Underground Construction articles from January 2004

Underground Construction archives from January 2004

Crystal ball?(Editor's Log)
January 1, 2004... It's outlook and forecast time. That's the period between October and February of each year where every consultant known to man--and virtually every magazine as well--comes out with their business forecasts for the coming year. So what...

WEF request for proposals.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
January 1, 2004... The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has issued a Request for Proposals to solicit technical assistance in the development of guidance materials for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure security concerns. Development of this guidance...

Texas committee on water policy named.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
January 1, 2004... Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst has announced the formation of the Senate Select Committee on Water Policy. The committee will study issues regarding Texas' management and policy concerning ground and surface water resources. Lt. Gov....

Determine construction wages online.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
January 1, 2004... The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has launched the new Wage Determination Online (WDOL) program. The WDOL program at www.wdol.gov will provide the federal contracting community and the general public access to the wage...

DCCA holds annual meeting.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
January 1, 2004... The Directional Crossing Contractors Association (DCCA) held its annual meeting and planning session at the Hilton Suites in Dallas on Oct. 27-28. The first day was spent reviewing membership, financials and areas of accomplishments by the...

World plastic pipe demand to rise.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
January 1, 2004... Worldwide demand for plastic pipe is forecast to increase over 4 percent per year through 2007, reaching 6.3 billion meters. Gains will continue to outpace growth for overall pipe demand, as plastic pipe reaches 47 percent of the total. Plastic...

Caspian Pipeline project gets more funding.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
January 1, 2004... A loan for $250 million has been approved for a $3.6 billion oil pipeline that will travel about 1,000 miles from offshore Caspian oil fields near Baku in Azerbaijan and terminating in the Turkish Mediterranean terminal of Ceyhan. When...

Pipeline Supply Company celebrates 20th anniversary.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
January 1, 2004... Pipeline Supply Company of Middlesex, NJ, celebrated its 20th anniversary in business. The company was founded in 1983 and has grown to become a major pipeline supplier in the Northeast. Jim Westerman serves as the president of the company.

Portland storage tunnel construction begins.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
January 1, 2004... In what is turning out to be the most expensive capital construction job in Portland, OR, history, the "Big Pipe Project" is a $293-million project that includes building a 4.2-mile storage tunnel to handle the city's combined sewage...

Ute water project faces tough questions.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
January 1, 2004... The New Mexico mayors of Clovis, Portales and Tucumcari faced tough questioning from state Water Trust Board members when they went before the board in Santa Fe in November 2003 to request money for the Ute Water Project, said Clovis Mayor...

EPA allows blending to curb overflows.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
January 1, 2004... An Environmental Protection Agency plan clarifies the practice of blending, defined as mixing partially treated and fully treated effluent during peak wet weather flows, as acceptable ways to curb sewage overflows. The EPA says the new policy...

Water upgrade costly.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
January 1, 2004... According to findings in a report by Carollo Engineers, upgrading the water supply in Turlock, CA, could cost as much as $98 million, well beyond what is collected from customer bills. The report looks at expected water demand through 2017, the...

In memorial.(Newsline: for the latest industry developments)
January 1, 2004... Rhonda Lea Laney, daughter of Marcus and Beverly Laney, passed away on Nov. 12 in Houston, TX. She was 38 years old when she died of a massive brain hemorrhage. Marcus is president of Laney Inc. Rhonda is survived by her husband, Timothy, two...

Stormwater money in highway bill.(washington watch)
January 1, 2004... The $255 billion highway funding bill, passed by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee just before Congress left town in October 2003, contains $958 million which could be used for stormwater projects designed to divert rainwater...

John Deere Construction & Forestry.(Equipment spotlight: crawler tractors and sidebooms)
January 1, 2004... The C-Series II 655C and 755C Crawler Loaders from John Deere are equipped with two rear-engine, 130 and 177 horsepower loaders that come standard with electronic-controlled hydrostatic transmissions, featuring an exclusive AutoTrac system....

Caterpillar.(Equipment spotlight: crawler tractors and sidebooms)
January 1, 2004... The D6R Series II track-type tractor features an electronic C9 engine that meets emissions requirements for the U.S., Europe and Japan. It features an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated direct-injection fuel system that improves...

Challenger Services.(Equipment spotlight: crawler tractors and sidebooms)
January 1, 2004... Challenger Services offers the PC30 Pipe Carrier attachment for the CAT Challenger rubber track crawler tractor. Equipped with a Hiab 250 knuckle boom crane (with 175,000 foot/pounds of lift capacity), the Challenger Pipe Carrier is truly self...

