News

FGI Offering LIVE Virtual Panel Discussion Webinar

This first webinar Panel Discussion will assemble five (5) industry leaders to answer questions about design, specifying, factory testing, fabrication, welding, packaging, shipping, installing, field leak location testing, and maintaining factory fabricated geomembranes and geosynthetics, e.g., geotextiles, for a range of applications. The panelists will also discuss different labor rates, production per day, quality control, testing, weather impacts, wind, wrinkles and performing leak location surveys, etc. for factory fabricated versus field fabricated geosynthetics. This should result in a lively discussion about current trends in geomembranes, fabrication, testing, and installation.

Panelists:
Doug Hilts, P.E. (Hilts Consulting Group)
Patrick Elliott (Raven Industries)
Ronald Frobel, P.E., (R.K. Frobel & Assoc)
Dan Rohe (EPI)
Duff Simbeck (Simbeck & Associates)
Moderator: Timothy Stark, Ph.D., P.E. (Univ of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Register For Webinar

Free to Industry Professionals and Students

1.0 PDH

FGI Welcomes New Member: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Solid Waste Management

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest Government/Regulatory Agency Member, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Solid Waste Management.  

The mission of the Division of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) is to protect, improve, and promote health and environmental quality through the responsive, effective oversight of waste management activities and the beneficial use of recovered materials.  Solid waste may be defined as any useless,unused, unwanted, or discarded materials. Hazardous waste, problem waste, toxic substances, and recyclables may be distinguished from other solid waste. DSWM has established focused programs to address each of these.  The Solid Waste Program ensures safe and sanitary processing and disposal of solid waste in Tennessee.  It regulates material recovery facilities, transfer stations,and landfills for sanitary or municipal solid waste, industrial waste, farming wastes, and construction and demolition waste, some of which are subject to EPA RCRA Subtitle D.  The Solid Waste Program operates under the authority of the Solid Waste Management Act of 1991.

The FGI liaison is Reese Yontz, who can be reached at reese.yontz@tn.gov.  Please help us welcome the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Solid Waste Management to the FGI!!!!

FGI Creates Video Podcast Series

In addition to the FGI’s Audio Podcast Series, the FGI has now created a series of Video Podcasts.  The video podcasts are approximately 10-20 minutes long and demonstrate a technical aspect of the geosynthetics industry. For example, two video podcasts cover the FGI’s new Panel Weight Calculator and Pond Liner Calculator.  The videos review the purpose and usefulness of these calculators, as well as a tutorial on how to use them.  Another video podcast reviews a case history on a slope failure and features special guest, Doug Evans of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

All of the FGI’s Video podcasts can be downloaded for free from the FGI website HERE.    

If you have a topic for the FGI to address on a future audio or video podcast, please email Jen Miller at fabricatedgeomembrane@gmail.com

FGI Newsletter - Spring 2020 Now Available

Safety First

2020 Webinar Series

Women in Geo Round Table

New Videos on Pond Leakage and Panel Weight Calculators

New Podcasts: Geomembrane Nomenclature, Air Channel Testing, Stormwater Management, Secondary Containment

FGI Website Resources

FGI Welcomes Re-Gen Enterprises

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest Associate Member, Re-Gen Enterprises. Re-Gen is a primary and secondary containment liner removal and recycling company, headquartered in Meridian, Idaho. Re-Gen is the industry leader for containment liner removal solutions that benefits the environment through recycling, time and cost savings due to proprietary equipment and processes, as well as enhancing current safety and environmental programs. Their FGI liaison is Mike Fallon, Director of Market Research and Development, who can be reached at mikef@re-genusa.com. Please help us welcome Re-Gen Enterprises to the FGI!!!!

FGI Members Provide Aid During COVID19 Pandemic

Several members of the Fabricated Geomembrane Instiute (FGI) have altered their plans and manufacturing facilities to provide much needed supplies to the medical community.  Please see a few examples of how these extraordinary companies are stepping up during the pandemic:

Plastatech Provides Medical Grade PVC Membrane for Masks and Gowns

https://plastatech.com/media/press_releases/Plastatech-Manufactures-PPE.pdf

Raven Industries Creates Medical PPE Gowns for Healthcare Workers

https://ravenefd.com/news/raven-creates-medical-ppe-gowns-for-healthcare-workers-during-covid-19-pandemic

Cooley Group Manufactures Medical Products and Supplies

https://pbn.com/coping-with-covid-19-cooley-group/

Intertape Polymer Group Makes Containment and Medical Supplies

https://www.itape.com/en/ms/emergency%20response

Owens Corning Foundation plans to use most of its 2020 budget to help charities battling coronavirus in OC communities. The foundation is making grants to hospitals, food banks, homeless shelters, and other charities. Grants are in process or have already been sent to communities in Belgium, Canada, China, England, France, India, Italy, Spain, and the United States.

