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drymix.info Newsletter 148/2014; ISSN Number 1613-0111; 21. March 2014

1. admmc four, Atlanta, GA, April 8, 2014: Record Participation Expected
2. Drymix Mortar Events 2014: China, Philippines, Taiwan, Turkey, Germany, Singapore, Australia
3. Thermal Insulation Could Make Nuclear Power in Germany Obsolete
4. Former Praktiker Markets in Bulgaria and Poland Sold
5. Fixit and EMPA Present Award-Winning Insulative Render

1. admmc four, Atlanta, GA, April 8, 2014: Record Participation Expected

The Fourth American Drymix Mortar Conference and Industry Showcase admmc four takes place at The Omni Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia, USA on April 8, 2014. The Technical Chairman is Prof. Dr. Johann Plank, Technische Universität München, Germany (TUM), the updated programme can be found on our website. The Drymix Mortar Yearbook 2014 will be published on occasion of admmc four. We are very pleased with the registrations so far, which indicate a record participation by the drymix mortar industry of the US and Canada, but there will also be a sizeable group from Mexico and Latin America. Online registration (recommended) is possible via our website, regular admission is 327 Euro (ca. US$ 450), drymix.info members pay 283 Euro (ca. US$ 390) and there is a specially reduced admission for drymix mortar manufacturers which is only 197 Euro (ca. US$ 271).

Message for the delegates: By mutual request, and since so many of you are already in town, I have decided to stage an improvised Delegate Welcome on Monday evening, April 7, 2014, we will meet at 7:30 pm in the Lobby (Reception area, second floor). You will also be able to obtain your conference badge then already, which will greatly reduce the rush the next morning. We are encouraging the supplying industry to sponsor this Delegate Welcome (please contact me if you are interested).

Since American Coatings Show is in town too (and right next door) it is needless to say, that it is advisable to find & book accomodation soon.

2. Drymix Mortar Events 2014: China, Philippines, Taiwan, Turkey, Germany, Singapore, Australia

28. and 29. May 2014: The The Sixth China International Forum on Production and Application of Dry-mixed Mortars, Beijing, China
The China Building Materials Association CBMA has recently formed its drymix mortar branch (RMB; we reported earlier). RMB is inviting now to their sixth technical conference featuring topics on standardisation, new materials and systems implementation. drymix.info has agreed to support this event by connecting RBM to internationally active mortar producers and additives suppliers. Registration for International delegates will be made available via the drymix.info website shortly.

2. July 2014 (tentative date): Drymix Mortar Meeting in Manila, The Philippines
The South East Asia Drymix Mortar Association SEADMA will arrange the First Drymix Mortar Meeting in The Philippines, it will take place in Makati City (exact location tbd.), all interested manufacturers and suppliers are warmly invited to join this important getogether. Focus is on the standardisation of mortars and the enforcement of such standards, also the formation of a local association of quality mortar manufacturers is being dicussed (sponsors are welcome, admission fees apply).

4. July 2014 (tentative date): Drymix Mortar Meeting in Taipeh, Taiwan
In the same week, drymix.info is inviting to an expert meeting in Taipeh, Taiwan, for drymix mortar manufacturers and suppliers to our industry. We will discuss technical specifications as well as possible imporvement to the common practice concerning mortar use and especially tile application in Taiwan (sponsors are welcome, admission fees apply).

11. September 2014: The Fourth Central and South European Drymix Mortar Conference and Industry Showcase cedmmc four, Istanbul, Turkey
Our conference location in Istanbul is the splendid Çırağan Palace Kempinski Hotel, right on the Bosphorus. Building on the success of cedmmc one, two and three this conference is again aimed at the countries of Eastern and Southern Europe. Of course we would also appreciate active participation from Central Asia. This conference will feature distinguished speakers who will focus on recent developments in the drymix mortar industry. Experts in the field of drymix mortars from around the world will be present, ensuring a highly diverse audience. The Drymix Mortar Yearbook 2014 is published on occasion of this event. The Call for Papers recently expired and we will publish the programme in one of our next Newsletters.

Remember the wonderful time we had on the Bosphorus at the Delegate Welcome in 2010? Well, we are doing it again: we scheduled a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus for all those that are in town already - and I can tell you this will be marvellous!

