May 2021 Vol. 76 No.5

Features

Profiles in Underground Construction

75th Anniversary

Avanti International 

THEN 

• In 1978, Avanti International was established in Webster, Texas (near Houston).
• David Magill, a trenchless industry pioneer, was hired as its first employee and the company’s first president.
• In 1988, Magill purchased controlling interest in the company, becoming CEO. Under his direction, the company continued to prosper, remaining steadfast to the Avanti name today.
• Avanti started with only one product, AV-100 Chemical Grout, primarily used to stop water leaks in municipal sewer lines.

NOW 

• Angela Magill, David’s widow, is director, and Britt N. Babcock, P.E., is president, running the day-to-day business with a dedicated sales and support team.
• Over the years, Avanti’s product line and markets served have grown tremendously, now offering a complete line of injection grouts (acrylics, polyurethanes, cements, epoxies). Each grout is unique and designed for specific applications.
• Avanti also sells auxiliary products and pumps for the municipal, industrial and geotechnical markets.

MILESTONES 

• Supporting the municipal industry for 43 years, and counting, Avanti has helped increase popularity and acceptance of the trenchless industry.
• David Magill was an early member of and significant contributor to NASSCO; the company is still active, especially through the Infiltration Control Grouting Committee.
• With other active ICGC members, Avanti created and presents the Level 200 Municipal Sewer Grout School, a two-day course that explores how and why injection grouting stops groundwater infiltration into sewer collections.

CONNECTIONS 

• Avanti has exhibited at the Underground Construction Technology (UCT) conference and participated in the RehabZone for decades – quite possibly since the very beginning.
• Our team has worked closely with the magazine staff through the years – especially with our industry friend and mentor, Robert Carpenter.
  He has been a great asset and friend to our team at Avanti, and we are grateful for all he and his team do to advance our industry.
• Congratulations to Underground Construction magazine for 75 years!

 

 

HardRock Directional Drilling 

THEN 

• HardRock was started in 2003 by Robert Myers, who famously said, “I started with one rig and a pocket full of credit cards.”
• HardRock quickly became the company to call when a tough drill needed to be completed.
• With this reputation, the company experienced quick growth.
• By 2010, the Eagle Ford Shale (South Texas) became very active and HardRock had grown to 5 rigs.
• Positioning itself to capitalize on this opportunity, the company doubled in size by 2012.
• HardRock built a second office in Pearsall, Texas, to service the Eagle Ford and decided to enter the maxi rig market, with the purchase of a Vermeer D330x500.

 

 

 

NOW 

• Today, HardRock operates 30 drilling rigs, ranging from 24,000 pounds to 1 million pounds, and over 400 pieces of support equipment.
• Now with four offices in Texas – San Antonio, Pearsall, Monahans and Amarillo – HardRock services all the major basins and surrounding areas.
• Its customer and geographic base is very diverse and spans across the U.S. in the municipal, renewables and oil & gas markets.
• HardRock continues to strive to be on the forefront of new industries.
• Very fortunate to be involved in the design and completion of some of the largest crossings completed in recent years.
• Takes pride in its retention of the top talent in the industry and credits employees with the company’s success.

MILESTONES 

• In the past few years, HardRock has become more involved in the industry with the goal of helping improve it.
• Proactively taking on the position of becoming good stewards to the industry, by promoting good practices and spreading the knowledge of HDD.
• Strives to help make sure crossings are designed correctly, to ensure they are constructible, so the project owner receives a good product, and contractors can complete them with low risk.
• Keeps safety and the environment in mind when it comes to completing all crossings.

CONNECTIONS 

• One of the biggest outlets for this platform has been Underground Construction and its annual UCT convention.
• HardRock is proud to be a part of the magazine/UCT organization and looks forward to future involvement.

Clockwise from top left: Completion of a 12,000-foot drill on the barge of Lavaca Bay. / A HardRock HDD crossing, with a beautiful backdrop, in Utah. / Robert Myers when he first started HardRock. / 8,500 feet of 30-inch HDD installation in Midland, Texas. 

