Germany and Lithuania work very active together in the field of soil science.  There are on the one hand great projects of the European community but also bilateral scientific partnership between universities and governmental institutions and companies. So UGT as a company is one of the many good examples for this mutual cooperation.

The joint project of Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Kaunas, Lithuania and Technical University Munich (Germany) with the topic “INTEGRATED EFFECT OF CLIMATE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES ON FOREST ECOSYSTEM” has started recently.
 

For UGT it was a pleasure to support the installation of the measurement equipment in the National Park Nationalpark Aukštaitija. Dr. Christian Heerdt explained the advantage of the heat ratio and heat field deformation method, as well as dendrometer measurements. The cooperation with the TU Munich was very good. The installation in the beautiful landscape of Lithuania showed again how precious and delicate we should treat our treasures in environment.
 

We used these days as a chance for a fruitful discussion about further extension of environmental monitoring instrumentation with the head of the institute Prof. Dr. Algirdas Augustaitis (Aleksandras Stulginskis University), Vitas Marozas (Aleksandras Stulginskis University) and Dr. Manuela Baumgarten (TUM).
International workshop at the Alexandras Stulginskis university in Lithuania, Kaunas, April 8, 2016 – brain storming with international colleagues is a very good investment to define the way towards a healthier environment.
The workshop took place on Friday the 8th of April and dealt with the following topics, see the programme for your information:
 

9:30

• THE USE OF LYSIMETER DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES IN FOREST RESERCH,
  Kęstutis Armolaitis – Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry
• LYSIMETER TECHNIQUE, OVERVIEW AND CASE STUDIES, Sascha Reth – UGT
• DATA SERVICE AND VISUALIZATION LYSIDATA & SVADSS,Sascha Reth – UGT
• INFLUENCE ON THE CONTROL OF THE LOWER BOUNDARY – TENSION AND TEMPERATURE, Sascha Reth – UGT
• FOREST TRANSPIRATION – TARGETED THROUGH XYLEM SAP FLUX ASSESSMENT VERSUS HYDROLOGICAL MODELING, Manuela Baumgarten – Technical University of Munich
• SAP FLOW AND WATER POTENTIAL OF PLANTS, Christian Heerdt – UGT
• MEASURING TOOLS FOR SOIL LABORATORIES, Sascha Reth – UGT
• INTRODUCTION OF GAS AND WATER ANALYZERS, Christian Heerdt – UGT
• INTEGRATED EFFECT OF CLIMATE AND OTHER ENVvIRONMENTAL STRESSES ON FOREST ECOSYSTEM, Algirdas Augustaitis – Aleksandras Stulginskis University

 

14:00

• PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION OF SAP FLOW SENSORS AND STEM PSYCHROMETERS, Christian Heerdt – UGT Germany
• Discussion

UGT showed and demonstrated in the workshop also new products and measuring instruments:
Special focus was put on:

• Ready to go-Lysimeters, Laboratory lysimeters
• Soilinsight, ku-pF, to measure the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity as a function of water content and tension
• The fog Calcimeter,
• The FullRange tensiometer being able to measure suction tension until the permanent wilting point
• Overview about our moisture sensors UMP1 with smart phone applications and long term measurement options

 

Our special thanks go to Laima Taparauskiene – Vice-Rector, Aleksandras Stulginskis University;
We gathered a lot of good ideas and beyond the positive work result the friendship and personal understanding between all participants was great!
We look forward to implement the results and plan together further activities.
 