RWF Bron.(Equipment spotlight: crawler tractors and sidebooms)
January 1, 2004... The BRON 150FLT is a powerful, compact fire line tractor. Built for pulling, the high horsepower tractor maneuvers through heavy brush with power and speed. Powered by a CAT 210 horsepower engine (or optional Cummins 200 horsepower engine), the...

Midwestern Manufacturing.(Equipment spotlight: crawler tractors and sidebooms)
January 1, 2004... The M10R (designed for rubber-tired loader backhoes) is mounted on a wide variety of equipment brands and models to provide a highly versatile and dependable tool for the distribution and utility contractor. The M10R offers up to 10,000 pounds...

Case.(Equipment spotlight: crawler tractors and sidebooms)
January 1, 2004... The Case 1850K crawler dozer provides up to 205 horsepower, 671 foot/pounds of torque and 126 inches of track on ground. The 1650K delivers 145 horsepower, 428 foot/pounds of torque and 118 inches of track on ground. Ample blade capacities...

Ring-O-Matic.(Equipment spotlight: vacuum systems)
January 1, 2004... New for 2004, Ring-O-Matic Manufacturing has introduced a hand-held Wireless Remote Control Hydraulic Boom for their hydro vacuum excavation product line. The remote control is used to extend and retract the boom length and also to raise and...

Vermeer Mfg.(Equipment spotlight: vacuum systems)
January 1, 2004... Vermeer Manufacturing's family of Evacuator vacuum systems--a 550-gallon and 900-gallon capacity vacuum excavation system with potholing capabilities will help clean up the drilling "mud" that accumulates around the entrance pit of an HDD site....

Utiliscope.(Equipment spotlight: vacuum systems)
January 1, 2004... The Utilivac is a highly efficient, highly portable, low maintenance and low cost air-powered vacuum excavation solution. It utilizes a 4 inch, pickup inlet to easily accommodate both wet and dry vacuum requirements. The Utilivac uses no...

VAC-TRON.(Equipment spotlight: vacuum systems)
January 1, 2004... VAC-TRON's unique PMD Series vacuum excavation products have more than 50 wet and dry uses. Remove drilling mud, prevent frac outs and install utilities. VAC-TRON has more than 40 trailer- or skid-mounted models ranging in size from 200 to...

Vacmasters.(Equipment spotlight: vacuum systems)
January 1, 2004... The Vacmasters System 1000 offers municipalities 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...

Vacuum Source.(Equipment spotlight: vacuum systems)
January 1, 2004... Vacuum Source offers vacuum excavation systems with a choice of positive displacement blowers with 500 to 850 cfm airflow; 30, 43 and 59 horsepower water-cooled diesel engines; 3,000 to 4,000 psi at 4 gpm high pressure water systems; and 250,...

Ditch Witch.(Equipment spotlight: vacuum systems)
January 1, 2004... The Ditch Witch FX60 Vacuum Excavation System combines enhanced "soft" excavation capabilities and increased vacuum power in a compact, trailer- or skid-mounted unit. It is the quietest vacuum excavator in its class. For excavating, soils are...

Vactor Mfg.(Equipment spotlight: vacuum systems)
January 1, 2004... The Vactor HXX Hydro-Excavator is designed for safe, productive excavation. HXX features include: two-stage 8,000 cfm centrifugal fan; 12 [yd.sup.3] debris tank; 1,300 gallon single-cell stainless steel water tank; 320-degree rotating boom;...

Trenchless Technology Products.(Equipment spotlight: vacuum systems)
January 1, 2004... Trenchless Technology Products announces its new trailer mortared wet and dry vacuum excavation system. The system can excavate using compressed air in most soil conditions. It also has the capability of using water when the conditions are not...

AmeriVac Group.(Equipment spotlight: vacuum systems)
January 1, 2004... AmeriVac Group offers the MAX VAX 700 hydrovac. This mid sized, user friendly, PD Blower unit, has all the features, and more, than the heavy larger units, while priced substantially less. Some standard features include; a heated, fully...

Vacstar.(Equipment spotlight: vacuum systems)
January 1, 2004... The Vacstar line of vacuum excavation equipment is designed to locate underground utilities, clean the on-site-spoils front directional drilling, the cleaning of manholes, storm sewers, catch basins, wash pits, and many other applications. The...

