Underground Construction articles from January 2009

Underground Construction archives from January 2009

Economic gloom, doom & hope.(EDITOR'S LOG)
January 1, 2009... The bad economic news seems to be coming in an endless stream and remains the all-encompassing focus of our nation's mass media. Perhaps a little perspective is in order as we endeavor to cope with the wild predictions from "experts" for 2009....

Survey results shows drop in construction, municipal projects.(NEWSline: Latest Industry Developments)
January 1, 2009... The fourth quarter FMI Nonresidential Construction Index (NRCI) survey was conducted as the financial crisis moved from Wall Street to Main Street. The results of this quarterly survey of construction industry executives show the effects of the...

Proposed guidelines to control pollution from construction sites.(NEWSline: Latest Industry Developments)
January 1, 2009... EPA is seeking comments on its proposed guidelines to control the discharge of pollutants from construction sites. The proposal would require all construction sites to implement erosion and sediment control best management practices to reduce...

Tulsa County gets its fill of waste.(NEWSline: Latest Industry Developments)
January 1, 2009... In mid-March, 2.3 million gallons of untreated sewage spilled out of a manhole located blocks away from Drillers Stadium in Tulsa County, OK. Nearly three inches of rain had flooded the sanitary sewer and caused the overflow. About two miles...

Seabrook considers HDD to fix water main.(NEWSline: Latest Industry Developments)
January 1, 2009... Looking to repair a water main break under Interstate 95, the Board of Selectmen in Seabrook, ME, are considering replacing the main using directional drilling technology to pull a new pipe through a borehole. The 12-inch, 350-foot water main...

Big Pipe project expected to reduce SSOs.(NEWSline : Latest Industry Developments)
January 1, 2009... The Big Pipe is a series of tunnels designed to divert Portland, OR's, combined storm water runoff and sewage to the city's treatment plant on the Columbia River. When it's completed in 2011, raw sewage will flow into the Willamette River two...

Michels celebrates 50 years.(NEWSline: Latest Industry Developments)
January 1, 2009... Members of the Michels family and their employees at Michels Pipeline Construction are celebrating 50 years in the construction business. "This is a very exciting time for Michels," says President Pat Michels "I think my father would have...

New pipeline projects announced.(NEWSline: Latest Industry Developments)
January 1, 2009... Several new pipeline projects have been awarded. U.S. Pipeline Inc. has been awarded a contract by Denbury Resources Inc. to install approximately 272 miles of 24-inch pipeline in St. James, Assumption, Ascension, Iberville, West Baton Rouge,...

Research confirms use of manhole cover restraint system.(NEWSline: Latest Industry Developments)
January 1, 2009... Research conducted by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), supports the effectiveness of a manhole cover restraint system that may prevent or limit damage caused by a manhole cover in the event of an explosion. Manhole explosions...

IPLOCA meets in Athens.(NEWSline: Latest Industry Developments)
January 1, 2009... The International Pipeline and Offshore Contractors Association (IPLOCA) recently hosted its annual convention in Athens, Greece with 630 attendees. Pipeline & Gas Journal sponsored the opening reception for first-time meeting attendees and the...

Houston PW director discusses "Surviving the Storms".(NEWSline: Latest Industry Developments)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The city of Houston Public Works and Engineering Department Director Michael Marcotte addressed the December luncheon of the Gulf Coast Trenchless Association on Dec. 10. About 150 people were on hand to hear the...

Climate change agenda could have FERC selecting pipeline projects.(WASHINGTON watch)
January 1, 2009... Worries about potential escalating demand for natural gas from electric utilities and industrials forced to switch fuels because of climate change legislation from Congress was the major factor behind the FERC natural gas infrastructure...

Democratic future darkens prospects for LNG approvals.(WASHINGTON watch)
January 1, 2009... The gas infrastructure conference on Nov. 21, 2008 touched on LNG pricing and terminal construction, but never got into the political issues which are likely to bear on FERC's approval of new LNG terminals. An Obama FERC may be less...

FERC relents on key issues in final posting rule.(WASHINGTON watch)
January 1, 2009... FERC walked a fine line with its final rule on natural gas flow posting, reducing the number of intrastate pipelines--called major non-interstates for the purpose of this rulemaking--who will have to comply while at the same time ditching a...

