Geosynthetic Materials Association – Industrial Fabrics Association International

The Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) provides engineering support, business development opportunities, educational programming, government relations expertise and industry recognition. GMA influences specifications and lobbies on behalf of member companies. GMA targets key U.S. states to expand the geosynthetics market. The Geosynthetic Materials Association provides a network to exchange information, solve common problems and develop mutually beneficial relationships.

GMA is a division of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), a trade association comprised of member companies representing the global specialty fabrics and advanced textiles marketplace. IFAI invests more than $8 million each year to advance the fabrics industry and support member companies.

Industry News

2019 TRB Annual Meeting issues calls for papers

May 25, 2018

TRB standing committees have issued calls for papers for the 98th TRB Annual Meeting, Jan. 13–17, 2019, in Washington, D.C, and/or the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board (TRR). Please create or update your profile on https://www.mytrb.org now if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, submit

Army Corps apportions funding for short-term natural disaster recovery projects

May 24, 2018

On May 21, 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced short-term projects that it will complete with funding provided in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, signed into law Feb. 9, 2018. The act provides USACE a total of $17.398 billion in six appropriations accounts: Investigations; Construction; Mississippi

Hanes Geo Components acquires DDD Erosion Control

May 22, 2018

On May 21, 2018, Hanes Geo Components, of Winston Salem, N.C., announced the company had reached an agreement to acquire DDD Erosion Control of Ashburn, Ga. “DDD Erosion Control is a leader in the manufacturing and distribution of Silt Fence, a core product segment for Hanes Geo Components,” John Dowdell,

ARTBA petitions USDOT to end federal rule blocking the use of innovative products in highway and bridge projects

May 22, 2018

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) announced it had formally petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to repeal a 102-year-old federal procurement rule the group says has blocked, since its inception, the use of products that could improve safety and quality on the nation’s major roadways. At

AASHTO announces passing of Kane

May 21, 2018

On May 18, 2018, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) announced the death of Dr. Anthony R. “Tony” Kane, the former director of engineering and technical services of AASHTO. Kane died last week after battling a long illness. He was 72. Kane served in his role

O-I chooses steel reinforced geosynthetic drainage improvements for a Texas landfill

May 17, 2018

In December 2017, Owens-Illinois, commonly known as O-I and one of the largest glassmakers in the world, took action to improve the drainage system for their glass container landfill situated near the company’s O-I Waco manufacturing facility in Waco, Texas, Contech Engineered Solutions said in a press release. The consulting

SKAPS Industries acquires Matrix Composites

May 16, 2018

SKAPS Industries of Athens, Ga., completed an agreement on May 1, 2018, to acquire Matrix Composites of Henderson, Ky., and Seguin, Texas. The acquisition includes all Matrix Composites technologies, operations and assets, SKAPS said. Matrix Composites, Inc. was started in 1996 in Henderson to produce woven fiberglass fabrics, SKAPS said.

GMA and FGI to host part 2 of a webinar on the stability of geosynthetic lined slopes

May 15, 2018

The Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA), in collaboration with the Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI), will present the second of this two-part, free webinar series on May 31, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. EDT. The webinar will discuss the importance of geosynthetic interface strengths on slope stability, when to use peak and residual

Layfield Australia becomes exclusive Australian distributor for Seaman XR Geomembranes

May 14, 2018

Layfield Australia along with the Seaman Corp. announced May 11, 2018, that both parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), establishing Layfield as the exclusive distributor of Seaman’s XR® Geomembrane product line in Australia. Both companies have shared a mutually beneficial relationship in North America for more than 25

International Achievement Awards submissions due June 30

May 9, 2018

The International Achievement Awards (IAA) are an annual competition with a goal to promote awareness of the specialty fabrics used in thousands of products and applications ranging in size and shape, including geosynthetics. For more than six decades, the awards have recognized innovation, technical skill and design excellence. Entries are

GSI hosts webinar on MSE wall back drainage design

May 9, 2018

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will sponsor a webinar entitled “MSE Wall Back Drainage Design,” on May 23, 2018, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. Within GSI’s database of 301 failed mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls reinforced with geogrids or geotextiles, 64% have failed due to water. Furthermore, 73% have

IFAI opens registration for GeoDallas conference

May 8, 2018

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has opened registration for GeoDallas, presented by the Geosynthetics 2019 Conference, to be held in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 16–17, 2018. GeoDallas is supported by the Geosynthetic Materials Association and Geosynthetics magazine. GeoDallas provides geosynthetics professionals the opportunity to learn from short courses, panel discussions, case

Geocomp hires Epstein as Southeast regional manager

May 3, 2018

Geocomp, a geostructural consulting, design, instrumentation and testing company, hired Aaron C. Epstein, P.E., to lead the consulting division in the company’s Atlanta, Georgia, offices in the position of Southeast regional manager, the company said. Epstein will develop Geocomp’s southeastern U.S. geostructural engineering services, expand opportunities for structural health monitoring

IFAI Smart Fabrics Summit displays growth and innovation in Washington, D.C.

May 2, 2018

The second edition of Smart Fabrics Summit, cohosted by the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and the U.S. Department of Commerce, demonstrated the advancements happening in this fast-growing segment of the textile industry. A capacity crowd of public and private experts and innovators filled the Ronald Reagan Building and International

USDOT launches BUILD Transportation program and announces $1.5 billion Notice of Funding Opportunity

April 30, 2018

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on April 25, 2018, published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to apply for $1.5 billion in discretionary grant funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program. USDOT said, BUILD Transportation grants replace the preexisting Transportation Investment Generating

NHI hosting course on earth retaining structures in New Mexico and California

April 30, 2018

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Highway Institute (NHI) will host a three-day instructor-led course on earth retaining structures twice this summer, in Sacramento, California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. The course (Course Number FHWA-NHI-132036) will provide state-of-the-practice design tools and construction techniques to expand implementation of safe and cost-effective

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IAA 2017 Winners

Geosynthetic Miscellaneous

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Mines/Landfills/Waste-Water

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Roadways/Infra-Structure