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drymix.info Newsletter 232/2020; ISSN Number 1613-0111; 4. February 2020

1. MEDMA Becomes Dubai Association
2. Australia Meeting, 5.3.20 in Rose Hill: RLA Polymers and Acquos Sponsor Delegate Welcome
3. 5th Philippine Drymix Mortar Meeting, Manila: Postponed to July 2020
4. admmc7, May 7, 2020, Toronto, ON, Canada: Program
5. Bischof + Klein Joins drymix.info as Industrial Partner
6. Bette Acquires Waterproofing Specialist Oxiegen
7. Saint Gobain Acquired the CTA Division of Celima
8. EU Clears Synthomer Takeover of Omnova on Conditions

1. MEDMA Becomes a Dubai Association

The Middle East Drymix Mortar Association MEDMA e.V., Munich Germany has recently received the green light from Dubai Chamber to form an Association under the Dubai Association Center (service provider: World Trade Center). This finally enables MEDMA to act locally, with regional focus and in its area. Once the formal approval of the application by Dubai Chamber has been received, the Executive Committee of MEDMA will undertake the necessary steps to re-locate MEDMA to Dubai (Closing of German Association). At that point in time, members of MEDMA e.V. can re-join MEDMA (UAE).

2. Australia Meeting, 5.3.20 in Rose Hill: RLA Polymers and Acquos Sponsor Delegate Welcome

Registration is running strongly for our 5th Australian Drymix Mortar Meeting. The event takes place on Thursday, 5. March 2020 at Rydges Hotel Parramatta, Rose Hill (Western Sydney), NSW. We will host a Delegate welcome on Wednesday, 4. March 2020 from 19:00 for those that have already arrived. RLA Polymers and Acquos have agreed to sponsor this evening function, thanks a lot!

Admission to the 5th Australian Drymix Mortar Meeting is 390 Euro, reduced to 290 Euro for members of drymix.info, drymix mortar producers pay only 190 Euro. When booking your admission online, a 30 Euro bonus gets deducted from the prices above.

3. 5th Philippine Drymix Mortar Meeting, Manila: Postponed to July 2020

The South East Asia Drymix Mortar Association SEADMA Ltd., Singapore and The Philippine Drymix Mortar Manufacturer's Association PhilDMMA had invited the industry for its 5th meeting in Manila in March. However, due to the serious implications on air travel and other restrictions the corona virus outbreak in China has caused all over the region, SEADMA and PhilDMMA have decided to move the event to either 15. or 21. July (we are still enquiring with Manila Polo Club about the date). The exact date will be announced shortly and all accepted papers remain on our agenda, as well as all generous support by our sponsors so far.

We are truly worried about our drymix mortar friends in China and wish an end (and a cure) comes to this threat soon. We apologize for any inconvenience caused, but we think this is a prudent decision and ask for your understanding.

4. admmc7, May 7, 2020, Toronto, ON, Canada: Program

The Seventh American Drymix Mortar Conference admmc7 takes place on  May 7, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We have chosen the beautiful and history Omni King Edward Hotel for our event - a real eye-opener in downtown Toronto. Our Technical Chairman is again Prof. Dr. Johann Plank of Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany. We are planning a delegate welcome on May 6, 2020 from 19:00, for all those (Americans) that have to come in the day before - and we are still looking for sponsors for this.

