April 2016, Vol. 71 No. 4

Ditch Witch, a Charles Machine Works Company, announced the Harold Chessnut Award and the Service Excellence Award recipients for demonstrating the highest level of product support and service in 2015. Archie Sours, worldwide parts manager for Ditch Witch of Virginia, stands with Ditch Witch leader..

S&N announced the hiring of Jannine Allen as the company’s new Director of Safety and Risk Management. Allen most recently served as the lead health and safety professional at Oconee Nuclear Station’s Major Projects organization in Seneca, SC. Prior to her time at Oconee Nuclear Station, Allen held ..

The Toro Company announced the expansion of C&O Equipment Company, a trusted equipment dealer of Toro products, to a new location in Houston. The new, strategic location offers Toro’s full product lineup including directional drills; ride-on trenchers; concrete and masonry equipment; compact utility..

Ritchie Bros. – the largest global seller of used equipment for construction, transportation, agriculture, material handling, energy, mining, forestry, marine and various other applications – sold a record-setting amount of more than 10,700 items totaling more than $172 million in five days at the c..

A new study from Freedonia Group, a Cleveland industry research firm, entitled “World Steel Pipe” projects the global steel pipe demand to advance 3.5 percent per annum through 2019 to 79.7 million metric tons, with growth lead by continual increasing in developing markets. According to the study, ..

WASHINGTON—The United States and Canada will require annual average midstream natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids midstream infrastructure investment of about $26 billion per year, or $546 billion (real 2015$) total over the 21-year period from 2015 to 2035, a new study finds. Th..

A new report commissioned by the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association (MITA) found that Michigan and its communities are not keeping up with the multimillion-dollar investments needed to ensure clean drinking water and wastewater treatment for residents and businesses now and in the ..

This year, BRH-Garver Construction of Houston, a firm with heavy focus in complex civil construction, will complete the 54-inch Gravity Sewer Line Project for the city of Houston Department of Public Works, entailing the installation of 54-inch jacking pipe, manufactured by Hobas Pipe USA, for the L..

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission New Irvington Tunnel project was awarded the 2016 Project of the Year Award in the Environment Category by the American Public Works Association for projects exceeding $75 million. McMillen Jacobs Associates, an environmental, engineering and constructio..

The city of San José, CA, formally rejected claims made by wastewater tributary agencies in regards to the planning, implementation and costs for the long-term Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility serving 1.4 million people in Silicon Valley and..

The board of directors for the Interstate Natural Gas Association of American (INGAA) and INGAA Foundation, along with the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) and the CEPA Foundation, voted to endorse a program tailored to certify pipeline inspectors conducting work for their member companie..

In mid-January, the world’s largest tunnel-boring machine (TBM) sat under downtown Seattle with its large diameter cutterhead completely static due to a sinkhole – it seemed the TBM, dubbed Bertha, couldn’t catch a break on the State Route 99 tunnel project. Bertha was designed to bore a 1.7-mile t..

The 97 horsepower, IT4 John Deere 135G reduced tail swing excavator delivers impressive arm force, dig force and lift capacity.  Its reduced-tail-swing design allows it to work closer to objects on congested jobsites, plus it is easy to transport to the next job. And with increased arm force, dig fo..

MPC ToughTube® CIPP Lining system offers a quick, cost effective and non-destructive way to rehabilitate deteriorating pipelines without the need for excavation. CIPP lining systems are the most widely used and accepted process for restoring structural integrity, reducing inflow and infiltration, a..

HammerHead Trenchless Equipment has announced additions to its HydraLiner lateral solutions line, including Scrim and Brawoliner 3D liners and a new ambient epoxy system. Brawoliner 3D is a premium transition liner designed for ambient and hot water cure. Scrim liner is designed especially for accur..

RS BlueLine is a glass reinforced CIPP liner made with Dow technology. This high performance designed solution stops water loss, improves hydraulics and water quality while renewing the structural integrity of aging pipe. Certified to NSF 61, RS BlueLine provides a trenchless solution for water main..

