Who is TenCate?

TenCate Geosynthetics is the world’s leading provider of geosynthetics and industrial fabrics.

TenCate Geosynthetics has a global production platform, commercial and technical organization and has successfully consolidated and developed core markets to maximize value for customers. TenCate Geosynthetics serves the market globally with two commercial divisions - TenCate Geosynthetics and TenCate Industrial Fabrics. Through the processing of synthetic raw materials, we develop, manufacture, and provide innovative and reliable geosynthetics and industrial technical textiles. 

In Asia, TenCate Geosynthetics is headquartered in Malaysia with manufacturing facilities in Selangor, Malaysia and Zhuhai, China. TenCate Geosynthetics Asia has established an integrated and extensive distribution network to serve the rapid infrastructure growth and rising demands for geosynthetics in the Asia Pacific region. The Asia and Asia Pacific landscape and climates are ideal conditions for the use of geosynthetics and the extensive range of product offering enables TenCate to offer customers with comprehensive and effective engineering solutions. TenCate Geosynthetics Asia offices and subsidiaries are located in the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand respectively.

In Europe, TenCate Geosynthetics is headquartered in Hengelo, Netherlands and in the US, TenCate Geosynthetics is headquartered in Pendergrass, Georgia.

In June 2021, TenCate Geosynthetics joined the Solmax Team. The combination of our industry presence, solutions and expertise set us on the path to reshape the industry. Since then we’ve continued to drive forward, sharing our knowledge to work towards our common vision, together. Read the Press Release for more information.

Our Vision

To be the leading global provider of geosynthetic products and solutions that enhance the world’s infrastructure, protect the environment and conserve natural resources.

Our History

The North Sea Flood of 1953 launched TenCate’s quest for innovative product development. This catastrophic flood destroyed the coast of The Netherlands, leaving in its wake nearly 2,000 dead. With a strong will to survive, the Dutch immediately began work on a new generation of dike protection that would be strong enough to withstand nature’s harshest forces. The search ended at Nicolon B.V. of Holland, a company dedicated to creating stronger, more advanced industrial textiles.

Over time, as the use of geosynthetics developed worldwide, TenCate has remained at the forefront of this expansion in geosynthetics usage.

In Europe in the late 1960’s the French chemicals company Rhône Poulenc established a factory at Bezons, France to manufacture nonwoven geotextiles under the well-known brand Bidim® which was registered in more than 100 countries. This range of nonwoven geotextiles has been used in many large projects worldwide over the last 45 years.

Also in Europe, Polyfelt GmbH was founded in Linz, Austria in the early 1970’s to manufacture nonwoven geotextiles under the brand Polyfelt®. In 1990, the Polyfelt and Bidim businesses were combined to form a major force in geosynthetics engineering having a worldwide coverage.

In 2005, TenCate Geosynthetics acquired the combined Polyfelt and Bidim Group to form TenCate Geosynthetics Europe with Headquarters in Linz, Austria.

In the Americas, TenCate’s history began in the late 1960’s with the development of a new experimental product from “MIRAcle Fibers” - Mirafi® geosynthetics. The brand Mirafi® has become synonymous with geosynthetics usage in North America and is known as “the company that started an industry.”

To meet the growing demand for geosynthetics and industrial fabrics in the Americas, Nicolon Corporation constructed its first production facility in the United States in 1979. In 1991, Nicolon Corporation acquired Mirafi® Inc. and formed the Nicolon/Mirafi® Group. The Nicolon/Mirafi® Group soon became known as TenCate Geosynthetics Americas with Headquarters in Pendergrass, Georgia, United States.

In Asia, Polyfelt Geosynthetics Sdn Bhd was founded in Malaysia in the late 1980’s, pioneering the market of nonwoven geotextiles. TenCate Nicolon Asia was formed in 1996 to also focus on the fast growing geosynthetics opportunities in Asia. TenCate Geosynthetics acquired the Polyfelt Group in 2005 to form TenCate Geosynthetics Asia with Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In 2008, plans for expansion and a wider market coverage for geosynthetics and industrial fabrics continued with the construction of a production plant in Zhuhai, China through the establishment of Ten Cate Industrial Zhuhai Co, Ltd.

With the rapid growth in infrastructure, environmental and water management applications in the Asian region, TenCate acquired the geosynthetics business of Emas Kiara Industries Bhd, a public listed manufacturer based in Malaysia in 2011. The acquisition further strengthened TenCate Geosynthetics’ leading market position in Asia with a significantly larger capacity and wider range of geosynthetics solutions for Asian markets.

Uncompromised Quality

TenCate Geosynthetics’ products are manufactured to strict international quality standards. All products are tested and verified at our specialized laboratories which are accredited under numerous standards and certifications. We offer our partners a service covering the full range scope of data tests according to modern standards of testing to ensure products delivered to site meet specified quality requirements.

ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Laboratory Test Facilities

Geosynthetic Testing laboratory (GTL), an independent division of TenCate Geosynthetics Asia, has the distinction of being the first specialist geosynthetic laboratory in Asia accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 by Department of Standards Malaysia (Standards Malaysia), Laboratory Accreditation Scheme Malaysia (SAMM) and the Geosynthetic Accreditation Institute (USA) - Laboratory Accreditation Program (GAI-LAP). GTL offers engineers a testing service covering a full scope of geosynthetic tests according to current ISO, ASTM and EN (European Norm) standards to assure products delivered to site meet specified quality standards.

Full Scale Testing and Site Sampling Service

GTL is unique among Asian geosynthetic laboratories in that it is the only laboratory with a supporting test unit designed to facilitate large scale testing of geosynthetics performance under actual site conditions. As a service to the construction industry GTL offers an on-site quality assurance service including site inspection, sampling and preconditioning of extracted samples. Engineers are invited to witness testing. The results of all tests are reported in a full and objective manner, in full accordance with the requirements of the test norm, to allow engineers to assess the overall quality of products tested.

International Recognition

Accreditation is defined as the formal recognition that a testing laboratory is competent to carry out specific tests which are individually accredited. GTL is a SAMM and GAI-LAP accredited laboratory.


    Making A Difference

    No problem is too complicated and no location is too remote for TenCate. We have the capability and capacity to supply products to fast-paced projects within tight schedules in diverse locations. Our project history is testament to this supply capability.

    Our personnel have expert applications knowledge to help our customers to arrive at cost-effective and innovative solutions. Many different applications are supported - ranging from simple to the most sophisticated and complex.

    The market challenges us to continue delivering the most comprehensive line of geosynthetics and industrial fabrics in the world. We accept that challenge by helping our customers achieve tangible results. This fortifies our belief in the power of geosynthetic and industrial fabric solutions. It also strengthens our resolve to make geosynthetics make a difference around the world.

    TenCate Geosynthetics Asia
    Send email +603-5192 8568