Midwestern Mfg.(EQUIPMENT spotlight: CRAWLER TRACTORS & SIDEBOOMS)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Midwestern Manufacturing has designed a new sideboom attachment for a John Deere 1050J model crawler tractor. The new pipelayer has a maximum lift capacity of 140,000 pounds. The new Midwestern proprietary sideboom...

New Holland.(EQUIPMENT spotlight: CRAWLER TRACTORS & SIDEBOOMS)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With the introduction of the new, hydraulic sideboom option, initially available on models D85B and D95B crawler dozers, New Holland provides an attachment that offers a lift capacity of 20,000 pounds and features a...

Liebherr construction equipment.(EQUIPMENT spotlight: CRAWLER TRACTORS & SIDEBOOMS)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Liebherr has introduced the largest hydrostatically driven crawler in the world: the new PR764 Litronic. This crawler dozer delivers maximum pushing power and ripping force in all speed ranges regardless of the...

John Deere.(EQUIPMENT spotlight: CRAWLER TRACTORS & SIDEBOOMS)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For the most productive dozer in the 105-200 hp class, the 700J's 115-hp turbocharged six-cylinder Deere diesel, full-featured hydrostatic drivetrain, and oscillating undercarriage enable this highly versatile 12-ton...

Volvo CE.(EQUIPMENT spotlight: CRAWLER TRACTORS & SIDEBOOMS)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Volvo PL4611 represents a revolutionary advancement over traditional pipelaying dozers with a side-based boom. The Pipelayer provides a 360-degree swing with full lifting performance and functionality at all...

Caterpillar.(EQUIPMENT spotlight: CRAWLER TRACTORS & SIDEBOOMS)
January 1, 2009... The D6K track-type tractor comes standard with a new hydrostatic drive train, durable SystemOne undercarriage, and seat-mounted electro-hydraulic controls ready for easy installation of the AccuGrade grade control system. The Cat engine with...

RWF Bron.(EQUIPMENT spotlight: CRAWLER TRACTORS & SIDEBOOMS)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The BRON 150P self-propelled Pipelayer features full hydrostatic drive that gives full control of track speed and critical link controls for sensitive hands-on side boom operation. A 200-hp CAT diesel power train...

Case.(EQUIPMENT spotlight: CRAWLER TRACTORS & SIDEBOOMS)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With available 75 net hp, the Case 650K Series 3 provides power in a compact and maneuverable design. The K-Series PowerStat drive with single-lever controls offers total performance on even the most confined job...

Field testing of innovative slurry water treatment solution.
January 1, 2009... This case study involves the construction and operation of an in-field treatment system for dewatered slurry pumped out of a pipe trench in a stream crossing at Drakes Creek in Portland, TN. The project was part of the Midwestern Gas...

EIA report says planned U.S. pipelines carry $28 billion price tag.(PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE)
January 1, 2009... Despite turmoil in the financial markets and oil prices that are the lowest since 2003, the U.S. natural gas industry appears likely to remain one of the stronger performers in the energy sector. Supporting this is the Energy Information...

PLCA president: Robert Johnston, Henkels & McCoy.(CONVENTION PREVIEW)
January 1, 2009... The Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA) experienced a "phenomenal" year in 2008, said association President Robert Johnston. PLCA member contractors have benefitted from extremely heavy workloads on pipeline construction projects which...

Record bore set on Virginia Natural Gas project.
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Mears Group Inc. recently completed a record setting bore as part of the Hampton Roads Crossing being constructed by Virginia Natural Gas (VGN). The drill consisted of installing 7,357 linear feet of 24-inch steel...

DCI introduces 3D HDD locating system: the system consists of a handheld receiver, a transmitter, a remote display, a battery charger and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to power the receiver and remote display. The system can be used with any brand of HDD unit.(FIRST LOOK)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Digital Control Inc. (DCI) has introduced a new directional drilling tracking system the company describes as more intuitive and easier to use than any other tracking product available in the horizontal directional...

Border crossing: matching right rig for the job ensures success.
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There are long bores. And then there are really long bores. While the definition of "long" might differ from contractor to contractor, few will dispute that a 5,000-foot drill is a very long directional bore. ...

