February 2009 Vol. 64 No.2

The American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) closed 2008 stronger than ever, although the worldwide recession began to be felt at the end of the year, says Sean Sullivan, whose one-year term as association president will end next month.

The TLB-6235 features a full-time mechanical four-wheel drive system, offering efficient functionality through a hydrostatic transmission.

The 580 Super M+ provides optimum performance and operator comfort in rough operating conditions or when high flotation is required.

The 450E Backhoe Loader is in the 17-foot dig depth class, has 124 net hp and a backhoe digging depth of 17 feet 3 inches when equipped with a standard stick.

The new PowerTech E 6068 Tier 3 engine has been added to the 710J Backhoe, improving both emissions compliance and power.

The power utility M59 tractor with 59-hp TLB is designed to tackle any task.

The B95B and B95BTC Loader Backhoes feature a sloped, flip-up hood for easier engine access.

The Terex TX870B Tractor Loader Backhoe weighs in at 16,986 pounds, and offers a maximum digging depth of 20 feet 4 inches.

Ditch Witch has expanded its compact utility equipment offering with its XT1600 excavator-tool carrier.

The extended reach (XR) loader linkage configuration is now available on all Case full-sized wheel loader models 521E through 1221E.

Despite a troubled economy that is causing problems in many segments of construction, 2008 ended strong for most members of the Distribution Contractors Association (DCA).

Considering the state of the economy, results from <em>Underground Construction</em>’s 12th Annual Municipal Survey reflected surprising optimism among city personnel across the United States. Understandably nervous and cautious about 2009, municipal personnel expect their funding levels to decline somewhat, though still remain near 2008 levels.

Worldwide demand for plastic pipe is forecast to increase 4.6 percent annually through 2012 to 8.2 billion meters, or 18.2 million metric tons.

Paul M. Henkels, chairman of Henkels & McCoy Inc., an engineering and construction firm in Blue Bell, PA, died at his home Jan. 8, 2009.

Jim Adams has joined Envirosight, specialists in video pipeline inspection, as Operations/Service Manager.

The C200 Remote PE pipe squeeze off tool is designed to squeeze off 1/2- to 2-inch PE pipe.

The SIMCO 255 PTC pavement coring drill rig is a compact, all hydraulic unit designed for drilling keyholes up to 18 inches in diameter.

UTILICOR Technologies is the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of the field-proven pavement coring and reinstatement system.

McElroy Manufacturing Inc. recently introduced Low Profile Rollers, a new productivity enhancing option for high-density polyethylene pipe jobsites.

The McLaughlin M-4500 series are cable of producing tunnels 4.5 inches in diameter using the dry compaction or slurry boring method of drilling.

Remember when Dorothy arrived in Oz and said she had a feeling she wasn’t in Kansas anymore? Drop Dorothy, today, just eight miles south of Concordia in central Kansas and she may say the same thing.

The Bobcat 418 excavator has an operating weight of 2,593 pounds and a dig depth of 6 feet.

The CX17B Compact Excavator has hydraulic retractable tracks that allow the machine to pass through a 39-inch opening.

The 302.5C Mini Hydraulic Excavator gets a net 24.9 hp and operating weight is 6,283 pounds when equipped with a cab.

The Hitachi ZX60USB-3 is an ultra-short excavator with a swing boom and backfill blade.

The John Deere 17D Compact Excavator boasts adjustable-width tracks and a backfill blade with foldable end sections.

Kobelco’s compact excavator models 30SR, 35SR and 50SR are fuel efficient, Tier IV diesel engines with the precision needed in tight spaces.

Kubota’s U-Series zero tail swing excavators are available in four models and come equipped with a Kubota E-TVCS diesel engine.

The model 2803ZT zero-tail-swing design offers a longer undercarriage, a sturdy track width and an optional counterweight.

New Holland Construction offers a full line of zero-tail-swing compact excavators for maneuvering in tight job sites.

The zero-tail swing Terex TC125 is designed for trenching and excavating in space-restrictive applications.

The new Volvo L45F and Volvo L50F wheel loaders feature patented Torque Parallel (TP) loader linkage.

Following the Northeast Trenchless Association's (NTA) fifth annual meeting, immediate past president Bruce Hubbard reflected on the association's accomplishments in 2008 and outlined goals for 2009.

