Special Series

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) has announced that Dwayne Stenlund, MS, CPESC, CPRM, is being recognized with the 2010 Presenter of the Year Award. This award recognizes an outstanding presenter that demonstrates excellence in presentation skills, educational delivery and content preparation. The winner is determined through the review of presenter evaluations received at IECA's annual conference and expo.

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) anticipates approving $600,000 for a 2011 study titled "Effect of Geosynthetics on Structural Pavement Design." The project has been tentatively selected and a project statement (request for proposals) is expected in August 2010. The objective of this research is to develop a design methodology and guidelines on when, where, and how to use geosynthetic materials within a pavement structure. The guidelines will target design engineers and practitioners in the pavements and materials engineering community, with a focus on the most basic engineering properties of geosynthetics as they relate to structural pavement design. It is anticipated that the design principles contained in the guidelines could be readily incorporated into the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). Learn more here.;

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to offer "Constructing with Fabricated Geomembranes - Flexibility and Superior Performance," its popular short course, on 15 October 2010 in Denver, Colorado. This course is ideal for those involved with the design, construction, operation and closure of landfills, lagoons, secondary containment, ponds, decorative applications, and corrective action activities at closed sites are encouraged to attend this course. Participants will gain a broad knowledge of what is required to properly design, specify and construct fabricated geomembranes.

In a letter dated 11 March 2010, Firestone writes: "Firestone Specialty Products will continue to provide Truckload shipments for our EPDM membranes and accessories, per our current Specialty Products freight policy. However, Firestone will no longer accommodate less than truckload shipments. Customers may choose to schedule a CPU, (Customer Pick-Up) for less than truckload shipments. The Customer will be responsible for arranging all their transportation needs. This change will be effective March 15, 2010." Learn more here.;

To mark 20 years of geomembrane barrier expertise, Monarflex Geomembranes--part of Icopal Group--has published its first, single guide to all three of its geomembranes portfolios: gas, damp proofing and containment. The guide, "Membrane Power," may be downloaded here in PDF. Visit www.monarflex.co.uk for more information on the company. Learn more here.;

Tri-Tech Holding Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIT), a leading total solutions provider to China's water resources, municipal wastewater and industrial pollution control markets, announced today the appointment of three senior executives that substantially strengthen the company's water and wastewater treatment management team. Mr. Weidong Bi was named vice president of Tri-Tech, responsible for the company's water and wastewater treatment project management. Mr. Qun Wang was promoted to president of Tranhold Environmental (Beijing) Tech, Co., Ltd. (Tranhold), a subsidiary company of Tri-Tech Holding, Inc. He will be responsible for managing and coordinating Tranhold's business transactions. Mr. Zhentian Zhao was named vice president and chief engineer of Tranhold, responsible for water and wastewater treatment engineering.

Oerlikon Textile GmbH and Co. KG's "The Fiber Year" report is a valuable source of information about annual global fiber consumption. In it, the company lists among many global trends a global fiber consumption increase of 4.2 percent (up to 70.5 million metric tons). Man-made fiber consumption rose 4.0 percent to 44.1 million tonnes. In nonwovens, investment in infrastructure will assist the industrial development for geotextiles and agricultural applications. Learn more here.;

TenCate subsidiary Xennia Technology in Letchworth (England) has today announced the planned acquisition of software company Cametrics from Cambridge (England). Cametrics specializes in printing software for inkjet technology. With this take over, market leader Xennia Technology will have complete control over printing software as a critical component of its modular industrial inkjet solutions, including for textile applications.

How many times have you participated in a brainstorming session, only to be underwhelmed by the utter lack of follow up? Unfortunately, in most businesses, this is often the norm. Here's why…. Learn more here.;

Because most people don't follow up after an interview, sending an e-mail or phoning the hiring manager can help you stand out, Harry Urschel writes. "You have far more to lose by not doing it, than the infinitesimal risk of losing an opportunity by doing it," he writes. Learn more here.;

News releases are a massive waste of time and money, writes Maddie Grant -- most companies would get far more bang for their buck if they simply posted their news on a corporate blog. In the social media era, Grant adds, there's no need to enlist expensive PR companies to publicize your efforts. "Instead, concentrate on growing your community so that when you have good stuff to share, you reach your stakeholders directly," she writes. Learn more here.;

The weekly natural gas statistics from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) are available. Since last Wednesday, May 12, natural gas spot prices generally rose at market locations across the lower 48 States, with only a few exceptions. The Henry Hub natural gas spot price increased about 2 percent since last Wednesday, from $4.18 per million Btu (MMBtu) to $4.28 per MMBtu. At the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), the price of the June 2010 futures contract fell about 3 percent, from $4.284 per MMBtu to $4.158 per MMBtu. Read more in the weekly report. Learn more here.;

Research and Markets is offering "Synthetic Fibers - Global Strategic Business Report, 2007-2015." The report analyzes the worldwide markets for Synthetic Fibers in Thousand Tons. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for each region for the period 2007 through 2015. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. The report profiles 79 companies. The report was published in April 2010. Learn more here.;

