Global innovation, local connection

By Dani Sheehan. 

USG Securock® Brand is innovating faster, connecting deeper with contractors and leveraging its global partnership with Knauf to bring next-generation roofing products to market. 

The roofing industry continuously faces evolving weather patterns, tougher performance standards and rising expectations from building owners. In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with USG Securock® Brand Vice President of Gypsum Materials Anson Johnson and Director of Manufacturing Jeff Grimland to talk about how the company is stepping up to meet the future head-on.  

Innovation that solves real-world problems 

USG Securock® has long been known for reliable building materials, but innovation is central to their mission, especially when it comes to protecting buildings from extreme weather. Anson shared, “We continue to look at the future, and we've noticed weather patterns in the United States are changing. We need to be ahead of that. We need to be the company that can produce products that solve for problems of hail and very severe hail that the Midwest will encounter [more frequently] ... We want to ensure that we have the right products to deal with that and make our customers successful.” 

At the same time, USG is leaning into its manufacturing expertise and product versatility to support the next wave of commercial construction, including data centers and other critical infrastructure. Their ability to provide roofing, ceiling systems, tile backing, flooring and wall products under one umbrella makes them a strategic partner on complex projects. “We are looking to partner with firms building across the United States. We have the manufacturing depth, a network that can support those builders and those contractors,” Anson explained. 

A more strategic manufacturing partner 

Six years ago, USG was acquired by Knauf, a global manufacturer based in Germany. Since then, the combined strength of both organizations has elevated how USG operates, from research and development to supply chain strategy. “The innovation team in Iphofen, Germany, and our innovation team here in Illinois have really collaborated,” Anson shared. “We're taking the best scientists, engineers, PhDs in both of those places, and harnessed that power for the entire company. It’s really about combining our forces, having a global footprint to solve our customers' problems.” 

For contractors, that means faster innovation, improved product availability and a global vision that can adapt to regional demands. 

Local relationships at the foundation 

Despite its global reach, USG continues to focus on the needs of local contractors. As Jeff explained, their approach to manufacturing is as much about making materials as it is about understanding how those materials are used on the roof. “We want our teams to understand what the end user needs it for, how they’re using it, their pain points, so we can bring that back into the plant and help the contractors have a better experience,” he shared. 

“That's what excites me is we're business partners,” Jeff continued. “We partner up to make the business stream better, we're partnering with our customers to make the entire process better. This is part of our story. It's strengthening relationships to provide a better service.” 

Purpose that powers the future 

Behind every USG Securock® product is a team of people, from engineers to electricians, who take pride in building something that makes a difference. That sense of purpose extends from the factory floor to the jobsite. “We continue to make our products better. We continue to improve the performance and the sustainability of those products,” Anson shared. “And it’s really driving us to a place where we want to be in the future.” 

For Jeff, that purpose is personal. “You see the sign behind me: Make a Home, Make Tomorrow a Home for Everyone,” he said. “That’s our purpose, both outside and inside the company. We strive for our employees to understand what the end user needs it for – how they’re using it – so we can help contractors have a better experience.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how USG is combining global innovation with local connection to support contractors nationwide.