January 2018 Vol. 73 No. 1

cetco.com CETCO introduced HERCULA-EZ, a cutting-edge additive used in conjunction with its bentonite-based drilling muds for horizontal directional drilling (HDD). With proper formulation, the system will produce a unique drilling fluid with excellent shear-thinning characteristics. At low shear ..

gopettibone.com Pettibone has added the Cary-Lift 254i to its line of pipe, pole and log handlers. Purpose-built to deliver numerous safety and performance benefits over other material handling alternatives, the Cary-Lift is particularly adept at moving and placing heavy pipe in stock yards and con..

hammerheadtrehcnless.com The new 22-ton, radio remote-controlled HydroGuide HG2200 completes HammerHead’s line of next-generation cable winches designed for maximum efficiency and ease-of-use in pipe-bursting, slip-lining and pipe-slitting applications. Radio remote-control provides operators maxi..

casece.com Several new enhancements to the N Series of backhoe loaders are incorporated throughout the machine – from cab and drive-train improvements, to enhancements to the hydraulic and electrical systems. In addition, a number of features that were previously optional are now standard, and ther..

tttechnologies.com TT Technologies’ redesigned Grundopit pit-launched mini directional drill is well-suited for difficult fiber-to-the-home and utility service line installations in tight working conditions.  The compact unit – 54 inches long, 43 inches wide and 57 inches tall – delivers 13,489 pou..

mcelroy.com McElroy’s Hot Tap Tool and Test Cap lines — available for years in Imperial sizes — were expanded to meet the international fused piping industry’s metric needs. Hot Tap Tools, which make it possible to add new service connections to live water or gas mains, while keeping existing serv..

denso.com The Denso North America line of self-priming, sprayed-applied coal tar epoxies and a coal tar epoxy alternative are used for long-term corrosion protection of steel and concrete substrates against water, wastewater, seawater, alkaline water and acidic water corrosion. These high-build, t..

Three Next Generation 20-ton size class excavators from Caterpillar increase operating efficiency, lower fuel and maintenance costs, and improve operator comfort compared to previous models. The New Cat 320 GC is designed for low- to medium-duty applications and the 320 is for medium- to heavy-duty..

cat.com With the objective of being the lowest lifecycle cost provider, Caterpillar is committed to offering a full range of options and solutions to serve different customer needs. The latest is the launch of the new parts offering, Yellowmark, A Caterpillar Brand. “We are taking steps to build o..

allu.net ALLU announced Igarreta Maquinas as a new distributor in Argentina. The company will supply the comprehensive range of ALLU Transformer and Soil Stabilization equipment and provide full aftermarket care, spare parts and dedicated customer service. Based in Buenos Ares, Igarreta Maquinas i..

thompsontractor.com, prinoth.com Thompson Cat of Memphis, TN, , will add the Prinoth Panther product line to its offerings. The division of Thompson Tractor, formed in 1944, is a fourth-generation family owned business with 11 branches and more than 500 employees across western Tennessee and northe..

bluediamond.com, hexatronicgroup.com Hexatronic Group, of Sweden, a leading manufacturer of microduct and fiber infrastructure technology, will purchase Blue Diamond Industries, of Lexington, KY, a leading US manufacturer of HDPE conduit to the power and telecom marketplace. Closing of the definiti..

vermeersoutheast.com Vermeer Southeast Sales and Service Inc. culminated 2017’s year-long celebration of 50 years of providing the Southeast with equipment, parts, service and solutions for the underground construction market and tree care industry. The company began operations in 1967 as part of ..

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Texas awarded civil engineering firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. (LAN) a gold medal, under the water and wastewater services category, for its work on the Layne water pipeline and infrastructure project. The Engineering Excellence Awards Comp..

felling.com Felling Trailers Inc., based in Sauk Centre, MN, is a community-focused company that continually looks for ways to engage people in the world of manufacturing –especially young people, in junior high and high school. That’s why the company developed “Weld Camp,” via Sauk Centre Communi..

Pipeline Inspection and Condition Analysis (PICA) Corporation is currently performing an inspection of 4 miles of 66-inch cement and steel cylinder lined PCCP pipe in southern California. To test the resolution of PICA’s brand new In-Line Inspection Tool, the customer embedded some small button magn..

