March 2024 Vol. 79 No. 3
Business
Business News
VANAIR Acquires Grip Idle Management
Vanair has acquired Grip Idle Management, reflecting Vanair’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance operational efficiencies and environmental impact.
Grip Idle Management's cutting-edge, patented technology in idle management systems is designed to minimize fuel consumption, reduce engine hours, decrease emissions, and optimize overall fleet performance.
This technology seamlessly integrates with Vanair's existing EPEQ Idle Management Systems (EPEQ IM). This dynamic fusion will unite the best features of both systems, creating an integrated product offering that sets a new standard in idle management technology.
Key advancements resulting from the acquisition:
- Enhanced Product Portfolio. Vanair will integrate Grip Idle Management's advanced idle reduction systems into its comprehensive range of vehicle solutions, offering customers a broader array of innovative products and features to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.
- Expanded Technological Capabilities. The integration of Grip's advanced idle management technology will enhance the existing features of Vanair's EPEQ IM Cab Comfort Climate Control Systems, ensuring operator comfort while reducing fuel consumption, engine hours, and emissions.
- Telematics Integration. Seamless communication between vehicles and central operations streamlines optimized fleet management
- Enhanced Customer Support. Vanair's longstanding commitment to exceptional customer service guarantees operators receive unparalleled assistance and training for optimal system utilization.
This move solidifies Vanair's position as an industry trailblazer in Mobile Power Solutions. Since 1972, the company has offered an extensive range of vehicle-mounted air compressors, generators, welders, hydraulics, Electrified Power Equipment, chargers/boosters, engine starters, and custom products.
“This strategic move not only expands our technological expertise but also underscores our commitment to delivering even greater value to our customers,” said Greg Kokot, Vanair president.
Aries Industries Strengthens Dealer Network
Aries Industries, the industry leader in state-of-the-art equipment for inspection and maintenance of underground infrastructure, has strengthened its southwestern U.S. market reach by adding Phoenix-based Short Equipment Inc. to its dealer network.
Short Equipment offers a broad range of top-brand municipal service vehicles. Its lineup includes sewer cleaners, hydro excavators, truck jetters, street sweepers and refuse collection trucks. As a factory-authorized warranty and repair center, Short Equipment services vehicles from its many product lines, and provides preventive maintenance training.
“We only partner with dealers who are as committed to outstanding customer service as we are,” said Jim Kraschinsky, vice president-sales, Aries Industries. “While our footprint has grown dramatically in recent years, the process has been selective and diligent. Short Equipment Inc. is a dealer who meets our exacting criteria to provide Aries customers in their region a great sales and service experience.”
Founded in 1985, Aries Industries is the industry leader in manufacturing durable video pipeline inspection and rehabilitation systems, plus data management software, to meet the toughest challenges of underground infrastructure and environmental applications.
United Rentals Offers Game-Changing Equipment, Tools, Approaches
United Rentals Inc. has agreed to purchase the new HIPOWER EHR Solar Battery Generator, a cutting-edge system that has the potential to revolutionize power generation and energy management.
Developed by HIPOWER, part of Yanmar Group, in collaboration with United Rentals, the mobile micro-grid solution pairs battery energy storage system with power provided by integrated photovoltaic solar panels and a propane generator. The result is a resilient, portable energy storage and distribution system that boosts project sustainability and delivers reliable power, while lowering noise levels and emissions on job sites.
A 5.0 kW peak solar array sits atop the unit and features extendable panels. The array captures the sun's energy and converts it to electric power, which is stored in the system's batteries. The unit also has a 45kVA generator that provides power running on propane, a cleaner fuel source than traditional diesel.
This hybrid power solution minimizes generator run time by storing energy in the battery system and running on battery power whenever possible. The smart grid controller turns on the generator when the batteries run low due to reduced sunlight or increased demand. Once sufficient battery charge is reached through sunlight and/or generator, the controller turns the generator off.
It can be mounted on a 20-by-8-foot trailer or a skid for transport to and from job sites and has many applications, including as a charging station for equipment or electric tools and trucks. It can also power temporary office spaces, such as container offices, mobile office trailers, guard shacks, restroom trailers and trailer complexes. For small to midsize job sites, the generator could potentially serve as the single source of power, depending on load requirements.
United Rentals Inc. is the world’s largest equipment rental company, with.an integrated network of 1,500 rental locations in North America, 15 in Europe, 23 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand.
