Trouble reading this e-mail? View it it in your browser window.

drymix.info Newsletter 184/2016; ISSN Number 1613-0111; 05. October 2016

1. The MEDMA/SEADMA Technical Bulletin in (almost) Full Color
2. Iran Construction Chemicals Association Supports the Drymix Mortar Meeting in Tehran, 25. October 2016
3. 11th Annual SEADMA Conference, Hotel Aryaduta, Jakarta, Indonesia, 17. November 2016
4. Annual General Assembly of MEDMA, 20.11.16, Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai, UAE
5. Workshop on the Use of Mortar Machines in Efficient Construction in Thailand, 9.12.16.
6. BASF Wants to Buy Henkel's Building Materials Business in Western Europe
7. Pidilite Opens New Plant in Dubai
8. Celanese Starts up New Unit for Production of Vinylacetate Ethylene Copolymers in Singapore
9. Wacker Raises Prices for Dispersions in the Americas

1. The MEDMA/SEADMA Technical Bulletin in (almost) Full Color

The Middle East Drymix Mortar Association MEDMA e.V. and The South East Asia Drymix Mortar Association SEADMA, Ltd. are proud to announce that for the first time, almost all contributions will appear in full color (4C printing). Deemed as obsolete in the modern digital world, the hardcopies still enjoy a quite widespread acceptance amongst drymix mortar experts worldwide. Up until now, the contents of  MEDMA/SEADMA's Technical Bulletins (TB) were printed in single color black. But with increased content from own "expert journalists", most materials became available in full color. MEDMA and SEADMA decided to reflect this change. In addition, each drymix.info, MEDMA and SEADMA member will obtain a hardcopy by regular mail. TB 11 will be published on occasion of The 11th SEADMA Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, 17.11.2016 and the MEDMA AGM at Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai, 20.11.2016 (see below). Here is the Table of Contents of the new MEDMA/SEADMA TB 11:
SEADMA Section
Sek Tim Tan, Lu Jin Ping | SEADMA EC, Admaterials (Exova): SEADMA Mortar College Starts in Singapore
Actemium Saint-Étienne Process Solutions (Advertorial): A Horizontal Dry Mortar Manufacturing Plant with no Cross-contamination
E. Carlini, P. Sorrentino, F. Curto, S. Carrà | Mapei S.p.A.: Rheological and Setting Behaviour of Self-levelling Underlayment: the Influence of Mixing Procedures and Tools
Klaus Swoboda, Ferdinand Leopolder | SEADMA EC: The Use of Machinery to Increase Efficiency on Small Jobsites in Thailand – with Project Summary and Interview
MEDMA Section
Interview with Mr. Fahad Al Hoseiney of Saudi Electricity Company (SEC): “60% of the electricity bill could be saved using the proper thermal insulation” (Interview by F. Leopolder)
Nayif al Rakheis, Roland Jansen, Ferdinand Leopolder | MEDMA Workgroup on EIFS: EIFS at Al Waseel Hills Villa Project by Sabic – Second MEDMA Workshop on EIFS
H. Garrecht, A.Schließer, C. Baumert, M. Özogul, U. Zimmer, H-H. Reuter | University of Stuttgart, Institute of Construction Materials and Testing Bluhm & Feuerherdt GmbH: Test Evaluations of a Fully Automatic Mortar Mixer with Torque Measurement for Determining Water Demand
Naheed Younis, Ferdinand Leopolder | MEDMA EC: A Printed Office in Dubai – New Applications for Mortars
MEDMA Workgroup on EIFS | MEDMA EC: Approved External Insulation and Finishing System EIFS – Breakthrough with Fire Testing acc. to NFPA 285

2. Iran Construction Chemicals Association Supports the Drymix Mortar Meeting in Tehran, 25. October 2016

The Iran Construction Chemicals Association (ICCA) has decided to support drymix.info's Iran Drymix Mortar Meeting. ICCA is a long standing institution in Iran with over 40 member companies that has spurred the development of mortar technology in the past. As reported earlier, Iran Mortar Association (IMA) initially an offspring of ICCA has also pledged its support. Mr. Akbar Motazedi, President of ICCA has agreed to deliver the Keynote at the Iran Drymix Mortar Meeting.

The Full-Day event takes place at Parsian Evin Hotel in Tehran on Tuesday, 25. October 2016, from 09:00 until 17:00. Online registration is still possible through our shop (Visa or Mastercard required), admission is 310 Euro per person, reduced to 270 Euro for drymix.info members. Drymix Mortar Manufacturers enjoy the discounted admission of 120 Euro per person. We have created the opportunity for delegates to pay locally (within Iran), please enquire with us, if needed (info@drymix.info). Registration through IMA and ICCA is also possible.

3. The 11th Annual SEADMA Conference, Hotel Aryaduta, Jakarta, Indonesia, 17. November 2016

In cooperation with Perkumpulan Produsen Mortar Industri Indonesia PROMINDO (the Indonesian Drymix Mortar Manufacturer's Association, now formally associated with SEADMA), The South East Asia Drymix Mortar Association holds its 11th Annual Conference at Hotel Aryaduta, Jakarta, Indonesia on 17. November 2016. As usual, SEADMA's Annual General Meeting (AGM) also takes place during the conference. A special part of the program will focus on the recent development in SEADMA's regional chapters, namely in Thailand (ThaiDMMA), The Philippines (PhilDMMA) and of course Indonesia (Promindo). Anton Ginting, President of Promindo has agreed to give a keynnote about Promindo and its actions in Indonesia. The MEDMA/SEADMA Technical Bulletin Nr. 11 will be presented on occasion of this event (content see item 1 above).

