Companies

United Rentals to offer free online trench safety sessions

Trench Safety Stand Down is a North American initiative focused on trench and excavation hazards and reinforcing the importance of using trench protective systems and protecting workers from trenching hazards.

New Mexico Water Service receives approval to acquire Monterey Water Company

Upon closing, New Mexico Water—a subsidiary of California Water Service Group —will own and operate the water system, which is less than a half-mile from New Mexico Water’s Rio Del Oro system.

Shawcor rebrands to reflect transformation into materials technology company for underground infrastructure market

Shawcor Ltd. has rebranded to Mattr, reflecting its transformation from an energy services organization, into a materials technology company, providing differentiated, high-performance products to critical infrastructure markets around the world.

New Jersey American Water to modernize Egg Harbor City water, sewer systems with $22 million acquisition

Under the agreement, New Jersey American Water will invest $14 million in the first 10 years to make needed upgrades to the city’s water and wastewater systems, including $9 million in the first five years, while keeping rates stable for customers.

Vermeer MidSouth relocates to Richland, Mississippi

(UI) — Vermeer MidSouth in Jackson, Miss., moved their team into an all-new 28,000-sq. ft. building in Richland, Miss., on May 1, 2023, and began full operations three days later.

HammerHead opens CIPP order fulfillment center in Fresno, California

(UI) — A new HammerHead Trenchless Order Fulfillment Center (OFC) located in Fresno, Calif., is now fully operational. Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) installers throughout the Western United States receive their consumables orders faster.

Business News

Aries Industries strengthened its central U.S. market reach with the addition of a multi-location dealer serving four states.

Ring-O-Matic expands dealer coverage to improve vacuum excavation availability

Ring-O-Matic announced expanded dealer coverage in several major markets, improving product availability and machine application expertise.

Aegion announces acquisition of trenchless water rehabilitation provider Infraspec Services

(UI) — Aegion Corp., an infrastructure maintenance, rehabilitation and technology-enabled water solutions provider, has announced the acquisition of Infraspec Services Inc., a corporation that specializes in trenchless water rehabilitation services in Quebec, Canada. Infraspec plans to operate under its current company name in the near term.

CITCO Water announces partnership with Trivest

(UI) — CITCO Water provides an end-to-end solution for critical municipal water and wastewater needs and maintains a unique mix of recession resistant infrastructure repair, replacement, and upgrade products combined with mission critical water treatment chemicals and related technical expertise.

Peak Utility undergoes corporate realignment to improve utility, telecom services

As part of Peak’s growth strategy, the new structure will align the company’s businesses by region to better meet client needs and provide its customers with comprehensive utility and telecommunications services.

United Utility to create over 300 new jobs in Louisiana with new headquarters

The estimated 141 new jobs to be filled over the next five years will have an average annual salary of nearly $96,000. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in another 167 new indirect jobs, for a total of 308 new jobs in the Southeast Region.

Illinois American Water agrees to acquire Granite City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility

(UI) — The sale would bring approximately 26,000 new wastewater treatment customer connections to Illinois American Water, including about 10,500 direct and an additional 15,500 indirect customers in surrounding communities.

Canada approves largest telecommunications deal in country’s history with Rogers-Shaw merger

The largest telecommunications deal in Canadian history will go forward after Rogers Communications Inc.’s $19 billion takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. received approval from Ottawa.

Victaulic acquires Horizon Metals to support growth in infrastructure market

The acquisition supports the company’s growth in the infrastructure and waterworks market by increasing capacity for large-diameter piping solutions and is aligned with the strategy to manufacture these products in the United States.

Volvo CE names Hoffman Equipment as 2022 Dealer of the Year

(UI) — Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) has named Hoffman Equipment as their 2022 Dealer of the Year in North America. The award celebrates the dealership that exemplifies the Volvo brand and values and demonstrates consistently high performance in all areas, including customer uptime, service offerings and share performance over time.