The Vortex Companies, a leading trenchless rehabilitation industry solutions provider, has acquired VacVision Environmental, a trenchless infrastructure and service contractor. Located in South Carolina and Florida, VacVision will significantly bolster Vortex’s  brand and strength in the Southeast. ..

EDITOR’S NOTE: NASSCO just completed its 42nd year and continues to set standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As the association experiences remarkable growth, this series profiles those who have made significant contributions, and impacted the continued ac..

In March 2016, 16 inches of rain fell on the city of Memphis, TN, half of which fell during a two-day deluge. This unprecedented rainfall eroded the soil supporting a 96-inch sanitary sewer main that carried wastewater to one of the city’s central treatment plants. The damaged sewer main crossed So..

By Jim Anspach, UESI president Editor’s Note: This is part one of an exclusive four-part series outlining the risks of modern underground utility infrastructure construction and rehabilitation work. The world population is still growing. As population grows, so does the demand for basic resources ..

By Jeff Awalt, Executive Editor DCA Puts Spotlight On Workforce At 57th Annual Convention The Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) expects another year of record-breaking attendance when more than 500 members and guests meet on the California coast for its 57th Annual Convention. DCA’s bigg..

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking – the process of cracking rock deep underground to release oil and gas – has revolutionized the oil and gas industry and helped reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil. Industry estimates show U.S. crude oil production is up more than 85 percent, or some 4.5 million bar..

The year 2017 was one of the busiest on record for the Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA), said association President Robert Osborn. “In an industry where workloads run on ups and downs,” Osborn said, “2017 was an upturn. The increase of work from 2016 to 2017 was 45 percent, quite dramatic i..

By Richard Nemec, Contributing Editor Within the span of less than three days in early November, the construction of the much-embattled Williams Partners LP’s Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline project was halted and then restored by an appellate court in Washington, D.C. It is an all-too-famil..

By Michael Reed, Contributing Editor While pointing to Hurricane Harvey as the reason for some ambiguity concerning oil prices in the short term, recent Energy Information Administration (EIA) projections have trended favorably for the pipeline industry in the coming year. In fact, with many Gulf ..

By Daniel Shumate Director, FMI Capital Advisors Inc. The utility transmission and distribution, and communication distribution industries remain in a multiyear investment cycle driven by the need to repair, replace and upgrade the transmission and distribution infrastructure across the United Stat..

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking a second look at its requirement for natural gas pipelines to repair compressor leaks as part of the methane emissions final rule the agency published in 2016. That rule – a new source performance standard (NSPS) regulating methane and volatile org..

Xylem Inc., a leading global water technology company, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all the issued and outstanding shares of Pure Technologies Ltd. for CAD$9.00 per share in cash, representing an enterprise value of USD$397 million. Pure Technologies provides unique diagnostic..

Florida Department of Environmental Protection has provided more than $90 million toward the recent completion of seven water quality improvement projects in Central and South Florida. The funding was awarded through the Division of Water Restoration Assistance’s various funding resources and progra..

A standard proposed by ASTM International’s plastic piping systems committee aims to use best practices to prevent contamination in manufacturing polyethylene pipe and fittings. Manufacturers could use the WK56697 standard to prevent contamination from virgin resin, reprocessed pipe (rework) and oth..

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved financial assistance totaling $22,970,000 for water and wastewater system projects. Of this funding, $4.6 million was approved for rural projects. $2 million to the City of Gorman (Eastland County) to replace approximately 25,000 linear feet o..

Carol Ellinger Haddock, P.E., Acting Director of Public Works & Engineering, City of Houston, discussed the department’s response to Hurricane Harvey and its impact at the Dec. 6 luncheon meeting of the Underground Construction Technology Association (UCTA) Gulf Coast Chapter. With staff of about 3..

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published its new Guideline for the Selection and Installation of Smooth-wall Coilable High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Conduit, NEMA TCB 4-2016.  Developed and written with the participation of the Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI), it ..

By Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief The first major event of 2018 is the annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) scheduled for Jan. 30 – Feb. 1 in New Orleans. By now, most have made their plans to attend the preeminent event of the underground indust..