Special Series

The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Plastics Environmental Division's ANTEC 2011 conference will be held 1-5 May 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. The event addresses sustainable design and the use of plastic materials. Topics include recycling, sustainability, bio-degradable polymers, non petroleum based polymers, reclamation, resource recovery, and disposal of plastic materials. Organizers invite abstracts through 19 November 2010. Learn more here.;

3M announces it has signed a commercialization and supply agreement with TenCate Advanced Composites USA, Inc. that allows TenCate to purchase 3M™ Matrix Resin for the creation of customized products, bringing 3M's innovative technology to multiple new markets. TenCate Advanced Composites is a leading thermoset and thermoplastic prepreg supplier. Its prepregs are used in various markets, including but not limited to space, aerospace, marine, oil and gas, and infrastructure.

TenCate Advanced Composites USA announces that it has signed a commercialization and supply agreement with 3M for the supply to TenCate of 3M™ Matrix Resin for the creation of customized TenCate prepreg products, bringing innovative 3M technology to multiple new markets. As leading thermoset and thermoplastic prepreg developer and producer, TenCate supplies its high tech materials to various markets, including but not limited to space, aerospace, marine, infrastructure, oil and gas. "An innovation can only be considered useful when it enables our customers to make progress, and that's just what this agreement with 3M is going to do", says Joe Morris, Vice President with TenCate Advanced Composites USA. "The TenCate motto is 'Materials that make a difference'. We are excited about the possibilities this new 3M resin brings to our customers in the various markets we areiTenCate Advanced Composites USA announces that it has signed a commercialization and supply agreement with 3M for the supply to TenCate of 3M™ Matrix Resin for the creation of customized TenCate prepreg products, bringing innovative 3M technology to multiple new markets. As leading thermoset and thermoplastic prepreg developer and producer, TenCate supplies its high tech materials to various markets, including but not limited to space, aerospace, marine, infrastructure, oil and gas. "An innovation can only be considered useful when it enables our customers to make progress, and that's just what this agreement with 3M is going to do", says Joe Morris, Vice President with TenCate Advanced Composites USA. "The TenCate motto is 'Materials that make a difference'. We are excited about the possibilities this new 3M resin brings to our customers in the various markets we are in."

The latest episode from Land and Water's Erosion and Sediment Control Network (ESCN.tv) is available. This week's stories include managing stormwater through floodplain and wetland restoration, the International Erosion Control Association's (IECA) call for Environmental Excellence Awards nominees, Colbond's new website, American Excelsior's fall seminar, and an expert Tip of the Week from Alex Zimmerman on "Temporary Irrigation." Watch it online. Learn more here.;

The latest brochure from NAUE regarding Bentofix® GCLs describes the benefits of these materials, the importance of the Thermal Lock Process, and the new Bentofix® X--a polyolefin polymer-coated GCL that exemplifies how modifications to GCL product design can be made to anticipate the special challenges of particular sites. Download a copy (PDF).

Steve Strauss, for American Express's OPEN Forum, writes, "There are two main parts of the act – a series of tax cuts and changes intended to spur growth, and a $30 billion fund designed to increase lending. It’s the latter that encourages me, and should encourage you too." Read more. Learn more here.;

Apple’s latest addition to the "i" family, the iPad, is not just a fancy piece of hardware -- it was built to transform small business into efficient mobile operations. Read more. Learn more here.;

MARC has affirmed the ratings of geosynthetic manufacturer Emas Kiara Industries Bhd's (EKIB) RM80 million Partially Underwritten Murabahah Notes Issuance Facility/Islamic Medium Term Notes Issuance Facility (MUNIF/IMTN) at MARC-2ID/ AID. The rating outlook is revised to stable from developing. Since MARC's review at end-August 2009, the rating agency's concerns over the execution and collection risks attached to EKIB's first foreign contract to install geodykes along the Brahmaputra River in Assam, India have eased with the substantial completion on work under the contract and collection of 73.44% of billed receivables as of mid-August 2010.

Growing demand for high-performance, specialty polypropylene (PP) in end uses including pipes, film and healthcare applications, has prompted supplier LyondellBasell to increase the capacity of its PP plant in Brindisi, Italy. The expansion is scheduled for completion in 2012, according to LyondellBasell (Rotterdam, Netherlands), and it will include the use of additional co-monomers such as hexene. Plant capacity is expected to be increased by 50,000 tonnes, bringing total capacity to 235,000 tonnes/yr. Learn more here.;

The latest episode of Land and Water's Erosion and Sediment Control Network (ESCN.tv) is available. This week's broadcast includes stories on the addition of a Gulf oil spill presentation during the October 15 Fabricated Geomembrane Institute's (FGI) short course in Denver; Central Fiber's acquisition of Southwest Environment Services; the International Erosion Control Association's (IECA) hits the road; and more. Watch it online today. Learn more here.;

On 12 November 2010, the Indian Chapter of International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) and Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP) will hold an international seminar on "Applications of Geosynthetics." The full-day event will be held at CBIP's conference hall in Malcha Marge, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Speakers and topics of presentations include: Prof. Jorge Zornberg, President, IGS -- "Geosynthetic Landfills and Geoenvironmental Practice in USA"; Prof Fumio Tatsuoka, Immediate Past President, IGS -- "Reinforced Soil Structures: Japanese Experience"; Prof. G.V. Rao, Immediate Past President, Indian Chapter of IGS and Former Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi -- "Development of Geosynthetic Practice in India"; and Prof K. Rajagopal, President, Indian Chapter of IGS and Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras -- "Indian Experiences in Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Retaining Walls".