HOBAS Pipe USA has promoted Kimberly Paggioli, P.E., to the position of vice president of Marketing and Quality Assurance.

Palomar Gas Transmission LLC, a joint venture of TransCanada Corp. and Northwest Natural Gas Co. have filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a certificate to build and operate a natural gas transmission pipeline in Oregon.

The year 2008 represented significant accomplishments for the Power and Communications Contractors Association (PCCA) and its members, reports association president Ron Tagliapietra, senior vice president at Michels Corp.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration says pipelines can use new Polyamide 11 thermoplastic pipe at higher operating pressures than currently allowed starting on Jan. 25, 2009.

The BS-4 Butt Fusion Machine is capable of butt fusing 1/2- to 4-inch IPS pipe and fittings.

The Connectra 28HP is a hand-operated hydraulic butt fusion machine with a sturdy rectangular frame design that provides operators with a rigid and safe fusion platform.

Footage Tools’ compact Butt Fusion System is ideal for most fusion operations.

The new DynaMc 28 HP Two-Jaw machine provides the power and pressure required to butt fuse pipes sized 2-inch IPS to 8-inch DIPS.

The RAM 28 is an electro-hydraulic butt fusion machine with fusion capabilities ranging from 2-inch IPS to 8-inch DIPS pipe sizes.

The portable Radar Liquid Level Gauge continuously measures liquid levels with a non-intrusive 26 GHz radar signal.

Reline America introduces its new mobile curing truck for their Blue-Tek Cured-in-Place-Pipe System.

The president and CEO of Super Products, Jim Wurster, retired from the company effective Dec. 31, 2008, and Mike Vanden Heuvel has assumed the role.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has concluded that Chinese line pipe coming into the U.S. is being sold below fair market value, and that U.S. pipe manufacturers are, or will be, materially injured as a result.

Terex Construction introduces a dedicated compact equipment line, distributed throughout North America.

The narrow- and wide-track TX 427 models are the latest additions to Toro’s Dingo compact utility loader family.

The Vactor HydroSurge high-performance cleaning nozzle handles a variety of large pipe cleaning and maintenance applications.

<em>Underground Construction</em>’s latest survey figures indicate gas utility spending to serve new customers and rehabilitate, repair and replace the nation’s mains and services, meters, valves, regulator, cathodic protection, SCADA networks and peak shaving facility will total about $12.1 billion in 2009, compared to $11.9 billion in 2008.

The Gas Technology Institute (GTI) has developed a Certified Operators Technician Training Program to introduce students to the natural gas industry and combat future labor shortages.

Sewer and drinking water funding has been a back burner issue in Washington for the past decade, as local infrastructure needs have come to a boil. But the economic stimulus package Congress will pass will include substantial funds for water infrastructure.

A last-minute rule from the Bush administration limits the ability of federal wildlife officials and environmentalists to throw a monkey wrench into an application for construction of new gas transmission lines and LNG facilities.

Gas Technology Institute (GTI) has recently received notification of awards totaling nearly $7.7 million for six new projects aimed at improving industrial energy efficiency, productivity and competitiveness.

Gas Technology Institute (GTI) and CrystaTech have executed a five-year agreement for the development of several new clean energy technologies at GTI’s 18-acre R&D facility in Des Plaines, IL.

Vance Arthur McNeil, of Pipeline Machinery International, passed away Jan. 5 after a brief battle with cancer.

The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) announced findings from its fourth annual Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report, which calculated approximately 256,000 underground utility damages for 2007, a figure significantly less than the original estimate provided in 2004.

The water war between North Carolina and South Carolina may soon go before the nation’s highest court.

According to new employment and business forecast figures released by the Associated General Contractors of America, an estimated two-thirds of the nation’s non-residential construction companies plan to cut payroll.

ISCO Industries, the nation’s largest distributor and supplier of high density polyethylene (HDPE) piping products, has announced the acquisition of Wright Water & Waste based in Solon, OH.

It’s hard to believe in the future when every day you are told that the future is bleak. At least that’s the story we’re being bombarded with by national media. But the recent strength of the annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition was a refreshing breath of optimism and hope in an otherwise environment of despair.

It’s hard to believe in the future when every day you are told that the future is bleak. At least that’s the story we’re being bombarded with by national media. But the recent strength of the annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition was a refreshing breath of optimism and hope in an otherwise environment of despair.