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drymix.info Newsletter 290/2023; ISSN Number 1613-0111; 6. September 2023

1. drymix.info in-Person Events: Review and Outlook into 2024
2. THU 21SEP2023, Berlin: First TESTING DAY (sponsored content)
3. WED 11OCT2023, Sharjah: Drymix Mortar in the Middle East @ Gulf Coatings Show
4. TUE 17OCT2023, Mumbai: 7th India Drymix Mortar Conference PLUS World of Concrete India
5. FRE 23NOV2023, Bogor: The 16th Annual SEADMA Conference: Program
6. Baumit Developed „All In“ Water-Soluble Paper Packaging for Drymix Mortars with Mondi
7. Isover Increases Mineral Wool Insulation Panel Capacity at Lübz/Germany
8. Sika Takes over Chema in Peru
9. Anton Paar Acquires Brabender

1. drymix.info in-Person Events: Review and Outlook into 2024

Since the loosening of meeting and travel restrictions in summer 2021, we have already organized 12 physical events - 2021: Munich, Cairo; 2022: Mexico City, Istanbul, Karlsruhe, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok; 2023: Dubai, Manila, Nürnberg, Richmond, Kuala Lumpur, São Paulo (see event fotos on our website) - varying formats. but still a quite impressive number. The response was excellent, it seems friends and peers in the worldwide drymix mortar community were all longing to meet in person again after such a long time. Upcoming events are in 2023: Sharjah, Mumbai, Bogor; in 2024: Sydney (new date: 20FEB2024!), Manchester, Monterrey and Istanbul

Our feedback forms and the general analysis gives us good empirics to determine the future of our drymix.info (in-person) events. It can be observed, that the number of delegates from drymix mortar producers is rising, partially due to generous invitations by our sponsors. Also, the total amount of delegates per event grew considerably. All lecturing slots were fully booked, the virtual lectures were well received, so were the Drymix Mortar Yearbooks. Gold Sponsoring, however, diminished at most events (Exception: Mexico, Turkey, now India): When asked, our partners clearly signaled that budget restrictions were the reason for this. And travel, location and catering costs have risen due to inflation by about 20%.

In order to maintain high-quality and full-house physical events in a pleasant setting, drymix.info has decided to bring its admissions closer to internationally recognized values per day (but still stay about 30% below those figures): effective January 2024, admission for industry suppliers and distributors will be 550 Euro per person, reduced for drymix.info, MEDMA and SEADMA Partners to 450 Euro per person. NEW: this admission includes one free admission for a drymix mortar manufacturer (not applicable to own staff or distributor personnel). The admission for drymix mortar manufacturers remains unchanged at 190  Euro per person. Our sponsoring packages also remain unchanged, sponsor personnel benefit from a specially reduced admission of only 350 Euro per person. (Remark: events in Germany will be priced differently, and VAT is being added - e.g. idmmcX, Nürnberg, 24MAR2025).

2. THU 21SEP2023, Berlin: First TESTING DAY (sponsored content)

TESTING Bluhm und Feuerherdt GmbH is inviting laboratory experts from the construction materials industry to their new plant in Berlin-Marienfelde for the First TESTING DAY on 21. September 2023, 9:00. TESTING has partnered up with laboratory equipment manufacturers IMKO, Memmert, NEXOPART, Pemat, Proceq, QAVERtec and Ultratest so a complete range for material analysis and testing will be there for the delegates to try out in several workshops. A plant tour, training sessions and calibration demonstrations complete the program. After the practical training the hosting companies invite to a casual Get-Together in the evening, with food, drink and a live band on the TESTING premises.

Admission to the First TESTING DAY is 35 Euro, pre-registration is mandatory by e-mail to marketing@testing.de. Conference languages are English and German.

3. WED 11OCT2023, Sharjah: Drymix Mortar in the Middle East @ Gulf Coatings Show

The Middle East Drymix Mortar Association MEDMA - in cooperation with Vincentz Network - invites to Drymix Mortar in the Middle East - The 16th Annual MEDMA Conference at Sharjah Expo on 11. October 2023. Our program has been recently published here. Supporters include so far: Agrana, American University of Sharjah, Baumit, Blackburn Chemicals, Caparol/DAW, m-tec, Polyplast, Poraver and Wacker Chemie. Take the chance also to visit Gulf Coatings Show (running from MON 09OCT2023 to WED 11OCT2023). We expect delegates from drymix mortar manufacturers, suppliers and distributors from the entire GCC area.

