Mining

When a BP oil rig suffered a catastrophic accident and released an enormous volume of oil into the eco-sensitive Gulf of Mexico, one of the primary tools used to contain and combat the spill both on the water and along shorelines was absorbent oil booms. Millions of linear feet of EarthKnit knitted tubes from Supertex, Inc. were used to help these booms succeed. Read about it on the EarthKnit website. Learn more here.;

Supertex, Inc., a diverse manufacturer of erosion control, geosynthetic, and environmental protection materials (such as absorbent oil booms), is Geosynthetica's latest silver sponsor. Learn more about the company's extensive experience and material capabilities at http://www.supertex-inc.com. Learn more here.;

Deloitte Canada and the Financial Post have named Solmax International one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies in its annual evaluation. "It is with great pride that we acknowledge this achievement," the company writes, "and openly share this announcement with our partners, clients and employees." Hundreds of companies were part of the evaluation process. The award for Solmax is doubly welcomed as the company is celebrating its 30th anniversary and continued international growth.

GSE Lining Technology is investing roughly $5 million in an expansion of its facility in Williamsburg County, South Carolina. The move, expected to be completed by May, will add 24 more jobs to the site. GSE's Williamsburg County facility produces a range of materials, such as geotextiles and geocomposites. The expansion will enable the production of geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs), according to an article at SCNow.com. Learn more here.;

Since 1977, the time of the first geosynthetics conference in Paris, geosynthetics have emerged as exciting engineering materials in a wide array of civil engineering applications, e.g., transportation, geotechnical, geoenvironmental, hydraulics, and private development. To provide a deeper understanding of this subject matter, author Robert M. Koerner presents Designing with Geosynthetics - 6th Edition, which contains two volumes, released through Xlibris.

RemTech Expo 2012, the most specialized event in Italy dedicated to remediation technologies and territory requalification, takes place at the Ferrara Exhibition and Conferences Centre from 19 to 21 September 2012. The conference has regularly incorporated geosynthetics in its discussions, and this year's event features a prominent role for former International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) president Daniele Cazzuffi. Mr. Cazzuffi (who was recently named chair of CEN TC 189 on Geosynthetics) is serving as the Scientific Committee coordinator. Learn more about RemTech 2012.

Gorantla Geosynthetics Private Limited (Chennai) has launched a new website, www.geomembranes-geotextiles.com. The company is a major manufacturer and supplier of geosynthetic products in India. The new website aims to be more comprehensive and user-friendly, offering a host of detailed product information, contact information, and presentations.

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.

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 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).

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.

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."

Tensar Corporation announced today strong performance in 2011, with double digit income growth as compared to 2010. This performance was achieved through record global revenue, operational productivity and the success in the marketplace of its new, patented TriAx® geogrid product. The company continues to generate strong cash flows in support of ongoing operations and achievement of its expanded 2012 earnings projection.

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 2nd International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) Photo Contest has a new deadline: March 1. The inaugural contest was extremely successful and helped establish a collection of high-quality photos of geosynthetics for use in promotion of these technologies and construction practices and in the dissemination of educational material.

Titan now has a company page on Facebook too! "Like" us and stay up to date on new product availability, key project work, site photos, and more. Learn more here.;

Check out the versatile range of Supertex geogrids on the company's gallery page. The company produces a full line of geosynthetics such as PET geogrids and erosion control fabrics. Learn more here.;