Trenchless Technology

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www.trenchlessonline.com July 2008 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY 3

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY (ISSN 1064-4156) is published monthly, with an annual Directory in June Copyright 2008, Benjamin Media, Inc., P.O. Box 190, Peninsula, OH 44264. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means without written permission from the publisher. One-year subscription rates: complimentary in the United States and Canada, and $99.00 in other foreign countries. Single copy rate: $10.00. Subscriptions and classified advertising should be addressed to the Peninsula office. Periodical Postage Paid at Peninsula, Ohio and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY, P.O. Box 190, Peninsula, OH 44264 USA.

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D E PA RT M E N T S

6 News20 NASSCO Newsletter63 Associations Update67 Product Showcase68 E-Biz69 Calendar

C O LU M N S

4 Publisher’s Message18 Industry Watch69 Technical Forum70 Point of View

M A R K E T P L AC E

64 Business Cards66 Index of Advertisers

CONTENTS

Coming in August:

Manhole Rehabilitation Supplement

2008 Pipe Survey & Pipe Section

VOLUME 16 • NUMBER 7 • JULY 2008 • WWW.TRENCHLESSONLINE.COM

Promoting Technology in the Utility Construction Industry

O N T H E C OV E RRoundtable discussion participants. Front row (l-r): Dan Liotti, Mark Hallett and Kelly O’Dell. Back row (l-r): Mark Harris, Alex Buehler and Keith Alexander.

C OV E R S TO RY22 Roundtable Discussion:

A Look Through the Contractor’s EyesEach year at the No-Dig Show, Trenchless Technology gathers leaders from the trenchless community to explore different aspects of the industry. This year, we take a look at the market through the contractor’s eyes. By Jim Rush

F E AT U R E S28 A Longer Life

What you need to know to keep your piercing tools at peak performance. By Jim Schill

30 Keys to Bypass Pumping Success Important factors to consider for ensuring a successful bypass pumping project. By Paul Reilly

32 A Curvy SituationSliplining project completed using precision and skill. By Alice Steinbacher

36 Piercing Tools Make the Difference for Cable ContractorTools help company install up to 10,000 ft of cable per week. By Greg Ehm

D I R E C T I O N A L D R I L L I N G40 Increase Productivity & Decrease Cost When

Fusing HDPE Pipe

42 2008 HDD Overview: A Good Direction

46 Michels Installs Mammoth HDD Crossing in Texas

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

48 Cover Story: The Robbins Co.

52 Reducing Construction Risk in HDD Projects

54 2008 International No-Dig Show Recap

60 ISTT Update


4 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY July 2008 www.trenchlessonline.com

Trenchless Meets in Eastern EuropeIn late June, I returned from the Moscow International No-Dig Show and a

vacation/business trip through Poland. Overall, it was an amazing experience.

Because this was the first time that the International No-Dig Show was held in Russia, expectations were tempered, but the results were fantastic. The Russian Society for Trenchless Technology (RSTT) and Sibico International Ltd., the show organizers, are to be commended.

Moscow gave me the opportunity to do some nifty video interviews for TT TV. I even conducted one interview in Red Square with the Kremlin in the background. To view these Moscow videos, visit www.trenchlessonline.com and click on TT TV.

My trip through Poland was partially motivated to locate long-lost Polish relatives. My wife Phyllis and I did have addresses and names of some people in Tarnow, just east of Krakow. Surprisingly, because of trenchless technology, I was able to locate my relatives. We were having difficulty locating an address, when we came across an HDD crew using a Ditch Witch drill. I stopped and introduced myself and to see what they were doing. Almost as an afterthought, I asked them if they happened to know how to locate a specific street. They pointed out that I had it misspelled and gave

me the correct street name. After that, I located my mother’s first cousin. We ended our trip in the Krakow area, where I was on the speaker’s agenda for the annual trenchless engineering event organized by Poland’s trenchless technology magazine Inzynieria Bezwykopowa. This event was impressive with the number of attendees, exhibitors and social events. Poland joined the European Union (EU) in 2004 and it has poured a tremendous amount of money into the country for infrastructure work. Therefore, you can see road and bridge construction going on across the country and, of course, numerous water and wastewater projects.

Trenchless Technology InternationalAs an ISTT member through your local country or regional chapter, the last couple

of years you have been receiving Trenchless Technology’s international issue as part of your membership. Sadly for our international readers, this is the last issue that we can send you free of charge. It has become commercially infeasible to publish an international publication. On a positive note, we are pursuing an exciting and alternate approach to have Trenchless Technology published locally in your country or region. As a reader and ISTT member, we extend to you a special offer to receive our regular issue of Trenchless Technology monthly. For this special offer, please go to www.trenchlessonline.com/index/intsubscription.

If you are a media company or similar outside of North America and are interested in publishing Trenchless Technology in your country, we would like to talk with you. Please contact me directly at [email protected] to initiate a dialogue on how we can form a partnership with you.

Enjoy your summer,

Bernard P. Krzys President & Publisher

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

From left are Mariusz Iwanejko, Insituform, Bernie Krzys, and Prof. Andrezej Kuliczkowski, Kielce University of

Technology.

PublisherBernard P. Krzys

Associate PublisherRobert D. Krzys

EditorJames W. Rush

Managing EditorSharon M. Bueno

Assistant EditorsPam Stask • Greg Thompson

Contributing Staff EditorsKeith Gribbins • Bradley Kramer

Jason Morgan

Creative DirectorW. M. Conley

Senior Graphic DesignerEdward A. Haney

Graphic DesignersSarah Hayes • Chris Slogar

Elizabeth C. Stull

Marketing ManagerKelly Dadich

Regional Sales ManagerDan Sisko

Circulation ManagerAlexis R. Tarbet

Web & Interactive ManagerMark Gorman

Editorial Advisory BoardChairman

Dr. Tom Iseley, P.E.Professor/Director at CEMT at IUPUI

Indianapolis, Indiana

Alex BuehlerInsituform Technologies Inc., Chesterfield, Missouri

Dr. Samuel AriaratnamArizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

Dr. David Bennett, P.E.Bennett Trenchless Engineers, Folson, California

Steven R. Kramer, P.E.Jacobs Civil Inc., Arlington, Virginia

Joseph Loiacono, ing.Sanexen, Montreal, Quebec

Ronald T. Thompson, P.E.Malcolm Pirnie Inc., Jackson, Mississippi

Irene McSweeney, P.E.Boston Water and Sewer Commission

Boston, Massachusetts

Editorial & Advertising Offices1770 Main St., P.O. Box 190Peninsula, OH 44264 USA

(330) 467-7588 • Fax: (330) 468-2289www.trenchlessonline.com

e-mail: [email protected]

ReprintsWright ReprintsPh: 877-652-5295Fax: 281-419-5712





NEWS

Speaking before an audience of water professionals from throughout the world at the American Water Works Association’s Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE08), former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo addressed a variety of critical issues, noting that “Water is as indispensable as the air we breathe.”

Cuomo, who served as New York’s governor from 1983 until 1994, offered his views on today’s most pressing water-related issues. He spoke about many of the challenges facing the industry, including water supply and shortages, infrastructure concerns and workforce challenges. Cuomo cited the development of a third tunnel to deliver water to Manhattan — an undertaking that began decades ago — as an example of the immense infrastructure challenges facing much of the United States.

In addition to water concerns, Cuomo also provided his views on a number of other issues, including the U.S. economy, the war in Iraq, health care and immigration. He said that many of these issues could be addressed if political leaders would set aside their ideologies and simply use common sense.

He also spoke about the U.S. presidential election and said he hoped to hear more from candidates on water-related issues.

Thousands of water professionals gathered June 8-12 at ACE08 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta to explore the future of safe water, gain insight into cutting-edge research and best practices and experience the latest products and services available to the water community.

ACE08 featured 500 exhibitors, showcasing the latest products and services available to help ensure safe water. These exhibitors offered expert insight and hands-on understanding

for everything from pipes to valves, meters to hydrants, engineering services to tank-related companies, membrane fi ltration systems to laboratory equipment and security to wastewater. The New Product Technology Showcase also returned to highlight the newest and most innovative products and technology available.

ACE08 featured a professional program consisting of approximately 100 sessions, comprised of more than 500 presentations given by more than 1,000 experts in the water industry, plus 14 in-depth workshops.

Cuomo Addresses ACE08 Attendees

IPEX has entered into an exclusive arrangement with IPEX has entered into an exclusive arrangement with Underground Solutions Inc. (UGSI) that will see IPEX Underground Solutions Inc. (UGSI) that will see IPEX become UGSI’s exclusive licensee for Fusible PVC pipe become UGSI’s exclusive licensee for Fusible PVC pipe systems in Canada. Under the terms of the agreement, systems in Canada. Under the terms of the agreement, IPEX will assume responsibility for the manufacture, sales IPEX will assume responsibility for the manufacture, sales and technical support of all Fusible PVCTM products in and technical support of all Fusible PVCTM products in Canada.Canada.

“There is tremendous interest in Fusible PVC pipe “There is tremendous interest in Fusible PVC pipe in Canada,” stated Alex Mestres, IPEX vice president of in Canada,” stated Alex Mestres, IPEX vice president of corporate planning. “Municipalities see the benefi t of a corporate planning. “Municipalities see the benefi t of a fully restrained, fused joint on a pipe that is completely fully restrained, fused joint on a pipe that is completely compatible with their existing systems and procedures. compatible with their existing systems and procedures. Our agreement with UGSI will allow these benefi ts to be Our agreement with UGSI will allow these benefi ts to be offered to all municipalities across Canada. We look forward offered to all municipalities across Canada. We look forward to a long partnership with UGSI.”to a long partnership with UGSI.”

UGSI president and CEO Andy Seidel echoed these UGSI president and CEO Andy Seidel echoed these comments. “We believe Fusible PVC pipe has a great future comments. “We believe Fusible PVC pipe has a great future

in Canada. When looking for a Canadian partner it was in Canada. When looking for a Canadian partner it was quickly apparent that IPEX had the technical resources and quickly apparent that IPEX had the technical resources and customer support expertise to build on our initial work customer support expertise to build on our initial work and make Fusible PVC pipe the standard for trenchless and make Fusible PVC pipe the standard for trenchless applications in Canada,” he said.applications in Canada,” he said.

Mestres added, “Fusible PVC pipe is a game-changing Mestres added, “Fusible PVC pipe is a game-changing innovation. It has applications for trenchless installations, innovation. It has applications for trenchless installations, seismic areas and other projects requiring fully restrained seismic areas and other projects requiring fully restrained joints. We are confi dent that the higher fl ows, standard joints. We are confi dent that the higher fl ows, standard fi ttings and higher stiffness associated with PVC pipe are a fi ttings and higher stiffness associated with PVC pipe are a natural choice for municipal applications.”natural choice for municipal applications.”

As one of the largest thermoplastic piping systems As one of the largest thermoplastic piping systems companies in the North America, IPEX has a track record of companies in the North America, IPEX has a track record of developing innovative products for the municipal, electrical, developing innovative products for the municipal, electrical, industrial and plumbing markets across the continent. UGSI industrial and plumbing markets across the continent. UGSI pioneered the concept of Fusible PVC pipe and has led the pioneered the concept of Fusible PVC pipe and has led the development of the market for the product since 2003. development of the market for the product since 2003.

IPEX & Underground Solutions Sign Canadian Licensing Agreement

ACE08 attracted more than 500 exhibitors showcasing the lat-est products and services available to help ensure safe water.




8 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY July 2008 www.trenchlessonline.comCircle 5 on reader service card

NEWS

Insituform Technologies announced June 12 that it had secured contracts for approximately $2.9 million in water line rehabilitation projects, using its Insituform Blue potable water product line with the City of Monroe, Mich., and Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

In Monroe, Mich., the City is addressing problems with leaks, water main breaks and water quality by having Insituform rehabilitate 11,500 ft of 8-in. water main. The $2.3 million project includes the installation of 230 service connections using Insituform’s new iTAP robotic device that restores connections from inside the rehabilitated pipe without digging.

