We will be at the EuroGeo7 Conference in Warsaw
After being postponed for so many months due to the health emergency, EUROGEO7, the 7th European Geosynthetics Conference will take place at last in Warsaw from 4 to 7 September 2022. We will be participating with our thirty years of experience and our innovative flow of products and functions.
We will be attending with ourTeMa Geo Solutions division, specialized in developing innovative technologies and products for protection, maintenance, retention, reinforcement and drainage in environmental works.
We have achieved these goals because since 1993, when TeMa was established, geosynthetic products have been our targeted approach to geotechnical and environmental applications. At a time when there was little talk of ecosystems, we developed considerable experience in this field, deploying new technologies and finding crucial improvements in terms of durability and less invasive intervention works using geosynthetic products.
The many fields of application range from the most important functions to be addressed in the fields of geotechnical engineering, reinforced earth structures and reinforced soil, to name but a few. They are highly impressive in the fields of hillside agriculture and the urban regeneration of small villages: drainage and filtration for landfills and contaminated sites; roads, railways and other transport applications; rainwater management.
What will TeMa Geo Solutions explore?
The focus is on geosynthetic products and the aspects that make them versatile, high-performance and innovative in geotechnical engineering applications. In particular, we will be focusing on TeMa Geo Solutions technologies for:
- removing seepage water using drainage geocomposites bonded with a nonwoven geotextile;
- reinforcement and stabilization with geogrids;
- the drainage capacity for the cap, bottom and sides of landfills with geonets;
- erosion control and drainage with geomats.
Our technicians will be available to provide catalogues and data sheets with performance details.
To learn more: https://www.temacorporation.com/geo-applications/
- Published in CORPORATION, Exhibitions and events, news, TeMa Technologies and Materials
Proud to be BEE certified
Our strength is that we never stop striving for the best, in everything: we are at the forefront in researching new materials, studying innovative solutions, focusing on the environment and exploiting resources… We couldn’t be any less inclusive.
Our company operates worldwide, we have branches in practically all continents and the concept of ‘internationalisation’ is our daily bread. We have always worked in contact with different people and cultures and have no difficulty in approaching them: it comes naturally to us!
We are therefore delighted to have been awarded BEE certification for our TeMa South Africa division.
What is it and how does it work?
Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, or B-BBEE, is a South African government initiative that encourages businesses to integrate more black citizens into all jobs, from employees to entrepreneurs, and reduce inequality in income.
The assessment is made based on 5 parameters:
- Ownership: voting rights and shareholding in the company
- Management control: members in management roles and voting rights with control over the board of directors
- Skills development: learning opportunities for developing new skills
- Enterprise development: support and development of small businesses run by black people
- Socio-economic development: corporate investment in economic and social initiatives.
Each parameter is assigned a value that creates the final percentage score, which is used to assign the category level. There are 8 of them, proceeding in descending order: 1 is the level with the highest score, 8 with the lowest score.
TeMa South Africa has been assessed by the EmpowerBEE certification agency and is a certified collaborator at Level 3 – 110% procurement recognition level.
We aim to improve further in order to reach the highest level.
Click here to find out more.
- Published in CORPORATION, news
Our approach to green energy
International Energy Saving Day is drawing near and we, being keen to respect the environment by integrating with it rather than forcing it, feel personally involved.
We are experiencing a period in which the issue of energy sources has escalated on a global scale, challenging the plans and forecasts of organisations.
Events have led to a pressing need to ensure that this particularly heartfelt situation, occurring in February 2022, is high on the agenda not only for governments but also for all businesses and families. So, we want to dedicate a few lines to it.
The ‘value’ of energy saving
Everyone knows that by ‘saving energy’ they can reduce energy consumption through all their actions and habits. By re-assessing their production and logistical processes and implementing appropriate technologies, businesses can strive to achieve minimum waste. In doing so, everyone can play their part to protect the planet, which is already somewhat damaged by the serious problems caused by climate change.
Small everyday gestures trigger cultural processes that lead to actions on a larger scale, as in the case of companies. Not out of obligation, but because it starts to be worthwhile… And it’s a real value.
How to pursue the value of sustainability
As previously mentioned, the first step must be taken by those who succeed in changing their habits and choices in order to contribute to this sustainable model, so that everyone can effectively influence decision-makers.