Admission to Drymix Mortar in the Middle East - The 16th Annual MEDMA Conference is free of charge (thanks to Vincentz Network!), however advance registration is mandatory by e-mail to info@drymix.info  (seating and audio support are limited AND we already prepare your access ticket for Gulf Coatings Show).

MEDMA members and partners are invited to join the festive MEDMA Annual General Assembly on Thursday, 12. October 2023 in the evening (details and formal invitation will go this month).

4. TUE 17OCT2023, Mumbai: 7th India Drymix Mortar Conference PLUS World of Concrete India

The international drymix mortar community meets in booming India again: The 7th India Drymix Mortar Conference takes place at Orchid Ecotel Vile Parle, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India on Tuesday, 17. October 2023. Again, our conference is being organized in partnership with the Construction Chemical Manufacturers Association of India (CCMA). Our Technical Chairmen are Mr. Gopinathan Chemmannoor (Coimbatore) and Dr. Sumon Chakravarty (Jaipur). After a successful cooperation in Sao Paulo on 08AUG2023 (after ladmmc7) drymix.info is happy announce the cooperation with informa - the organizers of World of Concrete India (WED, 18OCT to FRI20OCT2023) - a great opportunity for your delegates to combine and enjoy two major construction industry events. Support for our event comes from Agrana, Asian Paints, Avebe, Baumit, Baumix Coimbatore, Fairmate, Haver Ibau India, Imerys, m-tec, Maleki, Omya, Omyaspheres, Organik Kimya, Polyplast, Somani Ecobuild, Testing Bluhm & Feuerherdt and Wacker Chemie - thanks a lot.

Admission to The 7th India Drymix Mortar Conference is 450 €, reduced to 350 € for drymix.info members or partners. Drymix mortar manufacturers pay only 190 € *. For registration, visit our website.

* An additional rebate is available for drymix mortar producers that are member of our long-standing partner, the Construction Chemical Manufacturer's Association of India CCMA (proof of membership 2023 required, please contact drymix.info)

5. FRE 23NOV2023, Bogor: The 16th Annual SEADMA Conference: Program

The South East Asia Drymix Mortar Association SEADMA, together with its local Chapter Promindo, invites construction materials experts from throughout ASEAN and Eastern Asia. An additional cooperation has been agreed upon with the Indonesia Construction Contractors Association HAKI. We will met at romantic Novotel Bogor - a wonderful and relaxing fresh-air cure: far away form the city noise, traffic & stress. Our Call for Papers has ended in July, here is our preliminary list of topics (sorted alphabetically by company name, subject to change without notice):
Agrana | Matthäus Haider | The Role of Starch Ethers in Cementitious Tile Adhesives (CTA)
Avebe | Jagdeep Singh | An Overview on how Starch Ethers Complete the Core Additive Triangle in Making a Good Quality Drymix Mortar
Calucem | Dr. Florian Hartmann | Calcium Aluminate Cement Reduction Potentials in Building Chemistry Products
Demix Sarana Industri Indonesia | Fitria Novita | The Challenge of Large Format Tile Installation in Indonesia
H.A.K.I. | Prof. Imran Iswandi | (wt) Requirements for Efficient Construction in Indonesia: Manpower!
Haver&Boecker | Michael Mestekemper | (wt) Automated Packaging and Handling, the Key to Flow in Construction Materials Production
Imerys | Hongfang Chen | Calcium Aluminates: Answering the Most Demanding Current Applications and Ready for Sustainable Construction.
Polyplast | Dmitry Firsaev | Advantages of PCE Application in Skim Coats
Promindo | Ruslin Widjaja | (wt) Advances in the Standardization of Drymix Mortar Applications in Indonesia
Maleki GmbH | Matthias Gelber | Maleki IFS - The Next Generation of Flooring (virtual)
Maltech | Thomas Andergassen | Machine Processing of Drymix Materials such as Renders (Plasters) and Screeds
Mortindo | Hery Chrisnantyo | Mortindo's Contribution to the Nation Building (Membangun Nusantara) based on Triputra's Corporate Values
NFLG | Cathy Liao | A Brief Talk on Application of Mortar Plant in Indonesia
Sofraden | Nicolas Genevrier | How can Virtual Reality (VR) Help in all Phases of a New Project or during the Whole Life of a Production Line?
Testing Bluhm & Feuerherdt | H. Reuter/M. Slabbert | Automated Testing Methods for Drymix Mortar Development
Wacker Chemie | Malik Jamal | MAKE AN IMPACT WITH MODERN TILE ADHESIVES - How to Avoid Tile Failure by Choosing the Right Tile Adhesive

