Containment

The 6th AMI international conference, Waterproof Membranes 2012, will take place at the Hotel Nikko in Düsseldorf, Germany from 11-13 December 2012. On the first evening there will be a welcome reception and registration, followed by a 2-day programme of presentations. A specialist exhibition will run alongside the conference. The construction and civil engineering industry is responding to the drive for green building and greater sustainability. Extra demands are being placed on waterproofing as functions are added to the membrane, such as warming and cooling, energy generation (particularly solar), chemical resistance in landfill, and horticultural resources on roofs and also facades. Read more.

The message about bioenergy's opportunities is being spread around the world. In the lead-up to the World Bioenergy 2012 conference and trade fair that will be held in Jönköping, Sweden at the end of May, the organisers Svebio and Elmia held a "Tea View" event to present the upcoming event to ambassadors and foreign trade offices. No fewer than 86 diplomats from 45 countries, including 11 ambassadors, came to find out more about bioenergy.

Organizers for World Bioenergy 2012, which will take place in Jönköping, Sweden 29-31 May 2012, has announced that the opening session will be attended by two energy ministers: Dr Farooq Abdullah from India, who is the union minister of new and renewable energy, and Anna-Karin Hatt, Sweden's minister of energy. Read more.

Daniele Cazzuffi (CESI SpA – Milano, Italy and also IGS Past President) has been unanimously elected as Chairman of the European Committee for Standardization on Geosynthetics (CEN TC 189) for a period of three years, 2012–2014. The vote was held during January 2012 as postal ballot among all standardization bodies of the 27 countries belonging to CEN. The mandate of CEN TC 189 is to develop standardized test methods for the overall characterization of geosynthetics and mainly to elaborate the harmonized European standards for the various fields of geosynthetics applications. He is the first elected chair from outside of Belgium and the Netherlands.

HUESKER Synthetic GmbH hosted a special conference on 19 and 20 January 2012 in Düsseldorf and welcomed representatives of subsidiaries, numerous national and international business associates and partners of the company as well as representatives of engineering companies, testing institutes, authorities and universities.

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) South African Chapter, the Geosynthetics Interest Group of South Africa (GIGSA), has published its latest newsletter. This issue features a lead article from Jonathan Shamrock (Jones & Wagener) on the significant changes coming to the country's waste management facility design regulations. Geosynthetics will play a key role in new designs, but with increased use comes the potentially increased risk of interface failure planes and heightened communication needs in the project cycle. Also of note in the issue: Peter Davies provides a barrier systems information archive recommendation, shale gas extraction is addressed, the winner of the IGS/GIGSA student award is announced, Edoardo Zannoni takes a stab at specifications, and Belinda Mills & Brendon Jewaskiewitz (Envitech Solutions (Pty) Ltd) write on "Geosynthetic Lining System Design versus Practical Installation: Lessons Learned." Read these articles and more in GIGSA's newsletter (PDF).

The ongoing, rapid development of South and Central American infrastructure and the heavy concern with sustainability and energy innovation throughout the Americas will be key topics when engineers, contractors, regulators and other construction professionals gather in Lima, Peru for the GeoAmericas 2012 conference and exhibition. To be held May 1-4, GeoAmericas 2012 marks the Second Pan-American Geosynthetics Conference and Exhibition and will take place under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). The exhibitor space has sold out for the event, and many attendees are now turning attention not just to the strong technical sessions planned for the event but the exceptional short and long courses that have been announced. Featuring expert and internationally renowned instructors, these courses will provide an in-depth look at some of the hottest topics in geosynthetics and current engineering design.