Nowadays, being sustainable means not wasting, not consuming energy unnecessarily by adopting methods and systems that enhance this commitment to sustainability.
Today, TeMa is acknowledged globally for having introduced, since starting out 30 years ago, geomats, geonets, geomembranes and ultra-technological products to retain and protect the soil, reinforcing it and restoring its retention power. Part of the materials used to make them comes from recycled plastic. This process takes place at two of the company’s own recovery plants in Europe. In the most vulnerable environmental situations, TeMa has now put in place biomats and bionets that help the revegetation of areas in the most natural way.
Needless to say, sustainability must be developed by using renewable energy sources that do not pollute the environment.
About 50% of the energy we use in our production processes comes from renewable sources: the IWIS Group, our partner, has three photovoltaic plants: 200 kWp, 150 kWp and 100 kWp.
It is also equipped with a co-generator that can produce an additional 800 kWp. This plant uses the heat naturally discharged by the plants to increase the efficiency of electricity production. The aim is to reduce the Carbon Footprintand CO2emissions.
TeMa Technologies and Materials was founded thirty years ago with a focus on sustainability and research. We will continue at this pace, always improving. After all, it’s our job to find solutions.
- Published in CORPORATION, Research and development, TeMa Technologies and Materials
Even a floor gets wrinkles: how can you avoid them?
The floor of a room is often a distinctive choice, a calling card: it represents our personal taste and gives character to a room. It isn’t as easy to replace as furniture or curtains. We choose it, also aesthetically, to last a long time. But will it really last long?
We spend much time considering its shape, dimensions and the most suitable pattern before deciding. But we don’t think about the problems that floors may develop in the long-term.
Let’s take a look at some of them.
Cracks and broken tiles
Besides unpredictable water leakage due to a burst pipe that creates rising water, moisture and condensation are among the most common causes of damage to interior floors: if they are excessive, they can create temperature changes that affect the resistance of the floor. Since this situation is very common not only in bathrooms but also in communal areas, it’s important to provide suitable ventilation and maintain a constant average temperature, in addition to insulating the building.
In the case of outdoor floors, the problem is more complex. Terraces and balconies are subject to significant temperature changes: the sun and heat, rain and humidity, snow and ice cause materials to expand and contract. The most obvious consequence is the formation of cracks in the screed, which lead to fissures, marks and mould, even in the upper layers. This shortens the life and usability of the floor.
To this must be added the quality of the materials used and the care taken in intervention works: poor quality adhesives would create air bubbles that might raise the floor; joints of unsuitable dimensions would not allow natural movement during temperature changes; incorrect laying of tiles without respecting technical timing would increase this risk.
As a solution, TeMa Interior Solutions proposes No-Crack, the membrane with a dual function:
- waterproofing: the plastic nature of the membrane protects the substrate from moisture seepage and harmful substances;
- uncoupling: it neutralises tension between the substrate and the tiles, acting as a bridge for any fissures that would create cracks in the tiles.
In addition to these important functions, there is the great capacity to withstand loads, such as benches and outdoor tables. Its structure is classified as Extra-Heavy in the Robinson Wheel Test.
What about soundproofing?
Floors are the surface that separates the floors of a house or block of flats, which is why the noise of a neighbour walking in heels early in the morning or a child jumping at all hours of the day may hinder our well-being.
The ideal solution we propose is to apply panels or rolls to prevent footfall noise. The range includes T-Silence dB 21, T-Silence dB17, T-Silence dB 3.8 mm and T-Silence dB 10 mm, which can be chosen according to personal requirements.
- Published in Acoustic insulation, Balconies and terraces, Baths and showers rooms, INTERIOR, news
Soundproofing the bathroom: Why not?
Having a shower in the middle of the night or at the crack of dawn, flushing the toilet, walking heavily barefoot, dropping bottles, a washing machine spinning, water draining or a jacuzzi in operation. All such activities often take place at times when your neighbours may not want to hear you.
Nothing illegal, but it’s most likely to be very annoying for any neighbours who are sleeping.
Don’t be surprised, there’s a solution to this too: install noise-reducing products in the bathroom.
Where does noise come from?
We are used to thinking that noise is transmitted through the air, but sometimes we forget that walls and pipes also transmit vibrations.
