Special Series

The European GeoMembranes Association's (EGMA) mission is to represent and promote the interests of its industry and be its voice vis-à-vis the European institutions. Learn more here.;

SI Corporation, manufacturer of foundation and stabilization fabrics for the furnishings and construction materials markets announces its new research and development center is up and running in Dalton. SI is centering the company’s current R&D specialists under one roof and hiring new experts as well. The company expects the investment in the scientific side of the business to give it a competitive edge in its core markets. According to Davis Lee, Director of R&D, “Developing innovative products on an on going basis is much more than an economic or business strategy decision. It requires market input and a collaborative effort with key customers, industry advisors and our own development team. And now, by pulling all of our R&D talent into one location, we anticipate the ability to speed up the process of bringing new solutions to our customers. With our new center located in Dalton, we have easy access to our largest customer base for collaboration and feedback.” The most recent additions to the R&D center are Andy Sebastian, a PhD in Emulsion Polymers from London Metropolitan University. He joins SI from Dupont and now serves as a technical advisor. Joe Robinson, now head of new product development initiatives for SI, comes from Dupont and graduated from the University of Tennessee.

OMV, Central Europe's leading oil and gas group, is planning a strategic divestment of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Polyfelt, the world's largest manufacturer of geotextiles. The reason for OMV's decision to separate is that Polyfelt's increasing focus on geosynthetics does not fit into OMV's business model. However, both sides will benefit from the split. "The divestment creates a win-win situation for both sides," said OMV associate managing director Gerhard Roiss. "OMV, as an integrated oil and gas group, will be in a position to concentrate more on developing its core business. Polyfelt will be able to focus more strongly on its international growth." OMV says the forthcoming negotiations will be conducted confidentially in 2005, and that they are committed to finding an investor that is fully supportive of the company developing its position internationally. They also want to ensure that the buyers have a sustainable and profitable investment plan that will safeguard Polyfelt's Linz headquarters. "We are committed to ensure that Polyfelt takes a partner that will uphold the company's values and support strategic growth in geosynthetics," says Gerhard Roiss. Polyfelt is stil growing; the latest sales office will be opened in New Delhi and will help the company to gain a foothold in the booming Indian market for geotextiles. At the beginning of the second quarter this year, a unique manufacturing plant with 9,500 tons per year for high performance geotextiles will go into operation in Linz. This €11 million investment will increase production capacity for geotextiles and further develop the company's technology. After the commissioning of the new plant, global production capacity will reach some 40,000 tons a year.

Titled "World Markets for Nonwovens and Other Unspun Products to 2010", a major new market report published by International Newsletters, has been produced by experts assembled by the internationally renowned organization Comite International de la Rayonne et des Fibres Synthetiques (CIRFS). The report is now available to non-members of the organization for the first time. "World Markets for Nonwovens and Other Unspun Products to 2010" examines the global market for nonwovens and other unspun products, and provides a comprehensive set of projections to 2010. In particular, the report examines: product categories and production technologies; the quality and properties of fibres; manufacturing processes; technological change; the costs of production; production, trade and consumption by region; and future developments and strategies. The report includes 68 detailed tables forecasting production, trade and consumption in Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East over the first decade of the 21st century. Full details of the report including a full contents listing and list of tables are given at the link below. Learn more here.;

International Newsletters has launched a new website, Performance-Materials.Net. A partner website to International Newsletters' technical textiles site, Performance Materials.Net is an information source for those interested in research, development, manufacture and applications of advanced ceramics, composites, plastics and biomedical materials.

In 2004 The Plastics Technology group has seen a steady increase in enquiries and orders for long-term property (creep & fatigue) evaluation. One growth area has been environmental creep rupture testing which has helped to address many chemical compatibility and environmental stress cracking issues for the packaging industry. It is felt that not enough plastic component manufacturers realise that long-term properties are fundamental to how a plastic product will perform in service. The use of this data is vital for good product design and an important preventative measure against premature failure in the field. Properties of a plastic material will deteriorate simply with time. This natural process accelerated by the application of stress, temperature, and chemical environment. The benefit of such testing is the assurance of not having to deal with mass product failure in the field at significant expense. If you would like further information regarding this service then please contact: coconnor@rapra.net

Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. (ADS), the world’s largest manufacturer of corrugated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, has announced plans to open four new manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico. All plants will be operational within the next six to nine months. ADS currently operates 21 domestic and five international plants, along with 28 distribution centers in the United States. Since first introducing corrugated HDPE pipe in 1966, ADS has led the industry in production and product development servicing the stormwater management industry. With growing approvals and acceptance, these announced plant expansions follow a long line of strategic growth. “In the last 15 years, we have experienced solid growth as the civil construction industry has embraced the substantial features and benefits of our N-12® pipe and related fittings and structures,” said Joe Chlapaty, president and chief executive officer of ADS. “Our products have shown substantial benefits in both cost and performance compared to corrugated steel and reinforced concrete pipe.”

