22 February 2011 – Landmark Earth Solutions, Inc. (LES) unveiled three new engineered erosion control and earth management technologies today in Orlando, Florida, at Environmental Connection 2011, the International Erosion Control Association’s (IECA) annual conference and exposition. LES markets a line of unique civil engineering products featuring the latest in scientific and technological advances.
The new offering includes the EcoTrans™ transition mat; Safe Slope® Xtreme hydraulic mulch, and RIBS™, a rapidly-deployed emergency water and flood control system.
“From a total-cost perspective, each of these innovative erosion and flood control solutions efficiently addresses a problem faced in critical areas,” said Paul O’Malley, LES Director of National Market Development. “Our commitment to this market space is to target the best early stage technologies and commercialize them on a national scale, and these products are a reflection of that commitment.”
EcoTrans – 100% Recycled Replacement for Rock Rip Rap
The newest offering in the transition mat category LES pioneered, EcoTrans is a 100 percent recycled, vegetated replacement for rock rip rap, intended for applications in severe hydraulic conditions that do not require the premium attributes of ScourStop, LES’ flagship transition mat. EcoTrans’ structure provides greater than 50 percent open area for dense vegetative establishment, and provides Day One protection in extreme conditions with minimal required maintenance.
EcoTrans is manufactured from a verified source of recycled plastic in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to ensure integrity of the raw materials and manufacturing process. LES is completing testing on EcoTrans’ hydraulic performance at the nation’s leading hydraulic testing facility at Colorado State University’s Engineering Research Center. Consistent with Landmark’s core commitment to credible and verifiable scientific testing, performance results will be published upon final analysis.
Applications for EcoTrans include culvert outfalls, overflow structures, stream banks, bridge drains, and levee and shoreline protection. EcoTrans is typically used over a turf reinforcement mat (TRM) and/or sod and anchored to the native topography of a site, protecting the areas with the highest hydraulic stress and scour potential, while other BMP soil covers are used in downstream, lower stress areas.
Safe Slope Xtreme – High Performance Natural Fiber Erosion Control Blanket
Safe Slope Xtreme is a high-performance natural fiber hydraulically-applied mulch made from a proprietary blend of biodegradable cotton plant byproducts, crop residue and reclaimed cotton lint enhanced by unique bonding agents which enable all components to effectively interlock and adhere to the soil. The flexible, porous seal that results absorbs enough moisture to both reduce soil loss and facilitate seed growth without fertilization in hydroseeding applications on even the roughest terrains and steepest slopes.
In large-scale testing conducted at Texas Transportation Institute’s Hydraulics, Sedimentation, and Erosion Control Laboratory on 2:1 slopes, Safe Slope Xtreme achieved greater than 99.9 percent effectiveness at controlling erosion on both clay and sand test plots. Safe Slope Xtreme’s 27:1 carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is inherently chemically conducive to maximum grass germination, increasing seed growth by 1,100 percent.
Less densely packed than other types of hydraulically-applied mulches, Safe Slope Xtreme easily disperses into a homogeneous slurry and features a low water-to-mulch ratio (100 gallons per 50 pounds) that significantly reduces project installation costs.
The product was developed through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) in an effort to find useful applications for cotton crop byproducts.
RIBS – Rapid Installation Barrier System
RIBS is a rapidly deployed, patented alternative to sandbags for flood control and de-watering applications. With installation rates up to 30 times faster than standard barriers, RIBS’ trapezoidal design resists water flow while providing a stable barricade against severe weather events and the threat of encroaching waters.
Woven, reinforced polypropylene fabric bags 2, 4 and 6 feet in height are loaded with sand, dirt or gravel in a special trailer, which deploys as other bags are added and filled. RIBS can be used instead of sandbags in flood control, to restrict water flow and erosion on beaches and riverbeds, and for containment measures on construction and mining sites.
Prototype installations of the product with state and federal agencies have been highly successful to date. On Feb. 28, RIBS’ effectiveness as a temporary flood fighting barrier will be evaluated by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center at its Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory in Vicksburg, Mississippi, against its standardized protocol.
During the 2011 flood season, several miles of RIBS will be positioned at strategic points along the Upper Mississippi River, north of St. Louis, for rapid installation.
About Landmark Earth Solutions
Landmark Earth Solutions, Inc. is a civil engineering subsidiary of Leggett & Platt, Inc. The company offers erosion control and earth management products featuring the latest scientific and technological advances to provide the most reliable, cost-effective products on the market today. Landmark’s core strategy is to optimize strengths in engineering, manufacturing, and product development while targeting early stage, developing technologies. www.landmarkearthsolutions.com
About Leggett & Platt
Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG) is a diversified manufacturer (and member of the S&P 500) that conceives, designs and produces a broad variety of engineered components and products that can be found in most homes, offices, and automobiles. The company serves a broad suite of customers that comprise a “Who’s Who” of U.S. manufacturers and retailers. The 128-year-old firm is comprised of 19 business units, 19,000 employee-partners, and 140 manufacturing facilities located in 18 countries.
Media Contacts
Wendy Schweiger
Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations
+1 216 298 4647 (office)
+1 330 472 3799 (cell)
Megan Grote
Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations
+1 216 298 4625 (office)
+1 513 284 8141 (cell)
Flood barriers, including RIBS, when properly installed in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications can significantly decrease the risk of damage due to flooding; however, neither RIBS nor other flood barrier products are intended to or can prevent all flooding. Any deployment of RIBS must be (1) carefully designed by professionals familiar with the specifics of the site of application, circumstances surrounding the particular flooding risk and the RIBS specifications and (2) installed by competent installers familiar with RIBS installation techniques. Landmark Earth Solutions makes no representations or warranties concerning the appropriateness or performance of the RIBS technology at any particular site or in any particular situation and shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect selection, use, or deployment of the product. As with all flood barriers, unanticipated site
characteristics or water conditions, misuse of the product or failure to properly follow the instructions can lead to severe flooding, property damage, injury and deaths. Emergency planning and actions must take into account the potential of barrier failure. For information concerning the Limited Warranty made by Landmark and product and installation specifications please see LandmarkEarthSolutions.com.