The Bobcat E45 compact excavator offers true zero house tail swing with a smoother and more efficient hydraulic system, increased arm breakout force, lift capacity, dump height and slew force. The E45 is equipped with load sense hydraulics which gives a smooth and predictable response to the joystic..

The Slide Rail Shoring System from American Shoring is a versatile sheeting system that can be used in a number of different configurations, namely the bore pit configuration, commonly used when contractors need to bore under a roadway, stream, or other obstacle. The Slide Rail System can be used at..

The Insituform CIPP process is suited for wastewater pipeline repair and can be used to rehabilitate sanitary sewers, storm sewers and force mains. Insituform CIPP is a jointless pipe-within-a-pipe with the capability to rehabilitate pipelines ranging in diameter from 6 to 96 inches and to negotiate..

The ECR58D and ECR88D short swing radius compact excavators from Volvo feature automatic two-speed travel for superior traction, and hydraulic travel pedals for easy and accurate track control. Thanks to their reinforced, three-piece, high-tensile steel X-shaped frame undercarriage, they are durable..

Compatible with XLAP aluminum shields is Efficiency Production’s modular aluminum trench shielding system, Build-A-Box. Build-A-Box component panels, corner posts, and accessories can be transported in a pick-up truck, and easily assembled by hand into two, three, or 4-sided shielding configurations..

Pipenology is a manufacturing company with one main focus: to develop and produce the most advanced and reliable custom CIPP liners in the market today. With over 2.8 million lineal feet of our liners successfully installed across the nation, Pipenology has delivered solutions for the most complex C..

Reline America UV CIPP liners range from 6 to 54 inches. Custom liners are made in the company’s ISO 9001:2008 manufacturing facility in Saltville, VA, in accordance with ASTM F2019 and designed according to ASTM F1216. Blue-Tek liner is both a glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP) and an ultra-viole..

Crosby’s latest design, the Crosby Easy-Loc V2, is aimed at changing and improving the approach to shackle bolt securement for critical lifts. The Easy-Loc V2 features a robust 316 stainless steel design that resists corrosion. In addition to being 40 percent lighter than traditional securement meth..

The Pipe-Seal-End and RedEx internal pipe seals from Pipe RoboTec USA protect relining investments, no matter the size of the pipe. Both products come with the Pipe RoboTec USA Internal Seal Advantage which includes a mechanical system designed to eliminate infiltration between the liner and host p..

Ditch Witch announced its exclusive OptiCut digging system for use behind walk-behind trenchers, designed to enhance machine productivity in all soil conditions, tailored to complement contractor and rental company equipment with its maintenance-free teeth and 19,000-lbs. of tensile strength. The c..

BJM Pumps newest submersible pumps – the XP-SKX Series – designed and engineered for superior corrosion resistance, solids handling and reliability. The series is FM approved in the U.S. and Canada, and the lineup is now offered with an explosion-proof monitor for installation in Class I, Division 1..

The Vermeer CS418B Core Saw by McLaughlin provides utility contractors the ability to cut 4- to 18-inch diameter holes in improved surfaces, including asphalt and concrete, while minimally impacting the surface structure. The vacuum excavation technology can then be used to visually verify the locat..

Vacuworx developed its new hydraulic H vacuum lifters to meet customer requests for cleaner, quieter lifters; the models are available for the Vacuworx MC 5 and all RC Series vacuum lifting systems, and feature the same powerful performance of Vacuworx diesel-powered systems with lower operating cos..

Gradall Industries, the manufacturer of Vacall vacuum and jetting products, introduced an AllClean water recycling system for use on Vacall’s AllJetVac combination sewer cleaners. The innovative system was designed with water conservation in mind, as well as to allow operators to work for longer per..

Coming off a strong year for construction, the Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) attracted a near record attendance of 460 people to its annual convention in Naples, FL. The five-day meeting was filled with social events, networking opportunities and committee meetings such as HDD, Govern-..

The American Society of Civil Engineers’ newest institute, the Underground Engineering & Surveying Institute (UESI), will hold its annual Pipelines Conference in Kansas City, MO, from July 17 -20. This year’s conference is appropriately titled “Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Not Out Of Risk.” The Pipel..