Do you know of any published references to the use of geomembranes earlier than the 1953 reference by C. W. Lauritzen and W. H. Peterson "Butyl Fabrics as Canal Lining Materials", Bulletin 363, Utah State Agricultural College, Agricultural Experimental Station? There may be a USACE publication dated 1951. gsa istrying to find the earliest paper published on geomembrane - can you help?

I-CORP is seeking potential licensees to manufacture an internationally patented structured geomembrane/bentonite (or other mineral layer)/geotextile single unit composite liner - constant thickness, no sideways migration of bentonite (place on walls), always intimate contact, etc. Contact icorp@geosynthetic.com.

The Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) is conducting a nationwide study of the availability of relevant educational opportunities for current and future dam engineering/ dam safety professionals, and the need for increasing the number of professionals who specialize in dam engineering and dam safety. All academics and professionals who work or study in the U.S. and whose professional or academic interests relate to dams are invited to participate in ASDSO's survey, which is posted at the "continued" link below. The survey is brief, consisting of only 10 questions, but some respondents may elect to answer only item #9, which addresses the availability of relevant educational opportunities for current and future dam engineering/ dam safety professionals. Surveys can be returned to ASDSO via mail, e-mail or fax. Responses are requested by January 21. For more information on this effort, please contact: Sarah Mayfield, Association of State Dam Safety Officials, 450 Old Vine Street, Flr. 2, Lexington, KY 40507-1544, Tel: 859 257 5140, Fax: 859 323 1958, E-mail: smayfield@damsafety.org, Web: http://www.damsafety.org. Learn more here.;

The PVC Geomembrane Institute has teamed up with CETCO in offering two new short courses titled "Constructing with GCLs and PVC Geomembrane." The first will be on March 7 2005 in Denver, CO, at the Denver Merchandise Mart. The second will be on March 8, 2005 in Cheyenne, WY at the Little America Hotel. These courses focus on how GCLs and PVC geomembranes can be used together as a composite liner. The cost of the course is $40. The fee is waived for governmental employees and students. For more information or to register for these courses go to the "continued" link below. Learn more here.;

Rapra Technology Ltd is proud to announce the release of the European Plastics and Rubber Directory 2004/5. The European Plastics and Rubber Directory, now in its 15th year, is a unique directory that will keep your company in touch with the European plastics and rubber industry across the whole of Europe. It is the only Pan European Guide to the Plastics and Rubber Industry. The directory contains approximately 5,000 European companies, all individually contacted annually for up-to-date information about their business. As a result of this Rapra has collated the most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to the European plastics and rubber market yet. The European Plastics and Rubber Directory places the information you need where you want it… at your fingertips. For more information go to the "continued" link below. Learn more here.;

For the first time, 743 ASTM standards related to transportation and highway engineering have been compiled into a three-volume set, ASTM Standards on Transportation Applications. The compilation, now available from ASTM International, meets the needs of industry, the Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration, and it includes documents from nine volumes of the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. ASTM Standards on Transportation Applications is an invaluable publication for railroad, air, and port authorities; engineering firms; state and federal highway officials; and members of all transportation and highway engineering associations. The set includes standards developed by 11 ASTM technical committees, including: -- C01 on Cement, -- C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates, -- C12 on Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonry, -- C13 on Concrete Pipe, -- C15 on Manufactured Masonry Units, -- D04 on Road and Paving Materials, -- D18 on Soil and Rock, -- D35 on Geosynthetics, -- E17 on Vehicle-Pavement Systems, -- E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action, and -- F17 on Plastic Piping Systems. Copies of ASTM Standards on Transportation Applications (2004, 4,379 pages, hard cover, ISBN 0-8031-3337-5; Stock #TRANS04) are available for purchase from ASTM Customer Service (phone: 610/832-9585, fax: 610/832-9555, or e-mail: service@astm.org) for $795 North America; $875 elsewhere. Established in 1898, ASTM International is one of the largest standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems, and commercial transactions around the globe.

GFR magazine's Spec Guide provides data on more than 1500 products: geotextiles, geomembranes, geosynthetic clay liners, drains and geonets, geogrids, geocells and erosion control materials. Also, the Guide connects you with 200 application and service specialists to help you on yourprojects. To order a copy, contact Barbara Connett, +1 651 225 6913, fax +1 651 631 9334, email bjconnett@ifai.com.

