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drymix.info Newsletter 174/2015; ISSN Number 1613-0111; 21. December 2015

Too many News to be waiting until next year, dear Friends. Leo

1. Russian Mortar Days 2016 on 27. January 2016 in Moscow: Programme
2. Çimsa to Build White Cement Plant in Eskişehir
3. Dow Chemical and DuPont Plan Merger of Equals
4. Indonesian Drymix Mortar Association Promindo formed in Jakarta
5. SEADMA to Organize its Annual Conference on 17.11. 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia

1. Russian Mortar Days 2016 on 27. January 2016 in Moscow: Programme

The newsletter I sent out last week was missing our programme in Russia, here it is, I apologize for the mistake!

The scientific conference Russian Mortar Days takes place in Moscow on 27. January 2016. The event is hosted by the leading Technical University of Russia, the Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (MCU or MGSU), it is being organized in cooperation of MCU with The Association of Russian Mortar Producers SPSSS and drymix.info, The International Community for Drymix Mortars. The Technical Chairman, Prof. Dr. Andrey Pustovgar has admitted the following lectures (sorted alphabetically by company/institution name, subject to change without notice):
Association ANFAS, M.G.Aleksandriya, S.A.Golunov: Façade thermal insulation composite systems with external plaster layers (ETICS). Creating a regulatory structure. Jump from innovation technology to wide use.
Akzo Nobel Chemicals, University of Applied Sciences of Northwestern Switzerland, J. Lang, Th. Bühler et al.: Mechanisms and Influencing Factors of Open Time in Tile Adhesive Mortars
Building Information Agency, E. Botka: Russian Market of Dry Mixes: Results of 2015 and Forecasts of the Development for 2016-2017
CEDRUS and  drymix.info, A. Shein and F. Leopolder: Machine Application of Drymix Mortars - the Basis for an Industrial Revolution in Russia
Laboratory CCRB at MCU, S. Nefedof: Study on the Functional Characteristics of the Joints of the Gypsum Building Boards with Different Types of Edges
Institute of Building materials and technologies at MCU, A. Eremin: Identification of the Type of Modification of Semi-hydrate Gypsum by X-ray Diffraction
Kerneos, M. Niepmann: Binders’ Interactions and Hydration Mechanisms in HAC-based Drymix Formulations
MCU (Vice Rector), A. Pustovgar: Normative Documents for Production of Dry Building Mixtures - Status and Prospects
NP "Environmental Union", (tbd.): The Market is in Need of Environmentally Friendly Dry Mixes: the Impact of Global Ecological Trends on the Construction Industry
Research Company "GS-Expert", A. Semenov: Mineral Binders Market (Gray, White, Aluminate Cement, Lime) for Dry Mortars
Tambov State Technical University TGTU, V. Belov: Optimization of the Grain Composition of the Binding Part of Dry Construction
Research Institute of Building materials and technologies MGSU, I. Ivanovna: The Choice of Primers in the Performance of Finishing Works with Dry Mixes, as a Criterion of Quality Assurance
Wacker Chemie, D. Forsaev: Overview of European markets ETICS: Materials, Technologies, Tendencies of Development.

Admission is 215 Euro, reduced to 170 Euro for mortar manufacturers. Students and Faculty are admitted free of charge upon proof of immatriculation (advance registration is however absolutely mandatory!). Delegate registration for international visitors is available on the drymix.info website, for payments in Roubles within Russia, it is better to register  with SPSSS at baltimix.ru. A suitable nearby hotel is Hotel Cosmos.

2. Çimsa to Build White Cement Plant in Eskişehir

Çimsa Çimento Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş, İstanbul, Turkey has announced the construction of a white cement facility at its existing production location in Eskişehir, Turkey. The existing kiln Nr. 1, which currently produces grey clinker, will be modified to produce both grey and white clinker (convertible line). Estimated capacity of this modified kiln will be 415 thousand tons of white clinker per year, bringing up Çimsa's white clinker capacity close to 1.6 mio tons (the other plant for white cement is in Mersin, Turkey). The investment will amount to 52 mio Euro and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2017.