Yanmar Celebrates Launch of Zero Tail Swing Excavator
Yanmar Compact Equipment is celebrating 30 years of its ViO series zero tail swing excavator concept that revolutionized the ability to work safely in confined locations.
Unlike other excavators of its kind at the time it was launched, the rear of the ViO cab/superstructure did not extend beyond its track, at any stage of its rotation. This meant that the machines could operate in the tightest of spaces without fear of a rear collision with nearby buildings, vehicles – or people. The concept was embraced by the global industry and soon displaced as much as 70 percent of the standard models on worksites.
Although zero tail swing excavators are a dominant part of the compact equipment market today, the ViO is still leading the way. Collectively, many thousands of collisions and accidents have been avoided, and work in the tightest of spots was possible – all thanks to the launch of Yanmar CE’s ViO range.
The zero-tail-swing concept is much-more clever than just shrinking the size of the superstructure. In traditional excavators having a protruding counterweight at the rear of the excavator is useful in balancing loads at the front, when lifting or digging, for example. But with this removed, the engineers at Yanmar CE needed to create similar counterweight forces by other means, while still maintaining impressive lift capacity.
Incredibly versatile, ViO is able to work in the tightest and narrowest of job sites. Now in its 7th generation, the range has expanded and is still going strong. Recently the designed-for-Japan ViO80-7 was declared a winner in this year’s prestigious Japan Institute of Design Promotion’s 2023 Good Design Award.
Today, Yanmar is a leading global player in the industrial machinery industry.
NUCA Celebrates 60th Anniversary
The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its establishment by utility construction contractors to represent its interests in Washington and local communities.
NUCA was formed on April 11, 1964, when a handful of contractors signed the association’s articles of incorporation in the Washington, D.C., offices of attorney Joseph Stone.
After a contentious National Labor Relations Board hearing over subsurface construction being performed at Washington, D.C.’s Andrews AFB, Stone recognized the need for a unified, national voice among utility contractors.
Since then, NUCA has grown from 150 members to more than 2,000 leading industry companies.
Throughout 2024 NUCA will be remembering its founders’ lasting achievement for this critical national industry, while continuing to promote and support it. Through 36 active chapters, members’ employees are provided a selection of local training programs and networking events, promoting industry safety and workforce development programs. Chapters also advocate for more favorable state and municipal laws and regulations impacting the industry.
NUCA members consist of utility and excavation contractors who provide the materials and workforce to build and maintain America’s network of subsurface water, sewer, gas, telecommunications, and electric infrastructure.
Woolpert Supports S.C. DOT Wastewater Management
The South Carolina Department of Transportation selected Woolpert to provide compliance services under a five-year, $5.4-million contract supporting SCDOT’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) program.
MS4 permits are designed to prevent stormwater runoff from funneling harmful pollutants into local surface waters. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System’s stormwater program regulates stormwater discharges from sources including MS4s, construction, and industrial activities.
Under this contract, Woolpert will provide services throughout the state related to every aspect of stormwater management, including the development of quality design standards and specifications, illicit discharge detection and elimination, erosion and sediment control, post-construction water quality, monitoring, and public education.
The standards will be publicly available and used by other local and state agencies as part of their permitting processes and South Carolina’s statewide commitment to using best management practices to trap pollutants and prevent pollution by controlling stormwater quality at its source.
Woolpert is a premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG), and strategic consulting firm that innovates within and across markets to effectively serve public, private, and government clients worldwide.
DEVELON Builds on Success
It’s been one year since the familiar brand of orange construction equipment, formerly known as Doosan construction equipment, was renamed DEVELON, marking the beginning of a new era for the company.
Under the new brand name, DEVELON is building on its success in North America over the past 30 years and throughout the world for 80 years.
Since the transition, DEVELON has introduced innovative technologies and solutions to better shape the future of the construction industry and change how work is done. These include
Concept-X2 autonomous construction equipment and safety innovations, such as the optional around view monitor (AVM) camera system, object detection technologies and the industry first and only transparent bucket that is standard on all -7 Series 2023 and newer wheel loader models.
Efforts have also been focused on advancing sustainable development through alternative energy sources of power for construction equipment like mini excavators.