In 2007, Insituform renewed 1,900 ft of 8-in. water main with 33 service connections in Monroe as the City began a complete overhaul of its water system to stop leaks and water loss, increase capacity and improve hydraulics.

At Texas A&M, Insituform will rehabilitate 2,000 ft of 18-in. water line and 2,000 ft of 24-in. water line. The university turned to Insituform for its trenchless technology to address problems with the water lines in two areas with heavy traffi c and high population concentrations. The university had used a dig-and-replace approach to address problems with some other water lines but wanted to provide the least disruption in the area, where the $568,000 in work will be done.

In Salt Lake City, Insituform used its Thermopipe product to rehabilitate 1,500 ft of 12-in., steel water line that was threatened by the weight of an interstate highway expansion above it.

Insituform Awarded Contracts to Rehab Water Lines

New TrenchlessGuide Offered

“Trenchless Technology Piping” is the fi rst detailed guide to pipe installation and renewal using trenchless technology methods. This step-by-step resource explains how to create a more effi cient design, construction and inspection process for trenchless technology piping and shows how to save time and money.

Packed with illustrations and a range of national and international case studies and examples, the book covers proper planning, contracting and procuring, installing, and inspecting different pipe materials.

The author is Mohammad Najafi , assistant professor and director of the Center for Underground Infrastructure Research and Education (CUIRE) at the University of Texas at Arlington. For information visit www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?isbn=0071489282.




10 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY July 2008 www.trenchlessonline.comCircle 7 on reader service card

NEWS

Godwin Pumps, one of the largest manufacturers of portable rental pumps in the United States with 24 branch offi ces and a network of more than 100 distributors worldwide, has more than 400 of its portable diesel-driven and electric submersible pumps working to relieve fl oodwaters inundating the Midwest.

Within four hours of a Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) call on June 8, Godwin’s Chicago branch manager Jeff Pass began deploying 28 fl agship Godwin Dri-Prime 6- and 8-in. pumps to Iowa’s FEMA headquarters at Camp Dodge in Johnston. On June 9, Godwin’s Bridgeport, N.J., headquarters mobilized 48 six-in. pumps to Camp Dodge. On June 10, Godwin sent an additional 20 six- and eight-in. pumps from Bridgeport to FEMA in Iowa.

Currently, Godwin’s Chicago Branch has helped to supply 174 pumps to locations including the Iowa Department of Transportation in Oakdale (43 six- and eight-in. pumps), the City of Rock Island, Ill., (nine 4- to 12-in. pumps) and the Army Corps of Engineers in Terre Haute, Ind. (eight 8-in. pumps and one light tower). These efforts have been supported by Godwin’s branch locations including Houston, Buffalo, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Tampa, Fla., and its multiple branches in Virginia and the Carolinas have combined to ship 20 tractor trailer loads of pumps and related equipment

to various locations throughout the Midwest. Godwin Pumps’ Midwest corporate manager, Bob Spinner

said: “These fl oodwaters are farther-reaching than you can grasp from watching news segments. Having seen it fi rst-hand, we are well-aware that the fl ooding won’t stop while we load trucks. We moved as many pumps as we could, as fast as we possibly could. The amount of pumps that we were able to mobilize is truly impressive.”

In addition to the pumps deploying directly from Godwin branch locations, Godwin distributors throughout the Midwest, including Central Service & Supply Inc., Heartland Pump Rental & Sales Inc., Lee Mathews Equipment Inc. and Lincoln Contractors Supply Inc., have responded to fl ood relief efforts. Roughly 300 units have deployed to locations throughout Wisconsin, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.

Godwin and its distributors have deployed a variety of equipment including Godwin’s Sub-Prime electric submersible pumps for situations including sump dewatering; Heidra hydraulic submersibles for situations including underground parking garage dewatering; Godwin Power generators; Godwin Lights light towers; and hose, pipe and fi ttings to complete the pumping solutions needed to divert fl ow.

Godwin Pumps Active in Midwest Flood Relief




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The largest environmental trade show in the world — IFAT — was held May 5-9 in Munich, Germany, attracting nearly 2,600 exhibitors and 120,000 attendees — up 15 and 10 percent, respectively. And the trenchless technology community was well represented at this important and popular triennial show.

“IFAT is the gathering place for Europe for the wastewater industry. Our target is to meet pump users and engineers. IFAT 2008 has proven that this is the right place. The visitor quality here at IFAT 2008 is excellent,” said Bryan Gassler, marketing specialist for Godwin Pumps.

During the course of IFAT 2008, more than 120,000 trade visitors from 163 countries came to the event, of which more than 40,000 were from outside Germany. Considering that there was an overall rise of 10 percent in visitor numbers this time, this means the increase in visitors from abroad is disproportionately higher, at almost 18 percent. Foreign visitors make up over one third of the total number of visitors.

IFAT is a popular and key international show for the trenchless technology and wastewater rehabilitation industries, as key players take the opportunity at this massive environmental show to spread the message of the

benefi ts of trenchless technology.Held at the Munich Trade Fair Center, the trade fair site

is organized into 12 enormous exhibition halls, plus a tremendous amount of outdoor space. For the trenchless technology and wastewater rehabilitation contingent, the focal points were Halls A6 and B5 and B6. Here, many trenchless companies set up shop to display products.

The extensive range of exhibits at IFAT included components for water collection and distribution, as well as transportation and sewer systems, i.e. pipes, wells, ducts, pumps, lifting equipment and fi ttings. Exhibits will also include the latest developments for pipe-laying and sewer systems, sewer inspection and repair, control and analysis technology and process-control technology.

“Here at IFAT 2008 we had the biggest stand we have ever had since taking part in environmental trade fairs. Because we have learned that investing in IFAT is precisely the right thing to do. The goal of coming here was primarily to create a platform at which our retailers from 58 different countries could present our products. But direct sales also rounded off the success. The high international scope of the fair was noteworthy, on both exhibitor and visitor sides,” said Manfred Baral, iPEK SPEZIAL TV managing director.

IFAT Attendance Increases

INTERNATIONAL NEWS


experience in the market, industry expertise and an excellent reputation in the China and regional markets. This joint venture will leverage the experience of the current TXS management team, its R&D efforts, sales, marketing and manufacturing.

Tu Xing Sun Trenchless Tech

(Beijing) Co. Ltd. is located in Tongzhou, near Beijing. It is a specialized enterprise whose major businesses are R&D and manufacturing of trenchless equipment. For more information about TXS, visit www.bjtxs.cn/ComIntro/en/com_intro1.asp.

One of the highlights at IFAT was also the Accompanying Programme, which featured the forums on ‘Water and Sewage’ and ‘Waste Treatment,’ and the 14th European Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste Symposium, which attracted 1,500 participants.

The Charles Machine Works Forms Joint Venture in China

The Charles Machine Works Inc., recognized as an industry leader in the United States and manufacturer of underground construction equipment, has signed a joint venture agreement with Tu Xing Sun No-Dig Tech (Beijing) Co. Ltd. (TXS) of Beijing.

TXS is considered to be a leader in the manufacture and distribution of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) systems in China and the surrounding regions.

“This investment is a significant step in our global strategic initiative,” said Charles Machine Works CEO Tiffany Sewell-Howard. “This venture allows us to strengthen our position in China and other emerging markets.”

TXS has been successfully man-ufacturing HDD units at its Beijing facility for more than 10 years and its management team brings considerable

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July 2008 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY 13

Godwin Pumps talks business with IFAT attendees at its booth.




INTERNATIONAL NEWSTracto-Technik to Hold Annual Practical Hands-on Days

Tracto-Technik will be holding its sixth annual Practical Hands-on Days Aug. 25-Sept. 15 at its facility in Lennestadt, Germany. The Hands-on Days has become the company’s most popular customer event.

During these days, visitors have the opportunity to see the practical application of Tracto-Technik’s complete range of trenchless pipe installation and replacement systems. Throughout the last few years, hundreds of visitors from all over the world have come to the company’s testing site to see for themselves. During this period, construction companies, as well as the international trade press and contractors (gas, water, telecom and electrical) will participate in the event.

The following product groups will be on display: GRUNDOMAT soil displacement hammers; GRUNDORAM steel pipe rammers; GRUNDOCRACK pneumatic pipe renewal; GRUNDOBURST hydraulic pipe renewal systems; GRUNDOPIT and GRUNDODRILL horizontal bore units; Föckersperger cable and pipe plow; and BAGELA cable winches.

For more information about the Practical Hands-on Days, call +49 2723 808110 or E-mail: [email protected].

Insituform Wins Product Award at Polish Conference

Insituform Technologies Inc. received the 2008 Innovative Product award at the No-Dig International Conference in Poland for its iPlus Composite pipe.

The product is next-generation cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) that is reinforced with carbon and/or glass fibers. The fiber reinforcement provides a structural solution that is roughly half the thickness of traditional pipe. In addition, the iPlus Composite pipe uses less resin and takes less time to cure, making it an effective and time-saving solution. iPlus Composite pipe is suitable for the rehabilitation of medium- to large-diameter gravity pipes.

The award was presented at the No-Dig International Conference held April 9-11 in Kielce, Poland.

“It’s a great honor for Insituform to receive this award,” said Rafal Chart, general manager of Insituform Sp. z.o.o in Krakow, Poland. “It’s clear that our customers really like the concept of iPlus Composite pipe.”

Chart said almost 1,100 m of iPlus Composite liner will be installed soon in two projects in Ostroleka and Poznan, Poland.


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Ferro Monk Systems Ltd., one of the U.K.’s leading wastewater asset and pipeline rehabilitation specialists, recently announced that it has become the fi rst U.K. approved contractor to use Ultracoat — a 100 percent solids epoxy sprayed coating system.

To coincide with the announcement, the company held an open house demonstration event at its new £1M facility in Leeds. Customers who attended the event came from as far as Inverness and watched demonstrations highlighting the benefi ts of Ultracoat.

Friendly on the environment, Ultracoat is a well-established process for relining, coating, up-grading and structurally reinforcing existing structures. Containing no toxins or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), it is excellent in confi ned spaces as there are no combustion or hazardous material risks, it has high resistance to H

2S

attack and can be applied to damp substrates. Originally developed in the United States by Warren Environmental, subsequently

the material and its specialist application equipment was brought to the United Kingdom by Fernco Environmental, which in turn appointed Ferro Monk to be the fi rst U.K. approved applicator.

Ultracoat has been successfully installed to renovate many miles of pipes, tunnels and more than 45,000 manholes, tanks and chambers. It is also the only coating approved by the U.S. Navy for potable water, fuel, oil and sewage applications.



INTERNATIONAL NEWS

New ‘Greener’ Repairs for the United Kingdom

Trenchless Engineering 2008 - Poland

The annual Trenchless Engineering Conference was held June 17-19 in Tomaszowice, Poland, just outside of Krakow. The conference was organized by Poland’s trenchless technology magazine, Inzynieria Bezwkopowa. The show was organized in cooperation with Krakow’s Municipal Water and Sewage Network Company.

The event was a blend of conference papers, live demonstrations, exhibits and social activities. There were 300 attendees with about 35 exhibitors.

