Special Series

Infrastructure in Ireland needs to be urgently brought up to scratch, according to a report by leading engineers. The report, compiled by Engineers Ireland, the Irish Academy and InterTradeIreland, claims 90% of the population will be living in just eight city regions within the next 20 years. An estimated four million people will be living in the Dublin - Belfast corridor by the mid 2030s, according to the report, Infrastructure For An Island Population Of Eight Million. Read the summary report here in PDF. Learn more here.;

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will host its 24th conference in Dallas, Texas in March 2011. It will be embedded into the three-day Geo-Frontiers 2011. The title of the GRI-24 Conference will be: "Enhancing Sustainability Using Geosynthetics." Abstracts are invited through 31 May 2010. Read more and contact GSI with your abstract submission.

Honeywell and the New York State Department of Conservation held an informational meeting on February 11 in the town of Camillus. The meeting focused on the forthcoming plan to pump sediment from the lake bottom into geotextile tubes in an area known as Wastebed 13. Residents are concerned about the effects of on residents who live around the planned sediment consolidation area. The sediment contains mercury and PCBs, among other toxic components. Learn more here.;

SIBUR Holding JSC and ROEL Corporation JSC have concluded a contract of purchase and sale of 100% of shares of Kauchuk JSC, the basic product of which is methyl- tertio-butyl ether (MTBE) used as a high-octane gasoline additive. Buying-in is expected within 3-4 months.

Just under 40,000 rail cars pass through Chicago each day. And freight rail is expected to double in the next 20 years. The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (Create) has identified 71 projects with a price tag of $2.5 billion. About half a billion has been secured, including $90 million in earmarks from the 2005-2009 Federal Transportation Authorization Act. Learn more here.;

Work has started on Qatar Petrochemical Company's new low-density polyethylene (LDPE-3) plant in Mesaieed Industrial City, the Peninsula has reported. The QR2bn LDPE-3 plant is designed to annually produce 300,000 metric tonnes (MT) of low-density polyethylene which will add to the 400,000 MTA output of Qapco's two existing LDPE production lines, bringing the total LDPE capacity to some 700,000 MTA. Learn more here.;

EMAS Kiara Industries Bhd (EKIB) has secured a RM49.76 million contract from WCT Construction Sdn Bhd to undertake sub-contract work at the new RM1.2 billion Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) to be built about two kilometres from the KL International Airport in Sepang. The contract, secured through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Emas Kiara Geo Services Sdn Bhd, is to supply and install geosynthetic products, said Emas Kiara Industries in an announcement to Bursa Malaysia. Learn more here.;

An announcement on a contract from Emas Kiara Industries Berhad (EKIB), as release on Bursa Malaysia: Emas Kiara Industries Berhad ("EKIB") is please to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Emas Kiara Geo Services Sdn Bhd ("EKGS"), has on 10 December 2009 accepted a contract awarded by WCT Construction Sdn Bhd ("WCT") via a letter of award dated 8 December 2009, for the sub-contract work of supply and installation of geosynthetic products for the development of new LCC Terminal at KL International Airport, Sepang Selangor Darul Ehsan with a total sub-contract value RM49.76 million ("the Sub-Contract"). Read more.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has reached an agreement with Dow AgroSciences LLC on alleged Clean Air Act violations at the company's pesticide production facility at 305 N. Huron Ave., Harbor Beach, Michigan. The agreement, which includes a $70,000 penalty, resolves EPA allegations that Dow Agro violated national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants at its Harbor Beach plant. The company generates methanol and uses xylene, both hazardous air pollutants, in making pesticide active ingredients at the plant.

Tampa Palms, Florida is making a number of green upgrades. One key project involves the renovation of a city park to include geocellular porous pavement technology (Geoweb). Learn more here.;

We want to extend our deepest sympathies to the families affected by a double homicide in Iowa. This includes our colleagues and friends at Carpenter Erosion Control, employees of which have much to deal with following this tragic event. Learn more here.;

AMI is pleased to announce a new event: Polymers in Photovoltaics 2010, which will be held at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany from 20-22 April 2010. Polymers in Photovoltaics 2010 will provide a unique opportunity to meet with the wide range of professionals who work in the global photovoltaics industry. Learn more in Jenny Skinner's article and download the conference program in PDF.

Trelleborg continues its long-term strategy to invest in markets with favorable growth potential. The Group is now poised to further strengthen its presence in Brazil and will today inaugurate a new plant in São José dos Campos outside São Paulo. The facility manufactures high-performance seals for such items as aircraft and passenger cars, as well as for industrial applications. The plant is part of the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions business area and it will initially employ about 100 staff.

