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drymix.info Newsletter 258/2021; ISSN Number 1613-0111; 23. September 2021

1. idmmc8, Munich, 4.10.21: Welcome at “Fraunhofer”, Blankets by alsecco; HyDry Service
2. Registration Opens for Egypt Drymix Mortar Meeting, 20. October 2021 in Cairo
3. MEDMA and SEADMA Annual Meetings Postponed into 2022
4. Testing Builds New Facility in Berlin
5. Saint-Gobain Weber Expands its Weilerswist Plant
6. Nouryon Plans to Build Cellulose Ether Plant in Southeast Asia
7. Ardex Acquires Majority of Bathroom Specialist Wedi

1. idmmc8, Munich, 4.10.21: Welcome at “Fraunhofer”, Blankets by alsecco; HyDry Service

Finally we are sure: The 8th International Drymix Mortar Conference idmmc8 takes place as a live (in-person) event on Monday, 4. October 2021 “Sugar Mountain” in Munich. The location of our casual delegate welcome at 19:00 on Sunday, 3. October 2021 has been changed to one of Munich's oldest restaurants, Wirtshaus im Fraunhofer. Check out the beautiful wood interior and sculpted plaster ceiling from the 19th century!

We have a great program and one panel discussion (see last Newsletter and website) on Monday, 4.10.21 at Sugar Mountain (the former Katzenberger Precast Concrete Plant). We were there this week and noticed that it was already quite chilly there. We could convince EIFS-expert alsecco to provide each of you with a blanket (you might consider putting warm underwear on and bringing a jacket, too ;-). Anyway, except for one small area (no seats there), the place is (rain) water tight.

Our registrations run well, over 50% of the delegates come from drymix mortar producers (in alphabetical order): Alsecco, Ardex, Baumit, Cemex, Cemix, Chemotechnik Abstatt, DAW, Forbo Eurocol, Henkel, Kraft Paints Hellas, Mapei, Pagel Spezial-Beton, PCI, Remmers, Saint Gobain Weber (various locations), Sakret (various locations), Sievert Baustoffe, Sika (various locations), Torggler, Ube Industries and ZaaK Technologies. A big group (about 1/3) come from from raw materials and equipment suppliers, 10% from distributors and the rest is from research institutions. We can greet delegates from Austria, China, Czech Republic, Germany (largest group) Finland, France, (third largest group), Greece, Ireland, Italy (second largest group), Japan, Latvia, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey.

Unfortunately, we had a lot of friends that regretfully had to cancel or could not come to Munich due to the current pandemic. For these drymix mortar experts, we will arrange our HyDry service (Hy = hybrid, Dry = drymix.info): we will stream the entire program of idmmc8 live on a designated YouTube channel. This is a singular live stream from 9:00 to 16:20 Munich time, not interactive (no chats, sorry) and it will not be repeated. The viewing link is available (only online booking) for 50 Euro per person. Existing registrations for idmmc8 in Munich can not be converted into HyDry service participation.

Reminder: please observe our CoVid-19 (Corona) Policy: you must prove that you are fully vaccinated or recovered from CoVid-19. Alternatively, you must provide a valid and certified proof of negative PCR test not older than 48 h (available that weekend at a cost e.g. at Munich Airport).

Advance registration for idmmc8 is mandatory at www.drymix.info. Admission to idmmc8 is 550 Euro (incl. 19% German VAT - on all admissions), reduced to 420 Euro for drymix.info, SEADMA and MEDMA members. There is a special admission for drymix mortar manufacturers which is only 280 Euro (no further deductions applicable to this special offer). HyDry service is available at 50 Euro per person, advance registration is mandatory here, too.

2. Registration Opens for Egypt Drymix Mortar Meeting, 20. October 2021 in Cairo

The 10th Workshop on Oilfield and Construction Chemistry with Focus on Drymix Mortars (Egypt Drymix Mortar Meeting) takes place at and in partnership with Ain Shams University (ASU), Cairo, Egypt. Our Technical Chairwoman is Prof. Dr. Ghada Bassioni. The Middle East Drymix Mortar Association MEDMA (a Dubai Association) and drymix.info are joining forces to organize this event. Our program (available online) features expert lectures on drymix mortars, the audience will consist of students and faculty of ASU (the leading Technical University in Egypt and beyond) and the drymix mortar and construction chemicals industries of the region. After the event, Wacker Chemie, Evonik and m-tec invite the delegates to a romantic cruise on the Nile with a festive Gala Dinner (bus transfer included).

