Soil Reinforcement

Royal Ten Cate has agreed to acquire the armour company AML UK Ltd. based in Swindon, United Kingdom. This acquisition will provide TenCate with full access to the UK market for lightweight composite armour solutions. AML has annual sales of approximately €10 million. The share purchase agreement is expected to be concluded this month.

The early-bird registration rate has nearly arrived for Polyolefin Additives 2010. Save up to EUR100 if you register by 12 February 2010. The event, hosted by Applied Market Information (AMI), is a discussion-provoking, networking opportunity with top professionals from the polyolefin compounding industry. Issues such as UV stabilization and weatherability are addressed. Industry segments like agricultural film and pipe and explored. The discussions are wide-ranging and intriguing. Polyolefin Additives 2010 will take place 23-25 March 2010 in Cologne, Germany. Read more and link to the program and conference website.

Geo-Frontiers 2011 brings together the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Geo-Institute (GI) and the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI). It will be held 13-16 March 2011 in Dallas, Texas. The Call for Abstracts has been issued. Current tracks include Soil/Rock Mechanics and Modeling; Geotechnical Testing and Site Characterization; Foundations and Ground Improvement; Slopes, Embankments, and Earth Retaining Structures; Geosynthetics; Geoenvironmental Engineering; Geo-Hazards (Earthquakes, Landslides, Erosions, Others); Transportation Materials and Pavements; and Other Geotechnical Related Issues. Abstracts due: 8 March 2011. Learn more here.;

In November 2009 the north west of England experienced widespread flooding. In the town of Workington, one road bridge collapsed and the other was deemed unsafe. The town was divided in two. The Royal Engineers were commissioned to build a temporary footbridge. The Engineers required design guidance on stabilisation and delivery of geogrids within 24 hours.

Sarah McCubbin-Cain has shared with Geosynthetica a letter sent to Virginia-based members of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO). There, the state senate has passed legislation that may lead to dam failures by allowing non-compliant facilities to continue to operate. ASDSO asks for help in stopping this new legislation.

A section of road widening required the road to be extended into a lagoon and for band drains to be installed to help speed up consolidation settlement. A Tensar Mechanically Stabilised Layer, using TriAx geogrids, was used to cap the weak deposit and allow initial, safe site access over several metres of a very weak organic clay material, having an undrained shear strength of 5kN/m2.

Mumbai, India-based Emmbi Polyarns, a polymer processing firm with significant interest in geosynthetics manufacture, has opened its initial public offering (IPO) of 95,74,000 equity shares of Rs 10 each for subscription. The price band has been fixed at Rs 40 to Rs 45 per equity share and the issue will close on February 3. The offer has been greeted with both excitement in the Indian market and concern for the dilution level. But Emmbi insists that its ambitious expansion goals, rooted heavily in geosynthetics, will justify the IPO and secure Emmbi's business. Read an interview with Makrand Appalwar, Emmbi's Managing Director. Learn more here.;

Plastics Today has published its polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) spot price report. They found PE up $0.04/lb last week, a trend "driven by soaring monomer costs and pointing to higher contract resin prices in February." Ethylene shortages have played a role. Similarly, PP spot prices were up $0.02/lb last week. The rise in monomers shows "no abatement" at this point, especially since PP manufacturers have successfully passed along some recent cost increases. Learn more here.;

On Monday, President Obama proposed $1.82 billion in funding for 27 major transit construction projects that will create jobs and increase transportation options throughout the United States. A complete list of projects -- which are located in metropolitan areas across the nation -- is available here.

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI), based in Folsom, Pennsylvania, and National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) in Taiwan have announced that the first international GSI-Asia Geosynthetics Conference will take place 16-18 November 2010 in Taichung, Taiwan. NPUST currently is the home of GSI's Taiwan office (GSI-Taiwan). GSI's Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) annually holds an international event in North America. That event is nearing its 25th anniversary. The launch of an international forum serving the Asia region is exciting news. Read more about its highlights.

Members of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) are invited to take part in the election of IGS officers and council members. The elected terms run from 2010-2014. This 12th IGS election is historically significant for the breadth of its field of candidates. In what is a rare occurrence in IGS elections, two candidates are vying to succeed president Fumio Tatsuoka (Japan). Those candidates are Peter Stevenson and Jorge Zornberg. Also, 23-well-qualified candidates are seeking the eight general elected council positions. This is certainly the largest field to ever seek election, and it's a strong sign that the IGS's 30 chapters, 121 corporate members, and 2000+ individual members are active and interested. Read about the election and statements from both presidential candidates.

Walmart had to abandon plans to construct a new store in Kilbuck, Pennsylvania after a landslide occurred on the site the company had purchased. As caretakers of the currently unusable site, the company has dedicated significant resources to stabilize the site so that some day it can be developed, perhaps for recreational use. Geogrids are a main component of the system.