TenCate Advanced Armour Denmark has signed a cooperation agreement relating to the development of the Active Blast Defence System (ABDS) patent and the right of first refusal to acquire the majority of ABDS Aps. Troops in theatre need the best and most advanced armour protection for the job in hand. ABDS Aps. Holds the patent for an innovative defence solution, called Active Blast Defence System, which can offer life-saving protection against a number of improvised explosive devices (IED's) currently seen in action, particularly in the Afghanistan operation.

From American Express's OPEN FORUM network. Download "Market your business for government contracting" here (PDF). Learn more here.;

Marketers should pick their social-media platform carefully, basing the decision on their campaign's specific goals, researchers say. Twitter users are more likely to become brand advocates or make purchases after following a brand; Facebook users, on the other hand, have stronger initial relationships with the brands they choose to support. Learn more here.;

Business incubators, once a trendy place for entrepreneurs to start companies, fell out of favor in recent years. But some indicators suggest incubators are making a comeback as a breeding ground for startups, innovative ideas and new job creation. Learn more here.;

From American Express OPEN Forum. Michael Periu writes on the growing trend of free professional development and learning opportunities online. Universities, for example, are posting entire courses (materials, lectures, even videos) with the Open Course Ware's (OCW) format. Major providers such as iTunes freely distribute the information. Periu's article includes lists of and links to some of the most useful finance-related courses, interviews and lectures. Learn more here.;

Twitter has unveiled a major revamp of its home page, featuring a split screen with far richer multimedia content and contextual connectivity to other users. Observers say the move brings Twitter.com a little closer to Facebook and could spell disaster for third-party client developers. It's also an attempt to make the platform friendlier to advertisers and to create on-screen real estate for promotional content, experts say. "The redesign is as much for advertisers as it is for users, as it will give new visibility for sponsored tweets and trends, as well as content disseminated by marketers," notes Irina Slutsky. Learn more here.;

Twitter recently announced its own "t.co" URL shortener -- and besides being a handy gadget for users, the service is a valuable resource for marketers, writes Alistair Croll. Most digital marketers rely on cookie-based tracking to keep tabs on their audience, but that doesn't work well for social-media campaigns designed to be shared across a range of platforms and applications. That's where t.co comes in: Since Twitter controls the way content is mapped onto shortened URLs, it can produce analytic data and tracking even when content is shared across many platforms. "This is why short URLs are so important. URLs survive the share," Croll writes. Learn more here.;

Great social-media campaigns are built around existing business goals, says Troy Janisch, social-media manager for American Family Insurance. Janisch says that because referrals are a key in insurance, his company's social strategy is geared toward helping agents use social tools to make the same kinds of connections they build offline. "Effective social-media strategies roll downhill," he explains Learn more here.;

Social media should come as standard equipment for small businesses, writes Alison Diana. Studies show that more than half of small to midsized companies use social tools to drum up new business, and that more than a third post daily messages to social-networking sites. If you're not doing the same, you risk getting left behind, she argues. Learn more here.;

The latest episode of Land and Water's Erosion and Sediment Control Network (ESCN.tv) is available. This week's broadcast includes stories on the International Erosion Control Association's (IECA) 2011 Board Of Directors candidates, a $500,000 grant for a sediment reduction project, the Port of Tacoma's need to restore destroyed wetlands, and a "Tip of the Week" from Profile Products' Michael Robeson on "Proper Vegetation Species Selection." Watch it online today. Learn more here.;

In the autumn edition of TenCate's magazine txtures, TenCate Grass takes center stage with articles on sustainable grass solutions, markets, and intriguing uses, such as in oil spill cleanup and rainwater harvesting. Also in the issue is a roadmap of technology and innovation, TenCate's Miramesh SG for slope stabilization, and more. Read the Autumn 2010 issue txtures online. Learn more here.;

Spartanburg, South Carolina's city council is expected to issue up to $10 million in general obligation bonds to finance closing the Arkwright dump and for improvements at Stewart Park. The dump, described by some as a donut, is in need of a closure cap. City administrators identified the Arkwright closure, currently estimated to cost about $6.8 million, as a strategic priority and hope to position the site for potential redevelopment. Work might begin as soon as spring 2011. Learn more here.;

The Sun Live, which covers news from New Zealand's Bay of Plenty area (Tauranga), reports in a city roundup that reconstruction of scour protection work at a stormwater outfall is due to commence on 20 September 2010. The two-week project will replace rusted gabions with sand-filled geotextile bags. The gabions have apparently failed because of weathering. Learn more here.;

In Barrie, Ontario, Canada, a 1960s-built landfill is getting a long-overdue make over. The site is part of a multi-year remediation that will see the reburial of the site's waste in modernized cells with PVC geomembrane liners and a leachate collection system. Learn more here.;