The presence of an underground natural gas transmission pipeline does not affect the sales prices or value of residential properties, according to a new study, Pipeline Impact to Property Value and Property Insurability, conducted by Integra Realty Resources (IRR) on behalf of the Interstate Natural..

At the recent Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition held in Atlanta, Trenchless Technology Center director, Tom Iseley, Ph.D, P.E., was honored by the Underground Construction Technology Association (UCTA) and Underground Construction magazine as the industry’s Mo..

In the wake of the Flint, MI water crisis, a huge spotlight has been turned on infrastructure in America – specifically the country’s miles-long network of aging underground water pipes. While there are new short-term efforts to bring fresh water into Flint, plans have been in the works for several ..

The capability to carefully control and guide the path of an underground pilot bore is what has made horizontal directional drilling (HDD) a primary method of installing underground utilities. Indeed, HDD often is the only practical and, in some instances, the only possible way to bury pipe, conduit..

McElroy’s MegaMc® 1600 fusion machine was selected to fuse pipe in support of drought mitigation activities being undertaken by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation. As a part of an ongoing initiative to preserve water resources during the West’s ongoing and historic drought, ..

Each year the Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) recognizes member contractors for achieving outstanding safety records the previous year. The DCA has been recognizing safe practices with the award since 1986. In recent years, about 85 companies have submitted entries. The award’s namesake,..

Whether you are a professional excavator, contractor, engineer or utility owner, you play an important role keeping people safe with every dig. Laws governing excavation vary by state, and they can be confusing. Answering the question, “Do I have to call 811?” can be difficult if you don’t understan..

The National Association of Clear Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) – with support from the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) – announced their partnership in a new Utility of the Future (UOTF) Today Recognition ..

The Northwest Gas Association urges contractors and homeowners to “know what’s below” by calling 811 before digging. Idaho, Oregon and Washington law requires anyone who plans to dig more than 12 inches deep for any reason to call and notify 811 at least two business days prior to digging. Calling 8..

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Two state regulators and a Flint employee were charged Wednesday with evidence tampering and several other felony and misdemeanor counts related to the Michigan city’s lead-tainted water crisis. The charges — the first levied in a probe that is expected to broaden — were filed..

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder will drink Flint water at home and at work for at least a month to show to residents it is safe with the use of a faucet filter, he said Monday. The Republican governor, who has apologized for his administration’s role in the city’s lead-tainted w..

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With water infrastructure issues in headlines across America, more than 130 water utility professionals from 47 states are visiting their members of Congress this week to urge funding for critical loan programs to repair and renew U.S. water and wastewater systems. The water util..

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency’s top water regulator said Wednesday that officials are working urgently to strengthen a federal rule limiting lead and copper in drinking water — a key focus in the ongoing lead-contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan. But Joel Beauvais, acting..

Fluor Foundation, the philanthropic organization of Fluor Corporation, presented $1 million to the University of Houston (UH) College of Technology for the establishment of the Fluor-UH Industrial Construction Management Education Partnership, focusing on research and professional development. An..

The ongoing water crisis in Flint, MI, continues to shine a light into the dark, cumulative effects of lead consumption, particularly in young children and pregnant women. According to an extensive Flint crisis timeline compiled by Michigan’s Bridge Magazine, the problems began nearly two years ago ..

The Pipe Ranger transporter is a rugged and versatile low-maintenance transporter specially designed to traverse silt, mud and debris commonly found in storm and sanitary sewers. Three standard wheel sizes and optional manual or electric camera lifts are available to maximize performance. Optional h..

by Robert Carpenter, Editor-In-Chief Google Fiber is a remarkable story and the tale keeps growing. At the recent Power & Communication Contractors Association annual convention, one of the speakers included a senior representative in charge of the Southeast U.S. construction. When I asked what the..

The efforts in the Senate to address water infrastructure funding needs in the wake of the Flint crisis appear to have born their first fruits. At the end of February, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, announced an agreement with Sen. Debbie Stabenow (..