Soil Surgeon.(Equipment spotlight: vacuum systems)
January 1, 2004... The Soil Surgeon is a quick-connect hydro excavation unit that connects to any sewer combination truck that has a telescopic boom. The user can bore a hole 10-feet deep in one minute. Features include: a Tuff Tube, water/air connection; 5,000...

Fiber blowing lawsuits: countersuits, settlement & dismissal: 2 U.S. companies countersue BT.
January 1, 2004... Two American companies have filed separate lawsuits against British Telecommunications (BT), seeking to invalidate the London-based telecom giant's United States patents covering cable "blowing" equipment and methods. The suite also seek to...

Record setting HDD: solves sensitive Mississippi pipeline installation.
January 1, 2004... When Laney Directional Drilling won the bid to lay a new pipeline in Louisiana for Manti Operating Company, they knew the project would be challenging. Not only did the job require the installation of 7,229 feet of 8-inch X42 steel pipe, but...

Telecom recovery: hard to predict.
January 1, 2004... Is 2004 the year the telecom industry will rebound? Among those who would like to know are utility contractors and equipment suppliers who once depended on the telecom industry for most or all of their business. For others who profited from...

New DCI guidance system eliminates need for DC wire grid.(First Look)
January 1, 2004... Digital Control Inc. (DCI) is introducing the DigiTrak Eclipse SST guidance system for horizontal directional drilling. The new system functions similarly to conventional magnetic wireline (non-walk-over) guidance equipment, but does not...

Microtunneling under lake filled with twists, complications.
January 1, 2004... A $30.6 million project to rehabilitate an aging Colorado dam required several innovative elements of construction, including a microtunneling installation of two, 6-foot-diameter intake pipes beneath the lake. Standley Lake has served...

PLCA president's profile: Peter M. Billey.
January 1, 2004... 56th Annual PLCA Convention, Feb. 4-8, Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii. When Peter M. Billey 2003-4 president of the Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA), graduate from the University of Pittsburgh's School of...

U.S. construction prospects flat.(Energy Pipeline Construction Outlook)
January 1, 2004... Underground Construction 2004 worldwide construction survey figures indicate 64,293 miles of oil and gas pipelines are under construction and planned at this time. Of these, 14,034 miles represent new and planned construction projects in North...

PCCA travels to Puerto Rico for annual convention.
January 1, 2004... Hoping that early registrations for the 2004 Power & Communications Contractors Association Annual Convention in Los Croabas, Puerto Rico, bode well for an outstanding event and for an improving construction economy, PCCA Executive Vice...

Composite fabric, epoxy materials effective for large diameter rehab.(Rehabilitation Technology)
January 1, 2004... Composites of high-strength fabric material and epoxy have been used to repair and strengthen concrete, masonry, steel and wooden structural components for more than a decade. Fabrics composed of specialized carbon, glass, aramid and hybrid...

Chemical grouting ASTM available.(Rehab News)
January 1, 2004... The ASTM Standard Practice for Rehabilitation of Sewers Using Chemical Grouting has been approved and is available for purchase through ASTM at www.astm.org. The standard was accomplished in less than two years by the ASTM F-36 Subcommittee,...

Leaking tower sealed with Avanti urethane grouts.(Rehab News)
January 1, 2004... Industrial Specialists Inc. successfully sealed a leaking 250-foot by 50-foot cooling tower base in eight days with Avanti International's AV-202 and AV-310 urethane foam grouts. Urethane grouts were chosen because they require water, are...

Baseline Technologies provides Pipeline Integrity Management for rehab.(Rehab News)
January 1, 2004... Baseline Technologies of Calgary, Alberta has announced its agreement with Imperial Oil to implement their Pipeline Information Control System (PIES) to supplement Imperial's Pipeline Integrity Management program. Imperial, owned in...

Underground Solutions begins Caltrans project.(Rehab News)
January 1, 2004... Undergroud Solutions Inc. has begun the insulation of its Duraliner Rehabilitation System oil a project for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The project involves the structural rehabilitation of a 24-inch storm sewer...

Prime Resins expands sales force.(Rehab News)
January 1, 2004... Prime Resins, Conyers, GA, has added Paul Layman to its growing network of account representatives as Territory Manager for the Western United States. Layman has more than 30 years of experience in the concrete industry, most recently as a...

Aries Industries.(Rehab product focus: grouting technology and equipment)
January 1, 2004... Aries grout test/seal panel, lateral packer panel and interconnect hose connection options make it easy to operate packers from almost any manufacturer. Aries offers grout reels with 500-foot or 700-foot capacities, with either Quad hose (four...

