Underground Construction articles from November 2003

Underground Construction archives from November 2003

Looking for a good year.(Editor's Log)
November 1, 2003... I agree that there are definitely good economic signs for the underground market and indeed, the national economy as well. But the recovery won't come in a flood of new jobs; rather, it will come in bits, pieces, a project at a time. And that's...

Setting the record straight on PVC.(Letters to the editor: our readers respond)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... Having been in the PVC business since the middle '60s, I noticed several items quoted by one of the workers in the September article written by Senior Editor Jeff Griffin entitled "Folded Pipe Proves Perfect Fit For Culverts" that are in error....

Tim Michels to run for U.S. senate.(Newsline)
November 1, 2003... Tim Michels, a republican and vice president of Michels Corporation, Brownsville, WI, is making a bid for candidacy for the U.S. Senate. The primary election will be held Sept. 14, 2004 and the general election on Nov. 2, 2004. After 12...

Utility contractors score a victory.(Newsline)
November 1, 2003... Utility contractors in Virginia and across the nation scored a significant victory with a recent decision handed down by the Virginia Supreme Court. The court ruled that, in the event of a damaged fiber-optic cable, loss-of-use damages could...

IPLOCA names new officers, directors.(Newsline)
November 1, 2003... The International Pipe Line And Offshore Contractors Association (IPLOCA) elected new 2003-2004 board of directors on Sept. 12, 2003, at the convention held in Budapest. Pictured are, front row (left to right): Peter Blome, Eupec...

Construction starts on colonial's Knoxville expansion.(Newsline)
November 1, 2003... Latex Construction has started construction on Colonial Pipeline's 43-mile expansion of its liquid petroleum products line in East Tennessee. The project represents a multimillion dollar investment in Tennessee's future. This four-phase plan...

Air force base gets new HDPE water piping.(Newsline)
November 1, 2003... Phase I of a water distribution system overhaul at Vendenberg Air Force Base, located in California that supports a population of more than 16,500, is now complete. It covered the part of the base with the largest concentration of housing...

California Energy Commission says 'no' to pipeline from Gulf Coast.(Newsline)
November 1, 2003... The California Energy Commission has adopted a report that recommends against building a pipeline to bring gasoline and other petroleum products to the state from refineries in Texas and the Gulf Coast. The report, "Gulf Coast to...

Request for financial assistance.(Newsline)
November 1, 2003... City of Atlanta employee Fred Blankenberg's daughter and son-in-law, David and Chris Daugherty, and their children, Dustin and Whyett, have lost their home and all of their belongings due to a fire on July 17. They experience total personal...

In memorial.(Newsline)
November 1, 2003... Lesley "Les" T. Armstrong, 76, passed away Sept. 5. Armstrong had been vice president of Houston Contracting Company-Alaska, and was involved in the development of the North Slope commencing in 1974. He is survived by his wife, Alice; a...

Pipelines fighting financial disclosures.(Washington Watch)
November 1, 2003... Interstate pipelines want the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to either rescind or substantially modify a proposed rule which would require natural gas utilities to file new quarterly financial reports. The form, 3-Q, would contain...

FERC agrees to rehear price index rates policy.(Washington Watch)
November 1, 2003... The FERC agreed in September to reconsider its modification order of last July which prohibited interstate pipelines from using gas basis differentials to price negotiated rate transactions, a form of pricing pipelines have used since 1996....

Case construction equipment.(Excavators)
November 1, 2003... Case introduces the CX330 and CX460 hydraulic excavators. The CX330, which replaces the 90503, offers 259 net horsepower and a maximum dig depth of 26 feet 8 inches. The CX460, which replaces the 9060B, delivers 316 net horsepower and maximum...

Link-belt.(Excavators)
November 1, 2003... The Link-Belt 290 LX has an operating weight of 64,400 pounds and features a Tier II compliant Isuzu CC-6BG1T engine with 177 horsepower. The 290 LX is configured with a 20-feet 2-inch boom and has three available arm lengths. The Inte-LX...

Volvo construction equipment.(Excavators)
November 1, 2003... The Volvo EC160B is a new hydraulic excavator in the B-series Volvo excavator product line. It has an operating weight of 36,340 to 42,340 pounds, a bucket capacity of 1.01 to 1.54 cubic yards, maximum digging reach at ground level of 28 feet...

Caterpillar.(Excavators)
November 1, 2003... The 385B Hydraulic Excavator is the largest 300-Series excavator made by Cat. The 85-metric-ton class excavator is designed for sustained high production in trenching, pipe laying, excavating and track loading. A Cat 3456 engine powers the 385B...

