By Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA)
On 25 September 2025, TenCate Geosynthetics (Thailand) Ltd, now part of the global Solmax Group and a leading specialist in geosynthetic materials production and distribution, contributed to enhancing the research and testing capabilities of AIT’s Geotechnical and Earth Resources Engineering (GTE) Laboratory in the Department of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering (CIE) within the School of Engineering & Technology (SET).
The donation was formalised during a ceremonial cheque presentation at AIT and this event marked another milestone in an industry-academia relationship spanning over two decades. TenCate Geosynthetics (Thailand) Ltd., established in 1992 (originally operating as Polyfelt Geosynthetics), has been serving the Thai market for over 30 years as the local branch of the Solmax group. Headquartered in Bangkok, the company provides a comprehensive range of geosynthetic solutions, including woven and non-woven geotextiles, geogrids, geotubes, geomembranes, and geosynthetic clay liners, supporting sectors such as construction, transportation, water management, environmental protection, government infrastructure, mining and energy.
Prof. Siddhart K. Jabade, Vice President for Administration and Development (VPAD), emphasized the critical role of industry-academia partnerships in fostering innovation. He stated that this kind of collaboration and support from industry will go a long way in developing our relationship. We envision this engagement contributing to the competitive advantage that companies like TenCate seek in their industry through innovation, applied research, and translational research.
Prof. Jabade further elaborated on AIT’s newly established Office of Innovation and Industry Partnership, which aims to collaborate with industries to develop new products through innovative processes and file patent applications. He mentioned that we are here to work with industry, such as TenCate, to explore collaborative projects while ensuring confidentiality and intellectual property protocols.
Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director of the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs, expressed gratitude to TenCate for their contribution. He highlighted the company’s long-standing support, noting, “For over 20 years, TenCate has provided soil samples and geotextile materials for testing, significantly enhancing the learning experience of our AIT students.” Mr. Sanjeev also acknowledged that under the leadership of Dr. Kuo-Chieh Chao and his team, the GTE Lab has achieved remarkable heights, and this contribution will be crucial for further enhancing the GTE Laboratory’s technical capabilities, benefiting faculty, staff, and students.
Dr. Kuo-Chieh Chao, Associate Professor & Head of the CIE Department, SET, expressed sincere appreciation for TenCate’s donation on behalf of his department. He highlighted the company’s global reputation for producing high-quality, sustainable geosynthetic materials, many of which have been tested at AIT’s GTE Laboratory. He noted that “The donation will be utilized to buy an extensometer, which is a precision instrument that will enhance our ability to accurately measure the strength of geotextile materials, supporting both teaching and research purposes.” He added that this donation played a role in modernising the laboratory’s equipment and fostering stronger industry ties, paving the way for future advancements in geotechnical engineering.
Mr. Sathapat Daolert, Sales Manager, TenCate Geosynthetics (Thailand) Ltd. – A Solmax company expressed appreciation in continuing their partnership with AIT, which began with regular submissions of geosynthetic materials for testing. He highlighted that they have participated in material testing with AIT for over 20 years since their company was established, and AIT’s GTE laboratory is well-known as one of the top-tier facilities in Thailand. He emphasized the importance of modernizing AIT’s GTE Laboratory, noting that this donation will enhance the laboratory’s capacity and ensure it will continue to be a leading facility in Thailand. He concluded that “Our company is extremely pleased to support the laboratory and will continue supporting it into the future.”
The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Avirut Puttiwongrak, Assistant Professor, GTE, SET; Mr. Bhaskaran Jacob, Senior Advancement Officer; Ms. Lucena D. Talaid, Senior Alumni Affairs Officer from Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA); Ms. Chanidaporn Chaimongkol, Secretary of GTE Laboratory and Ms. Nussarin Sudrohman, Center Manager, GTE, SET.