3. Dow Chemical and DuPont Plan Merger of Equals

Dow Chemical, Midland, Michigan and DuPont, Wilmington, Delaware, the two largest chemical companies in the US, announced plans to investigate a merger of equals last week. DowDuPont would have a market capitalisation of about 120.000 mio € (US$130 billion) and an annual turnover (based on 2014 figures) of 76.000 mio Euro (US$ 83 billion). The companies expect closing in the second half of 2016 (subject to regulatory approval). The new firm, if the merger receives regulatory and board approvals, would be called DowDuPont. Shareholders in each would receive 50% of the shares, with Dow shareholders receiving one share per existing share and DuPont’s 1.282. DuPont’s new CEO, Edward Breen, would become CEO with Dow CEO Andrew Liveris becoming chairman of the board.

About 1,5 to 2 years after closing, it is planned to split the new company into three separate, individually traded entities wich would focus on agriculture, materials science and "specialty products". The materials science division would have a turnover of 47.000 mio Euro (US$ 51 billion), the agriculture division 17.500 mio Euro (US$ 19 billion) and the "specialty products" division 12.000 mio Euro (US$ 13 billion).

Separately, Dow Chemical has announced plans to acquire Corning’s stake in Dow Corning, their 72-year, 50-50 joint venture in silicones, by the end of the second quarter of 2016 if regulatory approval is granted.

4. Indonesian Drymix Mortar Manufacturers Association Promindo formed in Jakarta

Perkumpulan Produsen Mortar Industri Indonesia Promindo (The Indonesian Drymix Mortar Manufacturers Association) has been formally founded in a festive meeting at Bungarampai Restaurant in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 11. December 2015. The formation of the Association dates back to a meeting held by SEADMA at Menara Peninsula Hotel in 2007. Several meetings followed. Finally, on 6. May 2015, 2015, at Pullman Central Park Hotel Jakarta, the manufacturers concluded that it is imperative to finalize the Indonesian DMMA to achieve quality standard and gaining market expansion for drymix mortar in the country. Led by the Founding Committee, Promindo has now been registered as Association with the Indonesian Authorities. SEADMA is proud to have been instrumental in the founding process and to be part of Promindo. The two Associations have agreed to exchange memberships. The Executive Committee of Promindo consists of Asanga Adhayawartana, Anton Ginting, Albertus Indra Sasmitra and Ruslin Widjaya. Founding members are AM, Asana Mortar, Bostik, Drymix Indonesia, Powerblock, Saint-Gobain Weber (Cipta Mortar Utama), SEADMA, Sika, S3 and Uzin. Promindo is thus representing over 80% of the installed capacity to professionally produce quality drymix mortars in Indonesia.

SEADMA congratulates the Indonesian drymix mortar manufacturers to this success and assures the newly formed Promindo of its full support.

5. SEADMA to Organize its Annual Conference on 17.11. 2016 in Jakarta, Indonesia

Indonesia is currently clearly the most dynamic market for drymix mortars in the South East Asia region (ASEAN). With a trend to automate jobsites in the cities, mainly in Jakarta and surroundings on one hand, and, on the other hand the spreading of our techonlogy over Java and onto other islands of the archipelago, a lot of potential will be raised in the near future. Thus, the Executive Committee of SEADMA has decided to hold its annual conference on 17. November 2016 in Jakarta (location tbd.). A Call for papers is available at drymix.info, it expires on 30. April 2016. The MEDMA/SEADMA Technical Bulletin 11 will be published on occasion of this event, contributions are welcome.

The drymix.info Newsletter is being sent exclusively to registered subscribers and all members of drymix.info. Editor-in-Chief: Ferdinand Leopolder. Back issues will be published on www.drymix.info.

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Sincerely Yours, Ferdinand Leopolder