The EcoPure biodegrading additive, which breaks down petroleum-derived resins in both aerobic and anaerobic composting environments, is now available in Asia through Malaysian company BTE EcoPure (Selangor), The additive is manufactured in the U.S.A. by Bio-Tec Environmental LLC at the company's facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Learn more here.;

In its October 24 issue, The Economist has introduced its readers to thin-film solar technology. Beginning with a winning entry for this year's Solar Decathlon, the brief article takes a peek at growing efficiencies in thin-film solar solutions (as contrasted with traditional crystalline arrays) and the growing cost-competitiveness of these materials in larger power schemes. Companies such as Dow (which has introduced solar-energy shingles), First Solar, and Nanosolar are mentioned. Learn more here.;

Read this interesting account of anticipated world market growth of geosynthetics demand. This report forecasts volumes and percentages by nation and product type. Learn more here.;

Applied Market Information (AMI) has updated the program for Waterproof Membranes 2009, which will be held in Duesseldorf, Germany from 19-21 October 2009. On the geotechnical side of things, the speaker list includes Chris Kelsey of geosynthetica, Vladimir Nosko of Sensor, Gottfried Niederkrattenhaler of Agru Austria, Catrin Tarnowski from GSE Lining Technology GmbH, José Miguel Muñoz Gómez of Sotrafa, Roland von Ah of Leister, and Stefan Ultsch of Dow (Europe). See the full list in the program PDF. Learn more here.;

Entries are due by 22 September 2009 for UK-based New Civil Engineers' annual Graduate Awards program. The awards are open to anyone who graduated from an Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) accredited civil, structural--or related--engineering first degree course, or MSc postgraduate course, during 2008. A graduate currently pursuing any other relevant post graduate degree is also eligible so long as the first, or MSc degree, was completed in 2008. Learn more in the application PDF. Learn more here.;

After a decade of debate, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has selected the final remedy for the lead contamination issue in the basement of Island Trees High School. A concrete cap will be installed and covered with a geotextile cap to smother dust. Annual inspections will be performed to verify the integrity of the cap, which will secure 5,200-square-feet of contaminated space. Learn more here.;

IntertechPira's Global Outlook for Carbon Fiber is in its 12th year now making it the most successful international carbon fiber event of its kind. This year's event will take place at the Hilton Torrey Pines. Ed Carson, Chief Executive Officer of Growth Management and Constructive Changes (GMC2) will deliver the keynote address on the changing business dynamics of the global composites industry. Tencate is one of the major companies featured at the event. Tencate also has a globally known and successful geosynthetics division.

Massif Mountain Gear Company and Gehring Textiles announced today that they have entered into an exclusive agreement to jointly develop and supply military forces around the world with a new generation of flame-resistant fabrics and apparel. Under the terms of the agreement, Massif will become Gehring's exclusive customer for new flame-resistant fabrics developed by Gehring, or jointly by Gehring and Massif, for apparel, headwear and gloves. Gehring also manufactures geotextiles.

The supervisory board of Royal Ten Cate intends to nominate Drs J. Lock during the next general meeting of shareholders for appointment as member of the executive board of Royal Ten Cate. In anticipation of this, Mr Lock will immediately assume the position of chief financial officer (CFO). Mr Lock (63) worked for Royal Ten Cate from 1988 to 2008, his last position being corporate director finance and administration.

A successful cleanup has been completed at the Island Chemical/Virgin Island Chemical site in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing its intention to delete the site from its Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) of the most contaminated sites in the United States and its territories. EPA is taking comments on its proposal to remove the Island Chemical site from the list. Once it is taken off the list, the site will remain eligible for cleanup in the very unlikely event that changes in the condition of the property warrant such action. Read more in the release.

Tencate Advanced Composites USA (TCAC-USA) announces the commercialization of a new generation cyanate resin prepreg system designed specifically to meet the ongoing needs of satellite structure manufacturers for dimensionally stable structure. Scott Unger, Group President of TenCate Advanced Composites USA states that "TC410 addresses the need for dimensional stability in optical benches, reflectors and satellite structure by utilizing a low 250°F/121°C cure temperature coupled with extremely low moisture absorption. This reduces residual stresses in composite components, which minimizes the effects of thermocycling on these components in space.

Modernized textile mills capable of producing technical textiles, such as geotextiles and agritextiles, are being opened in India at a fairly rapid pace. The Ministry of Textiles is providing support for feasibility studies that will help gauge which technical textiles will be most advantageous to produce, while older facilities are being reviewed for potential adaptation to technical textile production. The Economic Times sums up this trend. Learn more here.;