September 2012, Vol. 67 No. 9

The ZX180LC-5 excavator is loaded with numerous customer-driven enhancements to deliver superior productivity and durability, while keeping operating costs low.

The new CC-GRIND SOLID grinding discs offer the ultimate in stock removal when grinding steel resulting in a 40 percent greater economic value when compared with reinforced grinding wheels.

The HammerHead PortaVision inspection camera features a unique 15-inch ATM-style screen and a full touchscreen keyboard.

Case has upgraded its four largest Alpha Series skid steers and compact track loaders to meet emission requirements for Tier 4 Interim certification.

Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) has announced a new product that increases the effectiveness of a storm water drainage catch basin or manhole by trapping debris, oil, sediment and other contaminants.

Building on previous tier nomenclature, John Deere Final Tier 4/Stage IV engine names will start with the PowerTech brand and add a three-letter suffix that specifies the engine’s technology package.

The latest hydro vac offering from Super Products LLC – the Mud Dog 1200 – offers a 12-yard collector body and a powerful water jetting and air flow combination, outstanding boom range of motion, and a “one-of-a-kind” debris unloading system.

Kobelco Construction Machinery America has introduced the SK210 full-size, high-performance excavator to the Kobelco Mark 9 excavator series. These new Tier 4 models include the SK260, SK295, SK350 and SK485 excavators. The versatile SK210 Mark 9 delivers a 10 percent improvement in both fuel efficiency and productivity, with more power and faster engine response.

<strong>Charles John Groebner, Sr.</strong>, the founder and chairman of Groebner & Associates Inc., passed away on June 26 due to complications related to a recent surgery. He was 82 years old.

Thompson Pump and Manufacturing Co., a provider of high quality pumps, pumping equipment and engineering expertise, introduces the launch of the Gator Giveaway Sweepstakes at upcoming events.

Driver Pipeline, headquartered in Dallas, TX, has been named the 2012 Natural Gas Business Unit Contractor Safety Award Winner by Kinder Morgan, the largest midstream and the fourth largest energy company (based on combined enterprise value) in North America.

The Freedonia Group's new World Water Infrastructure Equipment market research report states that global demand for water infrastructure equipment will grow to exceed $100 billion by 2016, at a projected growth rate of more than six percent per year.

Rhode Island has taken a "careful, balanced review" toward wind energy that will help pave the way for the successful launch of several new projects, U.S. Senator Jack Reed from the nation’s smallest state told Platts Energy Week, an all-energy news and talk show program.

Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) recently expanded and accelerated its comprehensive research and development program aimed at enhancing current in-line inspection (ILI) tools and developing the next generation of technology to ensure pipeline safety, integrity and reliability.

In 2010–11, major earthquakes hit Chile, Japan and New Zealand, causing significant damage to water system infrastructure. In response to these events, the Water Research Foundation funded project #4408 under the Emerging Opportunities Program to investigate the potential implications of the earthquakes on U.S. water utilities.

In June, a five-year water line replacement project for the city of Pittsburg, KS, was presented to city commissioners by John Bailey, public utilities director. The cost to replace the city’s 100-year old water lines and hydrants is expected to be at least $250,000 annually.

Administration officials significantly underestimated the cost to construction employers of proposed new hiring quotas for federal contractors according to a new analysis released by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Advertisers from the print edition of <em>Underground Construction</em>, September 2012, Vol. 67 No. 9.

Drilling fluids currently available to the HDD industry, subdivided into bentonite or polymer products.

Remote inspection equipment from CUES, Radiodetection, Aries Industries, Envirosight, Pearpoint, RapidView, Ratech Electronics, RedZone Robotics and R.S. Technical Services.

Plastic pipe fittings from McElroy, IPEX Inc., Footage Tools, Ritmo America and Q-TEK.

Wireline tracking systems from Sharewell, INROCK, Horizontal Technology and Underground Tools Inc.

Walkover locator options from Ditch Witch, Radiodetection/SPX Corp. and Digital Control Inc.

HDD rigs from TT Technologies, Barbco, American Augers, Vermeer, Astec Underground and Ditch Witch.

Ground penetrating radar options from Sensors & Software, Ditch Witch, Geophysical Survey Systems Inc., US RADAR, Radiodetection and Vermeer.

When problems threatened a segment of the eight-mile, Edwards to Meadow Mountain natural gas pipeline upgrade in Colorado, Fugal Pipeline Project Manager Brady Hansen had to make a decision.

Among its many on-going highway improvement projects, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is renovating failing culverts that are critical elements in the drainage systems that protect state and interstate highways.

In 2011, the city of Olympia, WA, was faced with finding the best replacement pipe material and installation method for an aging asbestos cement (AC) water main.

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) as it relates to utility construction usually is dated from the late 1980s when the first compact drill units became commercially available.

This year, ISCO Industries celebrates 50 years of providing customers around the world with total piping solutions. The company illustrates a heritage that is unique in its history, growth and success as being one of the best in the industry for five decades.

A huge auger boring machine -- said to be the world’s largest -- has been busy in Western Canada on projects with a variety of conditions.

In this issue of <em>Underground Construction</em>, there are several project stories that all feature radically different equipment technologies or applications. Some have been around for many decades, others just a short period.

Leidi Utility Supply Limited, a leading distributor of pipe and cable detection, inspection and maintenance equipment for major Chinese municipal governments and agencies, has partnered with Applied Felts Ltd. to provide the Chinese market with quality felt liners for cured-in-place pipe (CIPP).

Companies who do underground construction will be affected -- and not in a good way -- if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) goes ahead with its proposal to tighten its particulate matter air emissions standard, referred to as the PM2.5 standard (2.5 indicates the size of the particle).