Women in Geosynthetics Hosts First Round Table Discussion

Thank you to everyone who attended the Women in Geosynthetics session and a very special thanks to the incredible panelists:  Christine Thomas (COMANCO), Tonya Switalski (Titan Environmental), Andreea Sasu (Solmax), Fabiana Arriaga (Geosyntec Consultants), and MC Jordan Wiechmann (Plastatech).  Your words were so inspirational and created an electric atmosphere of discussion and energy for all attendees.  For more information on Women in Geosynthetics, please contact Jen Miller at fabricatedgeomembrane@gmail.com or visit our webpage at fabricatedgeomembrane.com/wig

FGI Hosts Panel Discussion on Constructing With Fabricated Geosynthetics

Thank you to everyone who attended the Constructing with Fabricated Geosynthetics Panel Discussion and a very special thanks to the distinguished panelists:  Patrick Elliott (Raven), Doug Hilts (Hilts Consulting), Dan Rohe (EPI), Duff Simbeck (Simbeck & Assoc), and MC Tim Stark (Univ. of Illinois).  The discussion showed that there are many advantages to factory fabrication such as predictable installation times, lower wages, less field testing, and better overall geosynthetics quality.

FGI Welcomes Genap BV

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest installer member, Genap BV.  Genap has been specializing in geomembrane solutios and applications for the agricultural and civil engineering sectors since 1951.  Genap recognizes the increasingly important roles of water, energy, and environmental issues in our society.  Therefore, Genap provides sustainable solutions, using geosynthetics, to minimize impact on natural resources.  The company headquarters are located in ‘s-Heerenberg,The Netherlands Europe and their FGI liaison is Dirk van Regteren, Managing Director, who can be reached at d.vanregteren@genap.nlor via www.genap.nl.  Please help us welcome Genap to the FGI!!!!

FGI Starts Podcast Series

Join Tim Stark (Professor of Civil Engineering and Technical Director of the FGI) and Jen Miller (Coordinator of the FGI) as they discuss the latest emerging geosynthetic industry trends and news. Podcasts are available to download from the FGI Website or from the following online streaming services: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Anchor FM, Breaker, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, & Google Podcasts.

Happy Listening: https://www.fabricatedgeomembrane.com/resources/podcasts

News

FGI Fall 2024 Newsletter Now Available

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Top FGI Headlines for Fall 2024:

- New Project Spotlight: Artesian Resources Treated Wastewater Holding Lagoon

- FGI Geomembrane 30-Year Durability Project

- New Module Added to FGI's Online CQA Course for 2025

- FGI Design & Installation Details

- Upcoming FGI Webinars

FGI Summer 2024 Newsletter Now Available

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Top FGI Headlines for Summer 2024:

- New Project Spotlight: Potts Hill Reservoirs

- FGI Creates Subtitle D White Paper

- Installation Cost Comparison Calculator

- Become CQA Certified Online

- Upcoming FGI Webinars

FGI Welcomes Plastika Kritis

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest Manufacturer Member, Plastika Kritis (PK). Founded in 1970, Plastika Kritis is a leading European manufacturer of geomembranes and other plastic products, and a pioneer in blown film extrusion. In 1999 the company was listed on the Athens Stock Exchange.

PK specializes in high-performance geomembranes, such as EVOH barriers, and has supplied millions of square feet to projects globally for a variety of applications, including landfill lining and capping, water reservoirs, irrigation canals, earth dams, agriculture, construction, and more.

PK operates10 cutting-edge facilities in 7 countries and produces in-house premium additives and compounds used for its geomembranes and liners. The global footprint allows PK to supply its customers competitively, quickly, and securely. PK has a sales office in New York and the FGI liaison is Yannis Lempidakis, Business Development Manager, who can be reached at yl@plastikakritis.com.  Please help us welcome Plastika Kritis to the FGI!!!!