Admission to the Egypt Drymix Mortar Meeting is 280 Euro, reduced to 180 Euro for drymix.info, SEADMA and MEDMA members. There is a special admission for drymix mortar manufacturers which is only 90 Euro per person (no further deductions applicable to this special offer). ASU students and faculty: please enquire with Ghada. Registration with credit card payment (Visa or Mastercard only) is available on www.drymix.info.

3. MEDMA and SEADMA Annual Meetings Postponed into 2022

The Middle East Drymix Mortar Association MEDMA (a Dubai Association) and The South East Asia Drymix Mortar Association SEADMA, Ltd., Singapore, have jointly announced that they regretfully have to postpone their annual meetings into 2022. The persisting pandemic and complex travel restrictions have led the associations to this decision.

Large meetings just don't seem advisable at this point in time. However, small meetings are planned: MEDMA starts re-forming (individual meetings on 18.11.21 in Dubai) and already co-hosts the 10th Workshop on Oilfield and Construction Chemistry with Focus on Drymix Mortars in Cairo (see item 2), and SEADMA plans a casual dinner with supporters in Singapore in Mid-November (details in the next Newsletter.

4. Testing Builds New Facility in Berlin
Testing Bluhm & Feuerherdt GmbH, Berlin, Germany has recently laid the cornerstone for an additional production building at its headquarters in Berlin-Marienfelde (near the new BER airport). The new production facility will have an area of about 4.000 sq.m. and feature a 16 t crane for the positioning and moving of complex and sensitive testing machines. The building has a clear height of 12 m which allows the handling of complete laboratory modules for container and trailer installations. The construction is expected to be completed in early summer of next year. The investment value was not disclosed.

5. Saint-Gobain Weber Expands its Weilerswist Plant

Saint Gobain Weber GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany, recently broke ground for the expansion of its Weilerswist plant (near Cologne). The former managing director Florent Pouzet and his successor Dr. Mara Terzoli performed the ceremony together. With the purchase of adjacent areas, the company premises have been doubled to accommodate a new logistics center. This frees up space for increasing the production, too. The Weilerswist plant produces (amongst others) decorative renders, tile adhesives and grouts as well as repair mortars. After the expansion, over 300 formulations are to be produced in a three-shift operation, which makes it Saint Gobain Weber's largest production site in Germany. Details on the cost of this expansion were not given. Saint Gobain Weber operates 14 plants in Germany, many of them former Maxit plants.

6. Nouryon Plans to Build Cellulose Ether Plant in Southeast Asia

Nouryon Chemicals B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, has announced the planning of a new production facility somewhere in South East Asia. The new facility will produce ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (EHEC, mainly used in coatings) and is being designed for a capacity of 15.000 to 20.000 tons. Nouryon expects to decide on the final location towards the end of this year, with construction starting at the end of 2022. Commissioning of the new facility is expected for mid-2024. Nouryon already produces cellulose ethers (Tradename Bermocoll) in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden and Ningbo, China.

7. Ardex Acquires Majority of Bathroom Specialist Wedi

Ardex GmbH, Witten, Germany has recently acquired the majority stake in Wedi GmbH, Emsdetten, Germany, a manufacturer of waterproofing panels and other solutions for bathrooms/wet rooms in new construction, renovation and refurbishment. Wedi, founded in 1983 employs more than 500 people worldwide and has production sites in Germany and in the US (Batavia, IL). The company is known for their “Blaue Platte”, a water-tight lightweight, mineral-coated blue panel made from extruded poly-styrene (XPS).

By acquiring the majority in Wedi, the management of Ardex intends to realize marketing synergies and can expect cross selling effects in the overlapping customer groups of both companies. Wedi will continue to act independently in the markets, Stephan Wedi will remain managing director and partner of Wedi. The company name, locations, brand and sales strategy of Wedi will be maintained. A transaction value was not disclosed by either party.

WE KEEP BUILDING


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