 

The building permission from the local authorities  has arrived – UGT starts on the 14^th of March the building works for a new production hall  in Müncheberg in the Federal State of Brandenburg – This is a new step to enable our company to  better fulfill the demands of our customers in quick time and to improve the working conditions of our employees.
Lets take this event to look back a little  in the history of our company : On 1 July 1992 Umwelt-Geräte-Technik GmbH started its business activity as starbust of the traditional Müncheberg soil research institute, today’s Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V. [Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research]. The founders of the company, Dr. Manfred Seyfarth and Bernd Fürst – today Managing Director of UGT together with Dr. Sascha Reth, started its production first in buildings that belonged to the institute ZALF. But already in 1998 UGT bought the own piece of land in the size of 10000 m² from the city of Müncheberg. This nice piece of land offered the opportunity to built up a well equipped company building with production hall and also a spacious territory  with greenery  to do our own in-situ field research and work with our monitoring equipment.   It was in 1999 when the own company building with production hall has been built up and UGT moved into the own place in the street Eberswalder Straße 58, in Müncheberg. Already in this time, there UGT was well known in Germany, as a leading company for the manufacture of monitoring equipment in the environmental sector. An outstanding feature of the UGT business activities was the own research and development department that enabled the company to develop special solutions for the universities and scientists of environmental institutes and for public authorities.
The employees of UGT have worked for many years scientifically in the fields of soil hydrology, geology and biology as well as in the scientific toolbuilding. Solid expertise paired with extensive scientific and operating experience in the laboratory and in the field is the basis for developing and manufacturing environmental measurement technology with high innovative character, quality and performance characteristics.
According to the company profile UGT produces and sells measurement and diagnostic technology for soil, water, atmosphere and plants as well as modules for environmental monitoring and sets up soil hydrological measurement sites on agricultural, forest, moor and water ecosystems as well as monitoring and control stations on landfills, mining recultivation areas and special locations.
The product range of UGT includes:
Lysimeters and Lysimeterstations, extraction technology for large-volume undisturbed soil monoliths as well as for soil columns of different dimensions, soil hydrological and soil physical measurement devices, climate measurement technology, plant physiological measurement devices, erosion measurement appliances, data loggers as well as soil laboratory devices.
The devices can be designed as laboratory or field devices and can be aggregated to complex environmental measurement stations for year-round outdoor monitoring. With the world wide success of the modern lysimeter stations of PE-material it was already.
So UGT disposed of a modern workplaces to develop and manufacture  applied microelectronics and fine mechanics and was able to produce within  a well equipped production location with machine park and production technologies that served the requirements.
The production location was supplemented in 2003 by an outdoor test area with integrated 4-fold lysimeter station, a weather station and a soil hydrological measurement site. These facilities are used to conduct project work and to verify measurement methods and measurement devices.
Because of the high level of innovation of the new solutions the UGT GmbH holds patent rights for 18 new developments so far and is among the market leaders in the fields described above.
The company concept has proved to be sustainable. Already in 2001 UGT started to manufacture big lysimeter stations made of PE-material. So the next step of building was necessary and UGT opened up the next production hall in 2003 in a height that served the needs of production.
Hard work – very good modern technology and production facilities – an experienced and motivated work team and leaders that were passionate and future orientated for the company led to a continuation success within Germany and abroad. Many projects led the UGT team to all continents and in more than 25 countries UGT equipment is used and helps with exact monitoring data to find solutions  for instance within a sustained land management or to recultivate soils or to enable new hydrological solutions.
In the beginning there UGT started with 9 employees now we have 30 employees in Müncheberg and opened up a branch office in Freising near Munich and a service centre in France. But our main office and production – the heart of the company is in the Federal state of Brandenburg in Müncheberg.
So we are proud to announce that – thanks to our customers – thanks to the development of the worldwide markets and of course thanks to our motivated team of employees we will now double our production space – the new hall attached to the building will have another 900 m² and will give room for the mechanical and electronic manufacture and it opens up also warehouse facilities.
Already in summer 2016 we want to move in!  Share with us the first pictures of the new construction
Yours’ UGT-team
 
 

†

†

„12. Leipziger Deponiefachtagung“ in Leipzig/Germany 08./09. March 2016

 
„Tag der Hydrologie 2016” in Koblenz/Germany 17./18.03.2016. The conference aims the topic „Wasserressourcen – Wissen in Flussgebieten vernetzen“.