Failing culverts provide niche for innovative contractors.
January 1, 2009... The Christiana Hospital and Helen Graham Cancer Center in Newark, DE, are located off Route 4. A local stream passes under the highway through a corrugated metal pipe (CMP) near the hospital. The CMP, which has been in service for more than 20...

NASSCO president cites many accomplishments in 2008.(Rehabilitation Technology)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Companies) has become influential force in the sewer rehabilitation industry was clearly evident in 2008, said current association President Marc A. Anctil as he...

NASSCO releases guidelines on styrenated resins.(Rehabilitation Technology)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Companies) has completed a state-of-the-art guideline for the use and handling of styrene based resins in the cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) rehabilitation process. The...

Huntsville undertakes nation's largest root control project.(Rehabilitation Technology)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The city of Huntsville, AL, recently completed one of the largest sanitary sewer chemical root control projects in the country. Over a one-year period, 1.6 million linear feet of sewer pipes ranging in size from...

Quality and the true cost of ownership: making the right choice when purchasing pipeline inspection equipment.(Rehabilitation Technology: QA/QC Quality Assurance/Quality Control)
January 1, 2009... "There is nothing in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and he who considers price only is that man's lawful prey." John Ruskin (1819-1900) Municipalities and contractors are faced with...

Insituform wins $10.3m CIPP project in Connecticut.(Rehab NEWS)
January 1, 2009... Insituform Technologies was awarded a $10.3 million sewer contract in November 2009 from the Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) for the rehabilitation of 270,000 linear feet of sewer lines using Insituform cured-in-place pipe (CIPP)....

Inland Pipe Rehabilitation names president, acquires company.(Rehab NEWS)
January 1, 2009... Joseph A. Cutillo has been named president and CEO of Detroit, MI-based Inland Pipe Rehabilitation (IPR), a leading provider of underground rehabilitation solutions with offices throughout the U.S. In his new role, Cutillo will be overseeing...

RLS announces promotions.(Rehab NEWS)
January 1, 2009... RLS Inc. has promoted James Dugger to inside technical sales representative. Dugger joined the company as sales assistant in May 2006. He will continue to report to Jim Henke, director of sales and marketing. In this newly created position,...

CETCO drilling products.(Grouting Technology & Equipment)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CETCO Eco-Grouter is a low cost, portable mini grouter that has been designed for pumping Volclay Granular Grout and Volclay Grout. The CETCO Eco-Grouter is light weight, approximately 230 pounds. Now available as...

Avanti Intl.(Grouting Technology & Equipment)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After more than 30 years Avanti's chemical grouts continue to be successfully used worldwide to stop water infiltration, stabilize soils, encapsulate hazardous waste, prevent structural movement due to ground water,...

CUES.(Grouting Technology & Equipment)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stop infiltration and inflow! CUES offers a full line of portable and truck-mounted grout rehabilitation systems. Truck-mounted grout rehabilitation systems are available for mainline joint sealing/lateral sealing...

Aries Industries.(Grouting Technology & Equipment)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Aries Chemical Grout Systems continue to improve grouting productivity for main and lateral grouting with new flexible 700 feet penta grout hose, 120 gallon chemical tanks with liquid tight lids and industrial grade...

de neef construction chemicals.(Grouting Technology & Equipment)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] de neef Hot Shot Cartridges, a complete solution for quick water leak repairs. Each kit comes with a resin/activator cartridge, dasher and nozzle. HYDRO ACTIVE CUT is designed to fill large voids and cut-off high...

Prime resins.(Grouting Technology & Equipment)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Grouts are used to fill voids and create sub-grade grout barriers in earthen dams, coastal seawalls, underground vaults and tunnel boring operations. A major advantage of chemical grouting is the ability to...

Logiball.(Grouting Technology & Equipment)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For 25 years Logiball has designed and manufactured equipment for the trenchless rehabilitation of sewers. Over the years, Logiball has developed a complete line of mainline, lateral connection, and push type test...

Parson Environmental.(Grouting Technology & Equipment)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Parson's Turn-key Manhole Rehabilitation System allows contractors to load up product in the morning and not have to return to the shop until the end of the day, thereby saving valuable time. The 20-foot trailer...

