John Kenneth "Robbie" Robinson passed away on February 6th, 2023. Better known by his nickname, Robbie, he will be greatly missed by family and friends for his big personality, love of casual conversation, and the twinkle in his eyes. Professionally, Robbie was the CEO of the industrial fabrics company, ETP, Inc. which he started in [...]

CONNECT by ATA will be hosting an Ask Me Anything on Supply Chain Challenges event with Bill Rooney of Kuehne + Nagel Inc. on August 30! Get the answers to your supply chain questions from an expert at this live session on August 30 from 1-2pm EDT. Can't make it to the live session? Email [...]

Advanced Textiles Association (ATA), recently launched their new logo. ATA became the official new name of the association formerly known as Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), on June 1 and have now released their new look. The goal was to find a name and acronym that was more inclusive of the textiles, fabrics, materials that [...]

The U.S. Department of Labor will provide a funding opportunity for $11.7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to support the delivery of training and education to help workers and employers identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards. Administered by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the grants will target disadvantaged, underserved, low-income, and other hard-to-reach, [...]

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) will become the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) effective June 1. The name change was approved in April with 85.6 percent of association members casting their votes to do so. Association bylaws require the approval of two-thirds of those returning ballots. The results were audited by Clifton Larson Allen. “This [...]

Close to 100 attendees gathered at the Omni Homestead Resort (circa 1766) in Hot Springs, VA to engage, learn and connect with colleagues in the industry. A day and a half of informative business sessions, intermingled with several networking opportunities, were filled with knowledge and idea exchange as well as insights from various thought leaders [...]

The Advanced Textiles Association will be hosting an “Ask Me Anything” on trade issues with attorney Nate Bolin in May. The event will take place on Tuesday, May 10, from 2 to 3 p.m. EDT, in CONNECT by ATA’s Open Forum. This is a great opportunity to ask him your questions about trade and tariffs. [...]

Watershed Geo strategic hires Randy Thompson, Daniel Ward and Trey Hardin bring years of experience to Georgia-based geosynthetics company. New Watershed Geosynthetics LLC employees Randy Thompson, Daniel Ward and Trey Hardin. Photograph courtesy of Watershed Geosynthetics LLC Three leading industry professionals are bringing their talent to the growing team at Watershed Geosynthetics LLC of Alpharetta, [...]

Solmax discusses why choosing your extrusion welding rod matters, and the best ways to perform an extrusion weld on a geomembrane. Circular geomembrane extrusion weld. Photograph courtesy of Solmax Extrusion welding is a highly effective seaming method that’s primarily used for detailed patching work on polymeric geomembranes such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). It also works well [...]

GSI landfill covers webinar on May 11 will focus on the various components included in geosynthetic final covers for solid waste landfills. Geomembrane landfill cover, one type of emerging geosynthetics to be discussed in the GSI landfill covers webinar. Photograph courtesy of Layfield Group Ltd. The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will sponsor a webinar, “Landfill Covers: [...]

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) chose Montreal to host 13ICG, to be held Sept. 13–16, 2026, in Canada for the first time. The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) announced that Montreal, Que., Canada, has been selected to host the 13th International Conference on Geosynthetics (13ICG) in 2026. The bidding process began last August, when IGS President Chungsik [...]

The conference Organizing Committee emphasized the Geosynthetics Conference 2023 abstract deadline is April 29—a week away. Kansas City, Mo., is the site of Geosynthetics Conference 2023, and the abstract deadline of April 29 is just a week away. Photograph by Nick Youngson. Creative Commons License: Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) The Geosynthetics Conference 2023 [...]

Concrete Canvas and Titan renew/expand partnership for distribution of geosynthetic concrete composite mats in Canada and the western U.S. Executives from Concrete Canvas Ltd. and Titan Environmental Containment Ltd. with new sales partnership agreement. Photograph courtesy of Titan Environmental Containment Ltd. U.K.-based Concrete Canvas Ltd. and Canada-based Titan Environmental Containment Ltd. announced the renewal of [...]

Layfield’s Fraser joins GSI board of advisors, bringing his 40+ years' experience in the geosynthetics industry to GSI. Brian Fraser joins GSI board of advisors. Photograph courtesy of Layfield Group Ltd. The Layfield Group Ltd. announced that Brian Fraser, vice president of business development for Layfield Geosynthetics, has been appointed to the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) [...]

AGRU America Inc. explores landfill closure regulations and requirements, highlighting landfill closure best practices from the perspective of a geosynthetics manufacturer. In partnership with Watershed Geosynthetics LLC, AGRU America Inc. has manufactured more than 1,500 acres (607 ha) of ClosureTurf engineered landfill closure systems. Photograph courtesy of AGRU America Inc. Landfill containment is a complicated [...]

Geo Conference 2023 exhibitor space is filling up fast; it’s time to book a booth to secure your ideal location on the show floor. Geocells. Photograph courtesy of BTL Liners Geo Conference 2023 exhibitor space is now open for booking. The conference, to be held in Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 5–8, 2023, will be co-located [...]

Naue GmbH & Co. geotextile containers and geotextiles offer coastal protection with geosynthetics along the shoreline of Thorpe, England. Installing Secutex Soft Rock containers along the coastline at Thorpeness, England. Photograph courtesy of Naue GmbH & Co. KG Through a partnership involving the Suffolk Coastal District, the U.K.’s Environment Agency and local residents, work to [...]

Seaman Corp. describes a rare opportunity for inspecting a 6-year-old geomembrane at the Knoxville, Tenn., World’s Fair Park. By Felon Wilson, Industrial Fabrics Business Director, Seaman Corp. WFP Park and lake in Knoxville, Tenn. Photograph courtesy of Seaman Corp. The lake at the Knoxville, Tenn., 1982 World’s Fair Park was relined with the XR-5 geomembrane in [...]

After rockfall onto a parking lot in the Stubaital region of Austria, a geosynthetic protective dam defended the area from further damage. Construction of the Polyslope S system rockfall protection dam at the Eisgratbahn Talstation in Neustift im Stubaital, Austria. Photograph courtesy of TenCate Geosynthetics EMEA A huge boulder detached itself from the slope directly [...]

For a Seattle road over marshland, the contractor chose a Tensar International Corp. geogrid for soil stabilization. By Alec Anderson, P.E., Regional Sales Manager, Tensar International Corp.  Installing a geotextile. Photograph courtesy of Tensar International Corp. When soft soils are encountered on a jobsite, many contractors automatically turn to the same solutions they've always used. However, [...]