What’s the difference between TDM-Tecweb and your Excell Geocell?

As we all know TDM’ Tecweb is very famous in South American, a lot of customers from Brazil, Peru, Mexico and Chile use their Tecweb for different kinds of slope protection, channel protection and road stabilization projects.

When I receive inquiries from customers in South American, almost 90% customer just send me the specification of TDM, and ask me to quote the same one, and ask me a same question: What’s the difference between TDM-Tecweb and your Excell Geocell?

Today, I will show you TDM’s Tech-data and our Excell Geocell Tech-data, and let you know the difference between them.

This is the TDM specifications for TW356.

This is our specifications for Excell Geocell HF150-572.

After checking the specifications of TW356 and our HF150-572, we can summarize it is the same quality. Our ASTM standard Geocell uses 100% virgin HDPE resin, which is very high quality, so our quality is the same as TDM Techweb. Just have one problem for the ESCR and OIT.

ESCR = Environmental Stress Crack Resistance
OIT=Oxidation Induction Time

We test ESCR and OIT in the third-party testing lab, for ESCR the highest we can reach 10000 hours, and for OIT we can reach 150-300mins, as per customer’s requirements.

Our Excell Geocell ESCR Environmental stress crack resistance pass 10000 hours.

Our Excell Geocell OIT oxidation induction time can reach 300mins.

But if reach ESCR 5000 hours and OIT 150 minutes, need to use another higher quality raw material and add some extra additives, then need a much higher price. The specification for ESCR is 5000 hours, if you need to test, the testing time really needs 5000 hours and it will cost very high.

So the real situation is that 99% of Geocell manufacturers just show it in the TDS, but can’t reach actually. So I’m not sure if TDM can 100% make sure their Geocell can reach ESCR 5000 hours.

Another real situation, 99% of customers don’t have requirements for ESCR for regular applications. Only on retaining wall projects, must have requirements for ESCR 5000 hours. Because for retaining wall projects, the Geocell will exposed to the sun for a long time, if the Geocell did not have ESCR and OIT, then it is very easy to break. If you want to know more information about this, please check another of my article here: Why ESCR and OIT is so important for Geocell Retaining Wall?

For slope protection projects, the Geocells are buried under the soil, then no need to have requirements for ESCR and OIT. Because of ESCR and OIT, the Geocell prices are much higher than regular ASTM standard Geocell.

All in all, what I mean is the specification for ESCR 5000 hours even shows on Tech-data, but it is still a doubt in Geocell mass production. Because it will be much more cost and can’t be tested by lab easily.

In slope protection, load support and channel protection projects, use our Excell Geocell ASTM standard is already a very high quality standard.

Any further questions, let Claire know freely. I’m the Geocell expert to answer any of your questions.

Based on my 14 years of experience in the Geocell field.