Mustang Mfg.(Excavators)
November 1, 2003... Mustang Manufacturing expands its line of excavators to include the larger ME12002, with an operating weight of 25,397 pounds and lift capacity of 19,665 pounds. The multiple-hydraulic function can be regulated to provide the exact power needs...

"School days ...": ISCO announces 2004 Fusion Academy dates & locations.
November 1, 2003... Louisville, KY-based ISCO Industries has announced dates and locations for its 2004 Fusion Academy. The free, full day sessions feature intensive, hands-on instruction in the latest HDPE fusion and connection techniques in a casual, informal...

John Deere.(Excavators)
November 1, 2003... The 200 LC excavator is powered by a turbo charged John Deere PowerTech engine that runs at a smooth 141 horsepower at 2,150 rpm. The excavator's dual 49-gpm axial piston hydraulic pumps provide aggressive digging performance. Propel metering...

New Holland Construction.(Excavators)
November 1, 2003... New Holland Construction brings power and performance to the job site with the EC Series crawler excavators, including the EC130, EC160, EC215, EC240, EC270, EC350, EC450 and the EC600, with operating weights from 13 to 60 metric tons, ranging...

Kobelco America.(Excavators)
November 1, 2003... Kobelco extends its excavator line by introducing the new short radius ED150 Blade Runner--it combines the full-sized excavator and heavy bulldozer into one machine. Short radius excavator technology incorporates a counterweight design that...

Hitachi construction machinery.(Excavators)
November 1, 2003... Hitachi's new EX1200-5C large hydraulic excavator (i.e., standard backhoe type, with a bucket capacity of 5.0 cubic meters and an operating weight of 108 tons), meets Class 2 emission standards. The EX 1200-5C replaces the EX1200-5, which was...

Hyundai construction equipment.(Excavators)
November 1, 2003... Hyundai has introduced their new R140LC-7 excavator featuring an improved Computer Aided Power Optimization (CAPO) management system exclusive to Hyundai. Improvements include: new mode controls for greater operator efficiency and flexibility...

Daewoo.(Excavators)
November 1, 2003... Daewoo Heavy industries America rounds out its family of Solar-V Excavators by introducing the Solar 170LC-V. A mid-size excavator, this machine is for small contractors. The 170LC-V will fit on a 20-ton trailer tag along, and the narrow gauge...

Komatsu.(Excavators)
November 1, 2003... With an occupied width of 17 feet 5 inches or less--with a loaded bucket--the PC308USLC-3 hydraulic excavator is ideal for applications in congested or confined areas. This 179 horsepower machine has a shorter tail swing, offering a maximum...

Komatsu America.(Wheel Loaders)
November 1, 2003... The WA250-5 wheel loader is powered by a Tier 2 compliant Komatsu engine for increased productivity while lowering engine speed to 2,000 rpm, lowering emissions and decreasing fuel consumption by more than 15 percent. The WA250-5 incorporates...

Kubota Tractor Corp.(Wheel Loaders)
November 1, 2003... The R20 Super Series Wheel Loaders, the R420S and R520S, are powered by Kubota's E-TVCS three- and four-cylinder diesel engines, with horsepower ratings of 43 and 49, respectively. These engines are equipped with a dual-element air cleaner to...

John Deere contruction.(Wheel Loaders)
November 1, 2003... The John Deere 744H four-wheel-drive loader replaces the 744E with enhanced features such as: onboard-mounted final drives and brakes, and a ride control option that helps keep dirt in the bucket and helps smooth out the ride in rough terrain....

New Holland contruction.(Wheel Loaders)
November 1, 2003... The LW190.B wheel loader's 5.9-liter electronic fuel-injected turbo after-cooler engine provides a reliable 200.5 net horsepower. New Holland's Brown Box constantly monitors engine functions and adjusts operational parameters based on load or...

Caterpillar.(Wheel Loaders)
November 1, 2003... The 938G II wheel loader provides a powerful 180 horsepower, 24,594 pounds of breakout force and 20,878 pounds static tipping load. Peak torque at 1,400 rpm is 619 foot-pounds and torque rise is increased to 62 percent. A Caterpillar 3126B with...

Case.(Wheel Loaders)
November 1, 2003... Case brings its mid-mount cooling module technology to the new 721D wheel loader and introduces efficient Tier II-certified Case engines to its entire D Series family. With 170 net horsepower and 32,960 pounds of breakout force, the 721D...