Admission to The 16th Annual SEADMA Conference is 450 €, reduced to 350 € for drymix.info members or partners. Drymix mortar manufacturers pay only 190 €*. For registration, visit our website.

* An additional rebate is available for drymix mortar producers that are member in Promindo and HAKI (proof of membership 2023 required, please contact drymix.info)

6. Baumit Developed „All In“ Water-Soluble Paper Packaging for Drymix Mortars with Mondi

Baumit Group of Wopfing, Austria, in partnership with Mondi AG Vienna (part of Mondi plc, Weybridge, Great Britain),both Austria, has recently introduced a new packaging technology for its drymix mortars. The new bag (Mondi tradename: SolMixBag) was launched for drymix concretes and screeds in 2023. The bag uses a single-ply kraft paper, whose fibers disintegrate when in contact with water during the mixing process. The mixing action of the machine also separates the bond between the fibers and the fibers themselves act as soft strengthening agent in the hardened mortar matrix. On top of that, according to Mondi, the new bag uses 20% less paper (by weight) than a standard two-ply bag, reduces the dust development during mixing (since they can be thrown into the drum or mortar mixer as a whole) and of course reduce waste on the jobsite, since all bag-material is being integrated in the wet mortar output. Quoting Peter Weissmann, R&D - Head of Drymix Mortars, Baumit Group, said: „...This innovative technology is a very good example for a sustainable and future-oriented implementation in the drymix mortar industry“.

7. Isover Increases Mineral Wool Insulation Panel Capacity at Lübz/Germany

Saint-Gobain Isover G+H AG, Düsseldorf, Germany has recently announced a substantial capacity increase at their Lübz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany plant. Due to the rising demand in mineral wool thermal insulation panel, Isover will put in a new (second) line, complete with melting bath and fibration facility. With these measures, the capacity in Lübz will reach 45.000 t per year. Plant manager Christian Schultz said: „In light of the ecological and economic challenges (...), there is no way around insulating and refurbishing existing buildings (...) our systems support this ternd“. According to Isover, the investment sum is „in the middle two-digit mio Euro area“.

8. Sika Takes over Chema in Peru

Sika of Baar, Switzerland, has recently acquired Chema, Lima, Peru. Family owned Chema is focussed on cementitious tile adhesives (CTA), grouts and complementary products. The company has several production locations all over Peru and operates a large distributor network. With this acquisition, Sika becomes clearly the largest drymix mortar producer in Peru. It can be expected, that - in combination with the portfolios of Sika itself and the recently acquired mortar activities of Ceramica de Lima (Celima, we reported earlier) - the cross-selling potential is high. Chema reported a turnover of about 50 mio EUR in 2022. The transaction value was not disclosed, the deal is still subject to approval by the local anti-trust authority.

9. Anton Paar Acquires Brabender

Testing equipment specialist Anton Paar GmbH, Graz, Austria (rheometers, viscosimeters, particle size analyzer and other analytical equipment) has recently acquired Brabender GmbH & Co KG, Duisburg, Germany. Brabender is known for their twin-screw lab extruders which can also be used as rheology measurement in polymer melts, humidity measurements, density determination and other lab equipment. Brabender will be immediately integrated as Anton Paar TorqueTec GmbH.

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Editor-in-Chief: Ferdinand Leopolder. 


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Sincerely Yours, Ferdinand Leopolder