Vaporooter.(Root Control)
January 1, 2009... Vaporooter pioneered the chemical root control industry over 40 years ago to extend the useful life of sewer systems while eliminating maintenance costs. Vaporooter foam is a unique combination of herbicides that is placed in sewer lines to...

RootX.(Root Control)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Use your own municipal maintenance crews and equipment with RootX to kill pipeline roots--they can treat a 400-foot mainline in 30 minutes or less. The patented RootX formula foams on contact with water to reach the...

Duke's root control.(Root Control)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Duke's certified applicators use specialized equipment to fill the affected sewer pipe with thick herbicidal foam to control root infiltration. Foam with a thick, shaving cream consistency like Duke's is essential to...

Ruling brings Dallas districts closer to Oklahoma water supply.(WaterWorks news)
January 1, 2009... The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled that a lawsuit filed by Texas' Tarrant Regional Water District may proceed in federal court in Oklahoma. If the suit is successful, the Tarrant water district will have the same...

Water groups detail agenda to Obama.(WaterWorks news)
January 1, 2009... The American Water Works Association, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, the National Association of Water Companies and the National Rural Water Association have jointly developed "A National Agenda for Drinking Water" to assist...

WEF, IWA sign memorandum of understanding.(WaterWorks news)
January 1, 2009... The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Water Association (IWA) have signed a precedent-setting Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to better enable information and technology transfer on a domestic and global scale. The...

LAN designs reclaimed water distribution pipeline in Florida.(WaterWorks news)
January 1, 2009... The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) has selected Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. (LAN) to design a new reclaimed water distribution pipeline in Miami-Dade County, FL. The installation of this reclaimed water distribution...

Registration open for Urban Water Management.(WaterWorks news)
January 1, 2009... Registration is now open for Urban Water Management 2009, an integrated water quality conference and exhibition taking place March 24-26, 2009, in Overland Park, KS. Now in its second year, Urban Water Management is sponsored by the...

Metrotech's hand held Acoustic Water Leak Location Device.(WaterWorks news)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Metrotech's HL 10 Acoustic Water Leak Location Device is easy to use, compact, hand-held equipment with acoustic and visible values for leak survey and leak pinpointing while reducing leak location time. Its acoustic...

CRC-Evans reflects on 75 years in industry.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Houston-based CRC-Evans, the global provider of pipeline equipment and services, announced the launch of its 75th anniversary celebration, which honors those who built the pipeline industry. In print ads and an...

HammerHead.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HammerHead Trenchless Equipment has launched a totally redesigned interactive website: www. hammerheadtrenchless.com. The new website offers comprehensive, real-time interactive media to educate engineers,...

Miller Pipeline.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)(Company overview)
January 1, 2009... Miller Pipeline, one of the nation's leading natural gas distribution and utility contractors and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectren Corporation, acquired Ohio-based Dover Contracting Inc. "The transmission pipeline construction market...

Case CE.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... Case Construction Equipment has appointed Danny McGaugh as vice president and general manager of Case Power and Equipment, a Case dealership that sells, rents and services Case construction and industrial equipment. In this role, McGaugh is...

Geospatial Holdings.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... Geospatial Holdings has hired Richard (Dick) McDonald as executive vice president of GIS Operations. McDonald brings years of experience in the photogrammetric mapping, surveying and GIS professions. Prior to joining Geospatial, McDonald was...

Liebherr, John Deere.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... Liebherr Construction Equipment Co. and John Deere jointly announce the signing of a long-term sourcing agreement for Deere-branded 950- and 1050-size crawler dozers, and the discontinuation of the existing product supply arrangement for...

AEM.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the North American-based international trade group representing the off-road equipment manufacturing industry has elect the 2009 officers and directors. Martin Richenhagen, president and...

Cat Auction a win-win for buyers, sellers.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... Cat Auction Services is changing the rules in the auction industry. A partnership of Caterpillar dealers, the new business is focused on creating value and reducing risk for both buyers and sellers. Cat Auction Services offers detailed...

Ditch Witch.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... Ditch Witch and Equipment Web Services (EWS), a division of Dominion Enterprises, have launched a used equipment website: DitchWitchUsed.com. Ditch Witch dealers can upload their used inventory into the EWS database and have the listings...