American Logiball.(Rehab product focus: grouting technology and equipment)
January 1, 2004... For more than 20 year's American Logiball has designed and manufactured equipment for the trenchless rehabilitation of sewers. Over the year, American Logiball has developed a complete line of, mainline, lateral connection and push type test...

Prime Resins.(Rehab product focus: grouting technology and equipment)
January 1, 2004... Groundwater infiltration into storm sewer lines through loose joints and cracks can wash soft 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.(Rehab product focus: grouting technology and equipment)
January 1, 2004... 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...

Avanti Intl.(Rehab product focus: grouting technology and equipment)
January 1, 2004... 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...

Strong company.(Rehab product focus: grouting technology and equipment)
January 1, 2004... A pure fused calcium aluminate mortar, Strong-Seal High Performance Mix stops infiltration and restores structural integrity; however, it has been specifically designed for protection against microbiologically induced corrosion. Laboratory and...

Godwin Pumps.(By-Pass Pumping)
January 1, 2004... The Godwin Dri-Prime--an automatic self-priming centrifugal pump set available in sizes from 2 inch to 16 inch--has been proven in emergency and planned applications including litany types of by-pass pumping, general dewatering and other needs....

ITT Flygt.(By-Pass Pumping)
January 1, 2004... The newest addition to the dewatering/bypass line of Flygt sumersible pumps is the mid-range series featuring solids-handling pumps from 15 horsepower through 105 horsepower and individual pump flow rates of up to 10,000 gpm. The pinups all...

Acme Dynamics.(By-Pass Pumping)
January 1, 2004... The Acme Dynamk's DynaPrime e Quiet Zone range of diesel powered pumps combine the latest technology with superior capabilities. This innovative sound attenuated pump has a unique design, and offers real world benefits. It is a fully automatic,...

Pumpex.(By-Pass Pumping)
January 1, 2004... Pumpex Models K103 and K153 wastewater pumps for trouble-free diverting and re-routing of high volume or intermittent volume flow to by-pass deteriorating sewer lines, coffer dams, streams and creeks without interrupting surface transpiration...

Thompson Pump & Mfg.(By-Pass Pumping)
January 1, 2004... Thompson Pump & Manufacturing has created the Enviroprime system for Thompson's dry prime, compressor-assisted pumps in both the heavy-duty trash pump (HTC) and the wet prime open trash/sewage pump (TSC). This system prevents blow-by from...

Duke's Root Control.(Root Control)
January 1, 2004... Duke's Root Control service is an effective, proven method for controlling sewer line root problems. Over 1,000 municipalities have used Duke's services in more than 60 million feet of sewers. Duke's applies EPA registered products that kill...

RootX.(Root Control)
January 1, 2004... RootX foaming root control is engineered to be a simple yet effective method for eliminating damaging root growth in municipal and residential pipelines. By simply adding water, RootX creates a powerful root killing foam which will reach to the...

Cities adopting PACP growing rapidly.
January 1, 2004... NASSCO's Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program (PACP) is having a growing impact on inspection and assessment of the nation's sanitary sewer systems. Introduced in early 2002, PACP's goal is to standardize the ways sewer pipelines...

Expanding market opportunities with large-diameter bursting tool.(First Look)
January 1, 2004... TT Technologies has introduced new static pipebursting equipment for large-diameter steel and ductile iron pipes. The product, unveiled at the 2004 Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exposition (UCT) this month...

Insituform introduces panel system to rehab large diameter pipes.(First Look)
January 1, 2004... Insituform Technologies, Inc. has introduced a procedure for rehabilitating large diameter gravity sewers and drains with glass reinforced plastic panels. The process is for use in sewers with diameters ranging from 45 to 144 inches and...

Trenchless workshops bring best regional education opportunity.(UCT Seminar Series)
January 1, 2004... Building upon another successful year of educational program presentations, the UCT Seminar Series has selected three areas of the country with a strong market for underground utility construction and rehabilitation. UCT's Municipal...

JCB chairman honored with 2003 Entrepreneurial Award.(Business: general industry reports)
January 1, 2004... Sir Anthony Bamford, chairman and managing director of JCB Ltd. was recognized with one of two 2003 Entrepreneurial Awards at the 2003 Transatlantic Business Awards Dinner an Oct. 23, 2003. The annual recognition dinner is sponsored by...

MQ power.(Business: general industry reports)
January 1, 2004... David Brown has returned to MQ Power, a provider of portable generators, as the company's vice president. He will oversee all MQ Power sales and operations. Brown most recently served as general manager with Kohler Power Systems. He was MQ...