Link-belt.(Wheel Loaders)
November 1, 2003... LBX Company introduced an all-new series of wheel loaders including the 120, 125 and 130 models. The new Link-Belt loaders feature Power-Link geometry which gives Link-Belt loaders a higher breakout force compared to traditional Z-bar geometry...

Hyundai contruction equipment.(Wheel Loaders)
November 1, 2003... Hyundai expands its line of wheel loaders with the Tier 11 HL780-3A and HL780XTD-3A machines. These are the most powerful machines in the 17-model wheel loader line that Hyundai offers. Both models feature a new Ergopower automatic transmission...

Volvo contruction equipment.(Wheel Loaders)
November 1, 2003... The E-Series medium range wheel loaders from Volvo include four new machines the L60E, L70E, L90E and L110E. The L60E and L110E are new models developed specifically for the E-Series, while the L70E and L90E wheel loaders are upgraded and...

Evergreen expansion project: challenges and circumstance test SCI crews on.(Pipeline Construction)
November 1, 2003... When Snelson Companies Inc. (SCI) won the bid to install two pipeline loops for Williams' Northwest Pipeline they knew it would be challenging. Not only did the $240 million project require the installation of four 36-inch-diameter loops...

IUOE 825 gets high marks for training equipment operators.
November 1, 2003... Proficiently trained equipment operators on pipeline projects are essential in keeping downtime to a minimum while ensuring safety and meeting critical schedules and deadlines. For this reason, five years ago the New Jersey-based International...

It's all about under ground: UCT theme reflects modern total vision approach to solving industry solutions.
November 1, 2003... The program is finalized exhibit space is rapidly filling up, development of the RehabZone is well under way the convention center expansion is virtually complete: Houston, we've got a go for he 10th Underground Construction Technology...

Canadian rockies: preparing for the unexpected.(Rehabilitation Technology)
November 1, 2003... When the officials of Coleman, Alberta, Canada, decided last year that a need existed to seriously upgrade its water main and residential service lines, they likely had no idea of the job they were handing off to the engineer and local...

Inliner Technologies releases design guide, completes rehab project.(Rehab News)
November 1, 2003... Inliner Technologies has developed an Engineering Design Guide tot the cured-in-place pipe renewal industry. The 36-page manual, which comes complete with diagrams, material properties and design calculations, is available free of charge to...

Insituform acquires Insituform East.(Rehab News)
November 1, 2003... Insituform Technologies has completed its purchase of Insituform East Inc., including selected assets, for approximately $5.5 million in cash. Insituform East was the final remaining independent licensee of the Insituform cured-in-place pipe...

Underground Solutions.(Rehab News)
November 1, 2003... Underground solutions Inc. has opened its first international office in The Hague, Netherlands and hired Michiel Arnoldy as vice president of Business Development/ International. Arnoldy will be responsible for establishing strategic alliances...

NPC Inc.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... NPC Inc., an industry leader in flexible rubber pipe-to-manhole connectors, joint seals and chimney seals, has introduced the SL Wave Band for use on FlexRib Internalal Manhole Chimney Seal. The patented SL Wave Band is made from a single piece...

Infrastructure Repair Systems.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... Infrastructure Repair Systems' "Chim Coat" is a new easy to use brash or trowel-on flexible two-part epoxy chimney coating that will expand and contract with changing temperatures. This compliments "Infragard," an improved two-part epoxy...

Whirlygig Co.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... The Whirlygig saves time, labor and money by simply replacing concrete grade/adjusting rings, stuffings and grout with a molded thermoplastic form, pre-trimmed to the final grade and slope. With Whirlygig, lay down the radial arm trimmer so it...

Parson environmental products.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... PARSONPOXY FG is a two component, flexible, 100 percent solids epoxy used to repair and waterproof the manhole frame and cone section and can easily be applied using a brush, putty knife or gloved hand. It is a high strength, corrosion...

Cretex specialty products.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... Stop problems in existing manholes by installing the Internal Chimney Seal from Cretex. Designed to be installed in existing manholes, this seal does not require excavation or entry into the manhole. The internal rubber seal has the versatility...

Sealing Systems Inc.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... Flex-Seal Utility Sealant is an aromatic urethane rubber. Urethane is noted for extreme toughness, elongation, abrasion resistance, acidic resistance, and longevity. The Sealing Systems Inc. process allows a fast and simple method of sealing...

Prime Resins.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... Whether used alone or as a supplement to other rehab methods, Prime Resins' water-reactive chemical grouts are ideal for stopping leaks and filling voids in manholes. Prime-Flex products are designed to stop leaks at their source. The family of...