 

Pipeline Equipment Solutions 

THEN 

• Shawn Lowman started Pipeline Equipment Solutions, in 2015, in Owasso, Okla.
• Initially sold timber mats and skids, and heavy and specialty equipment rentals for the pipeline transmission & distribution market.
• First product was the PipeVac Lifting System, a hydraulic-driven vacuum lifting system that uses the host machine’s auxiliary hydraulics to power the system. PES designed and engineered it, starting in 2015, and launched the product in 2017.

NOW 

• Primarily goes by the abbreviation, PES. Shawn’s wife, Cassidy, also works for the company on a project basis.
• Serves as a one-stop pipeline source, offering a wide range of goods and services and specializing in specialty pipeline equipment rental, pipeline supply sales, timber mat & skid sales (new and used), and certified mat grading & sorting.
• Also offers consulting services and can serve as a manufacturer’s representative, helping get its pipeline product developed and to market – whether one item or an entire fleet of equipment.
• Expanded into the wind energy market and powerline.
• Dedicated to delivering exceptional service at competitive prices.
• PipeVac Lifting System is currently owned and distributed worldwide by Darby equipment in Tulsa, Okla.

MILESTONES 

• PES has experienced steady growth. Following the successful launch of the PipeVac Lifting System in early 2017, revenue has doubled most years.
• Began offering pipeline supplies in 2019, which brought significant growth; that is until 2020, which was a challenging year for all.
• Being elected as an officer of the Pipe Liners Club of Tulsa was a significant milestone for Shawn, as well as PES. It has helped solidify its place in the market as a reputable and reliable distributor.

CONNECTIONS 

• We want to congratulate Underground Construction on your 75th anniversary; that is quite a milestone!
• Shawn was introduced to Underground Construction, and several of its sister publications, in 2007. Several key industry relationships were formed that are not only still maintained, but most of those people are considered close friends today.
• We cherish the memories we have made with our “underground pub” friends at all the various industry events, such as DCA, PLCA, and IPLOCA conventions. We always had a great time and look forward to any event where we get to see our industry friends.

 

Pipe Lining Supply 

THEN 

• Started Jan. 2004 by Linda Heisler, in Anaheim, Calif., with only one employee to answer the phone while Linda was out selling products.
• Initially was a CIPP equipment/materials distributor to plumbers, targeting the Southern California market.

 

 

NOW 

• Have expanded, with locations in California, Missouri and Illinois, servicing the entire USA. Main headquarters remains in Anaheim.
• John and Linda Heisler are still the owners, but have brought on their daughters, Michelle Strasburg and Pam Eastman.
• Offer the same CIPP services as before (lining materials, resin and calibration tube), but have expanded to include Quik-Shot, Quik-Heater and Quik-Roller, and a full line of high-speed cable machines, along with companion tools, compressors, cameras and much more.
• Strive to be a one-stop shop for CIPP, including top-notch technical support for the installers.

MILESTONES 

• Expanded services to not only include pipe lining, but also pipe coating, in 2017.
• Developed the Quik-Coating System with a 5-minute dry time between coats to restore drain waste and vent pipes.
• Core staff has been with us for over 45 years of combined experience; maintain a small family-business feel.

CONNECTIONS 

• Although the technologies have changed over the years, the commitment of improving the underground infrastructure and educating the public has stayed the same.
• Thank you, Underground Construction, for continuing the mission of promoting our industry.

 

Sharewell HDD 

THEN 

• Formed in 1984 by Frank Forrest and Tom Wagoner, in Houston, as Sharewell Inc., to service the oil and gas industry.
• First product was the CHAMP magnetic (memory-based) survey tool designed by Tensor Inc., of Austin, Texas.
• In 1985, converted the memory-based tool to a wireline steering tool and began serving the HDD industry. The tool was also used extensively in horizontal drilling applications for the upstream market.