 
“IFAT” in Munich/Germany “World‘s Leading Trade Fair for Water, Sewage, Waste and Raw Materials Management” May 30 – June 3, 2016. We are happy to present you the latest developments. You will find UGT at the joint stand of German Water Partnership in hall A5 | booth no. 315/414.

 
… at the “EGU 2016” in Vienna/Austria 17 – 22 April 2016. Take the great opportunity to visit UGT at the EGU. We are happy to show you the latest developments at our booth No.53.

We are proud to be part of the celebrating event of the International Year of Soils in Vienna.

“The IUSS together with the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is organizing this conference in Vienna to celebrate the International Year of Soils (IYS) together with the World Soil Day (WSD). Speakers from regional soil science societies (Africa, East and Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America), the IUSS Council, the chairs and vice-chairs of the IUSS Divisions, Commissions and Working Groups as well as several high level representatives from FAO, IAEA and partners (e.g. European Commission, European Environment Agency, European Geosciences Union, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies) will be invited to discuss the achievements of the IYS and the future challenges in soil science as well as opportunities for international cooperation.”(IUSS.org)

 

From the 23^rd to the 27^th of November 2015 UGT visited our French clients.
Our relationship with our partners in France is on the one hand side an inspiring
Exchange within the scientific community.
We visited the representatives of scientific labs of university Lorraine to further discuss joint projects.
Highlights of our commercial relationship highly influenced by our scientific partnership is the cooperation with GISFI in Homécourt.
 
The project with ANDRA in Bure were UGT installed a lysimeter station shows how economic application of resources and protection of environment can match together

University and middle sized companies develop new solutions – a soil insight based on research of university Lorraine and further development by UGT will be a new product in the range of UGT.
The license contract was signed by both partners.
 
INRA and UGT – we visited the site in Lusignan and explored together future potential further opportunities of cooperation. We try to give the scientists what refers to equipment best and suitable solutions
 

Commercial partnership with a highly specialized company can give our French clients better service and continuant attention. It is therefore that we met up with SDEC in Tauxigny to explore and discuss a strong partnership which is the base for a contract agreement.
 

Even global international partnership can be further developed at the hub of scientific development in France, so we met the rep of our middle sized Chinese business friend Encanwell who opens up an office in Grenoble.

Scientific work and customized production of UGT according to the needs of our clients match well together. We look positive towards our joint work with our French clients in 2016 and look forward to our joint efforts and projects. We thank our clients and scientific partners for the longlasting trust and wish a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year 2016

Lysimeters – separating processes in flux measurement
 UGT as a SME enjoys a number of advantages over its different partly larger counterparts.
Innovation, narrow contact to scientific institutions like universities, technical colleges and other highly innovative institutes in the field of environment give UGT an outstanding position in this market. One example was this international workshop. Altogether 45 participants enjoyed highly professional conference contributions. Dr. Sascha Reth, Managing Director of UGT and the whole UGT team were happy to host this event in Freising. One of the highlights was the research report from Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Peter Cepuder, BOKU Vienna, Austria and head of the European Lysimeter Research Group. He introduced for discussion among other important topics e.g. the influence of strong wind events on the weighing process and the evaluation of the measurements of the lysimeters.

An open minded atmosphere and a lively scientific and also practical discussion among all participants was a significant sign of this event. Input was given by very good presentations on lysimeter research projects in Slovakia by Ivan Matusek from Kreaprojekt and Mgr. Katarina Hrckova, PPRC Piestany as well as the very good contribution of Dr. Jozsef Zsembeli from the university Debrecen in Hungary who also introduced their lysimeter research projects to the participants.
Frederic Rees, representing the research projects from GISFI France informed about results of the lysimeter research in the field of remediation.
Practical demonstration of equipment by UGT and information on further product improvement gave also new input to the “think tank” of the various scientists and participants in the workshop. A new prestep – how to find soil anomalies in a defined territory – was introduced. This GPR system enables scientists and also the equipment maker UGT to find out exactly about the planned excavation place of the lysimeter.

