Carlisle Syntec Incorporated introduces their new GeoMembrane product line. Consisting of a fusion-weldable polyester reinforced sheet, Carlisle's polypropylene GeoMembrane line includes GeoMembrane liner, GeoCover™, GeoFlashing™, and GeoRod™. For more information, please contact Mari Killian at mkillian@syntec.carlisle.com

Get a step-by-step overview of how to determine the tensile properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics using ASTM D638, Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics. The on-line tutorial is part of the new ASTM International University—a web-based training site on the use and application of ASTM standards. Learn more here.;

Congratulations to Daniel S. Rohe as he replaces Fred P. Rohe who had previously held the position since 1985. Dan will continue to direct EPI's development of thermal welding techniques for field seaming PVC geomembranes.

Ferrari has a new fluorinated surface-treated composite membrane, Fluotop® T2, that combines fluoropolymer polyvinyldine fluoride (PVdF) with hardening agents. Allowing sunlight to show through the roof structure, Ferrari says the product not only affords longer life, higher mechanical resistance, and a more aesthetically pleasing look, but the fluor/carbon combination makes it highly resistant against ultraviolet radiation and atmospheric pollution.

European Patent 1 216 145 was granted to W.L. Gore and Associates GmbH, K.P. Hochrein, and A. Bauer for a cover for the contained aerobic treatment of biodegradable matter, especially for box composting of organic wastes. The cover is a laminate of a porous polymeric layer adhered to a woven or knit or nonwoven fabric, in which the laminate has a specific air permeability and resistance to water vapour transmission.

A report, published by David Rigby Associates, called 150 End-Use Products in Technical Textiles and Nonwovens: World Market Forecasts to 2010, predicts that geotextiles will show the most rapid growth - 5% a year up to 2010. Learn more here.;

Article: Written by Jeremy K. O'Brien and published by MSW Management. The SWANA Applied Research Foundation has prepared a new guide to provide solid waste managers with up-to-date information and guidance on an exciting development in the field of solid waste management - namely the bioreactor landfill. Learn more here.;

Firstly, Layfield has started manufacturing a variety of 20,30, and 40 mil thin-film geomembranes, up to 10' in width. Layfield Plastics' second announcement is that they have added a new member to their research and technology department. Chang Park is a soils control and reinforcement Engineer and the 3rd member of the department headed by Andrew Mills. And lastly, Sam Desnoyeres has retired from Layfield Plastics after 31 years in the geosynthetics business. Mr. Desnoyeres was with Layfield for 22 years at the time of his retirement held the position of Operations Manager. The newly appointed Operations Manager Al McRae, P.Eng comes to Layfield with a strong Industrial Project Construction background - Welcome Mr. McRae to the world of geosynthetics! For more information about any of these three items, please contact Andrew Mills at amills@layfieldgroup.com.

Basell USA will be showcasing their new polyolefin technology at NPE 2003. New materials for the compounding market and metallocene polypropylene resins are some of the product innovations to be featured. Basell says their Oxypolyolefins (a new family of PP and PE products for the masterbatch and compounding markets) provide improved dispersion and distribution mixing, color opacity, and enhanced wet-out on polar organic and inorganic surfaces.

The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) is proud to announce the premiere issue of Plastics Engineering - Europe, which focuses on the advancements and challenges found throughout the area. To be published again in the fall of 2003, the magazine should expand into a quarterly publication in 2004. Learn more here.;