The second day of the event was a special Evening Gala Ceremony. At this dinner, the TYTAN 2008 Awards were

onstruction Outlook Midyear Update, providing into the performance of the construction industry the end of 2008.

major findings of the forecast, authored by Robert vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill ction, include:

w construction starts for 2008 are estimated at 8.5 billion, down 11 percent.

gle family housing continues to weaken, with 8 declines of 28 percent in dollar volume and 31 cent in dwelling units, steeper than what occurred 2007. The single family market is being adversely cted by falling home prices, mounting inventories tight lending conditions.

mmercial building witnessed further expansion in 6 and 2007, which carried over into the first rter of 2008. However, the slower economy and

hter lending conditions are now causing projects be deferred, and the loss of momentum will take mer hold as the year proceeds. For 2008, mmercial building will retreat 8 percent in dollar ume and 16 percent in square feet. Stores and ehouses are the most vulnerable to decline in the r term, while lesser reductions are anticipated for els and office buildings. itutional building in 2008 continues to see a ng amount of educational structures reach

y , g pquarter of 2008 comthe first quarter in 2

Houses Passes OverThe House passe

Right-to-Know Actwastewater treatmensewer overflows, aFederation. The bill, and Frank LoBiondnational standard fonotification of muoverflows. It is enincrease the awarento contaminated wsponsoring a similar

WEF VP Testifi es at Paul Freedman, vi

Federation (WEF), teof the House WSubcommittee of theCommittee. Designefor potential legislat“Comprehensive Wa

The House WSubcommittee has b

Danny Heffernan, managing director of Ferro Monk Systems, demonstrates the application of Ultracoat at the open house event.

Winners and the jury of the TYTAN Awards.




July 2008 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY 17

presented in the following categories: Project of the Year-New Installation to Infra SA Wysogotowo; Project of the Year-Network Renovation to Insituform; Trenchless European Project to Herrenknecht; Innovative Product to IBAK; and Company of the Year to Infra SA Wysogotowo.

On the fi nal day of the event, attendees had the opportunity to visit numerous project sites in Krakow. Manholes were popular during these site visits. Renovation methods viewed include fi berglass segments from HOBAS, CIPP lining from BKP, Berolina, Omega Liner from Uponor and CIPP lining from Per Aarsleff.

A special video interview with Inzynieria Bezwykopowa’s publisher Pawel Kosmider can be viewed on TT TV at www.trenchlessonline.com. There is also a gallery of photographs taken by Inzynieria Bezwykopowa. These photographs can be seen at: www.i-b.pl/konferencja/index_e.php?bzz=ib_2008.

Interesting and topical industry presentations were made.

Live, outdoor demos were a popular attraction.



McGraw-Hill Construction has released its annual Construction Outlook Midyear Update, providing

insight into the performance of the construction industry through the end of 2008.

The major findings of the forecast, authored by Robert Murray, vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction, include:

New construction starts for 2008 are estimated at • $558.5 billion, down 11 percent. Single family housing continues to weaken, with • 2008 declines of 28 percent in dollar volume and 31 percent in dwelling units, steeper than what occurred in 2007. The single family market is being adversely affected by falling home prices, mounting inventories and tight lending conditions. Commercial building witnessed further expansion in • 2006 and 2007, which carried over into the first quarter of 2008. However, the slower economy and tighter lending conditions are now causing projects to be deferred, and the loss of momentum will take firmer hold as the year proceeds. For 2008, commercial building will retreat 8 percent in dollar volume and 16 percent in square feet. Stores and warehouses are the most vulnerable to decline in the near term, while lesser reductions are anticipated for hotels and office buildings. Institutional building in 2008 continues to see a • strong amount of educational structures reach groundbreaking, helped in particular by more expansion for colleges and universities. The 2008 forecast for institutional building calls for a 2 percent gain in dollar volume, although square footage will settle back 3 percent. Public works construction in 2008 will also rise 2 • percent in dollars. The push will come from greater federal funding for transportation projects in fiscal 2008, combined with an elevated focus on infrastructure repair and maintenance. Tighter fiscal conditions at both the federal and state levels of government are an emerging concern for the public works sector, but any restraint on construction is more likely to be experienced next year.

For more information on McGraw-Hill Construction’s 2008 Midyear Update, visit http://construction.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0249-283822_ITM_analytics.

Oahu Commits to $1 Billion Sewer Upgrade

In the wake of the massive Ala Wai Canal sewer spill in 2006, which resulted in an overflow of 48 billion gals of sewage, the city of Oahu, Hawaii, has committed to a $1 billion program to fix thousands of miles of sewers, the Honolulu Advertiser reported.

The city was in the midst of a $300 million repair effort ordered by EPA after the spill, and the city expanded the scope of the work over the last two years. Sewer fees are expected to increase to nearly $80 per month by 2010, almost double from the 2005 average monthly bill. City officials that they have already seen improvements in the

system, citing 22 spills through the first quarter of 2008 compared to 30 through the first quarter in 2007.

Houses Passes Overfl ow Notifi cation BillThe House passed the Sewage Overflow Community

Right-to-Know Act (HR 2452), which would require wastewater treatment plant operators to inform the public of sewer overflows, according to the Water Environment Federation. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) and Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), would provide a uniform, national standard for the monitoring, reporting, and public notification of municipal combined and sanitary sewer overflows. It is envisioned that the requirement would increase the awareness of citizens and help reduce exposure to contaminated water. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) is sponsoring a similar bill in the Senate, WEF reports.

WEF VP Testifi es at HearingPaul Freedman, vice president of the Water Environment

Federation (WEF), testified June 24 at a congressional hearing of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Designed as an information gathering exercise for potential legislative activity, the topic of the hearing was “Comprehensive Watershed Planning and Management.”

The House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee has broad jurisdiction over water resources activities including the Clean Water Act (CWA) and flood control and navigation-related responsibilities of the U.S. Army Corps. Congressman James Oberstar, Chair of the full Committee, has been a long time proponent of the watershed approach for dealing with water quality issues and is one of the few members of Congress who helped craft the Clean Water Act of 1972. One of his centerpiece legislative efforts this Congress is the Clean Water Restoration Act which seeks to restore the jurisdictional scope of the Clean Water Act after recent Supreme Court cases narrowed it. The legislation would help ensure that land use activities, such as development projects, do not contribute to water quality degradation. Chairman Oberstar believes that a watershed approach can help enhance local and regional economic viability in ways that meet local water resource development needs, are environmentally-sound, and consistent with watershed objectives.

Freedman was asked to testify on behalf of WEF along with witnesses from other water-related entities including former Army Corps official and nationally recognized expert on water resources planning, General Gerry Galloway; Carol Collier, the Executive Director of the Delaware River Basin Commission; and representatives from the Nature Conservancy and the Texas Water Board. Freedman’s testimony included an overview of the watershed approach to water resources management and current programs; meeting new challenges in water resources management; the need for intergovernmental and interagency cooperation; and the inadequacy of the CWA for holistic watershed management.

INDUSTRY WATCH

By Jim Rush

Report: 2008 Construction Starts Down 11 Percent





What began more than three decades ago as NASSCO, the leading organization for the trenchless technology industry, seeks a full-time Staff Engineer for its headquarters offi ce in Owings Mills, Md. Ideal candidate is:

• a professional engineer or engineer/civil engineer in training

• a strong technical writer

• experienced or knowledgeable of trenchless infrastructure rehabilitation

• profi cient in verbal or written communications

• pro-active, self-motivated and a team player

Qualifi ed candidates can submit their resume to NASSCO executive director Irvin Gemora at [email protected], fax to (410) 486-6838 or mail to 11521 Cronridge Dr., Suite J, Owings Mills, MD 21117.

For Hire : NASSCO Staff Engineer

NASSCO News11521 Cronridge Dr. Suite J, Owings Mills, MD 21117 Ph: 410. 486. 3500 Fax: 410.486.6838 www.nassco.org

NASSCO has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Center for Expertise and Research on Infrastructures in Urban Areas (CERIU) to make NASSCO’s Pipeline Assessment and Certifi cation Program (PACP) the

new industry standard in Quebec Province, Canada. NASSCO’s PACP is a system that provides standardization

and consistency in the way sewer pipes are evaluated, coded and managed. Recognized as the industry standard in North America since 2001, PACP creates a comprehensive and reliable reservoir of data to describe the sewer pipe that can be used in prioritization, planning and renovation of the wastewater collection system.

“Our vision of creating a standard not just for the United States but for North America is becoming more and more of a reality,” said NASSCO executive director Irvin Gemora. “We’ve proven that PACP works and our success is getting noticed. We’re thrilled to work with CERIU to help make PACP the standard throughout the Quebec Province. Hopefully, this agreement will demonstrate the value of using a single standard for defect coding and eventually to PACP becoming the defect coding standard for Canada.”

A survey conducted in 2006 by CERIU found discrepancies in the way sewer systems were evaluated and inspected. A lack of consistency led some to classify a defect in a pipe as a crack while others labeled it a fracture, making it diffi cult for professionals to establish

a protocol for successful assessment and rehabilitation. As a result, CERIU established a committee composed of city representatives and closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspection professionals to discuss the issue. Together, the group adopted the NASSCO protocols for mains, laterals and manholes.

“By implementing NASSCO’s proven standard protocol, Quebec professionals will be able to create, exchange and integrate their reports on common rules and codifi cation objectives, enabling more effective rehabilitations,” said CERIU technologies director Isabel Tardif. “This will enable our city managers to excel in asset management and improve our entire infrastructure renewal process.” NASSCO’s PACP also includes user certifi cation, tools for data integration and mapping. NASSCO offers PACP training throughout the year across the United States. To see a complete schedule of PACP and other training and education courses available from NASSCO, visit www.nassco.org or call Andrea Carter at (410) 486-3500.

NASSCO’s TAG-R Now Available NASSCO’s Trenchless Assessment Guide for

Rehabilitation (TAG-R) represents the most extensive software available enabling the user to evaluate more than 95 technology variations for sanitary, storm and combined sewer, potable and non-potable pipes, lateral sewers and manholes.

TAG-R is easy-to-use interactive software created to

NASSCO’s PACP Hailed as Industry Standard in Quebec Province

NEWSNEWS



A headline from a recent USA Today article in May read, “Aging systems releasing sewage into rivers, streams.”

I took a moment to think about that before I responded. I knew this day would come — when the general public would learn about the challenges our industry tackles every day. I quickly typed up a letter-to-the-editor, thanking him for shedding light on this important and growing issue. I noted that we need strong support from our lawmakers and the public to pay for what we’re using. Americans have long lived without paying for this most precious vital public asset — our sewer systems. As most trenchless technology professionals know, our underground infrastructure is in great need of repair. Although mandates are in place by the EPA to ensure we fi x our aging pipes, we are hardly spending at the rate we’ve been using.

Although my letter wasn’t published, I’m happy to see this most important issue hitting consumer newspapers

and educating them on our industry. Within weeks of sending my letter, a signifi cant water main break occurred in Montgomery County, Md., just miles down the road from our headquarters offi ce. More than 1,000 restaurants were closed and thousands of residents were without water for days. Area supermarkets were quickly cleaned of bottled water. This incident is one that I’m sure will be repeated in counties across the country until we spend more money on fi xing our underground infrastructure.

As many of you know, consumer awareness of these issues will continue — in large part due to an upcoming documentary called “Liquid Assets,” scheduled to air on PBS stations nationwide in the fall 2008. NASSCO provided seed money to help Penn State Public Broadcasting develop this documentary that will explore the status and challenges of our nation’s underground infrastructure.

From the Executive Director:Failing Underground Infrastructure Making Consumer Headlines

July ‘08

Irv Gemora

evaluate alternative use of rehabilitation methods. Project requirements are entered into the program and the most applicable technologies are selected from the data. The engineer then designs the selected technology for each specifi c application. These methods can then be employed in the renewal of gravity and pressure pipes and manholes. TAG-R will be included as part of NASSCO’s new Inspector Training and

Certifi cation Program. The software also will be available for purchase independently —

$100 for NASSCO members, $195 for non-members. Consulting and municipal engineers receive comprehensive information for choosing the best solution for asset management by readily selecting specifi c technologies.

In the future, TAG-R may be combined with TAG, a sister software dealing with new installations and in-line replacement methods already developed in collaboration with the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA). The combined software will be the most extensive method selection software of its type, allowing designers to simultaneously evaluate the suitability of numerous trenchless construction methods covering the installation, replacement and renewal of gravity driven pipes, pressure pipes and manhole structures. To learn more or to place an order, go to www.nassco.org or e-mail Andrea Carter at [email protected].