Dr. Sascha Reth gave an overview about the opportunities and the wide range of utilization of the lysimeters by different case studies. He was highlighting also the special modern and innovative characteristics of the UGT lysimeter technology protected by various patents.

Data Service and visualization is a key point for all users to evaluate the data gained by the sensors in the lysimeter. Dirk Römermann, Lysidata & SVADDS informed about the opportunities to work most effective with these systems.

The second day continued with highly interesting research reports on simulation of water balance components at shallow groundwater sites by Dr. Ottfried Dietrich Zalf, or the report of Dr. Steffi Knoblauch, TLL Jena, on nitrogen leaching and fluxes in lysimeters. Dr. Manfred Türke from iDIV Leipzig gave highly interesting input about the work with Ecotrons – a very much future orientated field of activity; Oscar Perez-Priego, scientist from MPI Jena, gave a great report on the currently running research project dealing with evaporative flux partitioning using lysimeters and sap-flow and eddy covariance. Martina Zacios, from LWF Freising informed, gave in her contribution very good experience about the heat ratio method for sap flow measurements.

A great Forest research plot –  “KRoof-project-Kranzberg” was introduced to the members of the workshop by Dr. Karl-Heinz Häberle from TUM Freising. Dr. Christian Heerdt from UGT concentrated in his contribution on findings concerning sap flow and water potentials of plants. There was a very intensive discussion also concerning these applications.

Who works intensive and with fun deserves also to party with fun – all participants enjoyed the Bavarian Evening in the traditional Beer garden “Wirtshaus Weißbräu Huber”.
International agents of UGT like MEMECO USA, represented by Don and Gregory Jenkinson, Kreaproject Slovakia, represented by Ivan Matusek or MEGRA, Serbia, represented by Marin Antic used the opportunity to intensively discuss with science on the one hand side and the UGT team concerning the practical realization of projects. We have built a bridge between scientific and technological expertise. We gave advice and contribute herewith to form an appropriate network.

The last day of the workshop was mainly dedicated to introduce scientific research projects in the field of gas and water analyzers. UGT represents PICARRO USA in this innovative field. Dr. Renato Winkler from PICARRO Europe introduced the equipment and gave practical demonstration.

Martina Schlaipfer, HSWT Freising, gave information on her research project concerning trace gas emissions form managed peat land. Dr. Paul Königer, BGR Hannover, reported on his innovative study concerning stable isotopes in soil water.
Science meets business – we are proud about this interactive communication.
This workshop was also a platform for UGT to conclude 2 new Gentlemen Agreements with new partners. We are happy and proud to announce among our agents now:
MEMECO, represented by Mr. Don Jenkinson, covering the territory of USA and
MEGRA, represented by Mr. Marin Antic, covering Serbia, Slowenia, Bosnia and Herzegowina, Croatia, Montenegro
UGT Freising offers for a workshop not only very good working conditions but also after work a wonderful surrounding. We were happy to have on Saturday before departure to the US to Don and Greg one of our most beautiful castles near Munich, “Neuschwanstein”

We thank again all our participants and lecturers. The contributions will be made available on a drop box. We are looking forward to our next upcoming workshop.
Kerstin Thomsen
Strategic Sales Director UGT
 
 

We thank all visitors of the past events for their interest in our products:
12th Annual Meeting Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS), Singapore

Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GfÖ)-Göttingen/Germany

Annual meeting of the German Soil Science Community, Munich/Germany

World Forestry Congress 2015, Durban/South Africa

and invite you to the future exhibitions to discuss about your interesting projects.
German Association for Stable Isotope Research (Gasir), Heidelberg/Germany
5th International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter, Göttingen/Germany
Soil Functions and Climate change, Kiel/Germany
5th International Conference Applied Natural Sciences, Jasná, Low Tatras/Slovak Republic
Lysimeters – separating processes in flux measurement, Freising/Germany

Landfill and contaminated sites Seminar 2015, Karlsruhe/Germany

Landfill Workshop, Zittau/Germany
UGT stands for customized solutions and valued standard technique in the field of environmental monitoring.