Dewberry.(Business: general industry reports)
January 1, 2004... Alan M. Silbovitz, P.E., has received a George Warren Fuller Memorial Award, the New England Water Works Association's (NEWWA) highest award. Silbovitz serves as Dewberyy's director of Environmental Engineering in their Boston, MA, office....

ASCE, AWWA and WEF.(Business: general industry reports)
January 1, 2004... To support water and wastewater utilities in implementing security standards to protect, the public from potential bio-terrorism and other threats, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a $1.16 million grant for the development...

PLIDCO.(Business: general industry reports)
January 1, 2004... The Pipe Line Development Company (PLIDCO), a supplier of products for pipeline repair and maintenance, is celebrating its 55th year in business. PLIDCO was founded on Oct. 1, 1949 by Joseph and Berneice Smith. Today, PLIDCO remains a privately...

ProLine to conduct Pontiac's largest CIPP contract; tabbed for Austin maintenance.(Business: general industry report)
January 1, 2004... ProLine Technologies N.A. LLC recently began work on a mainline and cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) contract for the city of Pontiac, MI. ProLine is a trenchless technologies firm with offices in Detroit, MI, and Grandview, TX. The contract,...

Rain For Rent provides liquid-handling solutions.(New products: the latest product developments)
January 1, 2004... Rain For Rent has introduced a series of products designed to maximize productivity and minimize problems for bypass pumping operations. The DV 300i 12-inch pump is a powerful solution for bypass pumping. With its superior fuel efficiency,...

New piping technology from UGSI.(New products: the latest product developments)
January 1, 2004... Underground Solutions (UGSI) has developed and introduced two new patent pending product lines--Fusible C900 and Fusible C905--which for the first time Now PVC pressure pipes to be connected using the company's patent-pending butt fusion...

Scaleblaster eliminates unwanted limescale deposits.(New products: the latest product developments)
January 1, 2004... ClearWater Enviro Technologies has developed the Scaleblaster SB 300 to eliminate the formation of limescale deposits ill water pipes, faucets, cooling towers, boilers, injection molding, heating elements and more without the need of water...

McElroy Mfg.(New products: the latest product developments)
January 1, 2004... The PolyPorter is designed to aid in the 1ifting and moving of polyethylene pipe in the field. The PolyPorter is a hand-operated tool used much like a dolly and is intended for pipe up to eight inches in diameter. The price is comparable to a...

Duraline.(New products: the latest product developments)
January 1, 2004... Duraline's 518 Series High Power Single Pole Connectors feature a 360 degree, non-specific locking toilet design, which allows the connector pairs to be mated and locked at any orientation. Once engaged, a locking ling provides the connectors...

DCD large bore swivel proves dependable.(New products: the latest product developments)
January 1, 2004... When DCD Design & Manufacturing received a routine request front Inrock Drilling Systems to service one of the company's DUB-Swivels, they were surprised to discover that the swivel was the first 80 Ton unit produced by DCD when they were first...

American Augers.(New products: the latest product developments)
January 1, 2004... American Augers announces the new Quik-Trac fast, return system for auger boring machines, the latest innovation from the industry leader in auger boring. The Quik-Trac system employs a rack and pinion drive that not only allows the machine to...

Komatsu.(New products: the latest product developments)
January 1, 2004... The WA320-5 has been added to Komatsu's line of hydrostatically driven wheel loaders. Powered by a turbo charged Komatsu SAA6D102E-2-A air-to-air aftercooled engine, the WA320 5 has 166 horsepower and complies with Tier II regulations. The...

John Deere Construction & Forestry.(New products: the latest product developments)
January 1, 2004... The J Series wheel loaders--models 724J, 744J and 824J--are built to deliver optimal performance for their bucket size, up to 4 3/4, 5 1/4 or 6-yard. The booms are newly designed to exceed the durability and performance levels required for...

Radcom Technologies.(New products: the latest product developments)
January 1, 2004... A leak locating system from Radcom Technologies simplifies the task of finding underground pipebursts. The SoundSens multipoint noise correlation system helps identify leaks in noisy areas, and on challenging pipe materials like plastic and...

Calendar.(Calendar)
January 1, 2004... 2004 Jan. 20, Uni-Ball PVC Pipe Association, PVC Pipe Design, Specification and Installation Seminar, Irving, CA. Contact: B. J. Walker, PH: (972) 243-3902, Web: www.uni-bell.org Jan. 22. Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association, PVC Pipe Design,...