminal at the Port of Green Bay, in the heart of the Midwest, which enables us to help fill this gap in demand, allowing industries that rely on gypsum to continue operating.
Dean Haen, director at the Port of Green Bay, added, “Great Lakes ports, though often overlooked in the past, are a critical part of the nation’s supply chain, connecting the heartland to the rest of the world… It’s great to see one of our port partners rise to meet this need.”
Six construction workers were killed when the bridge collapsed on March 26.
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