Calendar

Aug. 11-12 PACP Training Owings Mills, MD Contact Andrea Carter (410) 486-3500 or [email protected]

Aug. 18-19 PACP Training Mt. Pleasant, SCContact Patrick [email protected]

Sept. 15-16PACP TrainingOwings Mills, MD Contact Andrea Carter(410) 486-3500 or [email protected]

Sept. 17-18PACP TrainingSeattle, WAContact John Jurgens(425) 487-3325 or [email protected](410) 486-3500 or [email protected]


22 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY July 2008 www.trenchlessonline.comwww.trenchlessonline.com

Roundtable Discussion:Roundtable Discussion:A LOOK THROUGH THE CONTRACTOR’S EYES

Each year at the No-Dig Show, Trenchless Technology gathers leaders from the trenchless community to explore different aspects of the industry. This

year, we decided to take a look at the market through the contractor’s eyes.

We were pleased to assemble some of the leading contractors in the country to share their thoughts on the state of the industry, a changing economy and the role of trenchless technology in the future. The roundtable discussion was held Tuesday, April 29 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. The participants were:

Keith Alexander,• President, Visu Sewer Alex Buehler• , Vice President of Marketing and Technology, Insituform Technologies Inc. Mark Hallett• , Vice President of Operations-Utility Division, Miller PipelineMark Harris• , Vice President, Reynolds InlinerDan Liotti• , President, Midwest MoleKelly O’Dell• , Vice President, Michels Pipeline Services

(Editor’s Note: To read the full version of the Editorial Roundtable, please visit www.trenchlessonline.com)

Trenchless Technology: How has the trenchless market changed recently from the contractor’s perspective?

Buehler: I’ve seen a shift moving from large-diameter to a higher percentage of small-diameter rehabilitation.

Additionally, I have seen a shift in the scope of work, meaning that we see more customers opting for bundled work as part of a turnkey solution. Specifi cally, they are typically bundling mainline rehabilitation with laterals, manholes and other digging.

Beyond the borders of the United States, I am seeing changes in testing requirements, mostly emanating from Germany and seemingly spreading throughout Western Europe. Likewise, I see more activism from the engineering community — people educating themselves on trenchless technology and trying to drive specifi cations accordingly. Obviously, we see pricing pressure in our market where the barriers to entry are relatively low and the market is somewhat mature.

Technology continues to improve. Importantly, the people in this room have helped drive shifts in technology to make trenchless more viable, robust and affordable. I see tremendous improvement on the curing and composites side, which will continue to push the technical envelope associated with CIPP. Regarding improvement, I see a substantial discrepancy between the real demand in this market and the actual spending. Consequently, we as an industry must continue to educate the general public, as well as municipal leadership about what is happening underground and the costs of inaction and even catastrophic failure.

Liotti: With new installations, soils information is so important. We’re really just starting to see some better soils information, geotechnical data reports and geotechnical baseline reports. One of the newer technologies that has become more commonplace is guided boring or pilot tube microtunneling, which gives us the ability to install small diameter sewers cost effectively. This technology has now been applied to auger boring and we are using the pilot tube machine to guide an auger bore. It gives us the ability to do installations that were previously nearly impossible, like 350-ft manhole shots with small-diameter auger bores. Disc cutter technology is not new, but it is now being applied to smaller diameters, which gives us the ability to install smaller diameter pipes through rock. Manufacturers are taking these disc cutters with button bits and carbide inserts, along with high-horsepower machines and miniaturizing them so we have the ability to take these machines and attack some diffi cult ground.

O’Dell: I’ve seen quite a bit of change in market acceptance in the cured-in-place business. And as the dollars tighten up, I think we’ll see more money spent on the trenchless industry because we are more competitive than open-cut operations. We’re actually seeing a little bit different mix from small bore to large diameter in the Midwest. Buehler



Alexander: We’re also seeing an increase in larger diameters. There are many changes in the marketplace as we go forward. It’s inevitable. Change is always going to happen. It is about getting your people geared up and make changes as you are moving forward and running your operation within the marketplace or utilizing new products coming down the pipeline.

We also need to keep promoting awareness and keeping trenchless technologies on the forefront on people’s minds so that when it comes down to the board meetings, trenchless is right there as an option. Whether it is driven by economics or just social savings, it can be a benefi t for everybody involved. There is a big void in education when it comes to design engineers, project engineers and inspectors. We need to start developing more co-op programs at our universities to get students in the fi eld so they can get real, hands-on experience.

Harris: We’ve seen a lot more packaging of contracts recently as customers are looking to deal with just one entity to get everything done. One of the things I fi nd disturbing is that we have some clients putting these packages together and trying to cover every possible scenario that you could think of on a project .What happens is that you take a $100,000 job and make a $2 million bid. That leads to bid unbalancing, which is risky and something that no one really likes to talk about. A smart contractor is going to evaluate the risk and bid it properly, but a smart contractor doesn’t necessarily get the project.

Labor is always a big issue. You’re not always going to have work within a 20-mile radius of your offi ce. As a result, traveling is a major part of the business and it’s hard to train, develop and retain your people when they’re on the road months at a time. Finally, improvements in equipment and processes have lowered the entry barriers into the business. That has opened up the market for some non-trenchless contractors to start dabbling around.

Hallett: We are seeing the bundling of multiple methods more and more. When there is enough money in the budget it’s quite effective. It does put a strain on a trenchless contractor because of the number of different technologies required to perform on a contract. Because of the specialized nature of each method the general contractor may be required to outsource many of the methods, this can account for 50 percent of the total contract or more.

More education is an area where there is room for improvement, from our political leaders to municipalities to engineers. The inspector training courses and installation courses that are currently being offered by NASCCO and NASTT are extremely benefi cial to both the contractor and the owner. We have seen more engineering fi rms requesting information and training in an effort to make their staff more familiar with the various trenchless technologies and their capabilities.

TT: There has been discussion about the use of alternative contracting practices, like design-build, in the trenchless marketplace. What are the potential benefi ts and drawbacks?

Buehler: A signifi cant portion of our business derives from competitive bidding and that has proven pretty stable both in dollars and numbers over the last three years. I think all of us believe in the potential benefi ts of procurement outside of low bid. It helps mitigate, and in some cases remove, an adversarial relationship between the owner, engineer and contractor. It allows the contractor to get in on the front end to conduct value engineering and plan for work releases to ultimately deliver a high-value and lower-cost solution for the customer.

Alternative procurement methods such as design-build and CM at Risk are increasing slightly, although their proportion has signifi cantly lagged the adoption rates in other industries. If you look at other sectors in the municipal arena, design-build can comprise up to 50 percent of all the dollars in that space, and we are certainly nowhere near that in the trenchless market.

Liotti: In the new installation world, design-build really allows the opportunity for the contractor to select the best method of installation, especially in terms of selecting the equipment. There are a lot of ways to put a new pipe or a new tunnel in, and, depending on what equipment the contractor owns, he can be much more competitive than having to go rent or lease something that is designed as a specifi c method. The teamwork approach is good. There is nothing better than everyone being on the same side of the table to complete a project.

O’Dell: I have not seen a real shift toward design-build. It’s weighted pretty heavily toward competitive bidding. The one area I would like to see changed is the way specifi cations are written. It’s just like building a house. If you start out with good specifi cations, you get a good product. Fortunately, we are seeing some movement in the direction where the specifi cations are strict enough that we are getting good information prior to bidding the job and hopefully that will continue.

Alexander



Alexander: The benefi t of design-build should be a mutual effort between the contractor and design fi rms to have mutual savings on a project. I see a need for it possibly on larger more diffi cult projects, but we need to proceed cautiously because the marketplace is wired toward low-bid. You will get a savings through your team approach with your designer, contractor and owner working toward maximizing the end result as you are installing the project. One of the drawbacks is that contractors are wired competitively. Probably 90 percent of our work is low bid, with design-build and negotiated work making up the balance. The end results of design-build can be a very positive approach but most owners are accustomed to utilizing the low-bid mentality. The more realistic approach may be laying out specifi cations and pre-qualifi cations ahead of time and pre-qualify contractors prior to the bid process. This theory would allow the design engineer to verify the quality of all parties and products before the bid process begins.

Hallett: The use of design-build is win-win for all parties involved. This format allows for a thorough evaluation by the design team, the contractor and the owner. It allows all the parties to buy in to the best solution. It also spreads the risk amongst the group instead of putting it all on the contractor. This lets the contractor give his best price to perform the work, generally saving the owner money and headaches. Unfortunately, the perception is that you’re going to pay more with a design-build contract as opposed to a project competitively bid. But what the owner does not see is the additional money added to cover the risk, which may or may not be necessary. With that said, I expect alternative contracting practices to be only a small part of our business.

TT: Is there an advantage to alternative contracting from a contractor’s side?

Hallett: Yes. When we can get involved on the design side of a project we can better understand the needs of our customer. Because of our experience we can then recommend the best method of repair.

Alexander: There is potential for savings for the owner if the contractor gets involved right away with the design fi rm from the start. If the contractor can get involved on a diffi cult project on the front side, we can save a lot of time in design cost along the way and time is money. Instead of an owner spending all his money on the design side, the contractor can streamline the process and start getting work completed fi xing the problems.

Harris: The biggest advantage is risk sharing and that’s what makes it work. If you can get everybody onboard and understand the risks involved, you can lay out different scenarios and allocate that risk. From a contractor’s point of view, I know I can reduce my costs if I don’t have to cover certain risks. It can be a win-win. In the end, it can save a lot of time and money and you get a better product because everyone is on the same team.

TT: What effect are increasing energy and materials prices having on the marketplace? How does this affect trenchless contractors vs. open-cut?

Buehler: We are all large consumers of thermosetting resin, which manifests a strong correlation with crude oil prices and clearly the volatility of crude oil has had an effect on our business. We have tried to manage pricing through appropriately aggressive procurement along with continuous innovation in chemistry and composites. The economy has had some effect on our marketplace. Tight credit markets might also infl uence the availability of capital to drive municipal spending, although the results of this phenomenon have proven elusive. Surety bonds are a large fi nancing mechanism for capital improvements projects, and municipal bond issuance is down year over year. So far, however, that is not having much of an effect on our market, and I can count the number of accounts that have delayed, decreased or cancelled spending on one hand.

Liotti : In our business we use a lot of steel — steel casing, steel pipe — and for years it was 28 to 30 cents a pound and now on certain sizes it is pushing 80 cents a pound. This is over a 250 percent increase on steel over the last four years. As these new jobs get designed, we need to consider what other pipe products we can use or design them with less wall thickness if that is an option. The cost of steel is defi nitely driving up prices.

Hallett

Liotti





O’Dell: From past experience, usually when you have a downturn like this, it takes at least two years before municipalities really start seeing a change in their revenue stream, before the money starts drying up and it starts getting real competitive looking for bonds and looking for fi nancing. I haven’t seen it yet. I’m hoping that our downturn doesn’t last through this two-year period because I do think that we would see a drop in the amount of projects that would be put out on the street.

Alexander: Comparing trenchless and open-cut, we have fl eets to operate and we have materials utilized whether it’s steel, concrete or polymers – all materials are going up, although at different percentages. Those increases are going to have to be passed on. The effects are pretty basic, namely you’re going to get less work for the dollar. How long is this downturn going to go for? I think it’s going to rebound probably in the next 12 to 18 months.

Harris: We are defi nitely starting to see the effects of increasing fuel prices. Fortunately, I think we can handle it for the moment but I do have concerns looking forward. It’s not just the cost of fuel but the overall economy. Many of us have been through these downturns before and there is always an upturn that happens afterward. It’s just a matter of how deep the valley is before you start to climb the hill. Times like this can have a cleansing effect on the business. Stronger contractors, the ones that don’t have knee-jerk reactions, will keep some sanity and realize that even though you want to keep your people and equipment busy there is only so much pipe you can put in the ground on a given day and you’re kidding yourself if you think you can make your margins by doubling your production.

