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drymix.info Newsletter 212/2018; ISSN Number 1613-0111; 5. September 2018

1. Over 10.000 Subscriptions to the drymix.info Newsletter
2. MEDMA Roundtable, 19.9.18 and Workshop on High Performance Tile Adhesives on 20.9.18 in Dubai
3. Sixth Central and South European Drymix Mortar Conference cedmmc 6, Istanbul, 4.10.18
4. SEADMA Mortar Technology Day (7.11.18) and 13th Conference (8.11.18) in Bangkok
5. Calls for Papers for Nürnberg, March 2019 (idmmc7 and ECS Congress) Expire soon
6. Trade Fairs in Munich: Outlook on Casual drymix.info Evening in 2019
7. Emetal (Morteros Toro) Joins drymix.info as a Member
8. Calucem Raises Prices for Alumina Cements
9. Kiilto Takes Over TM Progress
10. EC Approves Cristal Takeover by Tronox, Tronox Proposes Spin-Off in the US

1. Over 10.000 Subscriptions to the drymix.info Newsletter

Our first drymix.info Newsletter came out on 19. January 2003, it was called mortarmail then, here are the first few lines (including spelling errors ;-):

“Dear Friend, with this e-mail, we would like to find out your opinion about the establlishing of the International Forum for Mortar Technology...”

It went out to about 200 e-mail contacts I had at that point in time and yielded tremendous support for our new community. After 15 years, so many spelling errors (sorry!) and 211 Newsletters (= close to 1.600 individual news items!) later we are proud to announce that we reached 10.000 confirmed subscriptions some time during this summer. Considering the feedback we get, we assume, that our Newsletter is being distributed to another two to three persons by many of you – which means that actually 15.000 to 20.000 mortar experts read it worldwide.

This and our unchanged curiosity about the drymix mortar market and technologies is yet another  reason to maintain our quality content. In order to become better, your feedback or guidance is always appreciated.

Dear Reader and friend, we would like to thank you for your continued support and interest! Leo

2. MEDMA Roundtable, 19.9.18 and Workshop on High Performance Tile Adhesives on 20.9.18 in Dubai

The Middle East Drymix Mortar Association invites all members and industry peers for its fourth Round Table. It takes place (as always) at Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Dubai Green Community. Our Round Tables offer a chance for exchange and feedback for mortar industry experts in a casual atmosphere. This time around, Leo will give a short talk about mortars for 3D printing and the chances of this technology, and also we will prepare MEDMA's Annual General Assembly, taking place on 28. November 2018 in Dubai (with elections to our new Board!). The Round Table is free of charge for MEDMA members (up to two delegates per company), all others pay AED 300 per person (please prepare cash). Pre-registration is mandatory, so please send us an e-mail to info (at) drymix (dot) info, if you intend to come.

The next day (20.9.18, from 10:00 to 13:00, includes a short lunch), the MEDMA Workshop on High Performance Tile Adhesives takes place at Wacker Academy, Dubai Silicon Oasis. It is the first of a series of exclusive MEDMA Contractor/Consultant Workshops targeting consultants, architects, contractors and developers. Also, we will have a delegation from Dubai Municipality (Dubai Central Labs) present. Mapei, Wacker and MEDMA will give lectures on the specification, standardisation and application of High Performance Tile Adhesives. Attendance is by invitation only.

3. Sixth Central and South European Drymix Mortar Conference cedmmc 6, Istanbul, 4.10.18

Registration for our 6th Central and South European Drymix Mortar Conference cedmmc six is strong, we expect a record attendance. The conference takes place again at Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday, 4. October 2018. Immediately after the conference, our traditional and prestigeous Bosphorus Cruise starts, we can board directly at the Kempinski Hotel Pier! This wonderful evening cruise is being sponsored by Calucem, Kalekim, Poraver and Wacker (pre-registration mandatory!).

Register Now! Admission (Bosphorus Cruise is included) per person is 350 Euro, reduced to 270 Euro for drymix.info members. Drymix mortar producers pay only 150 Euro per person. Together with our sponsors, we have prepared special deals for Turkish mortar producers willing to come with more than 2 delegates, please enquire with us, you may have the chance to reduce the overall cost for your group!

4. SEADMA Mortar Technology Day (7.11.18) and 13th Conference (8.11.18) in Bangkok

The Thai Concrete Association TCA, Mortar Subchapter and The South East Asia Drymix Mortar Association SEADMA invite to the SEADMA Mortar Technology Day which takes place in Bangkok at Swissotel le Concorde on Wednesday, 7. November 2018. This exclusive event is designed specifically for the clients of SEADMA's member companies, mainly developers, consultants and contractors. So far, Bouygues Thai (Khun Samart Homthong), Siam City Cement (Insee Mortar) and Maltech Thailand (Mass Engineering) have confirmed lecturing there, we expect the answers from our Thai members within this month and will publish the detailed program in our next Newsletter. All lectures will be held in (or translated into) Thai language. The event is reserved to guests of our Thai members and is by invitation only.

