A great opportunity is approaching for the geosynthetics field to play a larger role in the environmental side of the shale energy dialogue. Through August 6, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Shale Energy Conference will accept abstracts. Geosynthetic liners are providing essential environmental and operational efficiency containment for shale energy sites, geogrids and geotextiles are supporting access...

By Strata Systems - The gravel-surfaced property at Glen Raven Logistics in Altamahaw, NC takes daily abuse from tractor-trailer trucks coming for fuel and maintenance. The heavy loads and turning tires from multi-ton vehicles running over the same pathways each day had created ruts that filled with pooling water and was showing signs of progressive failure. Adding additional aggregate...

Keyline Builders Merchants, a large, United Kingdom-based supplier of civils, heavy building materials and drainage products, has announced the establishment of a new geotechnics  team. The enhanced focus on geotechnical expertise will be extended through all of Keyline’s UK branches. In a July 16 announcement, the company notes: The new team will specialise in providing geotechnical advice and a range of...

HILLIARD, Ohio – (July 17, 2013) – Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (ADS) has acquired a controlling interest in a new joint venture established with BaySaver Technologies, Inc. (Mount Airy, MD). The announcement was made today by ADS Chairman and CEO Joe Chlapaty and BaySaver President Tom Pank. In 2008, the companies announced an exclusive marketing agreement for ADS to...

On the heels of the June ASTM International Committee Week meetings in Indianapolis, a number of new and revised standards and work items have been announced by Committees D35 on Geosynthetics and D18 on Soil and Rock. While D18 has withdrawn a few items, we include here only one work item from that committee: a work item related to rolled...

ST. PAUL, Minn. – (July 15, 2013) - The Stormwater Equipment Manufacturers Association (SWEMA) announced that its annual meeting during the StormCon® conference and exposition will be open to prospective members.  It will be held on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 starting at 7:00 a.m. at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel.  SWEMA members will also be available to...

15 July 2013, St. Paul, MN -   The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) conducts an annual survey of the membership’s geomembrane shipments.  “The market data study for year 2012 showed that the FGI membership represented 2,300,273,885 square feet of installed fabricated geomembranes” stated FGI President Andrew Mills. “This is an exciting confirmation of what we have intuitively believed for some...

15 July 2013 - Sika is acquiring JMTexsa, S.A. de C.V. of Mexico and Texsa India Ltd, two leading manufacturers of waterproofing membranes. Sika has signed an agreement to this effect with the French industrial group Soprema. The acquisitions strengthen Sika's growth strategy and accelerate the expansion in emerging markets. The companies being acquired generated annual sales of CHF...

By Abigail Beck, TRI Liner Integrity Services -- New equipment has been developed that behaves like a spark tester, but doesn’t have to be performed on conductive-backed geomembrane.  It has the same requirements as the water puddle and water lance methods in terms of a conductive layer underlying the geomembrane, including soil.  It is not a spark tester, which...

A case study from Geofabrics Australasia -- BHP Billiton Iron Ore was investigating the blending of ore from all mine sites at Newman. A southern rail turnout across the Fortescue River adjacent to the North Jimblebar Causeway was required so that ore from Ore Body 18 and Jimblebar could be taken directly to the Newman Mine site. Initially a...