Hallett: We’ve seen little change as far as work coming out due to the increase in energy prices. What we don’t know is how long this will continue and how much higher prices will get. If this goes beyond two years, the amount of funding budgeted for rehab work could diminish. In addition, contractors will have to raise their pricing to cover increased cost, resulting in less rehab work getting done.

TT: How do you view the market in the coming years?

Hallett: I think we’re going to see a dip over the next year or two due to higher costs and potential budget cuts. But with consent decrees in place, the awareness of CSOs, the demand for less pollution and tighter water controls, I expect it to be a strong market long term.

Buehler: As I look at the U.S. economy, candidly, I am somewhat pessimistic, at least in the short-term. If you look at any of the macroeconomic indicators like GDP, consumer confi dence and employment data, you do not see a very bright picture. At the end of the day, we are a cyclical business that is inextricably tied to the strength of municipal coffers, particularly as it relates to spending for sewer rehabilitation, which is likely on the bleeding edge of discretionary spending. Now having said that, there are some other industry trends that I think are at play beyond the U.S. market. We are a global company, so we have a revenue base that is increasingly diversifi ed geographically. The European market is growing and the Asian market is growing even more. So while the United States is down, there are other markets comprising an increasingly larger percentage of our revenue mix. O’Dell: I do think that the trenchless market has gotten a lot more competitive. I think we have a bright future. I am concerned here in the United States on how far and how in depth this downturn is going to be, but the potential for our growth in this industry is tremendous.

Alexander: In the short term you have to be cautious, obviously with the economic indicators. But in the long term, I am very optimistic. There is a huge need to maintain and repair the underground investment. If it is not maintained and repaired, we all know about the repercussions of that. The biggest problem is keeping projects funded so they can repair these pipes, because at some point you are going to lose your window to use trenchless technologies and you will have to go to replacement.

Harris

O’Dell





Soil displacement tools are known by an array of names, including hog, gopher, mole and missile. All of these tool names refer to a pneumatically

operated tool that moves through the ground, compacting the soil as it travels and leaving a bore hole behind into which some type of underground utility will be installed. Usage of these tools varies from once or twice a month for eight or more hours a day, every day.

According to piercing tool specialist Rick Bissonette, from trenchless equipment manufacturer TT Technologies, Aurora, Ill., the key to long tool life and reliable service is simple: Keep the inside of the tool clean and operate it within the guidelines of the manufacturer. There are

several maintenance procedures that piercing tool operators should perform in order to meet those objectives and keep their tools running smoothly.

Preventative MaintenanceSometimes preventative maintenance comes in the form

of doing some research before a bore. That begins with knowing the ground conditions. “The ultimate goal of a good maintenance program is to ensure operation of the tool,” Bissonette said. “If a tool is lost or becomes damaged because someone didn’t take into consideration how they were using it or what adjustments needed to be made for specifi c ground conditions, then no maintenance program is going to help

A LONGER LIFE

What You Need to Know to Keep Your Piercing Tools at Peak Performance

By Jim Schill



that. So I classify doing your operational homework as part of a good preventative maintenance program.”

This includes knowing what the ground conditions are and taking steps such as marking air supply hoses in 10-ft intervals in order to more easily monitor a tool’s progress during the bore. It also means knowing how to operate the tool in these various soil conditions.

“Sometimes crews get into granular soils that collapse behind the tool blocking exhaust air, stalling the tool and halting the bore. Pulling pipe in this case preserves the bore hole and completes the bore,” Bissonette said. “Groundwater is another issue. Groundwater can hinder the performance of a piercing tool and it can also dirty the tool considerably. Being familiar with the challenges that each of these conditions pose is an important step to successfully completing the bore. These tools have been around for decades and there’s a lot of cumulative knowledge out there. If you’re new to boring, a call to your tool manufacturer might prove very helpful in these situations.”

Cleaning & ServiceAccording to Bissonette, fl ushing the tool is one of the

easiest, and most effective maintenance procedures for a piercing tool. When boring in wet, sloppy soils, a lot of dirt and debris can be pulled into the tool. When left unchecked, that debris can cause performance and eventually wear problems with the tool.

“Flushing the tool consists of pouring a cleaning agent into the air hose and running the tool above ground until all the debris is fl ushed out,” he said. “In the past, diesel fuel was commonly used as the cleaning agent, maybe a cup or so in the air hose. But today, many contractors utilize our environmentally friendly, biodegradable lubricant to clean their tools.” Depending on the condition of the tool, the fl ushing procedure may need to be repeated several times. But afterward, a quick wipe down and the tool is ready for storage.

Bissonette also said there is no preferred way to store a piercing tool. He said some contractors store them horizontally, others vertically. But with all tools, leaving them out in the elements will hasten their deterioration.

Associated EquipmentKeeping all the tools and equipment needed for

underground boring applications running and in good condition is also part of the larger piercing tool maintenance picture. Here’s a quick rundown.

CompressorsKeeping the air compressor in tip-top shape will help

keep your piercing tool running at peak performance as well. Bissonette said this is especially critical in cold weather applications. Draining the compressor of moisture is critical to preventing freeze-up in all pneumatic tools, including piercing tools, during cold weather applications.

Lubricators & Compressed Air HeatersThis item would go on the check-before-each-use list.

Many pneumatic tools, included piercing tools, need to be lubricated during operation. Simply checking the lubricator before operating the tool is a good idea to help make sure things keep running smoothly. Petroleum-based lubricants are common and perform well in warm weather. Biodegradable

lubricants are also common and perform exceptionally well in cold weather.

Cold weather can really have an impact on piercing tool performance and Bissonette suggests using a compressed air heater to prevent frost build up. Several types are available and Bissonette suggests checking with the tool manufacturer for recommendations.

Air HosesChecking air hoses on a regular basis can easily mean

the difference between a success and a costly breakdown. “While a hose will fail when it fails, regular inspection and proper upkeep can at least extend the life of the hose and hopefully prevent a failure on the job,” Bissonette said. “It’s basically a visual inspection, but it serves to address both tool performance issues, as well as safety issues.” Blowing any dirt and debris out of the hose before use is also recommended.

Locking the couplers during use with a threaded locking ring or even duct tape serves a dual purpose. First, it helps ensure that the couplers remained locked together during a bore, but it also helps keep dirt and debris from packing into the coupler sliding collar. A visual inspection of the seals on the couplers is also recommended to make sure that the tool is working at its best.

“Another good operational practice is to lay out the air hose and blow compressed air through it before fi nal hook up to the tool,” Bissonette said. “Test fi re the tool at ground level before placing it into the starting pit. An ounce or two of air tool lubricant poured into the air supply line before connecting to the lubricator will ensure that the supply hose is properly coated and will allow the lubricator to immediately supply the lube necessary for optimum tool performance.”

Following Manufacturer Recommendations According to Bissonette, any time operator receive a new

tool, they should read the operator’s manual to become familiar with the operation and air pressure requirements of this tool. A tool operated at less than recommended air pressure will be severely under powered and a tool operated above recommended air pressure will fatigue some of the parts and cause pre-mature failure.

While each piercing tool operates on similar principles, each piercing tool manufacturer has its own recommended service and maintenance schedule. “Some manufacturers suggest servicing the tool frequently, after every 30 hours of use,” Bissonette said. “That includes disassembling the tool to check seal condition and spacing. Some types of plastic seals become elongated after use and can get to the point where they create resistance in the tool and need to be replaced.

“For other tools, regular service and seal inspection intervals are longer — 400 hours. This can partially be attributed to different types of seals. Tefl on-constructed seals have different wear properties than plastic seals and don’t require service as often. Again, it all comes down to reading your manual and seeing what the manufacturer recommends. This is often overlooked, but can make a big difference in the performance and life expectancy of your piercing tool.”

Jim Schill is a technical writer, based in Mankato, Minn.



All of the stories below have a common theme: happy clients with successful projects. Keys to making these jobs happen frequently are the keys to a successful company and especially a successful

bypass pumping operation. Below are a few elements that should be followed for a successful bypass pump job and were followed on the jobs presented.

Scope of Work — Fully understand what the client wants, as well as the client’s customer, which ultimately is everyone’s client, the end-user. Work with your customer to provide up-to-date data for submittals and drawings that are accurate and representative of the equipment that is being supplied.

Have a Creative, Fuel-Effi cient Solution — Offer new and innovative ideas. In today’s market, operating a diesel-driven pump is very costly with fuel prices rising almost daily. Pump effi ciency is key to getting the best value for the money spent on a bypass. Any bypass company should be able to show, in print, what the pump effi ciency is at a given RPM and what the NPSR (net positive suction head required) is. The more effi cient the pump, the more fl uid it pumps for the same dollar’s worth of fuel. For example, Rain for Rent has made a substantial investment into bypass pumps specially designed for high-effi ciency; its engineered systems have saved thousands of dollars for short bypass operations to tens of thousands for longer duration projects vs. standard bypass pumps.

Be Committed to Safety and On-going Training — Have a fully competent and well trained staff that is aware of the job specifi c requirements and the hazards that are unique to the particular job. No one wants a sewage spill or a person injured on a jobsite. In this business, you have to be able to say, “I know,” not “I think.” You can only say that when you are properly trained and aware of all safety issues. If the job is unsuccessful, it affects everyone within the trenchless industry, and to some degree, the entire trenchless process because of lost confi dence.

Use the Right Equipment — Selecting the correct piping, hose and transition fi ttings are key. These items are what keep the sewage contained and keeps the project operating smoothly. Many times the savings of a few dollars because of not putting in an extra valve, air vent or a standby pump has resulted in a substantial loss on a project. After a disaster has happened and you have made the local news, it is easy to say “I knew we should have” or “I told them this wouldn’t work” but by then, it is too late.

Simply put, understand your scope of work, use well trained staff and put in the right system the fi rst time from a reliable company that stands behind its work. If you do that, you will have a successful bypass job every time.

New York BypassA western New York construction company needed

a 12-mgd sewer bypass in a high traffi c, residential neighborhood near a parking garage. The contractor was bypassing the main infl uent sewer lines that went into the sewer authority to a cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) line, making tie-in connections for a new solids and fl oatable removal building. Because of the limited space on site, fusion had to be done in very tight quarters that other pump companies said would be more costly, but Rain for Rent was able to accomplish the task economically.

Rain for Rent placed four, DV300i, 12-in., sound-attenuated pumps on the sidewalk and in the street. Also, 3,000 ft of 18-in. HDPE discharge piping was placed, two, 18-in. road crossings that were being used to keep access to a parking garage open and an 18-in. Magnetic Flow meter. The discharge line had to be placed against a chain link fence right on the curb and stay out of the street. The contractor is a major player in the New Jersey/New York area and had never rented from Rain for Rent in the past, but was very pleased with the outcome of the project.

Keys to Bypass Pumping Success

By Paul Reilly




Engineered Bypass for Northern California Wastewater Treatment Plant

When a northern California wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) required a bypass to handle 100 percent of its 31 mgd sewer infl uent while the decaying RCP headworks pipelines were cleaned, relined and visually inspected, plant offi cials contacted Rain for Rent.

The WWTP that received and treated sewage from four major cities was extremely antiquated and in dire need of infl uent line refurbishment. With safety as its top priority, Rain for Rent provided a unique turnkey pumping solution consisting of four pump stations with suction lifts averaging 30 ft. Each station involved pumps, pipe, fuel cells and spill containment. The entire project consisted of fi ve, 6-in. DV-150i Sound Attenuated (SA) pumps; six, 8-in., DV-200c pumps; two 20 hp, one 13 hp and two 35 hp submersible pumps; fi ve fuel cells; 2,500 ft of 18-in. HDPE pipe; 200 ft of 12-in. Victaulic pipe with valves and fi ttings; and Spillguards.

