FGI Publishes Article on Protecting Geomembranes from Animal Damage in Geosynthetics Magazine
Resisting animal and insect attacks of geomembranes is an interesting problem. Geomembrane installers and manufacturers have had numerous geomembranes damaged by bears, deer, coyotes, birds, beavers and ground squirrels. In most cases, the damage is incidental to something else the animal is seeking. Deer damage the liner with their hooves trying to climb out. Bears dig through the liner to try and find something on the other side (organic matter left under a liner in a retrofit). Coyotes burrow under the liner on the slope to create a den that doesn’t freeze.
Close-up of damage to PVC geomembrane from deer hooves
FGI Announces New Officers and Board of Directors
(Urbana, IL, April 25, 2017) The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) inducted new Officers and a new Board of Directors during their annual membership meeting in Orlando, Florida on March 13, 2017 at the ASCE Geo-Frontiers Conference. The FGI’s membership meeting was attended by forty-seven (47) people and held in conjunction with the Industrial Fabrics Association International. Before introducing the new Officers and Directors, Timothy D. Stark, FGI Technical Director and Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, acknowledged the service of the outgoing Officers and Board Members: Marlyn Waltner (Intertape Polymer Group, Sioux Falls, South Dakota), Jeremiah Boorsma (Accugeo, Bakersfield, California), and Dave McLaury (DemTech, Placerville, California). In particular, Tim recognized the FGI’s outgoing President, Andrew Mills (Layfield Group, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), for his instrumental ideas and initiatives for launching the FGI and establishing the successful membership and dues structure. Tim presented Andrew with a plaque in recognition of his service as the FGI President for three consecutive terms, i.e., six years.
The newly elected FGI Officers will serve a two-year term (2017-2019) and are:
• President – Patrick Elliott (Colorado Lining International, Parker, Colorado)
• Vice President – Laura Storey (Plastatech, Saginaw, Michigan)
• Treasurer – Ed Silva (Engineered Polymer Technologies, Hillside, New Jersey)
• Secretary – Jimmie Eloff (Owens Corning, Granville, OH)
The recently elected FGI Board of Directors also will serve a two-year term (2017-2019) and are listed below in alphabetical order:
• Dale Kemnitz (Leak Location Services)
• Gary Kolbasuk (Raven Industries)
• Ray Peebles (Cooley Group)
• Bill Shehane (Seaman Corporation)
• Duff Simbeck (Simbeck & Associates)
The FGI is dedicated to advancing the use of fabricated geomembranes through education, research, and technology transfer. The FGI is a consortium of manufacturers, fabricators/installers, designers, regulators, and material suppliers of fabricated geomembranes. For more information on the FGI, please visit www.fabricatedgeomembrane.com.
2017-2019 FGI Officers and Board of Directors. (L-R): Ed Silva (Engineered Polymer Technologies), Gary Kolbasuk (Raven), Pat Elliott (Colorado Lining), Tim Stark (Univ. of Illinois), Dale Kemnitz (Leak Location Services), Laura Storey (Plastatech), Jimmie Eloff (Owens Corning), Duff Simbeck (Simbeck & Assoc.), Ray Peebles (Cooley)
FGI Presents Second Annual Engineering Innovation Award
The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) presented its second annual Fabricated Geomembrane Engineering Innovation Award during its annual membership meeting in Orlando, Florida on March 13, 2017 at the ASCE Geo-Frontiers Conference. The FGI’s membership meeting was attended by forty-seven (47) people and held in conjunction with the Industrial Fabrics Association International. The 2017 Engineering Innovation Award was presented to Ronald K. Frobel & Associates and S&ME, Inc. for the Columbus Upground Reservoir Project. This is the largest geosynthetics lined reservoir in the United States, covering 843 acres. More than 37,000,000 square feet of fabricated polypropylene geomembrane, as well as 37,000,000 square feet of 10 ounce non-woven geotextile were used for the liner system on the base of the reservoir. The reservoir contains 475 fabricated geomembrane panels; each panel measures approximately 125 by 250 feet, with an area of about 31,250 square feet and weighing nearly 6,250 lbs. The FGI Engineering Innovation Award provides recognition for engineer(s) who have creatively used fabricated geomembranes to successfully fulfill a client/owner’s needs including, technical requirements, scheduling, and budget.
Jason Ross (left) of S&ME, Inc. accepts the 2017 Fabricated Geomembrane Engineering Innovation Award from Timothy D. Stark, FGI Technical Director
Geomembrane Market Expected to Reach $3,537 Million by 2022, Globally – Allied Market Research
According to a new report published by Allied Market Research titled, “Geomembrane Market by Raw Material, Technology, and Application: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014–2022,” the global geomembrane market was valued at $2,048 million in 2015, and is estimated to reach $3,537 million by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2016 to 2022. In 2015, extrusion technology segment held almost half of the total market share.
Summary of the Report Geomembrane Market can be accessed on the website at:
