Underground Construction articles from February 2002

Underground Construction archives from February 2002

Annual municipal survey: though most readily agree 2002 will be a struggle, even the most pessimistic of outlooks foresees the country back on the path of economic growth and recovery by year end. (Editor's Log).
February 1, 2002... As we continually struggle to get ahead in this business, one factor remains a constant: you can never have enough industry intelligence. The more you know about trends, directions, attitudes and perceptions, the better position you're in to...

InfrastruX expands into pipeline construction. (Newsline For The Latest Industry Developments).
February 1, 2002... InfrastruX Group has purchased Skibeck Pipeline Co., an East Coast provider of natural gas transmission pipeline construction services. Skibeck provides InfrastruX Group with its first major expansion into the natural gas transmission pipeline...

City updates pipeline permit process. (Newsline For The Latest Industry Developments).
February 1, 2002... Houston's 33-year-old city pipeline permitting and mapping process, long criticized as ineffective and outmoded, has finally gotten an overhaul. After more than two years of negotiations, Houston City Council unanimously approved a new...

Annual reports highlight GCTA meeting. (News Item).
February 1, 2002... Three speakers representing Louisiana Tech University's Trenchless Technology Center, the University of Houston's Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology and the City of Houston's Department of Public Works provided annual...

First public-private water transaction. (Newsline For The Latest Industry Developments).
February 1, 2002... In what is reportedly the first public-private transaction in the drinking water industry, Tampa Bay Water is selling $110 million of private-activity bonds to help finance the largest desalination plant in the U.S. The plant is now under...

Plans underway for DCCA symposium. (Newsline For The Latest Industry Developments).
February 1, 2002... The Directional Crossing Contractors Association's 11th Annual Spring Symposium is scheduled for April 3-5, at the Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Meyers, FL. This annual event discusses issues and concerns of high importance to the...

ASTM changes name. (Newsline For The Latest Industry Developments).
February 1, 2002... Reinforcing the broader scope of the ASTM standards development process to worldwide input as well as reflecting the global application and use of ASTM standards, ASTM has changed its name to ASTM International "From its inception, the...

Kinder Morgan inks deal to buy Tejas Gas. (Newsline For The Latest Industry Developments).
February 1, 2002... Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP) has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Tejas Gas, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of InterGen (North America) Inc., for approximately $750 million in cash. Tejas Gas, with a transportation...

Williams names Wadlington's successor. (Newsline For The Latest Industry Developments).
February 1, 2002... Williams Companies has named J. Douglas Whisenant as president and CEO of its interstate natural gas pipeline division, succeeding Cuba Wadlington Jr., who died earlier this year at the age of 58 from complications related to cancer. ...

Correction. (Newsline For The Latest Industry Developments).
February 1, 2002... In the article "Wireless Tool Facilitates Speedy Columbia River Crossing, Underground Construction, December 2001, Page 22, the article indicated that InterCon Construction Inc., Madison WI, was the first contractor to drill the Columbia River...

Enron in Washington. (Washington Watch).
February 1, 2002... The 40 people who used to work at Enron's Washington office have been axed, except for about four people, all of whom work on pipeline issues, and all of whom work out of their homes, or temporary offices. Enron's disappearing act may be...

Movement on pipeline safety. (Washington Watch).
February 1, 2002... After a year of dragging its feet, the House will move quickly in 2002 to pass a pipeline safety bill. The two Republican chairmen of the two House committees with jurisdiction introduced a bill the day before Congress went out of session last...

Senate bill has financial incentives for Alaska pipeline. (Washington Watch).
February 1, 2002... The energy bill which will come to the floor of the Senate sometime this winter has a provision which authorizes a federal guarantee for up to 80 percent of the value of any loan up to $10 billion obtained by the builders of an Alaskan natural...

John Deere. (Backhoe Loaders).
February 1, 2002... John Deere Construction & Forestry Division backhoes are loaded with job-proven features. The G-Series offers a world-class cab, easy-tilt hood, and more refinements for operator comfort. The ROPS posts and reshaped cab doors have been...

Kubota tractor. (Backhoe Loaders).
February 1, 2002... Adding new strength and capabilities to Kubota's loader/utility tractor line is the new L48, offered as either L48TL (tractor/loader) or L48TLB (tractor/loader/backhoe). With the loader and backhoe mounted, the length is 241 inches, width is 75...

Case. (Backhoe Loaders).
February 1, 2002... The Case M Series loader backhoes include new five models -- the 580M Turbo, 580 Super M, 580 Super M Wide Track and the 590 Super M. These range in horsepower from 73 to 99 with loader capacities from 6,182 to 7,327 pounds. The M Series offers...

Ingersoll Equipment. (Backhoe Loaders).
February 1, 2002... The 7000 Series compact tractor loaders and compact loader backhoes from Ingersoll Equipment offer features like power steering to enhance tire and component life through its advanced geometry. Because hot oil reduces power and breaks down...

Caterpillar. (Backhoe Loaders).
February 1, 2002... The Caterpillar 420D and 430D backhoe loaders are the high performance machines in the new D-Series line replacing the 416C, 426C and 436C backhoe loaders. The 420D has 85 horsepower and a backhoe digging depth of 14 feet 5 inches when equipped...

New Holland. (Backhoe Loaders).
February 1, 2002... The New Holland LB90 loader-backhoe has 41-gpm hydraulic pump capacity with a 5-year/ #5,000-hour power-train warranty. For fast cycle times, the LB90 straight-arm loader features four-bar linkage and dual-bucket cylinders for increased break...

Bobcat Company. (Mini-Excavators).
February 1, 2002... The new D-Series includes Bobcat 325, 328, 331, 331E, 334, 337 and 341 models. (The smaller 322 D-Series model has a number of similar features as well as an expandable undercarriage.) The new tailgate is made of die-formed, quarter-inch steel,...

Komatsu America. (Mini-Excavators).
February 1, 2002... The upgraded PC95R-2 compact excavator, weighting 10 tons, is powered by the Komatsu 4D106-1FB direct injection engine with 82.5 horsepower. With its 7 feet 7 inch arm, the PC95R-2 has a maximum digging depth of 14 feet 7 inches, a digging...

Caterpillar. (Mini-Excavators).
February 1, 2002... Caterpillar's new 303.5 mini hydraulic excavator weighs 7,672 pounds when equipped with a cab, and it produces 25.5 net horsepower. Both standard and long sticks are available. Maximum digging depth with the standard stick is 124 inches, and...

Yanmar Diesel America. (Mini-Excavators).
February 1, 2002... The ViO 40 mini excavator features true zero tail swing and left and right boom swing which allows the unit to operate close in and track adjacent to walls. The ViO 40 also comes standard with the quick coupler system which allows the operator...

Kobelco America. (Mini-Excavators).
February 1, 2002... The 13SR GATE KEEPER is an extension of Kobelco's SR Series of short radius compact hydraulic excavators. The 3,240 13SR GATE KEEPER has a track width of 35 inches when the track is retracted allowing it to pass through any 3-foot wide door....

Overall sewer, water spending flat in 2002: rehabilitation, water expected to rebound strongly.
February 1, 2002... While one major aspect of the United States' underground sewer and water piping infrastructure will see a substantial decline in spending this year compared to 2001 - at least through the first half of 2002 - other areas will see considerable...

Tough x 8.
February 1, 2002... Tough x 8 the complete lineup of Bobcat D-Series compact excavators. Eight rugged machines with the best cycle times in their class. Highly maneuverable, quickly repositioned, easily transported. And when you hook up with the wide variety of...

The changing face of telecom: what brought about the bust, current market dynamics, future opportunities.
February 1, 2002... The remarkable advances of the world's telecommunications networks during the past decade provided what to some companies seemed a limitless market for a host of products and services. Sales to telecom service providers were responsible for...

Busy year in Washington for underground construction issues: EPA continues aggressive approach; C-MOM regs to be released soon. (Regulatory Outlook).
February 1, 2002... This year will probably be a busier year than normal for underground construction issues in Washington. To start with, concern over the dilapidated state of wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, which has been simmering on the back...

Annual contractors round table: changing market conditions, concerns top contractors agenda.
February 1, 2002... The dynamics driving underground construction and rehabilitation efforts have gone through some radical changes over the past 18 months. Perhaps most notably was the collapse of the telecommunications market complicated by outside industry...

Ditch Witch introduces All Terrain 4020. (1st Look).
February 1, 2002... A second All Terrain model has been added to the Ditch Witch line of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) equipment. The new drilling unit was unveiled at the 2002 UCT show in Houston in January. "The new 40,000-pound-pullback JT4020 All...

Busy year for DCA.
February 1, 2002... Though she may be the first woman president of the Distribution Contractors Association, Linda Loftis brings a wealth of background, knowledge and heritage into the position. The daughter of a distribution contractor, Loftis was exposed to the...

Challenging year for PCCA.
February 1, 2002... Recent years have seen a rapidly changing industry bringing a myriad of challenges to the members of the Power & Communication Contractors Association (PCCA). In his role as president of the 20012002 PCCA, Guy Fugal, president of Niels Fugal...

RMPCA 30th Annual Convention.
February 1, 2002... In spite of the recent events of 2001, the members of the Rocky Mountain Pipeline Contractor Association were busy in the fall and contractors are optimistic about the prospects for pipeline projects for 2002. "Our members report that they...

Sewer/water workshop vital to municipalities.
February 1, 2002... Underground infrastructure continues to deteriorate at alarming rates. Water and wastewater systems alone face an annual shortfall exceeding $23 billion to replace aging facilities and comply with existing and future regulations. Professionals...

Intedyne, Tracto-Technik TT Group form European marketing alliance. (Business Report).
February 1, 2002... BoreMaker motors, a technically advanced line of horizontal directional drilling mud motors from Intedyne L.L.C., will be distributed by Tracto-Technik GmbH TT Group, a leading international manufacturer of trenchless technologies including...

Breaker Technology. (Business General Industry Reports).
February 1, 2002... Breaker Technology Inc. (BTI), a manufacturer of hydraulic rock breaker systems and attachments, announced the following organizational appointments. Robert McArthur has been appointed to the position of director of International Sales. He...

Equipment Manufacturers Institute. (Business General Industry Reports).
February 1, 2002... Gary MacDonald, executive vice president of MacDon Industries Inc. was elected chairman of the Equipment Manufacturers Institute (EMI) during its 108th Annual Convention held in October at the Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, CA....

Hancor. (Business General Industry Reports).
February 1, 2002... Steve Anderson, former interim president of Hancor, has been elected by the board of directors to assume the role of president and chief executive officer of the plastic pipe manufacturing company. Anderson served as interim president in...

American Augers. (Business General Industry Reports).
February 1, 2002... American Augers Inc. joined a distinguished group of the fastest growing companies in northeast Ohio. Mike Mooney, American Augers' CFO, was in Cleveland, OH, to receive the prestigious Weatherhead 100 Award for 2001. The award, which is based...

Thompson Pumps. (Business General Industry Reports).
February 1, 2002... Thompson Pump demonstrated its gratitude to its key business partners at a special Vendor Appreciation event on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2001. Held in the company's recently opened Logistics Center, the occasion marked the first of what Bill Thompson,...

INROCK/Drillers Supply announce appointments. (Business Report).
February 1, 2002... INROCK/Drillers Supply recently announced the appointment of Jay Miller as operations manager and Aldo Rodriguez as sales manager. Miller is responsible for the daily operations of InRock covering all product lines, including inventory,...

Engine & Equipment. (Business General Industry Reports).
February 1, 2002... MQ Power's Engine & Equipment Division in Rancho Dominguez, CA, has received Quality Management System (QMS) ISO 9001 certification. The certification recognizes companies for implementing an effective quality management system that meets...

Suncoast Utility Contractors Association. (Business General Industry Reports).
February 1, 2002... On Dec. 1, 2001, Suncoast Utility Contractors Association (SUCA) installed their officers and directors for 2002. SUCA represents the underground utility construction industry in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Officers Chairman George...

Primary Energy. (Business General Industry Reports).
February 1, 2002... Primary Energy, a subsidiary of NiSource Inc., has appointed Ken Foley, vice president of Production & Maintenance, to the Training Standards Committee which has been formed by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). The...

Tesmec unveils new rock saw.
February 1, 2002... Tesmec USA introduces the worlds "largest" rock saw. The 525 hp TRS 1275 Rocksaw weighs 148,000 pounds. It features a "patented" folding digging wheel that allows for easy transport without a special trailer or having to remove the wheel. The...

Godwin pumps.
February 1, 2002... The Dri-Prime Pump six-inch CD150MV model offers maximum flow rates to 1,800 gpm and discharge heads to 130 feet. The CD150MV Wellpoint Pump is designed for high volume wellpoint dewatering systems, yet is fully suitable for sewer bypass and...

McElroy manufacturing.
February 1, 2002... The TracStar No.618 fusion machine shares several field proven components with other TracStars including diesel power from the TracStar No.412, and duel hydraulic pipe lifts from the TracStar 500. These features, along with the track system...

Bobcat.
February 1, 2002... Bobcat Company is offering the new Bobcat PowerTilt attachment for Bobcat excavators. The attachment functions as an articulated, hydraulic "wrist" allowing excavator operators to tilt the bucket to either side for improved excavating. The...

Weiler Corp.
February 1, 2002... Weiler introduces an expanded offering of bonded abrasives used for rough grinding, snagging, cutting and parting applications. New to Weiler's line are Type 28 Wheels, shaped for grinding at shallow angles below 30 degrees, and Type 11 Cup...

Vacmasters new, low cost air vacuum excavator.
February 1, 2002... The Vacmasters System 1000 offers utilities and utility contractors low cost, small size and high performance in an air vacuum excavation system. The System 1000 with selectable air or water digging enables operators to pothole quickly and...

RWF BRON.
February 1, 2002... Ideal for right-of-way and site clean-up is RWF BRON's eight-way clean-up blade. The blade features min/max widths from 90 inches to 120 inches and includes blade up, down, left, center, right and tilt, plus two hydraulic wing extensions that...

Coyote loader sales.
February 1, 2002... Coyote offers a range of swing loaders from 40 to 130 horsepower in four different sizes for a variety of applications. These machines offer high visibility and operator comfort. Key features include a quickchange coupler arrangement;...

Roose Mfg.
February 1, 2002... Model RR-185 Hydraulic Cable Reel Trailer has a low center of gravity and a 8,500 pound payload capacity. Maximum reel diameter is 120 inches and reel width is 62 inches. Weighing 1,550 pounds, the reel trailer comes standard with two manual...

Reading releases Classic II Service Truck body.
February 1, 2002... When it comes to service truck bodies, the word "classic" means one thing the Classic Series Service Body by Reading Body Works Inc. It is not a coincidence that the service body that has set the standard for years is called a Classic. ...

McElroy completes field tests for new TracStar.
February 1, 2002... McElroy Manufacturing Inc. (MMI) has recently completed rigorous infield testing on the new TracStar No. 618 fusion machine. The new TracStar now joins earlier market releases, the TracStar No. 28 and TracStar No. 412. In 1997, MMI...

Ditch witch.
February 1, 2002... The Shark Chain Il incorporates several features designed to increase production, efficiency and overall chain life. A rounded top plate allows optimal placement of the cutting teeth while the addition of a rounded cleaning shoe on the back of...

World's largest elliptical flexible pipe-to-manhole connector announced.
February 1, 2002... The world's largest elliptical flexible pipe-to-manhole connector was recently installed on the Michigan City High School Drainage Project in Michigan City, IN. The project utilized 78-, 72-, 66- and 54-inch round concrete pipe and 54-inch...

Reedrill.
February 1, 2002... Reedrill's new-generation MK35HE-PS Mine King jumbo electrohydraulic drill offers an effective combination of components that yields optimum, reliable performance and low operating costs. The two-boom jumbo features a Doutg BM4F1012C...

Calendar: important upcoming industry events.
February 1, 2002... 2002 February 18-21 NACE Northern Area Western Conference Edmonton, AB, Canada. Phone: (780) 468-7604; Fax: (780) 469-5910. February 22-24 Distribution Contractors Association 41st Annual Convention, Hyatt Regency Kauai...

Insituform repairs sewers, makes Forbes' list. (News Update).
February 1, 2002... Onondaga County, NY, has awarded Insituform Technologies a $3.36 million contract to rehabilitate four trunk sewer pipelines in downtown Syracuse over the next year. Work was scheduled to begin December 2001 with an expected finish date of May...

Hobas Pipe carries water in New Orleans rehab project. (News Update).
February 1, 2002... When nearly two miles of host water transmission main in New Orleans, LA. needed emergency renewal, Hobas Pipe was called on to rehabilitate the main. Hobas centrifugally-cast, fiberglass reinforced, polymer mortar (CCFRPM) pipe, approved by...

Affordable pipeline services, pearpoint team up. (News Update).
February 1, 2002... During mid-2000, the San Diego area experienced a number of sewerage spills, one of which forced a quarantine of Mission Bay, a major tourist attraction. Approximately two years prior to that occurrence, the city took action and set policies to...

Hobas Pipe. (Rehab/Sliplining Pipe).
February 1, 2002... Hobas Pipe manufactures and supplies centrifugal cast fiberglass reinforced polymer mortar pipes from 18 to 102 inches. Installation methods include open cut, sliplinlng rehabilitation, tunnel waterway carrier, jacking microtunneling, pipe...

KWH Pipe. (Rehab/Sliplining Pipe).
February 1, 2002... The VipLiner renovation method is a sliplining system whereby a string of discrete or segment pipes are inserted into the existing carrier pipe. This method does not require excavations and will minimize traffic and street disruptions. The...

Prime Resins. (Grouting Technology And Equipment).
February 1, 2002... Groundwater infiltration into storm sewer lines through loose joints and cracks can wash soil from under roadways and cause potholes and cave-ins. These problems can often be fixed quickly, without excavation, by injecting Prime-Flex 920, a...