A 25-ft x 50-ft x 5-ft pit was excavated to stage the six DV-200c pumps so that suction access could be established. Two 35 hp and two 20 hp submersible pumps were placed in a 7-ft x 7-ft x 30-ft deep vault. Four road crossings provided emergency access to WWTP employees including access to an electric company’s substation located inside the plant.

The fl ow was bypassed from each of the four cities’ pipelines and pumped into the WWTP’s Emergency Holding Basin. In addition to providing design and installation, Rain for Rent provided pump watch for the duration of the project.

The bypass was the largest portion of the project and the biggest concern — and was successfully completed.

Memphis Bypass In April 2006, Rain for Rent New Jersey was working on

selling some Power Prime Pumps to a national CIPP contractor based in the New Jersey area. While discussing pumps with the contractor, the Rain for Rent learned of a 120-mgd bypass that the contractor was recently awarded in Memphis, Tenn. The contractor already had a quote from another pump company for a turnkey system to bypass up to 120 mgd while a 108-in. diameter line was being lined. This 108-in. line was the last leg before the treatment plant, which handles the sewage fl ow for a greater portion of Memphis and part of Mississippi. Through hard work and a few challenging hours, Rain for Rent quickly turned out the winning bid. High fl ow and high lifts created the need for a large excavation and expensive concrete trench boxes. One of Rain for Rent’s winning advantages was the effi ciency of its DV-400 16-in. pumps, equating to money saved through lower fuel cost and a need for fewer pumps.

The project was delayed several times, but when the project fi nally began in October 2006, Rain for Rent installed 12 DV-400s, and 7,000 ft of large diameter HDPE complete with hoses and fi ttings. The CIPP contractor fi nished lining the 108-in. concrete line in early December.

Paul Reilly is Rain For Rent’s division manager, who oversees large bypass projects and its filtration division.



The Henrico County, Va., Department of Public Utilities had some concerns with its FourMile Creek Trunk Sewer Line. Any failure of this line

could cause considerable problems in the area, as the line runs parallel to Interstate 295 (I-295), with part of the sewer line passing underneath and including three crossings of this heavily traveled highway.

Anticipating a rehabilitation of the sewer line, the department engaged the engineering fi rm of Greeley and Hansen, with Roger Cronin and William Judy doing the leg work. Their investigation revealed considerable corrosion due to the release of hydrogen sulfi de inside the pipe.

“This combination mixed with water develops sulfuric acid, which could cause the deterioration and breakdown of the 84-in. concrete pipe,” said Judy. Given the many complications of keeping this major, active interceptor sewer fl owing, Judy and his team determined that sliplining would be the best method for this project because sliplining eliminated the need to bypass pump. There was never a need to stop the wastewater fl ow to install the pipe.

A bid was posted for the rehabilitation of the 84-in. trunk sewer line by sliplining with 4,022 ft of 72-in. fi berglass pipe, including rehabilitation of an existing 27-in. sewer by sliplining with 325 ft of 18-in. pipe. The contract also called for new reinforced concrete junction chambers and manholes, providing traffi c control

on I-295 and the crown spray treatment of 29,780 ft of existing 60-, 70- and 84-in. sewer with magnesium hydroxide. Crown spray treatment has been applied to sewers in the western part of the United States, but has rarely been applied in the East.

The winning bidder was Spiniello Companies of New Jersey, headed by the team of Sam Silva as construction/project manager and his superintendent, Kent Meier. This project became quite a challenge — which upon further examination would throw them many curves.

While most sliplining jobs are done with a straight line length of pipe, this pipe had six curves consisting of chords created by using concrete pipe with fi ve-degree bevels on one end. Existing curves were short radius (168 ft), with a maximum total defl ection of almost 50 degrees. There were many joints involved, including 150 pieces of 20-ft joints and more than 600 ft of 3-ft lengths for the curves.

Spiniello suggested an alternative method to slipline through the curves, thereby reducing excavations near critical structures. The county and the engineer reviewed the alternative method, which was allowed to proceed.

Silva and Meier met the challenge head-on. Safety was paramount for two primary reasons: the proximity of I-295 to the existing sewer and the safety of the crew that would be working in excavations that required shoring. Silva and Meier then proceeded to install excavation shoring and prepare a trench that was 40 ft

Sliplining Project

Completed Using

Precision and Skill

By Alice Steinbacher

A A CurvyCurvy Situation Situation

Sliplining is usually done with a straight line of pipe. This sliplining project had a few curves to handle.




long by 45 ft wide and 25 ft deep that was fully secured by a shoring system. It was Meier’s job to install the traffi c system, which included the use of attenuators or impact cushions to help prevent drivers from going off the road into the nearby work zone. Even with those precautions, there were a few incidents, including one where a car slid on black ice into an excavator.

Next, Silva contacted Jenny Engineering Co. to calculate all of the measurements and number each section in order to secure the walls for the safety of the crew and the smooth operation of the project. “This created a vault around the pipe,” explained Silva.

“Each pipe to be pushed into the original pipe weighed about 50 tons due to the weight of the water and working conditions,” Silva said. It took a powerful hydraulic pushing machine to place each section inside the old pipe — a painstaking effort by all.

Silva said that there would have been considerably more digging had not the pushing of the sections been so successful, particularly the use of short lengths of

Grout was used to compensate for the 12-in. difference in size between the new and existing pipe. In order to do the grouting, an excavator was used to temporarily back up the flow.




pipe for the curves. The short lengths of pipe included the 3-ft sections, with special couplings. A cleaning and sizing mandrel or “wagon wheel” was then used to clean the inside of the new pipe before completion.

Pushing a 72-in. pipe into the old 84-in. PCCP pipe required the installation of grout to compensate for the 12-in. difference in pipe size. In order to do this grouting, an excavator was used to temporarily back-up the fl ow.

Another suggestion by the Spiniello team was to use

cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) for rehabilitation of the existing 27-in. sewer instead of sliplining, as proposed by the contract. It proved to be a cost-effective method for this portion of the project.

The project was unique in that the curves were pushed into place rather than installing the pipe by excavation and removing of the top half of the existing sewer. Sliplining of curves similar to this project was never done before on the East Coast. The precision and skill of the Spiniello team helped to make this diffi cult project go smoothly and to fi nish on time.

Silva and Meier took charge of this unique and challenging sliplining project. “These guys were great. They had never handled a job like this before. They really came through,” Silva said.

Alice Steinbacher is a freelance writer based in Bernardsville, N.J., and has been working with the construction trades for more than 20 years.

The project was unique in that the curves were pushed into place

rather than installing the pipe by excavation and removing of the

top half of the existing sewer.





American Communications Construction understands the importance of leaving a small footprint. The Houston-based company installs more than 10,000 ft

of distribution and trunk cables for Comcast every week in residential areas throughout Houston.

“These homeowners have spent a considerable amount of money to landscape their yards, and our job is to install the cable while minimizing disruption to their landscapes,” says Aven McBride, president of American Communications Construction.

McBride founded American Communications Construction in 2001 in order to have his own say in how the company was structured and operated. He previously spent more than 20 years in the cable television industry. Today, American Communications Construction specializes in fi ber-optic placement, cable splicing and fi ber-optic and cable testing. The company also helps customers to design new plant infrastructures.

American Communication Construction works for a number of cable providers in the Houston area, including Comcast. McBride’s company is responsible for the repair of distribution and truck cable lines that have gone bad or have been damaged by contractors. The Houston area uses a rear easement in the residential areas to place all utility lines, which means that these lines are basically in the backyards of homes throughout the city.

“If we went into these easements with a trencher and opened a trench from fence to fence in the backyards,

obviously we would cut a number of service drops or service cables and destroy the homeowners’ landscaping, which would create some issues,” says McBride.

When McBride started his company, he decided to use HammerHead piercing tools to replace the cable lines.

“Basically, using piercing tools is the norm for us because it minimizes our restoration costs and the impact on the homeowner’s property,” says McBride. “Instead of cutting a 50-ft long trench, we only excavate two small pits no more than 10 in. wide by 30 in. long. You can hardly tell we were even there.”

Jack Parker oversees operations for the company and likes the piercing tools because they’re fast. “Production is the key in our business,” he says. “We have six crews in the fi eld and each crew carries two piercing tools. They are required to install 300 ft of cable per day, so we need a fast and user-friendly piercing tool.”

According to Parker, once a work order is received from Comcast, American Communications Construction contacts one-call to locate the existing utilities at the property. This can also be the biggest challenge for his crews.

“The one-call locators in the Houston area are inundated,” says Parker. “It’s diffi cult to have the utilities located before our crew arrives at a property. We’re one of the few contractors that communicate with the one-call locators every day, such as by E-mailing or faxing them a list of our crew’s locations, because the priority of our work orders changes daily.”

Piercing Piercing ToolsTools

Make the Make the Difference Difference for Cable for Cable

ContractorContractor

Tools Help Company Install up to 10,000 Ft of Cable per Week

By Greg Ehm





Despite all of the changes, homeowners receive notifi cation that work will be completed 24 to 48 hours in advance. American Communication Construction crews leave a door hanger at each affected residence, letting them know why and when work is being done. This gives the homeowner time to move pets out of their yard or unlock gates. Parker notes that there are work orders from Comcast that are rush jobs that require a line to be replaced right away. These cases require enhanced communication with one-call and the homeowners.

Since most of the yards American Communications Construction works in are landscaped, the crews take extra care to minimize damage to the lawn and landscape and HammerHead piercing tools are ideal for this purpose, the contractor says.

“First, there’s minimum restoration when we use the piercing tools, but since the yards are landscaped we try and pick and choose where we dig our entry and exit pits,” says Parker. “Obviously, we’re not going to dig a pit right under a fl ower bed, if we can help it. We’ll move the line if needed to avoid landscapes.”

The crew will hand-dig the pits, which are 30 in. deep and 10 in. wide on average, to maintain the minimum 24 in. of cover required in the Houston area. The ground conditions consist mainly of clay and sandy clay soils. Sod is removed and placed out of the way. In some cases, the crew will even place the dirt from the pits on plastic to protect the lawn. Once the entry and exit pits are completed, the crew positions a 3-in. HammerHead piercing tool and begins the piercing process.

Most shots range from 40 to 50 ft. Some have been as long as 150 ft, depending on the layout of the homeowner’s yard. Once the bore is complete, American Communications Construction pulls through the cable-in-conduit, which is provided by Comcast. The cable-in-conduit helps minimizes future cut cables since the cable is encased in a PVC conduit. A 1.25-in. conduit is used for distribution and fi ber-optic cable, while trunk lines are carried in a 1.5-in. conduit. Once the cable-in-conduit is in place, the crews make all necessary connections and test the line. Then the crew backfi ll the pits, use an air tamper to compact the soil back into each pit to minimize any potential sink holes and put the sod back into place.

“We try and get everything back the way it was and most of the time you can’t even tell we were there,” says Parker. “The entire process takes about two to three hours per residence to install up to 150 ft of cable. The piercing tools really enhance our effi ciency.”

American Communications Construction has been using the new Catamount piercing tools from HammerHead, and according to Parker, these tools are helping to make their crews more effi cient.

“The Catamount works faster than the standard active heads we were using,” says Parker. “The best thing we like is that the Catamount starts easier and faster in the soft and sandy ground conditions in our area. With active heads, we had to lower the air pressure in sandy conditions.”

According to Will LeBlanc, senior regional sales manager for HammerHead, the new tool design brings to the industry a reciprocating head that is easy to start, regardless of air pressure level, and is the fi rst pneumatic piercing tool head that is effective in both hard conditions and soft soils and sand.

“The Catamount design eliminates the need for a mechanical spring, which is prone to fail over time,” says LeBlanc. “It’s completely different than any other tool design in the market, as we’ve taken technology from downhole hammers and incorporated them into a this tool.”

