Answers questions from the editorial team: Konstantin Vladimirovich Gorkov, Head of the TechPolymer Engineering Centre
(PART 1)
The use of geosynthetic materials is considered one of the most effective and economically viable solutions for constructing transport infrastructure facilities in most countries worldwide. Having proven their suitability in the construction of the most challenging road projects, these materials have also found broad application in the road sector in our country. The Russian geosynthetics market continues to develop and grow, but is it currently possible to minimise a number of traditional problems existing in this field? Leading specialists working in the production and supply of geosynthetic materials shared their expert opinions in response to this and other questions.
Editorial staff of the “Dorozhnaya Derzhava” magazine:
– More than three years have passed since the Federal Road Transport Agency issued an order cancelling the industry road guidelines (ODM), including those relating to geosynthetic materials. How has the cancellation of these documents affected the work of geosynthetics manufacturers and suppliers, as well as design practices and interaction with clients?
K.V. Gorkov:
– During the period when the ODMs were in force, there were clear instructions, layouts and models for using geosynthetic materials in different elements of roads; these ODMs could also be used in other construction sectors for similar structural layouts and loads. The cancellation of these documents had a negative effect on the use of geosynthetic materials in road construction, since replacement regulatory documents with adequate content have still not been adopted. The existing GOST standards no longer provide comprehensive answers to questions concerning the use of geosynthetic materials in road construction. This particularly applies to the use of composite materials combining several functions.
Editorial staff of the “Dorozhnaya Derzhava” magazine:
– Are there manufacturers of machinery and equipment for producing geosynthetics in our country, or is the market fully dependent on imported solutions? How does this affect production costs, manufacturing flexibility and modernisation?
K.V. Gorkov:
– There is no domestic production of equipment or software for manufacturing geosynthetic materials in our country. As a rule, used foreign lines are employed to produce these products; their operation has been deemed economically unviable abroad. Our “Lefties” attach makeshift fixes to old equipment and send it on a long working life, which leads to increased defect rates and excessive raw material consumption and, consequently, to higher costs of the final product and lower quality (defective material is very often sent for recycling and mixed in as secondary raw material during geosynthetics production). The purchase of new lines is complicated by the current political situation and an increased transport distance, raising their already high cost two- to threefold.
Editorial staff of the “Dorozhnaya Derzhava” magazine:
– Is there a shortage of personnel or qualified specialists in this segment of the road construction market? If so, what immediate steps could be taken to address it?
K.V. Gorkov:
– The personnel shortage has become a general problem over the past 30 years. To resolve it, new training programmes should be adopted at the state level, and the choice of skilled trades should be encouraged.
Editorial staff of the “Dorozhnaya Derzhava” magazine:
– With the development of online sales and e-commerce, there have been more cases of companies with neither production facilities nor a scientific and technical base presenting themselves as geosynthetics manufacturers. In fact, being ordinary dealers or intermediaries, they mislead consumers. How can this phenomenon be addressed?
K.V. Gorkov:
– This is fraud in fact, so it should be dealt with by the competent authorities: the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Security Service and others...
The discussion of important industry issues will continue in the next issue of the “Dorozhnaya Derzhava” magazine, No. 133 (September).
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