NOW 

• Since 2000, the majority shareholder has been Todd Caspary, who serves as CEO.
• Offers a complete line of HDD tooling and services to the HDD Industry, including Smith Gemini HDD Pilot Hole Bits and Reamers, Smith SB Pilot Hole Bits and Reamers, Lo Torque Reamers, Fly Cutters, PDC Pilot Hole Bits and Reamers.
• Services include gyro navigation, electromagnetic guidance, and magnetic guidance.

MILESTONES 

• In 1986, developed the Tru-Tracker surface guidance system with Tensor as a secondary verification of the steering tool’s position in areas of magnetic interference.
• Developed the Lo Torque hole opener product line with Downhole Design Inc. in 1994, offering the HDD industry a hole opener that could be used to cut multiple hole sizes with a single body.
• Introduced the Smith Gemini HDD product line in 2016, which leveraged the drill bit knowledge of Smith to offer the HDD industry the highest-performing pilot hole bits and hole-opener cutters.
• After several years of development and field testing, the Opti-Trac gyro navigation tool was introduced to the HDD industry in 2019. This provided Sharewell’s customers the option to operate in a gyro or magnetic mode with a single tool.

CONNECTIONS 

• Have advertised successfully in Underground Construction for many years and have been featured and sited in articles several times.
• Participated in UCT for many years as exhibitor.

  

Vacuworx International 

THEN 

• Founded in 1999 in Tulsa, Okla., by Bill Solomon and his wife, Christy, to provide a safer and more efficient way to handle oil and gas pipeline in the field.
• EC 6, the first lifter, had its power source mounted on the rear of the excavator.
• The first self-contained RC Series Vacuum Lifting System, RC 10, was introduced in 2000, revolutionizing how contractors handle pipe in the field.

 

• By 2007, expanded the RC Series to include 12-, 16- and 20-ton models designed to make lighter work of heavy-duty jobs.
• Also diversified capabilities with the development of flat pads to lift materials, such as steel plate and concrete slab.
• Introduced Versatile MC Series “mini-lifters” in 2009 and 2010, for contractors who handle smaller-size and lighter-weight material.
• In 2014, introduced the proprietary Tough Sea pad seal.
• The Octapad Concrete Slab Lifting System, with eight independent vacuum pads, debuted in 2015.
• Also introduced a fully hydraulic RC Series and MC 5 Lifters, and its first non-vacuum lifting system, the HL Series Barrier Lifter.

NOW 

• Recognizing that there were more possibilities to utilize vacuum lifting, Solomon looked beyond oil and gas pipelines to develop handling solutions for materials such as steel plate, concrete slab and precast.
• Launched the first lifters in its line of Compact Equipment Attachments – the battery-powered PS 1 and hydraulic SL 2 – in 2016.
• The CM 3 Compact Modular Vacuum Lifting System followed in 2017.
• In 2018, developed the innovative CC-MP Computer Controlled Multi-Pad Vacuum Lifting System to handle up to 9 pipe lengths at a time.
• Introduced the CC-TT Vacuum Lifting system in 2019 to handle precast, pre-stressed, double-T concrete beams.
• The PHD Portable Heavy Duty Vacuum Lifting System (battery-powered with remote control) debuted in 2020.
• The RC line received significant updates in 2020, including a CAN bus system to provide real-time diagnostics and a belt drive to drastically reduce repairs.
• Most recently, introduced a new line of modular battery and electric vacuum lifting systems for in-plant manufacturing applications.

MILESTONES 

• Vacuworx helped launch the Tulsa Pipeline Expo in 2009 (later renamed The Pipeline + Energy Expo), an event that showcases and celebrates Oklahoma-based companies.
• In 2010, Solomon created the Eagle Gift Foundation as a way for Vacuworx to give back to its communities through donations, partnerships and events.
• Expanded its global footprint by establishing business operations in Australia (2010) and Europe (2013).
• Earned its ISO Certification for quality management systems in 2014.
• Celebrated “20 Years of Building an Industry” in 2019.

CONNECTIONS 

• Underground Construction magazine has been a valued partner throughout the years; there is no better resource for the market.
• Congratulations on reaching an amazing milestone; we are honored and excited to help you celebrate 75 years.

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