IronPlanet.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... IronPlanet, a leading online auction company for used construction and agricultural equipment, has announced that its European headquarters will be established in Dublin, Ireland. Establishing its European headquarters in Dublin coincides with...

Victaulic.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... Victaulic, a manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining systems, opened its Great Lakes Branch in Aurora, IL. The new 62,000-square-foot facility has expanded branch capabilities and provided increased stocking capabilities to service product...

PLIDCO.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... The Pipe Line Development Company (PLIDCO), a leading designer and builder of standard and custom engineered products for pipeline repair and maintenance, recently promoted Bud Zanders to engineering manager and Reinhard Bauer to quality...

TERRA AG.(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... On Oct. 21,2008, TERRA AG held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new production and assembly building. On hand for the ceremony were management, employees and TERRA distributors for Romania and Poland. TERRA AG is the largest Swiss...

New video on John Deere's "Skid Steer Smackdown".(BUSINESS: Latest Industry News)
January 1, 2009... The new video on John Deere Construction & Forestry's www.skidsteersmackdown.com offers a humorous take on classic, high-brow television but still delivers the unbridled "smack" that powered Season One of the construction industry's most unique...

New Jetting, Lubrication Pump for Akkerman GBM system.(NEW products: Latest Product Developments)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Akkerman Inc. has released a new combination Jetting and Lubrication Pump for its Guided Boring Machine (GBM) system. The new Jetting and Lubrication Pump arrangement allows customers to maintain optimum production...

GapVax.(NEW products: Latest Product Developments)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The WetVac is an industrial vacuum loader blasted, primed, and painted with PPG fleet urethane paint (wet on wet) and has a heresite epoxy phenolic coating inside. GapVax's design allows for no head pressure loading...

New cost saving erosion control blanket.(NEW products: Latest Product Developments)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] American Excelsior's new erosion control blanket is ideal those projects where performance is needed, but the project operating budget allows only for the use of lower-end type ECBs such as straw matting. With the...

Condux Intl.(NEW products: Latest Product Developments)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new split winch line blower installs winch line, rope and measuring tape into 2-inch through 6-inch HDPE and PVC duct systems utilizing interchangeable adapters with one body. Using compressed air, the split...

American compaction.(NEW products: Latest Product Developments)
January 1, 2009... Diamond Saddle Wheels are designed for use on excavators, where compaction results are required on both sides of the pipe. Saddle Wheels require no special hydraulics or systems for power. Diamond Saddle Wheels can meet the tough pipe to trench...

Hendrix Wire & Cable.(NEW products: Latest Product Developments)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wire & Cable, a provider of overhead and underground power distribution products, announces its offering of 34.5 kV TRXLP-insulated medium voltage cable for applications in the wind power industry. All cable is...

Griffin dewatering: the bucket drilling method.(NEW products: Latest Product Developments)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The bucket rig is a form of the rotary drill rig. It uses a mechanical or hydraulic drive to rotate a Kelly which is attached to the bucket. This type of rig will normally utilize a square friction type or round...

Crowcon.(NEW products: Latest Product Developments)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Xgard IR LPG from Crowcon is a new, low cost infrared (IR) fixed gas detector designed to detect liquid petroleum gas (LPG) hazards before concentrations reach flammable levels. Conventional LPG detectors based...

Case.(NEW products: Latest Product Developments)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The repowered 3.2-liter Tier III-certified Case engine on Case 21E, 121E, 221E and 321E compact wheel loaders feature a new cooling package for greater productivity. Plus, the new engines deliver between 54 and 82...

Industrial Magnetics.(NEW products: Latest Product Developments)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Significantly reduce back strain and increase employee safety when lifting and replacing manhole covers with IMI's new vehicle mounted Manhole PowerArm. Just drive within three feet of the center of the manhole cover...

Gordon Construction Co.(NEW products: Latest Product Developments)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Global Filter, Self Cleaning Air Filter System is completely automated. As soon as the equipment is started, the system begins to energize with pressurized air. When the machine is shut off, the filter cleans...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
January 1, 2009... 2009 Jan. 15-17 Associated Equipment Distributors San Diego, CA PH: (630) 574-0650 Jan. 20-22 UCT 2009 Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center San Antonio, TX Contact: Karen Francis PH: (218) 558-6930,...