Here is a short glimpse at our program (subject to change without notice, sorted alphabetically by lecturer name):
Charles Alt, Imerys Aluminates: Lithium Salts and their Role in Ettringite and Calcium Aluminate Hydration Acceleration
Dr. Randall P. Bright, Laticrete International: Investigations into the Heat Age Testing in the ISO and ANSI Ceramic Tile Adhesive Test Methods and its Effect on the Cementitious Binder
Emanuele Carlini, Mapei: Influence of Gypsum Composition and Amount on Selflevellers' Performances
Kory DeCesaris, Wacker Chemie: Influence of Different Tiles on Tile-Adhesives Performance
André Eilers, Superior Sprayed Systems: Pioneering the Use of Jobsite Machinery in Central Canada: An Experience Report
Guillaume Lafay, Actemium: Design, Build and Start a New Production Line : Make the Most of both your Expertise and your Supplier's Know-how
Prof. Dr-Ing. José Fernando Martirena Hernández, CIDEM Institute, Universidad Central de Las Villas: (working title) Calcined Clays a Supplementary Binders in Construction Materials with Focus on Drymix Mortars
Doug Overby, Bischof + Klein: Product Presentation: Latest developments in plastic packaging for drymix mortars
Dr. Michael Radler, Dow Construction Chemicals: What can we Learn about Mortars from Soil Mechanics?   
Hans-Heinrich Reuter, Testing, Bluhm & Feuerherdt: Product Presentation: Automatic Dosing of Sand and Water in Lab Mixers - a Decisive Advantage in Precision Testing of Mortars
Doris van Garsel, Almatis: Product Presentation: Caro White – White Calcium Aluminate Cement Designed for the Challenging Needs of the Building Chemicals Industry
Dr. Kho Verian, Laticrete International: 3D Construction Printing (3DCP): Key Aspect and Scaling-Up
Dr. Roger Zurbriggen, Nouryon, Elotex Division: The Science behind ceramic tiling - details decide on durability
(speaker tbd.), Haver Filling Systems: Product Presentation: Bag to the Future
(speaker tbd.), LB-Technology: Product Presentation: LB-Technology for Drymix Mortar

Registration to admmc7 is already running on our drymix.info website. Admission is 390 Euro, reduced to 290 Euro for members of drymix.info, drymix mortar producers pay only 190 Euro. When booking your admission online, a 30 Euro bonus gets deducted from the prices above.

5. Bischof + Klein Joins drymix.info as Industrial Partner

Bischof + Klein SE & Co. KG of Lengerich, Germany has decided to join drymix.info as Industrial Partner. The company, founded in 1892 by Alwin Klein and Hermann Bischof as „Papierfabrik und Prägeanstalt Bischof & Klein“, is still a family-owned company. Bischof + Klein produces technical films and plastic-based packaging for industrial uses such as drymix mortars, cements and construction materials. Bischof + Klein oprates 5 plants in Europe with about 2.600 employees.

We warmly welcome Bischoff + Klein to our community.

6. Bette Acquires Waterproofing Specialist Oxiegen

Sanitary ware producer Bette GmbH & Co. KG, Delbrück, has recently taken over the specialty waterproofing and adhesives company Oxiegen, Bad Lippspringe, both Germany. Oxiegen produces waterproofing materials and -stops, sound absorption products, de-coupling mats for floors and walls and specialty tile adhesives and flooring compounds. Bette is a producer of design bathroom sanitary ware, such as bathtubs, shower troughs, sinks and bathroom furniture. According to the management of Bette, this acquisition is sort of a backward integration, since Oxiegen has supplied Bette with auxiliaries before, but also as a chance to become a system solutions provider for bathroom architecture and installation. Both companies will continue to operate individually, Oxiegen founder Heinfried Watermann and his Sales Manager Philipp Overkott will continue to lead Oxiegen, Thilo C. Prahl, CEO of Bette will join the

7. Saint Gobain Acquired the CTA Division of Celima

Saint-Gobain SA, Paris, France, recently announced it had completed the acquisition of the drymix mortars division of Celima (formerly Ceramica de Lima) Corporación Cerámica S.A., Grupo Celima-Trebol in Lima, Peru. Celima operates three plants in Peru, located in Lima, Arequipa and Trujillo. The drymix mortar division of Celima generated sales of 25 mio Euro with about 100 employees back in 2018. Saint Gobain has already been a major player in Peru's glass and plasterboard markets and reaches out now into the building materials market. A transaction value was not disclosed by either party.

8. EU Clears Synthomer Takeover of Omnova on Conditions

The European Union, represented by the European Commission, Brussels, Belgium has approved of Synthomer plc, London, Great Britain's takeover of Omnova Solutions, Beachwood, Ohio, USA. Omnova is producing various additives and organic dispersions and latices as well as laminates for several industries. In order to accommodate the EU's concerns, Synthomer will have to spin off its (small) latex activities in Germany prior to receiving EU approval. According to Synthomer a number of expressions of interest for the latex unit exist already. One more ruling by the Turkish antitrust authorities is expected in early February. The transaction value is 725 mio Euro, Synthomer expects completion of the deal within the first quarter of this year.


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