Looking back, McBride is amazed at how fast his company has grown in only seven years. He’s also glad he made the decision to use piercing tools.

“From our perspective, there’s no better way to install short-run cable lines,” say McBride. “It’s been a key to our business success and has set us apart from the competition. I can’t imagine using anything else.”

Greg Ehm is a features writer, based in Des Moines, Iowa.

38 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY July 2008

American Communications Construction uses HammerHead piercing tools on its jobs, most notably its Catamount.





Improving effi ciency, productivity and safety on the jobsite are always important. After studying jobsites in a variety of markets, we determined that a key to

improved effi ciency, productivity and safety was in job setup and pipe handling.

There are various methods for setting up a job. One method is to lay the pipe on the ground where the pipeline will be and move the equipment for each joint. This method involves moving the pipe support stands and the fusion machine to each pipe to be joined, which requires additional manpower on the job. This was the chosen method on an Indian reservation where they didn’t want to drag the pipe and disturb the pipeline area any more than necessary. They had a piece of loading equipment and an operator following the fusion equipment from joint to joint to load the pipe. This is the most ineffi cient method of laying pipe and is mainly used in a constrained space application.

More commonly, pipe is stacked on the ground next to the movable jaw side of the fusion machine. Pipe support stands are then set up on both sides of the fusion machine. Loading equipment is used to individually pick up the pipe from the stack and load it in the fusion machine. After the operator completes the fusion operation, another piece of equipment is used to pull the pipe through the machine so that a new stick of pipe can be loaded. This arrangement requires two equipment operators and two pieces of

equipment for pulling and loading pipe. There are several things about this job setup that could

be improved. First, stacking pipe on the ground leads to increased contamination and possible pipe damage. Second is the handling of the pipe into the machine. When using a piece of equipment to swing sticks of pipe from the pipe stack on the ground into the fusion machine all day, there is an increased probability for damage to the fusion machine and possible injury to the fusion operator. If the loading equipment is not available, it is not uncommon to see the fusion machine operator and others on the job try to lift the pipe onto the pipe support stands. This can lead to one of the most common worker compensation claims — back strain.

The PolyHorse is a new pipe handling system, consisting of a series of adjustable pipe racks positioned on the movable side of the fusion machine. Pipe is stacked on the racks with loading equipment as it arrives on the delivery truck. This positions the pipe off the ground keeping it clean and protected and eliminating the need to move the pipe multiple times. The pipe is also kept straight so it is easier to clamp and align in the machine during the fusion process.

The fusion machine operator rolls a stick of pipe onto a set of adjustable rollers and easily pulls it into the fusion machine and starts the fusion process. When the fusion joint is complete, pipe can be pulled through the machine

DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

Product Profile

By Jim Craig, P.E.

Increase Productivity and Decrease Cost When Fusing HDPE Pipe

TTI_40-41.indd 40TTI_40-41.indd 40 12/16/2008 10:51:45 AM12/16/2008 10:51:45 AM



and the fusion machine operator can load another piece of pipe. The same piece of equipment can be used for both loading the pipe on the racks and for pulling the pipe out of the machine. This system eliminates one piece of equipment and one operator from the conventional set-up.

This new system was used near Sugarloaf, Maine, for the Poland Spring Natural Spring Water Co. The job was located on a meadow of grass less than 40 ft above a natural aquifer. Surrounded by mostly untouched wilderness, the valley has been a drinking source for people for more than 10,000 years. Poland Spring built a pipeline through this meadow that pumps water from the aquifer to one of its nearby bottling factories. The whole project was designed with the natural environment’s protection as the leading vision for the project. Additional measures were taken to ensure the construction site and its environment remain extremely clean.

“The largest environmental benefi t we provided was the HDPE piping system,” said Bill Hanes of VARI-TECH, which provided the pipe and the pipe handling system. Hanes is speaking of the PolyHorse, which eliminated a large piece of construction equipment and sped up the whole operation.

Because of the effi ciency of this new piece of equipment, the fusion machine operator is never waiting for pipe to

be loaded, which ultimately results in more joints per day. Using the improved system resulted in completing the job one and a half days sooner with an increase in productivity and a decrease in job costs. With the productivity gains of this pipe handling system using 3- or 4-in. pipe, the production can rival using coiled pipe.

Jobsite setup and pipe handling are the keys to improved productivity and safety on the jobsite. Using a pipe handling system will help make fusing polyethylene pipe more successful for everyone from the owner to the operator.

Jim Craig, P.E., is industry relations manager for McElroy Mfg., which is based in Tulsa, Okla.

Jobsite setup and pipe handling are the keys to improved productivity and safety on the jobsite. Using a pipe handling system will help make fusing polyethylene pipe more successful for everyone from the owner to the operator.

TTI_40-41.indd 41TTI_40-41.indd 41 12/16/2008 10:51:52 AM12/16/2008 10:51:52 AM


As 2008 continues to quickly roll by, the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) market is keeping pace

with projects across North America — demanding its technologies, techniques and equipment to complete installation projects for a variety of clients in a spectrum of industries. With professionals describing the market as “strong,” “vibrant” and “growing,” the fi rst half of 2008 has been busy for HDD, and there’s a great expectation that the HDD industry will continue to fl ourish into the latter half of the year.

“One of the things creating the strengths for the industry is the worldwide acceptance of HDD as the method for installing underground utilities,” explains Richard Levings, senior product manager for trenchless products for Ditch Witch. “Utilities of all sorts — gas, electric, telephone, cable television and water — are all using HDD technologies.”

Similar to 2007, the use of HDD technologies in the telecom market is remaining steady. With cities and individuals itching to increase their Internet capabilities, HDD is being used to install these fi ber networks and satisfy the growing demand for Web services.

“The telecom work seems to be stable when compared to last year. There are several fi ber projects in progress,” says Ed Savage, trenchless segment manager for Vermeer. “This work should continue as consumers want faster and better Internet access.”

Competition in the telecom market has also helped HDD fl ourish. With different companies vying to offer the best Internet, telephone and cable television packages, the need to expand their services using HDD methods is growing.

“There is a strong fi ber-optic push and the communication companies are fi ghting with each other — whether it’s a telephone company fi ghting for cable TV and Internet service or a cable television company hoping to offer telephone or Internet service, there’s this race to expand services that’s driving the installations. We’re in a fairly good economy for upgrading services because there’s a strong competition between these companies,” adds Levings.

As for the water and electrical utilities, Levings agrees that the work has remained stable for 2008. With the need to

replace and update aging sewer and water infrastructure, the water sector of the HDD industry is commanding attention and work from contractors.

Electrical work has been steady so far this year, with more cities wanting to put their infrastructure underground, says Savage. In recent years, cities have pushed to put more and more of their electric utilities underground rather than overhead.

The need for HDD work in the energy industry is increasing as the need to transport gas and oil are rising. For example, natural gas pipeline extensions, replacements and installations are being constructed all over North America, every day. New methods of drilling techniques are also opening more doors for HDD to be used.

“The energy work has increased compared to last year,” says Savage. “New vertical drilling techniques have enabled companies to access gas and oil reserves that were not feasible to extract several years ago. As new vertical wells are drilled, it drives the need for more horizontal transport lines, which helps drive the HDD work.”

Tracking the TrendsPerhaps the biggest trend the HDD industry is seeing is the

need and desire for longer bores and larger diameter product. According to Grady Bell, Laney Directional Drilling Co. in Humble, Texas, and chairman of the Distribution Contractors Association’s HDD Committee, the amount of large HDD work, 36 and 42 in., is tenfold from what it was more than fi ve years ago.

Trends in the equipment being used on HDD projects are


A Good DirectionThe Horizontal

Directional Drilling Market Is Experiencing

a Strong YearBy Pam Stask

Industry insiders say the HDD market is looking strong.





also emerging. For example, Savage points out that upgrading to newer machine models is currently in strong demand. Contractors also fancy the latest creature comforts equipment manufacturers have to offer including climate controlled cabs and Auto Drill functions.

A push in demand for geothermal work is also becoming more present in HDD work. As a means of dealing with high-priced, petroleum-based energy, geothermal systems are appearing more often and HDD is used to install these systems.

“As the cost of gas, propane, etc., increases, it forces us to fi nd better ways to preserve energy and geothermal is one way to do that,” says Levings. “HDD is a very acceptable practice of installing geothermal systems. The higher the price of diesel fuel gets, the less likely we’ll see the transportation of liquid in tanker trucks and pipelines will become more effi cient. Installing these pipelines would be done with HDD.”

Help Wanted As in previous years, fi nding experienced and willing

workers in the HDD industry has been diffi cult and 2008 is facing the same challenge. With HDD work increasing in the United States and projects spanning across the country, companies are fi nding it increasingly complicated to fi ll their crews with qualifi ed workers.

“There’s a shortage of experienced workers and people willing to travel in the construction industry,” says Bob Johnston, vice president and division manager of Henkels & McCoy Inc. and president of the Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA). “Everyone needs more people with experience.”

Levings adds that companies looking to expand in size or broaden the scope of services they provide may also face diffi culty when looking to add employees capable of doing specifi c work.

In order to draw in and encourage workers to enter the fi eld, HDD companies are adding incentives and proper training to attract employees. For example, Johnston notes that companies are paying more for an experienced crew. HDD

equipment manufacturers such as Vermeer and Ditch Witch even provide training courses for contractors and crews to become accustomed to the machinery a project demands.

“We continue to provide several training events yearly for both end-user customers and our worldwide dealer network, so that they can train the end-user customers,” says Savage.

Levings adds: “Our dealers have a very good training program. Most of them have training seminars multiple times a year. If a new crew comes on a new unit, our dealers will go out and spend time training the new crew. We rely heavily on our dealers and that’s why they’re there — to have point-to-point contact and expertise out in the fi eld.”

Evaluating the Economy As talks of a weakened economy make daily headlines across

the United States, HDD professionals must look to how the economy may affect business for 2008 and beyond. With the rising prices on equipment, fuel and other project necessities, the total cost of a project can be expected to increase to accommodate to the shift in the funds needed for completion.

“The economy is driving the cost of HDD,” says Johnston. “There are rigs available, but you have to plan your work in advance to get the size of rig you want, and the cost of fuel is driving the price of HDD up because it just costs more to operate.”

One of the biggest economical factors affecting the HDD market is the rising cost of fuel — both for getting to and from a jobsite, as well as operating the necessary equipment.

“Increased fuel costs impact almost every aspect of an HDD project, from the additional cost to operate the equipment, to the increased shipping costs, etc.,” explains Bell.

Aside from the ever-changing fuel prices, the way HDD clients spend money may change due to the struggling economical situation the United States faces. With budgets and incomes shrinking, the funds necessary to install utilities using HDD may become depleted.

“The price of oil is going to potentially affect the worldwide economy, not just in the United States, but all over,” says Levings. “There are still spots that are doing well and will continue to do well. However, there are some questions we ask about the market. For example, will people have disposable incomes for installing fi ber-to-the-home networks? Or will the utilities continue to have the revenue to update and revamp their existing networks and structures? Those are all factors that will affect the market and the amount of HDD work.”

Looking Forward With 2008 shaping up to be a promising year for the HDD

market, the future of the industry looks promising. Professionals in the HDD market agree that the industry can expect to experience more growth and development as it continues to become an accepted practice over open-cut methods.

“The future looks bright for the HDD market,” says Johnston. “With all of us trying to protect the environment, it’s a good time to be in the HDD business. We can drill under sensitive areas, buildings, parks, freeways and wetlands that we couldn’t do before. It has helped push through some projects that probably wouldn’t have gone except for the ability to use HDD.”

Pam Stask is an assistant editor of Trenchless Technology.

DIRECTIONAL DRILLING“The future looks bright for the HDD market. With all of us trying to protect the environment, it’s a good time to be in the HDD business. We can drill under sensitive areas, buildings, parks, freeways and wetlands that we couldn’t do before.”