ELVAAN Equipment Solutions Becomes Full-Line DEVELON Dealer
ELVAAN Equipment Solutions, formerly Jade Equipment Company Ltd, now offers a full line of DEVELON heavy and compact construction equipment – log loaders, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks, dozers, and crawler, wheel and mini excavators – in Alberta (Edmonton & Calgary) and Central Ontario (Orillia).
With the addition of these two locations, ELVAAN Equipment Solutions is carrying on Jade Equipment’s 35-year legacy, while reaching new markets – construction, utility, municipality, and mining sectors – with DEVELON equipment in Canada.
Three core factors led ELVAAN Equipment Solutions to add DEVELON equipment.
“There’s a long history of providing exceptional customer service to road machinery, compact and heavy equipment customers in these two markets,” said Suman Mukherjee, president and CEO of ELVAAN.
“Another factor is we have a team of highly experienced professionals serving all functions at the Alberta and Central Ontario dealerships, including sales, rental, service, parts and training. Lastly, ELVAAN Equipment Solutions has been an established DEVELON dealer in the Greater Toronto area for over a year now. Our company’s success with DEVELON has given us the confidence to expand into new territories.”
ELVAAN Equipment Solutions has grown rapidly over the last few years, offering innovative solutions to its customers across Canada.
ADS Initiates Strategic Relationship to Advance Stormwater Solutions
Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. (ADS), a leading provider of innovative water management solutions in the stormwater and onsite septic wastewater industries, initiated a strategic relationship with Rainwater Management Solutions (RMS), a renowned provider of cutting-edge water harvesting and reuse systems.
This collaboration will drive further advancement of sustainable stormwater solutions throughout the United States and Canada.
As two industry leaders, ADS and RMS are dedicated to revolutionizing stormwater management and water harvesting techniques. By combining ADS' expertise in managing the entire lifecycle of a raindrop and RMS' innovative water-harvesting solutions, the collective knowledge and innovative product lines will enable the delivery of leading, end-to-end stormwater treatment system solutions for commercial and residential customers.
Both ADS and RMS will leverage each other’s products when designing right-fit, specialized solutions for customers across commercial, residential, agricultural and infrastructure markets.
Advanced Drainage Systems, based in Hilliard, Ohio, is a leading manufacturer of innovative stormwater and onsite septic wastewater solutions that manages the world’s most precious resource – water.
Bowman Acquires Vermont-Based Engineering Firm
Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. acquired Trudell Consulting Engineers and its wholly owned Vermont Underground Locators subsidiary (collectively “TCE”).
A multi-disciplinary engineering firm located just outside Burlington, in Williston, Vt., and founded in 1975, TCE works with both public and private clients across multiple sectors. Led by current CEO and president Jeremy Matosky, P.E., the firm provides civil engineering, landscape architecture, land surveying, utility locating and environmental services. Clients include private developers, planning authorities, municipalities, renewable energy providers, natural resource excavators, hospitality and ski resort operators, property managers and retailers throughout Vermont.
Financed with a combination of cash, seller notes and equity, the acquisition falls within previously discussed target multiples and operating metric ranges and is expected to be immediately accretive. The Company anticipates the acquisition will initially operate at an annualized net service billing run rate of approximately $4.5 million.
Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Bowman is a national engineering services firm delivering infrastructure solutions to customers who own, develop, and maintain the built environment.
Exodigo
Exodigo will provide the accurate and complete subsurface maps needed to improve undergrounding processes for power lines, as part of the Grid Overhaul with Proactive, High-speed Undergrounding for Reliability, Resilience, and Security (GOPHURRS) program led by the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
In partnership with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Rutgers, Exodigo will work with participating utilities, including Avista Utilities, Portland General Electric, and WEC Energy Group, to support GOPHURRS' mission to strengthen and modernize America's aging power grid through the development of cost-effective, high-speed, and safe undergrounding technologies.
The project aims to revolutionize underground power distribution line installation. With the deployment of Exodigo's artificial intelligence (AI) system, it will be possible to streamline the processing of geophysical survey data into digital twin and augmented reality, allowing for the identification of subsurface obstacles prior to installation.
This advanced AI system will autonomously process data from multiple geophysical sensors, delivering accurate, complete subsurface mapping and utility identification. Ultimately, the project should drive significant cost savings and increased efficiency in the process of undergrounding power lines.
Exodigo is a leading subsurface imaging technology, transforming the capital projects process with multi-sensing technology and AI.
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