The India-based publication the Business Standard has published an article about Emmbi Polyarns and the company's plan to expand its operation significantly, including in canal liners and geotextile market. Emmbi is reportedly pushing its products in Eastern Europe and the Benelux region as the initial stage for growth. Learn more here.;

The Toronto Construction Association (TCA) has presented its 12th annual "Best of the Best" awards. One of the winners was Justin Gouthreau of Layfield Geosynthetics. Gouthreau was recognized with the Sean P. McKenna Young Construction Executive Leadership Award. Congratulations are in order. Learn more here.;

The American Public Works Association (APWA) is promoting National Public Works Week (NPWW) 16-22 May 2010. Each year, a promotional poster is sold and plays on the NPWW's theme. For 2010, that them is "Public Works: Above, Below, & All Around You" by illustrator Harry Campbell. Harry's distinctive graphic line illustration work can be found in most major publications including The New York Times, Time Magazine, Newsweek, and many others. The poster is available for purchase here. Learn more here.;

Each year since 1960, the American Public Works Association (APWA) has held a National Public Works Week (NPWW). The week celebrates the tens of thousands of people working to build and maintain infrastructure and encourages outreach endeavors on the part of both public and private engineers, government departments and agencies, media outlets and more.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will today announce that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is awarding $8 billion to states across the country to develop America's first nationwide program of high-speed intercity passenger rail service. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), these dollars represent an historic investment in the country's transportation infrastructure, which will help create jobs and transform travel in America. The announcement is one of a number of job initiatives the President will lay out in the coming weeks that follow up on the continued commitment to job creation he discussed in last night's State of the Union Address.

The 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG) will be held in Guaruja, São Paulo, Brazil 23-27 May 2010. The gathering provides an opportunity to learn about and discuss highly technical and scientific geosynthetics issues and their solutions. In addition to the exhibit hall activities, keynote lectures and technical sessions, the 9ICG offers five 3-hour short courses. These courses will be held on the opening day of the event, Sunday, 23 May. Read more.

As shown by results of 2009, SIBUR enterprises have produced 15 million tons of petrochemical products that is 3% higher than in 2008. The highest growth is seen in segment of raw materials as well as manufacture of polymers and mineral fertilizers. Reduced production of rubbers and tyres was caused by sharp decline in demand by automotive industry. Monomers fell down due to temporary shutdown of rubber output and shutoff of isoprene production by Novokuibyshevskaya Petrochemical Company.

A sampling of 2010 events and abstract calls. This week's edition includes information on the International Erosion Control Association's EC10 conference; the Geosynthetic Materials Association's Lobby Day in Washington DC; the LatAm Mining Congress; the Global Waste Management Symposium 2010; Waterproof Membranes 2010; and Geo-Frontiers 2011.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) today awarded over $2 million in grants to four University Transportation Centers (UTC) located throughout the United States to advance research and education programs that address critical transportation challenges facing our nation. UTCs conduct research that directly support USDOT priorities and are a critical part of our national transportation strategy.

Lincolnshire's flagship new Epic Centre for sustainable building has strengthened its ground-breaking credentials with an unexpected cost saving solution using earth retaining technology from Tensar International. A conventionally-sloping green embankment was originally planned to abut directly against the new building at the Lincolnshire Showground, meaning it needed to be able to withstand a considerable imposed lateral earth pressure. But, by using an alternative Tensar design with Tensartech TR2 earth retaining technology to relieve lateral thrust, a 'value engineered' self-supporting earth structure was achieved.

Huesker inc., a leading manufacturer and global supplier of geogrids, geotextiles and specialty geocomposites, has updated its website. The revised website features comprehensive information on Huesker's full product line with an option to view specifics offered from key global offices, such as Germany, the United States, Brazil, Spain, and more. The new website helps direct visitor focus to three primary areas of materials and applications: geosynthetics, geocomposites, and agriculture.

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) is holding its first-ever photo competition. Members should keep an eye on the deadline date: 1 February 2010. This initiative comes just ahead of the planned April 2010 launch of the redesigned IGS website and May 2010's major, quadrennial IGS conference: 9ICG. The 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics will be held 23-27 May 2010 in Guaruja, Brazil (near São Paulo).

Congratulations are due to David E. Daniel, Ph.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE, NAE, University of Texas at Dallas. Prof. Daniel has been recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) OPAL Awards for his excellence in advancing civil engineering education. Established in 1999, these prestigious awards recognize and honor outstanding civil engineering leaders whose lifetime accomplishments and achievements have made significant differences in one of five categories. Prof. Daniel has long been associated with geosynthetic research and education. The awards will be presented in a special ceremony on 25 March 2010 at the Renaissance Hotel Washington.