FGI Spring 2024 Newsletter Now Available

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Top FGI Headlines for Winter 2024:

- FGI at GeoAmericas 2024 Conference

- FGI Offering Short Course on Subgrade Prep & Use of GCLs with Flexible Geomembranes Internationally

- FGI Hydropower Research Project

- FGI 1120 Now Available in Portuguese

- Upcoming FGI Webinars

FGI Offering Short Course on Subgrade Preparation & Use of GCLs with Flexible Geomembranes

Join us for an online short course that will focus on subgrade preparation for installation of flexible geomembranes. In addition, the course will focus on the use of geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) with flexible geomembranes to create a composite barrier system. This course will describe the requirements for subgrade preparation before a flexible geomembrane is installed, such as maximum rock size allowed, presence of water, and smooth rolling the surface before geomembrane installation. This course will also present information on the hydraulic performance, chemical resistance, shear strength, and installation of GCLs with flexible geomembranes.

3.0 PDH, Free

Part 1: Subgrade Preparation - April 9, 2024 -12-1:30 pm CDT - Presented by Dr. Timothy D. Stark (University of Illinois)

Part 2: Use of GCLs with Flexible Geomembranes - April 10, 2024 -12-1:30 pm CDT - Presented by Marat Goldenberg, P.E. (CETCO)

Register Today

FGI Welcomes COMANCO Environmental Corporation

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest Installer Member, COMANCO Environmental Corporation. COMANCO is an environmental, commercial, and civil construction company specializing in constructing containment facilities. For 35 years, COMANCO has provided turnkey geosynthetic installations for clients worldwide. Their sustainable containment solutions benefit clients from a variety of industries like waste management, water treatment, gas extraction, mining, energy, and more. An established name in Geosynthetics, COMANCO is known for completing all projects according to their core values of safety, quality, and service. The company headquarters is in Plant City, Florida and their FGI liaison is Trevor Topp, QA/QC Coordinator, who can be reached at tatopp@comanco.com. Please help us welcome COMANCO Environmental Corporation to the FGI!!!!

FGI Winter 2024 Newsletter Now Available

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Top FGI Headlines for Winter 2024:

- FGI Creates Factory Fabrication Guideline

- FGI Offering Short Course on Subgrade Prep & Use of GCLs with Flexible Geomembranes

- FGI On-Demand CQA Course & Certification Exam

- FGI Featured Technical Topics

- Upcoming FGI Webinars

FGI Welcomes Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute(FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest Government/Regulatory Agency Member, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR).  

The mission of the Iowa DNR is to conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations. The Iowa DNR manages fish and wildlife programs, ensures the health of Iowa’s forests and prairies, and provides recreational opportunities in Iowa’s state parks. Just as importantly, the Iowa DNR carries out state and federal laws that protect air, land, and water through technical assistance, permitting, and compliance programs. The Iowa DNR also encourages the enjoyment and stewardship of natural resources among Iowans through outreach and education.

The FGI liaison is Brian L. Rath, P.E., Environmental Engineer Senior in the Solid Waste and Contaminated Sites Section, who can be reached at brian.rath@dnr.iowa.gov. Please help us welcome the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to the FGI!!!!

FGI Welcomes Burke Industries LLC

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest manufacturer member, Burke Industries LLC. Burke offers a highly diversified portfolio of elastomeric solutions for construction, aerospace, the armed forces, and a wide range of commercial applications. Burke has their own product lines in roofing, pond-liners, and aerospace. Their experienced team ensures consistent results and high-performance solutions, time after time. Burke was founded in 1942 by Roscoe Burke in San Jose, CA, where it is still headquartered today. The FGI liaison is Kevin Sroka, who can be reached at kevin.sroka@mannington.com or www. burkeind.com. Please help us welcome Burke Industries to the FGI!!!!

FGI Welcomes Fabtech

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest Fabricator/Installer member, Fabtech.  Established in 1986 and incorporated in 1994,Fabtech has extensive experience as a leading geomembrane installer in Australia, as well as an international presence.  Fabtech is a proven leader in the multi-disciplined technology that encompasses the lining and covering of dams, reservoirs, landfills, effluent lagoons, tunnels, irrigation channels and tanks.  At the forefront of its industry, Fabtech has installed over 10 million square meters of geomembrane liners and covers in Australia, the PacificRim, UAE, Eastern Europe and New Zealand. The company headquarters are located in Dulwich, South Australia, and their FGI liaison is Graham Fairhead, Managing Director, who can be reached at gfairhead@fabtech.com.au. Please help us welcome Fabtech to the FGI!!!!