FGI 17th Teleconference Meeting was held on August 6, 2010. The meeting minutes can be found on the member documents page. The next FGI Member teleconference is scheduled for Friday, September 3, 2010 at 10:00 am Central Time.  Please mark your calendars and if you are unable to attend, please designate a company replacement.

Dear Industry Professional,

I hope you will consider attending a one-day short course titled “Design and Construction with Fabricated Geomembranes” in Denver, Colorado on Friday, October 15, 2010.  Details about the course are shown below and can be downloaded as a PDF.

Register before October 1, 2010 and receive a discount! You and your other employees will receive seven (7) Professional Development Hours for attending the course.  Thanks for your consideration and see you on October 15, 2010.

During a trip through the Midwest, Kent Metzger, Market Manager for Intertape Polymer Group and FGI Treasurer, stopped in Urbana to visit the FGI at the University of Illinois (see attached photograph). During the visit, Tim Stark introduced Kent to several graduate students and discussed the FGI website, potential new members, FGI budget, and new presentations for the FGI short course. Tim gave Kent a tour of the geosynthetics lab, the FGI Office, and the Crane Bay area where large scale structures and construction materials projects are being conducted. During the visit Kent and Tim also discussed current and future FGI activities to promote the use of fabricated geomembranes, presentation of the FGI budget during the monthly teleconference, and future research activities on fabricated geomembrane.

Tim welcomes all FGI members to visit the University of Illinois which is located about 130 miles south of Chicago along I-57. If desired, Tim can arrange for the visitor to give a presentation to and meet with Civil Engineering students. Tim hopes to visit the facilities of all FGI members in the near future to better understand each member’s business and how the FGI can provide additional benefit to them but also encourages them to visit the University of Illinois. The FGI is an exciting advancement in the geomembrane industry that allows focus on all geomembranes that can be factory fabricated.

FGI 16th Teleconference Meeting was held on July 9, 2010. The meeting minutes can be found on the member documents page. The next FGI Member teleconference is scheduled for Friday, August 6, 2010 at 10:00 am Central Time.  Please mark your calendars and if you are unable to attend, please designate a company replacement.

Media Contact:
Laurie Honnigford
FGI Representative
+1-651-554-1895
laurie@honnigford.com

Guideline for Subgrade Preparation for Fabricated Geomembranes is Published
by FGI

(St. Paul, Minn., July 10, 2010) The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) has produced a new guideline entitled Subgrade Requirements for Fabricated Geomembranes. This guideline details the proper preparation of the subgrade for the installation of all fabricated geomembranes. This document is written such that these guidelines can be picked up by an engineer or specifier and put into a specification for subgrade condition and requirements. Color pictures of both acceptable and unacceptable subgrade preparations and protrusions are provided to give the user a visual depiction of what is described in the text.

The subgrade requirements for preventing water pressure build-up below the liner are addressed in this guideline. This is an important consideration in preventing the geomembrane from being lifted off the subgrade by ground water or gas build up. This document can be found here and is available for use by the industry.

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute is housed at the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign. Dr. Timothy D. Stark is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an expertise in Geotechnical Engineering. Dr. Stark has been teaching, researching, and consulting on geosynthetics, stability of manmade slopes, and design of waste containment facilities for more than 15 years. For more information on the FGI, contact Dr. Stark at +1 217-333-3929 or geomembrane@illinois.edu.

Advances in Geotechnical Engineering

The objective of Geo-Frontiers 2011 is to share new developments in geotechnical engineering technologies. Attendees will be exposed to the latest state of the art and practice as applied to geotechnical engineering.

As an engineer, environmental specialist, water or transportation regulator, you will have an extensive menu of technical programs, workshops and short courses to select from. You’ll walk away with up to 32 pdhs, hundreds of new ideas—from design and engineering strategies to cost-saving geotechnical solutions and new industry contacts.

Technical Paper Program
Abstract submission has closed with 800 abstract submissions. The review process is underway.

Trade Show
If your market is geotechnical products and services you should exhibit at the largest geotechnical trade event in North America… Geo-Frontiers 2011.

• Exhibitors include manufacturers and service providers showcasing geotechnical solutions and technologies and innovations
• Exhibits will include the latest products, technologies, services and equipment for the geosynthetics industry

Find out more information at www.geofrontiers11.com

During a recent trip, Tim Stark visited the headquarters of the Seaman Corporation in Wooster, Ohio. Tim met with Joe Gaspro, Marketing Manager (see attached photograph), and Bill Shehane, Geomembrane Marketing Specialist, via WebEx to discuss current and future FGI activities and the geosynthetics industry as a whole.

Dr. Stark hopes to visit the facility of all FGI members in the near future to better understand each member’s business and how the FGI can provide additional benefit to them. The FGI is an exciting advancement in the geomembrane industry and allows the Institute to focus on all geomembranes that can be factory fabricated.

During a recent trip, Tim Stark visited the newest member of the FabricatedGeomembrane Institute (FGI) Hapco, Inc. in beautiful Kent, Ohio. Tim met with Chuck George, CEO, and Brenda Solon, Marketing Consultant, to discuss current and future FGI activities (see attached photograph). Tim also met with other Hapco employees and toured their extensive equipment development and repair facilities. In particular, the involvement of Hapco in the welding and testing demonstration in the next FGI short course that will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Denver on Friday, October 15, 2010 was discussed as well as how the FGI can assist Hapco.

Dr. Stark hopes to visit the facility of all FGI members in the near future to better understand each member’s business and how the FGI can provide additional benefit to them.

During a trip to Cleveland, Tim Stark visited the new building for Firestone Building Products, Energy Solutions, and Specialty Products in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tim met with Paul Olivera and John Heathcote (see attached photograph) to discuss current and future FGI activities.   In particular, the logistics for the next FGI short course that will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Denver on Friday, October 15, 2010 were discussed as well as future FGI research activities, e.g., development of a geomembrane decision and testing matrix to facilitate the use of fabricated geomembranes.

Dr. Stark hopes to visit the facility of all FGI members in the near future to better understand each member’s business and how the FGI can provide additional benefit to them. The FGI is an exciting advancement in the geomembrane industry and allows the Institute to focus on all geomembranes that can be factory fabricated.

Hapco, Inc. has just joined the Fabricated Geomembrane Institute as an Associate Member. The point of contact for Hapco is Chuck George and he can be reached at chuck@hapcoinc.com or (330) 678-9353. We would like to extend a warm welcome to Hapco, Inc. and look forward to working with them in the future. The FGI now has thirty (30) members pursuing the advancement of fabricated geomembranes in the marketplace. For a complete membership list, please visit the Current Members page.