In blocks of flats this is even more amplified, as flats are generally designed in a similar way and systems run in sections between floors: this carries much more noise and rumblings.
Our solution
First and foremost, the ideal solution is to carry out a sound test in order to find out what noise is in that room and design a customised soundproofing system.
Environmental comfort can be taken care of by T-Silence dB21, the panel comprising an internal polymer core bonded with special fabrics on both sides, which reduces noise by 21 dB in a thickness of just 7.5 mm.
T-Silence dB21 is particularly suitable for renovations, as it can be dry-installed without having to a make a new screed (thus saving time, since long drying periods are not required). Furthermore, if not irreparably uneven, the old floor need not be demolished, as T-Silence can be installed over it. It can then be directly cladded with ceramic tile or wooden flooring, or a floating floor system can be installed. If, instead, you decide to remove the existing floor because it’s uneven and then lay T-Silence over the screed, as it is reduced in thickness, it isn’t necessary to intervene on the thresholds between one room and another, as no difference in level will occur.
Beware of acoustic bridges
An acoustic bridge is a critical issue that risks undermining all insulation work. It basically transmits noise and vibration. To prevent this, the joints between T-Silence dB21 panels need to be covered with dB-Strip, the paper adhesive tape impregnated with hot melt adhesive, and dB-Band, the self-adhesive band for perimeter insulation in contact with vertical walls.
Advantages
Insulating the bathroom brings the advantage of enhancing rest and therefore personal well-being.
Moreover, as it is relatively uncommon, it adds value to your property.
- Published in news
The importance of geogrids in reinforced earth structures
In recent years, reinforced earth structures have been particularly popular in projects due to their excellent functional and aesthetic importance in the residential building and public building industries.
Such intervention works achieve the best results by allowing the soil and geosynthetics to “work in synergy”, each one with its own features of ensuring the stability of the work as a whole.
It’s easy to see the high environmental value of such solutions, but let’s take a closer look at the two major factors in reinforced soil works. In this way, we can understand how and why, working together, they lead to amazing results, also in aesthetic terms.
What are reinforced earth structures?
They are structural intervention works in various gradients and dimensions aimed at retention and/or stabilisation. We can identify a few main areas of application:
- Road and railway embankments.
- Restoration and consolidation of collapsed soil on a road.
- Construction of ramps for ascending and descending flyovers.
- Canal or river bank elevations.
- Rockfall barriers.
- Noise barriers along roads or railways.
- Widening of elevated car parks.
- Construction of terracing systems in vineyards.
- Soil consolidation at tunnel entrances.
What are geogrids and why are they often the best solution?
Soil has the intrinsic features of friction and compressive strength, but practically no tensile strength. This is not enough to ensure the stability of a structure.
Major slopes, weather conditions, proximity to embankments, etc. can erode soil, causing landslides and subsidence. For reinforced earth structures, it’s therefore necessary to use geogrids, two-dimensional structures horizontally inserted into soil, which integrate with it without deforming. Their open-mesh structure develops “passive” resistance, thereby increasing the stabilising effect.
This bonding exploits the abilities of the two construction elements, making the entire structure more efficient.
Naturally, the feasibility of retaining works needs to consider:
- the intrinsic characteristics of the soil, such as grain size, the degree of thickening and shear strength, as well as the dilatancy phenomenon;
- the characteristics of the geogrids, such as tensile strength and stiffness, the use of raw materials (polymers) that can also withstand harsh chemical and physical conditions (attacks by chemical agents, soil pH, etc.), and the appropriate geometric structure.
Greening
Eventually, grass will grow and none of the intervention work will be visible: a really attractive and natural reinforced structure. In addition to its aesthetic function, greening also plays an important role in helping the natural friction of soil.
Find out more about our products here.
Experts in finding solutions: a case study
The galloping of horses, the demolishing power of hooves and a high-performance solution. In short, one of our intervention works in Kyalami, Johannesburg, South Africa (2019). This is an equestrian arena where a new moisture management and drainage system had to be designed while ensuring the durability of the work and the well-being of the horses and their hocks.
Horse racing arenas, highly exposed to weather conditions that vary with the seasons and to various training and racing activities that wear out the ground, therefore require constant maintenance. In the past, stone-aggregate layers were used for drainage, which drained rainwater (although not quickly), but had limited resistance to the continuous impact of horse hooves. In order to make the ground more resistant, it was pressed with great force, however, this had a negative effect on the safety of horses. An alternative solution was to preserve the race course as far as possible by reducing its use, i.e. not using it for training but only for competitions.
