CIM Industries, a US-based manufacturer of industrial membrane systems, has recently appointed a regional director to support distributors and installation contractors and strengthen its presence in the region.

From his base in Kuwait, Chris Boustany will manage product supply through local distributors and – for areas where such agents are not yet appointed – through CIM’s warehousing facilities in the UAE.
CIM has been targeting the water and wastewater industry, which is its largest market.
“CIM fluid-applied liner systems form continuous elastomeric barriers to water and most chemical solutions,” says Boustany. “The barrier is formed through a seamless bitumen-modified two-component polyurethane membrane that offers tremendous strength and flexibility and has a wide range of applications.”
Developed by Chevron in the early 1970s, these liner systems are manufactured by CIM Industries, at its plant in Houston, Texas.
From waterproofing and sealing, to corrosion control and chemical containment, CIM keeps liquids where they belong, he says.
The company, which has more than 30 years of experience in the potable water and wastewater markets, claims that the characteristics and properties of its membrane systems make it an ideal product for many applications in water and wastewater facilities. It has been used in line aeration, equalisation and sedimentation basins, clarifiers, lagoons, water softeners, reservoirs, digesters, and potable water tanks, to name a few, says Boustany.
In wastewater structures, the membranes are resistant to hydrogen sulphide attack, both above and below the liquid line and to a wide range of industrial waste streams (acids and bases, oil/water emulsions).
“Notwithstanding its potable water acceptability, the CIM 1061 has proven to be a superior product as far as chemical and abrasion-resistance properties are concerned,” he says. “It is also recommended for contact with contaminated liquids and abrasive environments, as is the case in wastewater treatment plants.”
CIM membranes have also been used for diverse applications in Middle East countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
“CIM 1000, a potable water acceptable grade with ANSI/NSF 61 approval, has been used for more than 12 years in underground reinforced concrete potable water reservoirs in Kuwait, as a joint sealant, crack repair and bridging sealer and, in certain cases, as a liner,” explains Boustany. “Both CIM 1000 and CIM 1061 have been tested by Underwriters Laboratories in the US for potable water usage up to a temperature of 82 deg C, in constant immersion service even for 2,000 gallons-size tanks.”
The product is ready for application as soon as the two components (the premix and the activator) are mixed. CIM self-adheres to concrete, steel and other metals, glass and wood and can be applied by spray, squeegee, roll or brush.
In common wastewater treatment plants, CIM finds a host of applications including aeration basins, chemical containment units, clarifiers, digesters, equalisation basins, evaporation lagoons, gutters, lagoons, leachate tanks, lift stations, lime tanks, primary containment units, pump stations, reservoirs, secondary containment plants, sedimentation basins and sludge tanks.