May 2009 Vol. 64 No. 5

Akkerman Caterpillar Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam McElroy Mfg. Dow Chemical

Case Construction Equipment has announced a supplier agreement with True Value Co. that enables more than 1,000 True Value Rental, Taylor Rental, Just Ask Rental and Grand Rental Station locations across the United States to purchase Case construction equipment for their rental locations.

Ferguson, a leading distributor of industrial pipe, valves and fittings recently received the President’s Award from McElroy, a world leader in pipe fusion equipment.

To commemorate Gehl Company’s 150th anniversary, the company “chromed-out” a Gehl model 7810E skid loader. The 10,000-pound unit is covered in chrome, making it a one-of-a-kind piece of equipment.

Ledcor Projects Inc. was the recipient of the Suncor Energy President’s Operational Excellence Awards in March. The event recognized employees and contractors who showed exceptional safety leadership, environmental excellence and commitment to health and wellness in 2008.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) a $400,000 grant to help retrofit construction equipment that is leased to construction projects throughout the Northeast.

In response to the flood threat in the Fargo-Moorhead, ND, area, home to Bobcat Company’s world headquarters, more than 100 Bobcat employees and equipment helped prepare for major flooding in the eastern part of the state and battled flood conditions in the west and central areas.

Water rate increase hits Sacramento region Charlotte eyes federal money for water/sewer programs Cellular South expands broadband network in Mississippi GTI offers DIMP Pipeline Regulation workshop

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded more than $430 million to New York state for wastewater infrastructure projects, which the EPA says is the single largest grant in its history.

On March 10, the Fort Wayne, IN, Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) faced shut-down due to cresting floodwaters. Under normal circumstances, the WWTP would pump its treated water into a 40-acre retention pond from where it would then be gravity fed into the St. Mary’s River.

A record registration of 176 attendees marked the American Pipeline Contractors Association’s 38th Annual Convention at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Gainey Ranch Resort, Scottsdale, AZ.

When Neal Jinkerson and Nick Walters began working for the pipeline construction division of Henkels & McCoy Inc. many years ago, there was a distinct time frame for what constituted the construction season.

The Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology (CIGMAT) and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering hosted a one-day conference and exhibition on “Construction, Geotechnical and Flooding Issues in Houston & Other Major Cities” at the University of Houston on March 6.

Don Rea loves a challenge. In fact, he goes looking for them everyday; some just show up on his doorstep – but for good reason. Rea is the president and owner of Clay Hill Boring located in Lake Park, GA.

Repairing or replacing old, deteriorating utility infrastructure that has been buried in the ground for years and often directly beneath homes and businesses is a challenge that has become common for the nation's utility providers.

St. Charles Parish, one of nine Louisiana parishes (counties) comprising the New Orleans metropolitan area, is bisected by the Mississippi River, which can complicate parish government services to its residents.

After decades of debate and hard work, completion of the Animas La Plata main reservoir in Colorado was down to just two intake lines.

The Robbins SBU-M is a manned entry, hard rock boring machine for use on both long utility installations (300 feet and over depending on geology) and crossings with specific line and grade requirements.

“We’ve been installing anodes along our lines for decades as a routine maintenance program,” says Dave Biggs, a Laclede Gas construction and maintenance department employee.

A new Ditch Witch guidance system for making on-line, on-grade pipe installations with horizontal directional drilling (HDD) equipment soon will be available, the Charles Machine Works has announced.

Early this year, water officials in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, became aware there were cracks in one of the city's primary large diameter sanitary sewer trunk mains that threatened the Don River watershed and homes in one neighborhood.

The E80 excavator machine boasts a completely new design, increasing service intervals, operator comfort and durability.

Doosan Infracore has expanded its development on its hybrid excavator with enhanced energy efficiency and lower exhaust emissions.

Dynamic Systems has released a low cost tool manager program based on bar code technology for the construction industry.

One person can now remove and replace manhole covers quickly, safely and magnetically.

The Powered Duct Rod Pusher offers a mechanized method for working with General Machine Products Company’s 1/2 inch duct rods.

Vactor Manufacturing has redesigned the Vactor 2100 sewer cleaner for public utilities and professional contractors cleaning entire wastewater and sanitary systems.

Topcon Positioning System’s (TPS) new expanded series of high-quality, affordable machine control laser sensors – the LS-B100, LS-B110, LS-B110W and the RD-100W - offer modern new designs and increased functionality.

Put an end to difficulty in transporting and dispensing tracer wire on the jobsite.

“Make More Money with Construction Machine Control”, published by TrenchSafety and Supply Inc., provides equipment and services to help contractors and utilities work safer, more productively and more profitably.

Universal HDD’s UNI 160x240 horizontal directional drill offers 160,000 pounds of thrust/pullback with between 23,800-11,900 foot-pounds (at low and high displacement) of rotary torque with rotary speeds of 160-80 rpm (at low and high displacement).

Vermeer is introducing a new laser-guided, grade-control pipe installation system that the company says has several design features not available on other on grade equipment currently available in North America.

The Guided Boring method installs small diameter pipes with grade and alignment precision.

The 72-1200 NG is the next generation of horizontal auger boring machine that now offers a patented rack-and-pinion drive.

The McLaughlin 54/60 auger delivers 950,000 pounds of forward thrust and 170,000 foot-pounds of peak torque in all soil types.

The Heavy Duty Rock Head (Christmas Tree Head) is a durable cutting head that is ideal for bores through soft rock formations, harp pan, shale, gravel, small boulders and other intrusive ground conditions up to 6,000 psi.

The Cat G130B Contractors’ Grapple is a heavy-duty, durably constructed tool designed for structural demolition, material handling and utility application.

The Aggressive Talon Rock Bit has been redesigned for greater durability with a design modification that will significantly improve performance.

INROCK’s new Interchangeable cutter (MT/TCI) BMR - Boremaster reaming product line underscores the company’s commitment to increasing HDD drilling tool performance.

The new 4 ¼-inch Eagle Claw is designed for hard, rocky soil conditions. A unique, balanced cutting design improves cutting efficiency.

The Ditch Witch organization announces the release of two new walk-behind trenchers: the RT10 and the RT12.

The Mastenbroek 30/20 chain trencher is fitted with an extended 3.2m (10.5 feet) digging boom.

The RIV 500 TR 250 is a 28 ton machine that is ideal for trenching through extremely hard rock.

The new TRS-1175XHD Bucket offers customers a powerful 440 hp C-13 Cat engine.

The Vermeer T1155 Commander 3 track trencher is powered by a Caterpillar C15 540-hp Tier 3 emission-certified engine and features the TEC Plus electronic control system for easier machine monitoring.

Watermark Initiative LLC has released a new report titled “U.S. Water Stewardship: A Critical Assessment of Interstate Watershed Agreements.”

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the first of the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund grants under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.

Six months after giving pipelines the green light to use high stress pipelines more widely, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is now highlighting safety concerns with new pipelines operating at 80 percent of specified minimum yield strength (SMYS).

I’ve been hearing some encouraging housing news. Economic experts are reporting that the devastating housing meltdown the country has been experiencing for some time has just about reached its economic bottom, or is in the process of bottoming out.