On Jan. 18, 2005, ASTM International will hold an organizational meeting to discuss the development of consensus standards for Nanotechnology. The meeting will take place at ASTM International Headquarters in West Conshohocken, Pa. At a planning meeting held on Oct. 1, 2004, at NIST Headquarters, key representatives from the many stakeholders affected by the nanotech space, including the government (NIST, U.S. FDA), academic (CBEN/Rice University), legal, and industrial sectors unanimously agreed to hold an organizational meeting for the development of this new activity within ASTM International. Various disciplines, including consumers, manufacturers, suppliers, trade and professional societies, and federal agencies are being invited to participate. The attendees at the planning meeting recognized that while research into properties, synthesis, and applications of nanostructures is growing at an exponential rate, there does not exist (at present) a common language to describe the chemical compositions and physical forms of these new materials. This absence hampers technical communication within the myriad fields involved in this space, and prevents outreach to the public at large as products containing nanomaterials enter the marketplace. ASTM International stands ready to accommodate this new standardization initiative. Stakeholder involvement at this meeting is critical to guide the direction for this new activity. The time is now for participation in a neutral forum whereby the private and public sectors can work together to develop a consensus standards program. ASTM International provides a management system for the development of standards and related information for materials, products, systems, and services used globally. All segments of an industry (producers, users, consumers, government, and academia) participate in the development of this information to ensure that all technical points of view are represented - it is extremely important that all parties are confident they will have fair and equal representation in the development of the final consensus standards. Finally, ASTM International provides leadership and management support for 136 standards developing committees. These committees have produced over 11,000 standards for an extremely diverse collection of industries. For questions concerning the above, please feel free to contact Pat A. Picariello, director, Developmental Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9720; ppicarie@astm.org). Established in 1898, ASTM International is one of the largest standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM standards are accepted and used in R&D, product testing, quality systems, and commercial transactions around the globe.

T-CLIC Accreditiation Course - STS and CQM Staff Accredited to Perform Liner Electrical Integrity Surveys, written by Ian Peggs of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL.

Linear Composites has just opened an office in the USA. Operating out of offices in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Linear Composites Incorporated will be represented in the USA by Robert Lozano, Vice-President for engineering and sales.

Andy Fourie, formerly of the Department of Civil Engineering at University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa has new contact information. From 10th January 2005 his contact details will change to: Australian Centre for Geomechanics, P O Box 3296 - Broadway, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia. PHONE: 61-8-6488 1864, FAX: 61-8-6488 1130, EMAIL: andyf@acg.uwa.edu.au, WEB: www.acg.uwa.edu.au

The Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) with cooperation from the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) is pleased to introduce the GMA Techline, a free resource for technical questions about geosynthetics. "Don't second guess, get expert advice."

The Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) is seeking proposals to enlist a consultant to aid in the implementation of strategic initiatives as determined by the GMA Executive Council.

2004 NAGS Year-End Report, from NAGS President, Mr. L. David Suits.

The Board of Directors of the North American Geosynthetics Society announces the establishment of the position of Executive Director of the Society. This is a part time position amenable to the President of NAGS. This is anticipated to be a two-day a week position, with the Executive Director working out of their home. The compensation for this position will be a negotiated incentive based agreement, with the possibility of an additional flat figure stipend. The anticipated starting date for this position is April 1, 2005.

Gathering in Austin during Geofrontiers ’05, the meeting is on Jan 24th, from 7-11 pm. For the tentative agenda, please go to the "continued" link below.

David Jones of Owens Corning will present technical information on the laboratory testing and field performance of fiberglass-based pavement interlayer materials at the upcoming D35.03 Geosynthetics subcommittee meeting in Atlanta in January. The presentation is scheduled for Friday, January 28th from 8:30-9:30 a.m. The fiberglass-polyester based mats are used as waterproofing and reinforcement layers in bituminous overlays of existing pavements. Five years of field performance have demonstrated the efficacy of these materials over a wide range of existing pavements, including both bituminous and Portland cement concrete. Beam Fatigue and other laboratory testing has also been completed utilizing these materials, and those results will be presented as well. Any interested parties are welcome to attend. All ASTM technical committee meetings are open to the public free of charge, so please feel free to pass this information on to any non-members who may have interest. Should you have any questions, please contact Christi Sierk: (610) 832-9728, csierk@astm.org. Learn more here.;

Proceedings are available from the Geofilters 2004 Conference held in Stellenbosch, South Africa this past October. The cost is as follows: Euro 60, plus p&p/courier, (R450). Please contact Lesley Stephenson, Continuing Engineering Education, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Box 327, Wits 2050, Gauteng, South Africa. Tel: +27 (0)11 717 7031, Fax: +27 (0) 11 339 7835, or e-mail: stephensonl@ebe.wits.ac.za.