De Neef. (Grouting Technology And Equipment).
February 1, 2002... De Neef Construction Chemicals Inc. has added epoxy production equipment to the company's manufacturing facility in Waller, TX, and seven new products to its Denepox line of epoxies. De Neef has always had unique epoxies for specialized...

Miller Pipeline. (Grouting Technology And Equipment).
February 1, 2002... Miller Pipeline Corp. offers WEKO-SEAL, the leading trenchless system for internally renewing leaking joints in any pipe from 16-inch diameter up through 216 inches and larger. Seals are flexible EPDM rubber leak clamps that ensure a...

LMK Enterprises. (Grouting Technology And Equipment).
February 1, 2002... LMK Enterprises manufactures "The Performance T-Liner." The T-Liner is a one-piece cured-in-place main and lateral liner that provides a verifiable nonleaking connection (VNLC). This liner consists of a 16-inch full circle seal in the main at...

American Logiball. (Grouting Technology And Equipment).
February 1, 2002... The Logiball 2001 Lateral Grouting Packers offer the collection system owners the most cost effective solution to stop infiltration at house service lateral connections and the first few feet of the lateral from the mainline sewer. Available...

Insituform technologies. (Grouting Technology And Equipment).
February 1, 2002... Insituform tubes are manufactured at the company's ISO 9001-certified plants, ensuring that the tubes are made to Insituform's exact specifications. Only premium-quality raw materials are used to ensure that the tubes meet the company's...

Lamson Vylon Pipe. (Grouting Technology And Equipment).
February 1, 2002... Lamson Vylon Pipe manufactures large diameter PVC slipliner pipe. This high capacity, profile wall, large diameter PVC pipe used for sanitary sewer systems has a smooth interior wall and a smooth exterior wall. The I-beam profile allows the...

Avanti International. (Grouting Technology And Equipment).
February 1, 2002... Avanti International offers a complete line of chemical grouts for trenchless rehabilitation of sewers and manholes. When used to seal the lateral connection and annular space between a liner and host pipe, chemical grout prevents groundwater...

Aries Industries. (Grouting Technology And Equipment).
February 1, 2002... Aries grout systems are designed and built for continuous operations. Aries TV/Grouting systems are productive because of the reliable, maintainable and adaptable components utilized in an integrated configuration. Aries offers a wide range of...

Pipe bursting: proves perfect match for Michigan water job. (Warren, MI).
February 1, 2002... The City of Warren, MI, is like many cities throughout the United States. For the last several years, the city has experienced a range of problems with an outdated and undersized water transmission system installed between 1930 and 1950. The...

Utility company begins bursting with HDD. (Dalton, GA).
February 1, 2002... Dalton, GA, just 90 miles north of Atlanta, is in the midst of a major sewer and water system rehabilitation project. In response to an Environmental Protection Agency executive order, the city recently rebuilt the wastewater treatment...

Expanding polymers solve leaky manhole/storm drain problems.
February 1, 2002... Expanding polyurethane polymers and the patented Uretek injection process is being used by Urelift Gulf Coast L.P. to seal leaks associated with manholes and storm drains. Although originally used to stabilize weak soils in 90-foot long...

Clock Spring. (Product News).
February 1, 2002... Snap Wrap is an economical repair alternative for low-pressure piping that can be applied quickly and easily - requiring no special tools or training. Clock Spring Snap Wrap is a high strength corrosion resistant fiberglass composite split...

Pearpoint. (Product News).
February 1, 2002... The P376 flexi-cam is the newest addition to Pearpoint's portable inspection system line. The P376 is a fully self-contained hand-held unit used for inspections in lines 1 to 4 inches. Some features of the flexi-cam include: a built-in LCD...

The Tapecoat Company. (Product News).
February 1, 2002... TC Wet Bond Flexible Epoxy Mastic is a corrosion preventive epoxy coating developed for coating metal and concrete surfaces above and below the water line. This protective epoxy is also suitable for wet surfaces above and below ground and for...

Underground solutions. (Product News).
February 1, 2002... Duraliner is a patented process for pipeline renewal resulting in a stand-alone structural lining capable of handling internal minimum operating pressures of 150 psi (Duraliner 150) or 200 psi (Duraliner 200) with a 3.2 safety factor. Duraliner...

CUES. (Product News).
February 1, 2002... CUES' newly developed lateral reinstatement and protruding tap cutter, Currahee, is a self-propelled system that makes the tedious work of reinstating laterals in lined pipe quick and easy from a single access point. Compared to winch-driven...