Bowman expands utility infrastructure engineering services with Richter acquisition

The firm, founded by Steve Richter, a former PEPCO engineer, works with private and public clients along with utility services providers to navigate the complexities of design, development, and implementation of natural gas, electric and telecommunications infrastructure.

PURIS enhances potable water rehabilitation leadership, acquires D&D Water & Sewer

(UI) — PURIS, a provider of trenchless infrastructure renewal solutions, has announced the acquisition of the assets of D&D Water & Sewer Inc. Headquartered in Canton, Mich., D&D provides the region with specialized underground infrastructure installation and repair solutions.

Rainmaker, Miranda Water Treatment extend MoU to better serve global wastewater treatment needs

Rainmaker Worldwide and Miranda Water Treatment Systems have expanded the previously signed Memorandum of Understanding to include a financing partner to formalize the integration of the three parties at both the strategic and operating levels.

Aries Industries expands central US market reach with new multi-location dealer

(UI) — Aries Industries, the industry leader in state-of-the-art equipment for inspection and maintenance of underground infrastructure, has strengthened its central U.S. market reach with the addition of a multi-location dealer serving four states.

Gradiant acquires water and wastewater management company MPES

(UI) — Gradiant, a global solutions provider for advanced water and wastewater treatment, has announced that it has acquired Muscat Projects & Engineering Services (MPES), a leading full-service water and wastewater management company in Oman.

Ziply to acquire fiber optic network provider in Washington, Idaho

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Liberty Lake, WA, Ptera serves more than 4,000 customers in the cities of Airway Heights, Cheney, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Otis Orchards and more. All Ptera employees will join the Ziply Fiber team as part of the acquisition.

HammerHead opens new CIPP Order Fulfillment Center in Florida

(UI) — A new HammerHead Trenchless Order Fulfillment Center (OFC) located in West Melbourne, Florida, is now fully operational. Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) installers throughout the Southeast United States are receiving their orders for consumables faster.

United Rentals surpasses 335,000 telematics-enabled assets

The equipment includes aerial work platforms, earthmoving equipment, generators, all-electric trucks, compressors, e-dumpsters, light towers and more.

Shawcor acquires stormwater products provider to expand stormwater management solutions

Shawcor Ltd. has acquired the assets of Triton Stormwater Solutions, a privately owned provider of highly engineered, lightweight, composite materials-based underground infiltration chamber products, used primarily within stormwater management solutions.

Steve Gearhart retires from Vortex Companies Division, CIPP Corp.

(UI) — CIPP Corp., a Vortex Company, has announced the retirement of Steve Gearhart, a founding partner of CIPP Corp. Vortex veteran and Regional Vice President-Services, Connor Collier, has been named vice president of CIPP Corp. and will lead the company in its next evolution of growth.

Business News

Seven months after a fire damaged a significant section of the new Huntersville, N.C. production facility, it was fully operational again, with an expanded product range and capabilities to better support installers in the trenchless rehabilitation of sewer, water, stormwater and industrial pipelines.

USG becomes independent company to provide water asset management and rehabilitation services

USG’s offerings include maintenance services for water storage tanks, pipe networks, and concrete structures in water and wastewater plants.

Boyne Capital acquires McKee Utility Contractors to expand utility infrastructure portfolio

Boyne Capital has partnered with management in acquiring McKee Utility Contractors, a water and sewer infrastructure services platform providing pipeline installation, replacement, tunneling, and boring for water, wastewater, and stormwater utility customers.

Northwest Pipe Company unanimously elects Irma Lockridge to its board of directors

(UI) — Northwest Pipe Co., a leading manufacturer of water-related infrastructure, has announced the appointment of Irma Lockridge to the company’s Board of Directors, effective February 22, 2023. Lockridge’s background includes senior-level roles with predominantly Fortune 100 and 500 organizations, and she currently holds the position of chief people officer at CoorsTek, a global leader in technical ceramics.