6. to 8. October 2014: Annual Conference of the Construction Chemicals Section of GDCh at Kassel University, Germany
Since 10 years, drymix.info members are supporting this important event on the scientific calendar of construction chemicals experts. It is the place to meet scholars and students alike and get to know new papers and posters, which are all featured in the annual Monography.

11. November 2014: 9th Annual SEADMA Conference in Singapore
Initially planned for Bangkok (unfortunately we had to move this event due to social unrest and uncertainty there, we will hold the 10th anniversary Conference in Bangkok in 2015) the 9th Annual SEADMA Conference will take place in Singapore (location tbd.). A Call for Papers is available at drymix.info, it expires on 31. May 2014, sponsoring is welcome and the MEDMA/SEADMA Technical Bulletin 09 will be published on occasion of this event.

14. November 2014: Second Australian Drymix Mortar Meeting, Sydney, Australia
For the second time, drymix mortar experts from Australia and New Zealand meet in Sydney to discuss recent developments. The meeting will most likely take place again at beautiful Manly Beach (the exact location remains to be determined). Sponsoring and proposals for lecturing topics are welcome already (the Call for Paper ends on 31. May 2014).

3. Thermal Insulation Could Make Nuclear Power in Germany Obsolete

The Forschungsinstitut für Wärmeschutz e.V. (Research Institution for Heat Preservation, FIW), Munich, Germany, has recently published its "Metastudy on Thermal Insulation Media". The comprehensive study determines the tremendous potential for energy-saving by thermally insulating the existing buildings in Germany. A total of 130 Tera Watts of energy is lost through the walls in Germany per year. Applying External Insulation and Finishing Systems (EIFS or ETICS) in a proper way FIW estimates that this loss can be reduced by 75% (= -100 TeraW). This figure is exactly the amount of energy provided by all existing nuclear power plants in Germany each year.

But there is a long way to go until this potential can be fully realized. Currently only 5% of the residential buildings in Germany are properly insulated. At an annual renovation rate of 0,8 to 1,0 % the climatic goals can never be reached. The rate must reach at least 2,5% p.a. in order to realize a sufficient reduction in energy consumption and eventually make nuclear power obsolete. Only at this rate, the primary consumption of energy for heating can be reduced by 80% by 2050. The scientists from FIW also determined a cause for the reluctant drive towards energetical renovation: recently many reports in mass media have questioned the efficiency and quality of EIFS in Germany, despite the fact, that these systems have proven successful all across the Nation for decades. FIW recommends to the Federal Government to intensify the awareness campaign towards investors and spend more on education of engineers and architects.

4. Former Praktiker Markets in Bulgaria and Poland Sold

BM Praktiker International (led by insolvency administrator Christopher Seagon) has sold assets in Bulgaria and Poland.  The bulgarian markets of Praktiker were sold to Videolux Holding AD, which operates already 31 electronics and home appliances outlets throughout Bulgaria. Videolux will take over the existing nine Praktiker markets with 570 employees. Praktiker Polska SP.Z.o.o. with 24 markets and 1.800 employees (turnover in 2012 was 160 mio Euro) went to the Swiss Papag AG, which is being backed by a Polish investor. They will continue the activties and have also obtained the right to use the Praktiker name. Transaction values were not disclosed.

This has been the fourth and fifth sale of international Praktiker asstets (Luxemburg, Ukraine and Rumänien were sold earlier). Praktiker operated a total of eleven fully or partially owned companies outside of Germany.

5. Fixit and EMPA Present Award-Winning Insulative Render

Fixit Group of Freising, Germany, in collaboration with Eidgenössische Materialprüfanstalt (EMPA), Dübendorf, Switzerland has recently introduced a cementitious render with superior insulative properties. The effect is being generated by special aerogels based upon amorphous potassium silicates. These materials incorporate 90 to 98% of air-filled voids, which give the material a lambda-value as low as 0,028 W/mK. The highly insulative render allows the architect to design thinner thermal envelopes, even for the thermal refurbishment of historic buildings with complicated facades or half-timbered houses. Several reference objects have already been refurbished using the materials and their performance is being observed by EMPA experts over time.

Recently, Fixit has been awarded the Swiss Ecological Prize for Sustainable Building during a ceremony held at Swissbau Exhibition in Basel.


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Sincerely Yours, Ferdinand Leopolder