The seventh International Conference and Exhibition Geosynthetics Middle East (GeoME) 2015 honoured for the first time outstanding achievements within the geosynthetics community.

More than 400 international industry experts from 35 countries attended the sold-out exhibition, the largest event of its kind on geosynthetics in the Middle East aimed at promoting sustainable project development through the use of high-quality polymeric construction materials.

It was organised by SKZ German Plastics Centre in partnership with BMC Gulf, under the patronage of Abu Dhabi City Municipality on November 16 and 17 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Maccaferri Middle East won the Best Geosynthetics Project award for its 32-m-high ParaMesh retaining wall at the Al Jais Mountain Road Project in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE,  while Cetco won the Best Geosynthetics Innovation and Technology award for its Alcoa-Ma’aden lining system at the disposal facility for red mud at Ras Al Khair in Saudi Arabia.

Reda Ashkar, SKZ’s business development manager for Middle East and North Africa and chairman of the GeoME 2015, commented: “The organiser committee created the GeoME Awards to support the need of sharing innovative technologies and best practice throughout the geosynthetics community.”

He added: “The GeoME Awards are an opportunity for geosynthetics experts to be recognised for leading projects, initiatives and technologies, and will certainly support SKZ’s efforts within the Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region to promote the highest standards for polymeric construction materials.”

In his keynote address, Majed Abed Al Katheeri, director of Internal Roads and Infrastructure, Abu Dhabi City Municipality, outlined the aims of GeoME to support a sustainable and environment-friendly infrastructure in line with the 2030 Vision of the Abu Dhabi government.

He emphasised that by using geosynthetics materials, the municipality had managed to save more than Dh110 million ($30 million) in projects undertaken, besides curbing carbon dioxide emissions by 15 per cent, and saving time and effort by 20 per cent.

Senior officials from the EU delegation and the German Embassy attended the opening ceremony and highlighted the importance of the conference.

The expo had also, for the first time, organised SKZ-certified workshops and short courses on subjects like specifications for geosynthetics; smart composites and hybrids in civil engineering and building constructions – future vision; higher quality and productivity control before, during and after welding of geomembranes; and polymer basics for decision makers.

More than 30 international exhibitors participated in the show including major industry players such as Atarfil, Bonar Natpet, Cetco, Huesker Synthetic, Leister and Maccaferri.

Products and services on show covered  woven and non-woven geotextiles, geomembranes, welding machines, geosynthetic clay liners (GCL), geogrids, geonets, geocomposites, geocells, water management systems and erosion controls.