Immediately after the SEADMA Mortar Technology day there is a cocktail reception for all guests as well as for the delegates of the 13th Annual SEADMA Conference (8.11.18). Pre-registration is mandatory by e-mail.

The next day (Thursday, 8. November 2018) the South East Asia Drymix Mortar Association SEADMA holds to its 13th Annual SEADMA Conference and Industry Showcase at Swissotel le Concorde, too. The Thai Concrete Association TCA, Mortar Subchapter, is co-hosting this conference. We published the program in our last Newsletter.

Admission to the 13th Annual SEADMA Conference on 8.11.18 is 350 €, reduced to 270 € for SEADMA, drymix.info or MEDMA Partners. Drymix mortar producers pay only 150 €. In order to encourage mortar manufacturers from abroad to join us in Bangkok, a further reduction of -50 € applies for mortar producers from outside Thailand. Admission to the Cocktail Reception on 7.11.18 is free of charge for all registered delegates, however, individual confirmation is absolutely mandatory.

5. Calls for Papers for Nürnberg, March 2019 (idmmc7 and ECS Congress) Expire soon

This is a reminder to our community to think about presentations to be proposed for The Seventh International Drymix Mortar Conference idmmc7, taking place on 18. March 2019 in Nürnberg, Germany. Please also think about publishing your work in our Drymix Mortar Yearbook 2019 (publishing charges apply). Technical Chairman is Prof. Dr. Johann Plank, Technische Universität München (TUM). The Call for Papers for idmmc7 expires on 7. October 2018.

Together with Prof. Dr. Andreas Gerdes, Karlsruhe, I myself am again acting as Technical Chairman of The European Coating Congress' Construction Chemicals Sessions, which take place on  19. March 2019 at Messe Nürnberg Convention Center, entrance East. This Call for Papers expires (oops!) already next week (14.9.18), so please send us your proposals urgently.

6. Trade Fairs in Munich: Outlook on Casual drymix.info Evening in 2019

BAU is back in Munich, so we are arranging again for our drymix.info Casual Evening which will take place at Hofbräukeller on 16. January 2019, 19:00 – sponsors are still wanted!

The same applies for BAUMA 2019, our drymix.info Casual Evening in that week will take place on 10. April 2019, again at Hofbräukeller

7. Emetal (Morteros Toro) Joins drymix.info as a Member

Emetal S. de RL de CV, San Pedro Sula, Honduras has decided to join drymix.info as a member The company, founded in 2003 by Ing. José Edmundo Guzmán (QDDG) and his wife, Lic. Elizabeth de Guzmán has since specialized in the development of performance cement mortars and adhesives for the construction industry in Central America. Emetal's product portfolio consists of tile and natural stone adhesives for floors and walls, all branded under the name Morteros Toro.

We warmly welcome Emetal/Morteros Toro to our community.

8. Calucem Raises Prices for Alumina Cements

Calucem Group, Mannheim, Germany has announced a price increase for low, mid and high Alumina Cements. The prices will be raised by 12% effective 1. January 2019 or as existing contracts allow. According to Calucem, the measure has become necessary due to increased costs for logistics, raw materials and energy.

9. Kiilto Takes Over Self-Levelling Flooring Specialist TM Progress

Kiilto Oy, Tampere, Finland has acquired all shares of TM Progress, Örnsköldsvik, Sweden from the private equity firm PEQ AB, Stockholm and the company’s operative management. TM Progress was established in 1974 and specialized on pumpable levelling compounds for high-volume, fast and efficient installation (also by its own subsidiary Injo Golv AB, Stockholm, which is part of the deal, too). The company has production locations in Hallstahammar and Örnsköldvik. TM Progress's net sales were around EUR 28 million in 2017 and it employed 40 people. Although Kiilto has its own local company in Sweden (Kiilto AB in Täby), Sweden. The TM Progress operations will be continued as an independent unit within the Kiilto Family Group.

10. EC Approves Cristal Takeover by Tronox, Tronox Proposes Spin-Off in the US

Tronox Limited, Stamford, CT, USA has obtained an approval by the European Commission anti-trust authority for its proposed acquisition of National Titanium Dioxide Company (Cristal, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) and also proposes to spin off Cristal's Ashtabula, OH, USA plant to the pigments and additives company Venator, Houston, TX. This move is apparently being made in anticipation of the US anti-trust-authorities' demands.

In addition to receiving final approval from the European Commission, Australia, China, New Zealand, Turkey, South Korea, Colombia and Saudi Arabia have also approved the proposed takeover. The United States Federal Trade Commission remains the final regulatory authority reviewing the transaction.

The drymix.info Newsletter is being sent exclusively to registered subscribers and all members of drymix.info. Back issues will be published on www.drymix.info.

Editor-in-Chief: Ferdinand Leopolder.

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Sincerely Yours, Ferdinand Leopolder