Terre hill composites.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... MultiPlexx Liner cured-in-place installation now restores long-term utiliry to deteriorating manholes. Tough MultiPlexx Liner with PVCP-polyvinyl chloride provides protection against corrosion by sewer gas and stops groundwater infiltration....

Ameron protective linings.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... The Arrow-Lock Sheet Lining System is designed to rehabilitate corroded concrete manholes and structures. The system uses two distinct products to achieve results: Arrow-Lock Sheet Lining and Arrow-Lock Mastic, a two-part epoxy mastic used to...

Warren environmental.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... The Warren Lining Systems is a developer and patent holder for the process of applying 100 percent solid epoxy resin systems. Tire system integrates a 100 percent solid epoxy application technology with the nodig philosophy to protect new and...

Ladtech Inc.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... Prevent settlement of the casting and subsequent breakup of the surrounding pavement by using Ladtech high density polyethylene (HDPE) manhole adjusting rings. The HDPE ring's strength and impact resistance exceeds AASHTO HS25 load rating....

AP/M permaform.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... PERMACAST is a unique process and material developed to satisfy the need for high quality repairs in manholes and similar structures and engineered for sealing, protecting and structurally reinforcing them in a safe and cost effective manner....

Raven lining systems.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... The AquzltaFlex series inchides flexible, 100 percent solids, solvent-free epoxies. These unique formulations combine the superior adhesion strength and chemical resistance of epoxies with excellent flexibility. AquataFlex products are tough,...

Sauereisen.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... Sauereisen has developed the "60-Minute Solution"--an efficient, safe and cost effective method of restoring manholes. This sequential process involves cleaning, substrate repair (by appitcation of either a water infiltration barrier or...

Containment solutions.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... Flowtite fiberglass manholes and wetwells provide the wastewater industry with solutions to corrosion and infitration/exfiltration at a lower installation cost. Flowtite manholes and wetwells are available for new construction, as well as...

De Neef construction chemicals.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... De Neef hydro active grouts are non flammrable polyurethane chemical grounts in the form of rigid foams for void filing, flexible foams for joint and crack sealing and gels for pumping through structures to consolidate soils and to form grout...

Sprayroq.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... Spray Wall is a spay-applied, cured-in-place (CPI) manhole process that provides a fast, one-step, long-term trenchless solutions for manhole, pipe and lift station rehabilitation. The Spray Wall process results in a rigid, durable, monolithic,...

ChemRex.(Product Focus)
November 1, 2003... ThroRoc SPL5 Spray Mortar from ChemRex is a one-component fiber-reinforccd wet spray mortar for manhole rehabilitation. It is ideal for large vertical and overhead structural concrete repairs where a wet-process spray application method is...

Replacing an old pipe with 'new' clay.(Rehabilitation Technology)
November 1, 2003... As with most cities in the United States, Springfield, IL, has an old infrastructure that is in need of replacement. There are approximately 540 miles of existing sanitary sewer in the city with some sections combining storm and sanitary. The...

CIPP keeps the ball rolling at sports complex.
November 1, 2003... The Home Depot Center, located on the campus of California State University at Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, is a new, world-class sports facility. It features a 30,000 seat soccer stadium, which is hosting the 2003 Women's World Cup finals; an...

2003 large directional drilling rig census.
November 1, 2003... Underground Construction's 2003 census of large horizontal directional drilling contractors provides an in-depth look at the capabilities of this finite market. When HDD professionals refer to the size of a horizontal directional drilling...

TTC's survey of bid prices for trenchless technology.(Trenchless Technology Center Report)
November 1, 2003... An important activity of the Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) is its role in responding to various inquiries from public works agencies, manufacturers, suppliers and contractors about different aspects of the planning, design and use of...

ISCO Industries.(Business)
November 1, 2003... ISCO industries has reached an agreement to purchase the Houston branch of Maskell-Robbins. Maskell-Robbins is a supplier of polyethylene pipe (HDPE), fittings, fabrication and fusion services. The sate closed in early September, and terms of...

InfraSource Utility Construction.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... Fred Britt joins InfraSource Utility Construction in the role of vice president for the pipeline division (USA Pipeline), headquartered in Claremore, OK. Britt brings more than 30-years experience in the mainline business to the position.

J-M Manufacturing.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... J-M Manufacturing Company Inc. has acquired two HDPE plants from Quail Piping Products, Inc. With the purchase of the two plants, J-M becomes the only manufacturer in North America offering a complete line of PVC and HDPE piping products. ...