The solution based on TeMa’s decades of experience in constructing synthetic football pitches allows the construction of race courses for competitions and riding schools that use geosynthetic products. These products improve functionality, reduce intervention times and subsequent maintenance costs, also on a large scale (in our case, the surface area to be covered was 3,000 sq.m).
To find out more, click here.
Innovation in every solution
What do our clients and partners expect? For us to be there when they need us! We have therefore set up an extensive sales network in 80 countries. We rely on trained professionals who interact and meet the needs of very different markets.
We have developed three divisions in specialised areas: residential/commercial works, environmental works and indoor living comfort works. Consequently, the training and updating of our collaborators are the mainstays of our competitive advantage, as are the contributions of Universities and Research Institutes in our R&D area. Innovations arise from focusing on and listening to our clients, who primarily demand interesting and beneficial solutions.
In 2023, our company will be 30 years old, and for almost 30 years we have been harmonising our various sectors and offices to find the perfect balance. Along the way, we could not have imagined what has happened in the last 20 months. The Covid pandemic has upset the strategic balance of supply chains. So, in a world that is speeding up again, we believe that our three-division organisational set-up has helped us to truly meet the specific needs of our clients. Recruiting young people has also raised the potential for an unconventional and truly innovative outlook.
We are known as TeMa, the corporation that meets the needs of clients by operating with the precise intention of not only supplying products but also promptly finding systems and solutions that can solve any problem. This might sound like an easy advertising claim were it not for the fact that this statement encompasses other facets of the “solution maker”, which we intend to be. It is not only a matter of finding answers to problems but also solutions that are less expensive, have less impact on the environment, are quicker to apply, easier, safer and improve durability. And so on.
Such competitiveness matters to designers, builders, installers and distributors in their civil and geotechnical engineering, landscaping, erosion control, transport and soil retention projects with a low environmental impact. For them, we offer high performance to suit all situations, and we do this because we believe in protecting the environment.
- Published in CORPORATION, news, TeMa Technologies and Materials
Embankments in home gardens: small colourful islands
Made of masonry alone, embellished with different types and colours of plants and flowers, and of varying heights, embankments are often part of public buildings in parks and squares, but also a distinctive feature of private gardens. In the urban construction context, embankments can be borders for roadside verges, steps and flowerbeds, reaching a relatively low height, almost always less than 1 metre.
The provide a very attractive and organised visual effect and can be customised with the colours and types of plants you prefer. However, in order to achieve adequate stability for such intervention work, regulations require certain specifications to bear in mind for their construction.
A short and simple recap: let’s start by understanding what they are and how they are built.
What are embankments?
Embankments are accumulations of earth that form more or less evident differences in the level of the ground and can be natural or artificial. Natural embankments are caused and possibly accentuated by landslides, whereas artificial ones are man-made and consist of an earth fill supported by a wall, often in order to highlight the difference in level.
The risk of landslides
As mounds of earth, especially if they are of a certain height, embankments can be severely tested by atmospheric events, resulting in erosion and runoff due to rainwater.
Various characteristic elements can therefore be recognised:
- drainage and runoff systems in the underlying area where all rainwater accumulates;
- support and reinforcement of slopes, the part most susceptible to erosion;
- substrates and erosion control systems to allow plants to grow in the best conditions by sheltering the topsoil from the effects of the wind, sun and rain until the plants have become strong and well-rooted.
Block retaining walls and reinforcement grids
In order to prevent soil erosion or irrigation, embankments are reinforced with retaining walls in a combination of concrete blocks and geogrids, which meet geotechnical, building and architectural requirements.
TeMa Geo Solutions has the right products to create this type of construction.
For soil reinforcement we suggest X-Grid, reinforcement geogrids, which are knitted uniaxial geogrids made of high tenacity polyester yarns covered with a protective PVC layer.
For retaining walls, the range includes T-Block, a single concrete block for building reinforced walls.
The special feature of this product is the male/female joint, shaped directly on the block. This ensures maximum connection between the blocks, thus avoiding the use of mechanical fasteners, glue or mortar and making the wall stronger and more resistant to damage.