Registration for the 11th Annual SEADMA Conference has already started, you can book using your credit card (Visa, Master accepted) on www.drymix.info. Admission is 310 Euro, reduced to 270 Euro for SEADMA and drymix.info members. The specially rebated rate for mortar manufacturers has been granted, it is only 150 Euro.

4. Annual General Assembly of MEDMA, 20.11.16, Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai, UAE

All MEDMA members and interested guests are invited to join the Annual General Assembly of the Middle East Drymix Mortar Association MEDMA at splendid Al Badia Golf Club in Dubai, UAE on Sunday, 20. November 2016, 19:00. This year's AGM will feature a re-election of the Executive Committee (Board), all members are encouraged to nominate candidates for these honorary positions (formal nomination deadline is 1. November 2016). The Executive Committee will present the MEDMA strategy for 2017 and beyond. This festive event has become a fixed date for the industry prior to The Big 5 Industry Exhibition in Dubai. MEDMA is still looking for sponsors to contribute towards the cost of this event, please contact Leo!

Admission is free of charge for members only (up to two participants per member company), all others pay AED 500 per person. Advance registration by e-mail to drymix.info is absolutely mandatory (both for members and non-members!).

5. Workshop on the Use of Mortar Machines in Efficient Construction in Thailand, 9.12.16.

The Thai Drymix Mortar Manufacturer‘s Association (ThaiDMMA) and SEADMA invite to a Workshop on the Use of Mortar Machines in Efficient Construction in Thailand. Location is the splendid Siam Kempinski Hotel. This unique training and exchange opportunity is intended to bring together specialized (plastering) contractors with the drymix mortar industry, consultants and architects. SEADMA‘s goal is to explain the chances of machine supported mortar applications and the increase in efficiency and jobsite logistics. Most of the lectures come from contractors that focus on render (plaster) application (these lectures will also be held in Thai language):
Private Houses Co. Ltd., Khun Torsak: medium sized General Contractor
Pheung Chengtong, Khun Panupong: large size subcontractor, specialized on rendering (plastering) and working predominantly for SYNTEC
Bouygues-Thai Ltd., Khum Samart: large developer of high-class projects with own rendering (plastering) operations.

The preliminary program has already been posted on www.seadma.org. Supporting members of SEADMA can invite their clients, be it architects, consultants or contractors. Admission for industry observers (non-members) is THB 19.500 (500 €) reduced for SEADMA members to THB 15.500 (400 €). Contractors, Architects and Consultants are invited free of charge, by invitation of supporters only.

6. BASF Wants to Buy Henkel's Building Materials Business in Western Europe

BASF SE of Ludwigshafen, Germany, has signed an agreement with the management of Henkel KGaA, Düsseldorf, Germany, concerning the acquisition of Henkel's building materials business in Western Europe. BASF intends to integrate the business, which includes Henkel's activities in flooring, tiling and waterproofing (tradenames Ceresit and Thomsit), into ist construction chemicals division, namely into PCI Group. The main markets are Germany and Benelux (Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxemburg) for Ceresit, the use of the Thomsit trademark is being granted worldwide. According to BASF, the total revenue for the business being acquired is in a higher double-digit million Euro range. As part of this agreement, Henkel's production site in Unna, Germany, will be leased by BASF for two to three years, then operations will be continued at other PCI sites, mainly in nearby Hamm. The transaction is still subject to the necessary anti-trust approvals, an exact transaction value was not disclosed by either party.

7. Pidilite Opens New Plant in Dubai

Pidilite MEA Chemicals LLC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has recently started up its new plant in Dubai Investment Park 2. On its 54.000 sq m lot, the company has built an high-capacity drymix mortar plant, a liquid materials manufacturing line and a R&D laboratory, along with storage space and offices. Pidilite, active in UAE since 2005, intends to strengthen its position in construction chemicals and drymix mortars in particular by providing tile adhesives („Roff“), precision grouts, waterproofing ("Dr. Fixit“), flooring systems („Rok“) and other specialty mortars to the region.

8. Celanese Starts up New Unit for Production of Vinylacetate Ethylene Copolymers in Singapore

Celanese Corporation, Dallas, Texas, USA, has begun production of Vinylacetate Ethylene Copolymers (VAE dispersions) at its site on Jurong Island, Singapore, where the comapny already operates another reactor for VAE. VAE dispersions are used in paints, coatings, carpet backings and construction adhesives and allow for formulations emitting little to none Volatile Organic Compounds (low-VOC). The unit is intended to produce for the entire Southeast Asia region, including Australia, India and New Zealand.
 Apart from the two reactors in Singapore, Celanese also operates another VAE production in Asia (in Nanjing, China).

9. Wacker Raises Prices for Dispersions in the Americas

Wacker Polymers, a division of Wacker Chemie AG, Munich, Germany, has announced a price increase for vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer (VAE) dispersions (brandname Vinnapas) for the American Continent. An increase of up to 15 % will be applied, effective 1. November 2016 or as customer contracts allow. Wacker attributes this measure to price increases for raw materials, especially for vinyl acetate monomer (VAM).

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.

Should you want to discontinue your subscription, please return this newsletter with the reference UNSUBSCRIBE to info (at) drymix. info. All information © 2003 - 2016 by drymix. info, Ferdinand Leopolder, Tegernseer Landstrasse 26, D-81541 München.

Sincerely Yours, Ferdinand Leopolder