Caterpillar.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... In July 2003, Caterpillar commenced manufacturing backhoe loaders for sale in India. Caterpillar already manufactures off-highway trucks, tracktype tractors, wheel loaders, engines and power generation equipment in India, Backhoes for the...

New shareholder, new strategic marketing position at Pate engineers.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... Michael Kennedy, construction manager, has accepted the invitation to become a shareholder in Pate Engineers of Houston. Kennedy has been leading the construction effort for more than 18 years, beginning with a four person department....

Multiquip.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... Multiquip has promoted Todd Jones to western regional manager for the company's General Construction Equipment Group. The move was effective Oct. 1. Jones joined the Carson, CA-based light- and medium-sized construction equipment supplier in...

Leica Geosystems.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... David Donahue has rejoined the Leica Geosystems organization as director of sales for the northeast region. He spent eight years in the 1980s as direct sales rep and regional sales manager for the Wild Heerbrugg Company, which later became...

Stupp Bros. Inc.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... Stupp Bros. Inc. announced the election of Jerry E. Shea, Jr. to membership on their board of directors. Shea is the managing partner for Business Development for The Bayou Companies, located in New Iberia, LA. He also is president of Bayou...

MSU textbook.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... McGraw-Hill Company will publish the first trenchless technology text book. This book is planned to go to print in fall 2003 and will be available in early summer of 2004. The book is designed to be a text for university and college students as...

LB Smith.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... Dave Hunter and Jim Brannon have been appointed regional vice president of the Mid-Atlantic Region and director of Human Resources, respectively, of LB Smith, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volvo Construction Equipment. Hunter and Brannon will be...

Brungardt Honomichl & Company.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... Brangardt Honomichl & Company, P.A. (BHC) was selected as a featured engineering firm on Terry Bradshaw's Pick of the Week MSNBC program produced by Broadcast News Channel. The program focuses on companies and organizations that stand out as a...

JCB Inc.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... Using JCB's construction equipment expertise in partnership with engine specialists Ricardo, AVL, Cosworth and Krause, the company plans to develop its own 4- and 6-liter diesel engines. The JCB engine is being specifically designed for the...

McLaughlin presents Ditch Witch of Georgia top dealer award.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... Dave Gasmovic, president of McLaughlin Manufacturing, recently recognized Ditch Witch of Georgia by presenting them with the Top Dealer Award for 2002, Ditch Witch of Georgia has been a McLaughlin dealer for more than 20 years and has won the...

GE Power Systems.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... GE Power Systems has acquired M.J. Harden Associates Inc. (MJH) of Kansas City, MO, a geospatial data management and integration service provider. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. MJH specializes in geographic information system...

LBX Company.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... LBX Company, makers of Link-Belt earthmoving, forestry and material handling equipment, has appointed a new authorized distributor of Link-Belt excavators, articulated trucks, wheel loaders, timber loaders and material handlers in New...

In memoriam.(Business: general industry reports)
November 1, 2003... Duncan Fuller, vice president of Operations for Key & Associates Inc., Tulsa, OK, an Associate Member of the Pipeline Contractors Association (PLCA), died Sept. 4, in an automobile accident in Colorado. Fuller, age 55, was an elder and deacon...

Pipe storage is eliminated with pipe master.(The Latest Products)
November 1, 2003... The Pipe Master Trailer from Nulls Machine & Manufacturing is a versatile and rugged trailer designed to dispense 2- through 6-inch coiled polyethylene pipe (PE). The compact aluminum design makes the trailer lightweight and maneuverable in...

Yanmar diesel America.(The Latest Products)
November 1, 2003... Yanmar's ViO 35 mini-excavator rated at 7,716 pounds with 10 feet, 6 inch maximum digging depth is designed to make the contractors' job more productive. Bucket changes from the operator's platform are easy with the hydraulic quick-coupler...

Inno engineering.(The Latest Products)
November 1, 2003... The unique body design of the TuffTooth trencher tooth provides strength and rigidity and a continuous cutting edge. The curved and faired surfaces force the TuffTooth through soil with less resistance as it removes the soil it cuts. All of the...

National attachments.(The Latest Products)
November 1, 2003... The Mobile Integrated Screening Unit (MISU) Padding Bucket processes the toughest materials and its patented rotors will not clog or jam. Designed to process and mix a large range of materials from sand, soil, salt, compost clay, municipal...

Crostek.(The Latest Products)
November 1, 2003... Crostek Corp.'s pipeline pig transmitter and housing unit is designed with an "internal pressure relief' system. Pipeline operators can attach the CT-TH Transmitter/ Housing Systems to all pigs put in their product lines whether or not they...