Find here all the specifications of the products mentioned.
Advantages of the terrace and balcony system
It is a pleasure to make use of a terrace or a balcony. There is no lack of opportunities, whether it is just for relaxing or enjoying the space for dinners and gatherings with friends, with the added bonus of the scenery. Moreover, due to the pandemic, in recent months we have rediscovered these small “islands” and have exploited them as never before.
They are clearly one of the areas in the home most affected by temperature changes: heat and frost, damp, rain and sometimes hail can undermine the integrity of the flooring system. Water seepage and, above all, temperature changes can quickly damage tiled surfaces, and cracks and detachment are the first signs of disintegration. Flooring applied over a screed that has not yet settled will lead to cracks, also in tiles.
We can find even greater pleasure in making use of a terrace or a balcony when we can do it without any worries, confident in the beauty and safety of all its parts. Therefore when building terraces and balconies, some products are used to perform the most important functions. These are:
- No-Crack, the anti-crack disconnecting system that neutralises underlying tensions and prevents them from reaching tiles;
- T-K-NW and T-K-Net, which drain rainwater and protect the waterproof layer;
- T-Bandel, which seals joints between panels, making them waterproof.
TeMa Interior Solutions has devised a high-performance system to guarantee the durability of intervention work and the aesthetic qualities envisaged during the design stage, all in the shortest possible time.
Let’s analyse the benefits.
System advantages
First and foremost, the system is easy to apply using lightweight materials that are easy to cut. The time frame is very quick: when renovating, it is often an advantage to have materials and solutions available that do not involve downtime in intervention works.
TeMa Interior Solutions has designed ultra-fast under-tile applications so you do not need to wait for about a month for the cement to harden and you can lay the flooring after a couple of days.
The ceramic tile or stone cladding (synthetic or natural) can be directly applied to the membrane using standard cementitious adhesive.
• All the products used have reduced thicknesses that do not occupy space on terraces and balconies.
• After treatment, the surface is entirely renewed.
• The underlying substrate always remains protected and dry.
• As the system is not affected by temperature changes, but can tolerate them well, it is also a feasible solution during the winter season.
• It is important to avoid prolonged exposure to UV rays.
TeMa places great importance on the environment, therefore no hazardous substances are released into groundwater or the subsoil during installation.
Furthermore, the materials are odourless and do not develop gases that are toxic for indoor or outdoor air, or volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Visit this page to learn more.
- Published in Balconies and terraces, INTERIOR, news
Retaining walls: applications in residential, commercial and infrastructural contexts
Supporting walls or retaining walls are vertical structures intended to support and retain accumulations of natural or artificial materials and ensure their stability.
In the part in contact with the ground, the supporting structures are naturally covered with a waterproofing membrane, which must be protected from damage during construction operations and during subsequent settlement of the ground. The mechanical protection of the waterproofing is provided by TeMa Building Solutions T-Kone studded membranes, which also act as damp proofing, slowing down the absorption of moisture.
Moreover, when placed with the studs facing inwards, these membranes create a micro-ventilation space that is beneficial in keeping the structure dry.
In some cases, a rainwater collection system is planned around the perimeter of the building. It is necessary to use drainage geocomposites bonded with a geotextile such as T-Mix Drain, which conveys water to the drainage system envisaged in the project.
Supporting walls are used in a wide variety of areas in the building industry, from residential to infrastructural and commercial contexts.
Let’s take a look at the application in specific fields.
Residential context
It is essential to protect the underground rooms of homes, whether they are used as garages, cellars or basement rooms, in order to prevent the moisture seepage, which would damage the structure and make the indoor environment unhealthy.
TeMa Building Solutions products meet this need and are efficient in this respect.
Commercial context
TeMa Building Solutions products are also ideal for heavy loads such as underground car parks or warehouses in commercial buildings.
In such environments, TMD, the studded membrane bonded with LDPE backing foil for the mechanical protection of waterproofing membranes and the T-Mix Draindrainage geocomposite for the drainage function can also be used. In addition, the T-Comp fibreglass mat performs the subdivision function.
Infrastructures
In major infrastructural works, membranes and geocomposites must be able to withstand and resist heavy loads from the ground and hydrostatic thrust. The effectiveness of TeMa Building products is also proven for this type of construction work.
To learn more about the mentioned products, click here.
