July 2021 Vol. 76 No. 7
Business
Business
PPI Honors Industry Projects
The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI), the major North American trade association representing the plastic pipe industry, named its Projects of the Year. Winning projects in the five categories were predominantly underground infrastructure related.
Building & Construction Division: Large, multi-storied Training Center 5 and 6 facilities at Texas Military Base required large-diameter pipe and fittings to move water effectively throughout the campus. More than 6,000 feet of polypropylene piping, ranging from 4 through 18 inches, was installed in locations that included crawl spaces, underground, and in riser locations.
Drainage Division: A new stormwater drainage system for a charitable organization’s Soccer Complex in Camp Marie, Haiti involved some 1,500 linear feet of HDPE pipe in diameters ranging from 6 to 36 inches. Now, rainwater is effectively diverted, leaving the soccer fields clear and available for daily use.
Municipal & Industrial Division: Construction of a new 7.5-mile redundant forced main sewer in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., involved one of the largest horizontal directional drilling (HDD) installations, of 54-inch diameter pipe. This $65-million wastewater transmission line project was undertaken because the city’s existing, 50-year-old force main had experienced frequent breaks during the past several years.
Power & Communications Division: To protect the hot air balloons at a Napa Valley, Calif., company’s launch location, 13,000 feet of electrical cable-in-conduit was installed underground, with little traffic interruption for a nearby winery.
PPI is dedicated to promoting plastic as the materials of choice for pipe and conduit applications. It is the premier technical, engineering and industry knowledge resource publishing data for use in the development and design of plastic pipe and conduit systems. Additionally, PPI collaborates with industry organizations that set standards for manufacturing practices and installation methods.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Plastics Pipe Institute Inc., (469) 499-1044, plasticpipe.org
Barbco Steps Up to Meet, Exceed Customer Demand
Even with effects of the global COVID19 pandemic continuing during the first quarter of this year, the team at Barbco Inc. achieved strong sales. This included capital equipment for the trenchless excavation and underground manufacturing markets, internationally and domestically, as well as increases in parts sales and service calls.
In fact, to meet this demand, the company added to its highly skilled team of machinists, welders, fabricators, and assemblers.
“I am so very proud of the way our manufacturing team has stepped up in these very challenging times to produce machines to meet and exceed customer demand,” said Dave Barbera, president and co-owner.
Barbco also continues its relentless pursuit and commitment to build environmentally safe and innovative equipment, receiving yet another patent for its FlexBor tooling and technology.
Based in East Canton, Ohio, Barbco Inc. supports the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and underground markets, manufacturing a line of auger boring, guided boring and directional drilling machines, and the FlexBor and TriBor lines – hybrids of all three types of machines. It also offers a variety of augers, heads and reamers, tools and accessories.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Barbco Inc., (800) 448-8934, barbco.com
EnBiorganic Technologies
EnBiorganic Technologies, innovator and provider of patented turnkey autonomous systems for the natural, biological treatment of wastewater, welcomed Fuquay, Inc. of New Braunfels, Texas, to its licensed network of EBS-Di installers and service providers.
Fuquay will implement and deliver EnBiorganic’s Treatment as a Service (TAAS) solution to wastewater utilities and commercial entities throughout Texas. The firm has been a leader in the fields of infrastructure rehabilitation, underground utility construction, environmental construction and asset life extension of vital water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure throughout the Southwest since 1985.
“When we saw this technology, it felt like a natural progression and opportunity to bring an effective new solution to our customers for the handling of some of their most challenging treatment and collection system challenges,” said John Fuquay, CEO.
“We are excited to have a dynamic company like Fuquay join us in our quest to end wastewater pains in Texas,” said Darrell Liski, CEO of EnBiorganic Technologies.
Left to right: Dauphen Jackson, CFO; John Fuquay, CEO; David Kallfelz, President
Volvo
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is adding a West Coast technical training facility in the San Francisco Bay Area this summer, as part of a larger initiative to invest in technical training across North America.
The state-of-the-art West Coast center, in Hayward, will offer substantial training benefits:
- Volvo CE will utilize 7,800 square feet of dedicated training space, plus 1,800 square feet of common areas.
- It is located a short drive from San Francisco International.
- The Northern California climate will allow for year-round outdoor training opportunities.
- Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks will also offer technician training at the facility, providing increased opportunities for training collaboration.
In other news, Volvo named Alta Equipment Company its 2020 Dealer of the Year in North America. It also recognized Ascendum Machinery as its 2020 Uptime Dealer of the Year.
The Dealer of the Year award recognizes the North American dealership that best promotes the Volvo brand and the company’s core strategies: to provide the highest uptime in the industry, offer unique customer solutions and ensure the best value at any stage in a machine’s lifecycle.
The company also made several acquisitions and expanded its footprint in construction equipment and rental locations.
Blount Rebrands as Oregon Tool
Blount Inc. unveiled a new corporate name that positions it for growth, while honoring its heritage. The global manufacturer of professional grade cutting tools and equipment selected Oregon Tool as its new name to harness the power of its pioneering origin story.
The company was founded by Joe Cox in 1947 in the basement of his Portland home. Inspired by nature – a timber beetle larva to be exact – Cox studied the creature to better understand how to cut wood more efficiently. With his learnings, he designed a new saw chain that was modeled after the larva’s alternating C-shape jaws.
Over the years, the company has grown into a multinational organization with numerous acquisitions and mergers. Today, newly named Oregon Too, the company has more than 3,000 team members and sells thousands of products in more than 110 countries across multiple consumer brands, including Oregon, Woods and ICS Diamond Tools.
The company is the world’s No. 1 manufacturer of saw chain and guide bars for chainsaws and diamond saw chain for concrete and pipe, a leading manufacturer of agricultural tractor attachments, and the leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supplier of first-fit and replacement parts.
“We are certainly proud of where we’ve been and where we are, but we’re even more excited about where we’re going as Oregon Tool,” said CEO Paul Tonnesen.
In addition to launching into adjacent categories, the company’s growth strategy includes evolving its branding across product lines, building on its legacy of innovation, and leaning into global stewardship to promote the sustainability of the industry, as well as to support those who work in it.
The shift to Oregon Tool was effective June 2. Tonnesen said that the brands and reliable, high-quality products that customers know and trust will remain the same – they will simply operate under the umbrella of Oregon Tool instead of Blount, Inc.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Oregon Tool Inc., (503) 653-8881, oregontool.com
John Deere Celebrates 50 Years of Backhoe Loaders
John Deere is celebrating 50 years of backhoe loaders, a history of innovation and excellence that first started with the introduction of the JD310 model in 1971.
Since the 50-horsepower JD310 entered the market, John Deere has continued to evolve its backhoe lineup, building upon the original design to meet changing customer needs.
“This anniversary celebrates half a century of reliability and providing customer value stemming from the introduction of our backhoe lineup in 1971,” said Brian Hennings, product manager, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “We are proud of the advancements we’ve made to our backhoe loader line in the last 50 years and are committed to providing our customers with continued innovation.”
Today, 310L, the latest generation of the original model, remains a cornerstone within the John Deere backhoe lineup, as a result of continuous improvement to the design and efficient performance.
Additional models, such as the newly redesigned 310SL machine allows operators to be 16%-percent more productive in trenching applications over the previous design. Now with pressure-compensated load-sensing (PCLS) hydraulics, the 310SL provides better multifunctioning, smoother machine control and up to 15%-percent greater craning capacity.
Introduction in 2012, the 310L EP continues to deliver exceptional value with the redesigned powertrain, which includes a synchromesh manual transmission and a more basic operator station. The 310L EP also features a Yanmar 3.3L engine that complies with Environmental Protection Agency FT4 emissions regulations.
As a commitment to the next generation of backhoe loaders, John Deere has begun joint-testing its first-ever battery electric backhoe loader with National Grid, an electricity, natural gas and clean energy delivery company. Aimed at lowering its carbon footprint and promoting sustainability, the Deere E-Power backhoe loader targets the performance of a 100-horsepower 310L diesel-powered machine, but with zero tailpipe emissions.
To help customers celebrate the 50th anniversary at home, John Deere has created a replica toy model of the original JD310 backhoe loader. Available for purchase in late summer, at johndeerestore.com/, each model will feature a unique 50th anniversary icon to showcase the important milestone.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
John Deere, (844) 809-1508, johndeere.com
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