The engines appear to be running full-throttle down in Houston. Having just completed an IPO and re-entering public trading, GSE is now announcing a new line of geomembranes. On a new page on the company website, the company describes its GSE High Performance Geomembranes as being "manufactured with the highest quality resin specifically formulated for flexible geomembranes. A premium grade carbon black is used that incorporates a fine particle size for enhanced resistance to UV radiation." Characteristics of these new formulations include extended life and heightened multi-axial performance. The full suite of data sheets for conductive, smooth, and textured membranes in 30-100 mil thicknesses, as well as FAQs, are available here. Learn more here.;

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) South African Chapter, the Geosynthetics Interest Group of South Africa (GIGSA), has published its latest newsletter. This issue features a lead article from Jonathan Shamrock (Jones & Wagener) on the significant changes coming to the country's waste management facility design regulations. Geosynthetics will play a key role in new designs, but with increased use comes the potentially increased risk of interface failure planes and heightened communication needs in the project cycle. Also of note in the issue: Peter Davies provides a barrier systems information archive recommendation, shale gas extraction is addressed, the winner of the IGS/GIGSA student award is announced, Edoardo Zannoni takes a stab at specifications, and Belinda Mills & Brendon Jewaskiewitz (Envitech Solutions (Pty) Ltd) write on "Geosynthetic Lining System Design versus Practical Installation: Lessons Learned." Read these articles and more in GIGSA's newsletter (PDF).

The EPA's AgSTAR program has been critical in developing the biogas industry, many systems of which utilize geomembranes for manure containment and methane harvesting. The 7th National Conference will be held 27-29 March 2012 in Syracuse, New York. Organizers report that the Holiday Inn Syracuse/Liverpool is holding a block of rooms for conference attendees at a special discounted rate of $94/night, plus tax. The deadline for making reservations at this rate is 25 February 2012. Learn more. Learn more here.;

Temporary dams can offer a cost effective solution for a number of situations, including flood management and emergency repair work. In a February posting on the website of International Water Power and Dam Construction, the editors take a look at some of the options available on the market. Learn more here.;

The International Road Federation (IRF) will bring its Executive Seminar Series to Lake Buena Vista, Florida (Orlando area) 11-13 April 2012 for a session on "Rural Roads: Best Practices in Low-Volume Roads Engineering." The event will be held at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista and lead instructor Gorden Keller, P.E., GE will be joined by two guest instructors: Alan Kercher, P.E. (President, Kercher Engineering) and the World Bank's Ben Gericke (Program Team Leader, Europe and Central Asia Sustainable Development). Key topics include geosynthetics, erosion control, drainage, slope stabilization, and more.

GSE Holding, Inc. ("GSE") today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 7,000,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $9.00 per share. All of the shares in the offering are being sold by GSE. GSE has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,050,000 shares at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any. The shares are expected to begin trading tomorrow, February 10, 2012, on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "GSE", and the offering is expected to close on February 15, 2012.

GeoAmericas 2012 marks the Second Pan-American Geosynthetics Conference and Exhibition. It will be held 1-4 May 2012 in Lima, Peru under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). This week's update includes two key items: The Early-Bird Room Rate for the venue hotel (Westin Libertador Hotel) will be held open until 15 February 2012. Reserve your room today and get the best rate at this key Latin American infrastructure event. And: the GeoAmericas exhibit area is sold out! HOWEVER: at the request of a number of companies, the conference has created an additional exhibit area.

Contech Engineered Solutions LLC (formerly Contech Construction Products Inc.), a leading provider of innovative engineering and site solutions for the residential, commercial and infrastructure markets, today announced several positive developments which position the Company for the future.

Sika Korea has agreed to acquire YEAN-IL INDUSTRIAL Co. Ltd. waterproofing business. YEAN-IL holds a leading position in the Korean tunnel waterproofing market with annual sales of approximately CHF 10 million. Sika AG has through its Korean subsidiary, Sika Korea Ltd., agreed to acquire 100% of YEAN-IL's waterproofing business. YEAN-IL INDUSTRIAL Co. Ltd. is a market leader in tunnel waterproofing membranes in South Korea with a well-established brand and long project history.

On 8 December 1981, Solmax began its journey as a geomembrane installer. Since 1997, we have focused our efforts on becoming a respected manufacturer in our industry. Today, we are beginning our third adventure, as an innovative international manufacturer, capable of continuously meeting and surpassing industry specifications and requirements.