China has begun building Solar Valley, an oasis of green technology in the northern city of Dezhou. The $740 million project has attracted 100 companies to China's version of Silicon Valley. In 2009, China invested about $34 billion in renewable energy such as solar panels and wind turbines. Learn more here.;

Is Southeast Asia the Saudi Arabia of Biofuels? At least one speaker at World Bioenergy 2010 thinks that's the potential. Southeast Asia has abundant resources of biomass, and they can be supplied in a sustainable way. To develop production of bioenergy in all parts of the world, new bioenergy crops are needed: woody crops such as willows and eucalyptus, sugar, oil, starch-rich crops, grasses and algae, etc. Is it better to rely on well-known crops such as corn and sugar cane? Or should we go for the new crops, such as switch grass and Jatropha? What is the economy of these new crops, and what is the current state of practice? World Bioenergy 2010 takes place 25-27 May 2010 in Jönköping, Sweden. Learn more here.;

AMI invites you to consider speaking at or attending the 4th international conference on Waterproof Membranes--Waterproof Membranes 2010--to be held from 30 November to 2 December 2010 at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany. There is a welcome reception and registration on the first evening followed by a two-day technical program. AMI's Sally Humphreys (sh@amiplastics.com) invites presentations through 28 May 2010. Previous conferences in this series have included presentations on greenroofs, HDPE geomembrane durability, thin-film solar laminates adhered to exposed TPO membrane caps on landfills, installation of tunnel liners, geosynthetics in the Middle East, manufacturing of membranes, and much more. Visit the conference website and submit an abstract. Learn more here.;

This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Geosynthetics in Million Square Yards. The market for the US is also analyzed in US$ million. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for US, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of World. Annual forecasts are provided for each region for the period 2007 through 2015. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided for these markets.The report profiles 119 companies including many key and niche players worldwide such as CETCO Lining Technologies Group, CONTECH Construction Products Inc., Emas Kiara Industries Berhad, Firestone Specialty Products Company, LLC, Propex Operating Company, LLC, Royal TenCate NV, Tenax Corporation, and Tensar International Corporation Inc. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are mostly extracted from URL research and reported select online sources. Learn more here.;

The first issue of the Failure Analysis and Prevention Special Interest Group of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) is available. This May 2010 issue includes a message from the chair on the newsletter's development, news of the ANTEC 2010 event, meeting minutes, and key contacts. Read the issue today (PDF). Learn more here.;

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) recently launched the "SWPPP It or Sweat It" online stormwater training course for the Texas Association of Builders (TAB). The "SWPPP It or Sweat It" training course provides a basic understanding of stormwater management and the common tasks necessary to manage runoff from construction sites for contractors. The course is a collaborative effort between the Texas Association of Builders, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The lastest column on resin pricing in North America is available at Plastics Today. Polyethylene (PE) spot prices fell and supply increased, with market sentiment shifting as spot ethylene prices exhibited weakness. Polypropylene (PP) spot prices dropped $0.03/lb last week, giving back April's earlier gains. TPE noted that the resin market has begun to retreat following a sharp break in spot propylene. Read more. Learn more here.;

The online networking system CONTACT is now live for attendees of the LatAm Mining Congress 2010, which will be held 27-30 April 2010 in Coral Gables, Florida. The LatAm Mining Congress unites senior executives from Latin America's small, mid-cap and super-major mining houses with leading analysts, consultants, economists, financiers, investors and country regulators. To take full advantage of CONTACT and its exclusive networking tools, register now. Also, the LatAm Mining Congress offers you a 30% discount on your registration fee if you book before the end of Friday, April 16. Learn more.

Lyondell Chemical Co., the U.S. unit of LyondellBasell Industries AF, has agreed to pay $162 million to settle environmental claims by the U.S. government and to fund hazardous-waste cleanup, including six Superfund sites. Learn more here.;

Sika AG announces that its Czech subsidiary, Sika CZ s.r.o., has acquired the business of the Czech Panbex Group. The Panbex business mainly consists of cementitious flooring systems, with leading market positions in the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia. The Panbex Group turnover in 2009 amounted to approximately CZK 170 million (almost CHF 10 million).

Geotextiles are often used in protective capacities. Demolition companies wrap building and bridge columns with geotextile fabric to contain debris during blasting. Geomembrane installations often have an overlay or underlay of geotextile for cushioning. And historical preservation sites, from Asia's Silk Road to stone-age indigenous peoples dwelling zones, utilize geotextiles to rebury historic findings for better preservation and more careful unearthing later. In Chimney Point, Vermont, following the discovery of native artifacts in the wake of 80-year-old bridges removal, preservation experts built temporary slips with geotextiles so that the site could be safely studied and historic items transported away. Learn more here.;

A new "Hall of Fame" coming to America that will honor the visionaries and game-changers of the transportation design and construction industry. ARTBA-TDF is creating a "Hall of Fame" at The ARTBA Building in Washington, D.C., to honor individuals or families from the public and private sectors who have made extraordinary contributions to U.S. transportation development and demonstrated exceptional leadership over their lifetime.