Trelleborg genomför organisationsförändringar i syfte att ytterligare stärka och fokusera koncernen. Trelleborg Automotive renodlas till en antivibrationsverksamhet. Trelleborg Automotives övriga verksamheter - polymera lösningar för drivaxlar och styrapplikationer samt ljuddämpande lösningar för bromssystem - stärks genom att integreras i Trelleborg Engineered Systems respektive Trelleborg Sealing Solutions. De får genom detta en bättre effektivitet, geografisk närvaro och tillgång till globala marknadsstrukturer. Verksamheterna hade under 2011 en årlig försäljning om cirka 600 MSEK respektive cirka 750 MSEK. Sammantaget stärker Trelleborg erbjudandet till kunderna.

Trelleborg is making organizational changes in order to further strengthen and focus the Group. Trelleborg Automotive will be focused on antivibration solutions. Trelleborg Automotive's other operations -- polymer boots for drive shafts and steering applications and noise damping solutions for brake systems -- will be strengthened by integrating them into Trelleborg Engineered Systems and Trelleborg Sealing Solutions respectively. Through this, the operations will benefit from better efficiency, footprint and access to global marketing structures. The operations had 2011 annual sales of about SEK 600 M and about SEK 750 M respectively. Altogether, Trelleborg’s offerings to customers will be strengthened.

ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has announced work item WK36298, "New Test Method for Long Term Efficiency of Drainage Geocomposites." The work item's scope notes that it is intended to determine the potential loss of efficiency caused by biological or chemical growth which can develop in a drainage geocomposite; and to obtain an indication that both the filter and the core of a drainage geocomposite will remain functional over an extended period of time. Proof of leachate collection layer performance is key to the work item. Learn more here.;

Graham Thomson ist neuer Verkaufsgebietsleiter Asien. Herr Thomson wird von nun an die Firma HUESKER Synthetic im Raum Asien/Pazifik verstärken. Er erläutert: "Ich freue mich auf neue Herausforderungen des asiatischen Marktes und bin froh darüber, dass ich HUESKER dort vertreten darf. Zudem schätze ich die breite Unterstützung des HUESKER Teams, welche mich befähigt, täglich neue, kundenspezifische Lösungen zu entwickeln."

The new TRIAC AT hot air tool from Leister is described by the company as "intelligent yet robust." The TRIAC AT features total automation (e.g., on temperature and voltage fluctuation management), clear displays, independently adjustable air volume, an ergonomic design, secure handling and a modern look. It's a versatile welding tool for use in tunnel liner installation, landfill sealing, plastic fabrication, flat and sloped roofing membrane applications, and much more. Every tool undergoes stringent quality checks prior to leaving the factory in Switzerland. Learn more: download the PDF brochure.

HUESKER has appointed Graham Thomson as a new Area Director - Asia. Mr. Thomson will increase the company's presence in the Asia / Pacific region. A veteran of the geosynthetics market, he previously served as Managing Director of the company's UK subsidiary. He will represent the entire HUESKER portfolio in Asia, from roadway and landfill solutions to hydraulic engineering and other applications.

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) will offer a $10,000 per year FGI Graduate Research Grant for up to two years (with annual approval). The founding principles of the Fabricated Geomembrane Institute have been research and education. In support of these principles, the Association will award these research funds for an initial two-year period to support ideas that advance the use of fabricated geomembranes in containment applications. Issues that might be explored in the research include formulation, welding, field testing, installation, durability in exposed and unexposed applications, chemical resistance, or any other measure of fabricated geomembrane performance. Learn more.

The Geo-Institute of ASCE's annual congress offers an exceptional opportunity to interact with the international geotechnical engineering community on some of the most pressing topics. Geo-Congress 2012 will be held in Oakland, California 25-29 March 2012. The theme of the event is "State of the Art and Practice in Geotechnical Engineering" and some noted engineers with a geosynthetics background (Craig Benson and David Daniel) will deliver two of the three big lectures: the Ralph B. Peck and Karl Terzaghi Lectures.