— PLCA president Bob Johnston





Crews from Michels Directional Crossing, a division of Michels Corp., have just successfully installed a record-breaking 42-in., intrastate crossing from

Texas to Louisiana in excess of 6,000 ft near Orange, Texas.

The unique nature of this crossing made it a fi rst of its kind for the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) industry, company offi cials said.

“Michels has performed several long distance large-diameter crossings previously, but none the magnitude of this crossing,” said Michels assistant operations manager Tom Breunig. “This size diameter alone is impressive due

to the massive equipment and support required to install it, but mix that in with the length crossed and you have a truly remarkable achievement.”

Michels Directional Crossing was hired as a subcontractor by Sheehan Pipeline to perform at least fi fteen 42-in. HDD crossings for ExxonMobile’s Golden Pass Pipeline (GPPL) Project. The Old River crossing located near Orange, Texas, took place out on an island across the Old River (Sabine Island), on the Texas/Louisiana border.

Heavy fl oods and storms battered many areas in Texas and kept crews from their original start date in February. Work on the pipeline had to be postponed until ground


Michels Installs Mammoth HDD Crossing in Texas

The 6,000-ft Plus Crossing Involved 42-in. Pipe

By Lisa Sanders

Michels officials say this HDD project was a record-breaker.




conditions improved. Finally, the green light was given in late May and Michels’ crews began work on this historical crossing.

One of the many challenges outside of the harsh weather conditions was getting the heavy equipment across the Old River and onto the island where the pullback was to originate. Sheehan crews loaded equipment from the mainland onto a barge where it was then taken down the river and unloaded onto the island. The fl uctuating levels of the river experienced during this process further complicated the mammoth effort undertaken by Sheehan to support Michels’ drilling operations.

Results“This crossing went quite smoothly, especially for

how complex it was,” said project manager Louis Barber. “Several of Michels veteran Directional Crossings’ personnel brainstormed, designed and fabricated a deadman system to handle the anticipated loads expected during pullback. The hole-intersect went off without a hitch and reaming operations progressed ahead of schedule.”

And then just one month later, the record-breaking pullback was complete, Michels officials said.

“The drill superintendents out on the job have told me this was one of the smoothest pullbacks, from

start to finish, for this diameter of pipe that they could remember,” Breunig said.

Pullback loads were within the anticipated range and were maintained by the crews using a specialized combination of proven HDD techniques developed from past experience on several of Michels more challenging crossings along with several innovations implemented to address the unique concerns of this crossing.

The weight of the pipe alone just sitting on the ground was approaching 2.5 million lbs. Given this weight, simply getting the ominous looking single string of pipe started into the ground at the HDD exit point was a Herculean task, let alone pulling it all of the way across to the entry point safely and without incident.

“During pullback, the idea was to maintain a consistent pace so that ballasting, drill f luid removal operations and pullback remained synchronized so as to not delay any part of the operation,” said Michels drill superintendent Jack Edmunds. “This pullback could have taken double the 23-total hours it took to pull the pipe back if it weren’t for the incredible job done by the entire crew in keeping up with everything.”

Lisa Sanders is a marketing communications specialist for Michels Corp.



For better than 50 years, The Robbins Co. name has been synonymous with boring through hard rock. Countless projects and successes around the globe

have set the company’s reputation in stone. The Robbins Co. designed and manufactured the fi rst hard rock, open-type tunnel boring machine (TBM), as well as the fi rst double shield TBMs. Though the company is known for supplying some of the largest TBMs in the world, it has added to its catalog a variety of internationally-available, small diameter

tunneling equipment. In so doing, Robbins is burning the hard rock candle at both ends, so to speak.

Formed in March 2007, the SBU Division is a part of The Robbins Co. focused on providing small diameter boring equipment to markets around the world. SBUs have been completing small bores in the United States since 1996, but by forming a new division, Robbins is positioned to address the need for small diameter boring equipment in emerging international markets such as India and the Middle East. The

Going GlobalRobbins SBU Division Sets Its Sights on the International Market

By Greg Thompson

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Crews from B&W Tunnelling used two SBU-As and two SBU-Ms to successfully excavate 54 crossings for a natural gas pipeline in South Wales, U.K.



recent addition of both international SBU representation and service centers provides easier access to local contractors, while the company is customizing its inventories to address specifi c international needs.

SBU HistoryThe SBU came about like many innovations in

underground construction do — as a solution to a problem. In 1996, while excavating a 36-in. tunnel in hard rock as part of work on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, crews from John Fithian Contracting Co. of Youngstown, Ohio, got into some rock that proved too tough for the carbide bit Christmas tree head on their auger boring machine. Facing an impasse, Fithian brought the problem to Robbins and the device that would ultimately become the staple of the SBU line completed the drive in less than one week.

Recognizing its potential in the auger boring market, Robbins tweaked the SBU design and targeted auger boring contractors as early adaptors. The fi rst wave of SBUs was known as the SBU-A, the A referencing its deployment as an attachment to an auger boring rig. SBUs carved a niche in the auger boring market, allowing contractors to use existing equipment to bore in rock from 25 to more than 175 MPa UCS using disc cutter technology.

“We used our fi rst SBU on a tough job with multiple crossings,” says Jason Miller, vice president of Midwest Mole. “To say the least, we saw the light.”

Midwest Mole became an early convert and now owns three Robbins SBU Division products and has rented several others. “They do such a good job. We’ve been able to pursue work we’d have otherwise been unable to,” Miller says. “With demand increasing in the marketplace, we’re well-equipped to tackle hard rock bores.”

Developing TechnologyAs the market responded to the technology, Robbins

developed specialized equipment capable of completing more complex projects. The Motorized SBU (SBU-M), in diameters from 1.2 to 1.8 m, is specialized for line- and grade-critical bores such as gravity sewers. The SBU-M incorporates an internal motor for high torque, allowing for longer bores of up to 200 m (compared to the normal SBU-A drive of around 100 m). The machine is continuously steered from an in-shield operator’s console, while a laser targeting system allows for monitoring of line and grade throughout the drive. Muck is removed using an invert auger.

For even longer bores (up to 600 m) in diffi cult ground conditions, the Rockhead (SBU-RH) was developed. The Rockhead, in diameters from 1.5 to 1.8 m, can be designed as either a single shield (SBU-RHSS) or double shield (SBU-RHDS) machine. Double shield machines are self-propelled using a gripper system, while single shield machines may be used with a pipe-jacking system or other primary liners. Like the SBU-M, the Rockhead utilizes an internal motor for torque and offers continuous steering using articulation cylinders. Muck is removed using either an invert auger or muck cars.

Contractors were still requesting machines capable of boring longer tunnels in more diffi cult ground conditions, however. To meet these demands, Robbins introduced

the SBU-DS — a small diameter (2 to 3 m) TBM capable of completing utility tunnels of up to 5 km. A ring bearing and bull gear drive enable larger diameter 17-in. disc cutters to be used, allowing greater thrust and higher torque to be used. The resulting design can excavate rock up to 300 MPa UCS.

Boring a Place of Its Own The Robbins Co. is expanding its reach for smaller

diameter equipment from the United States to emerging markets including India, the Middle East and South America. To meet these challenges, U.S. and international sales managers have been introduced, along with international representation and service centers.

The specialized SBU market requires that the company keep its small diameter and large diameter machines separate, however. Though SBUs and TBMs employ similar technology, most contractors and companies are not familiar with both. “In the TBM world, the businesses are very project-oriented, with large international contractors performing work mainly in the transport and hydro industries,” explains Paul Nicholas, SBU Division general manager and international sales manager for The Robbins Co. “The SBU Division’s customer is not project-oriented. Rather it’s a small- to mid-size contractor performing primarily utility work. The proper market for the SBU product wasn’t being served in Robbins former confi guration.”

Robbins is establishing international specialist SBU representatives to strengthen the regional familiarity and supply of SBU products. “American contractors often make their technology decisions on the jobsite, when they open up the ground and see rock. International contractors are no different—it’s just a matter of reaching local contractors and letting them know the technology is out there,” explains Tom Fuerst of The Robbins Co., operations andsales manager-the Americas. SBU representation currently covers more than 10 European and Eastern European countries, as well as Brazil, India and Australia.

In addition to representation, global service centers currently in operation or planning stages will provide maintenance and supply of machines to specifi c regions. Most service centers will be part of Robbins’ TBM workshops and will be located in China, India and Europe, as well as the United States.

Global DeploymentTo provide solutions to specifi c regional markets, Robbins

is building its inventory to match the unique challenges of projects. For example, the use and familiarity of auger boring machines is far higher in the United States than the rest of the world, where pipe jacking systems are considered the standard. Robbins is therefore beefi ng up its inventory of pipe jacking compatible-machines such as SBU-Ms and Rockheads.

A recent project in South Wales, United Kingdom, utilized ABMs and pipe jacking equipment to successfully excavate 54 crossings on an expansive natural gas pipeline. Contractor B & W Tunnelling utilized two SBU-Ms and two SBU-As to complete the crossings. “We needed an increased degree of accuracy and felt the most confi dent with the SBU-M,” says B&W managing director Steve Williams. Rockheads may




I N T E R N A T I O N A LI N TI N TI N T E R NE R NE R N A T IA T IA T I O N AO N AO N A LLL

additionally prove even more versatile in the international market, as they can be readily used with several types of pipe and in situ tunnel liners, such as reinforced concrete, steel casing and steel liner plates erected in the tailskin of the machine.

An even bigger challenge lies in markets where customers must be familiarized not only with the effi cacy of SBU technology, but with mechanized underground construction in general. For example, India’s utility industry has only recently accepted some types of mechanized tunneling in soft ground. In hard rock, however, hand mining remains the standard.

“Hand-mining through hard rock in India is yielding advance rates of just 200 to 300 mm per day. Our aim is to work with local contractors to bring more effi cient SBU technology to hard rock jobs,” says Nicholas.

With no built-in auger-boring market into which to sell, Robbins offers SBU packages (SBU-ABM or SBU-PJS), which include the SBU head with the auger boring machine (or in the case of the PJS, a pipe jacking system) as a turn-key solution for hard rock areas. SBU advance rates are in the neighborhood of 6 m per day, some 20 to 30 times hand mining rates. Simple math indicates what should be a willing market for the technology.

Robbins recently sold its fi rst SBU-ABM in India — a 1,500-mm unit — for work in Rajasthan.

Future BreakthroughsRobbins is working on technology to better suit certain

conditions, including working below the water table and in mixed ground containing cobbles and boulders. In the last few years, the division has seen increased successes in mixed ground conditions, such as in Toronto and in the western United States. The division has developed mixed ground cutterheads customized for all SBU machines for use in several types of mixed ground. Utilizing a variety of carbide and disc cutting tools, the cutterheads are combined with larger muck openings to ingest boulders. “The overall goal of these designs is to bring low-cost solutions for installing pipe in a wide variety of conditions,” says Fuerst.

The company sees the future as a promising one and seeks to reinforce its reputation as a world leader in the trenchless market. “We are looking to expand the SBU Division in two main directions in the next fi ve years,” says Lok Home, president of The Robbins Co. “We want to increase our international and domestic scope for short bores and non-slurry machines, and we are looking to expand into the slurry market as well.”

Greg Thompson is an assistant editor of Trenchless Technology.





Horizontal directional drilling covers a high construction risk due to unpredictable and diffi cult-to-manage subsoil conditions, which sometimes

result in stuck pipes or damage to the product pipe. In the worst case scenario, the project must be abandoned and this is combined with high economic losses.

These described problems mostly can be traced to underestimated friction conditions. The R&D project, accomplished at the Department for Surface Mining and International Mining of the TU Clausthal, has taken up this procedural set of problems.

Based on a patent application, the objective target of the investigation was to reduce the tractive forces that are required for the pipe installation process by applying vibrations to the pipe. This article abstracts some selected essential results and fi ndings of the recently fi nished research project.

Tasks & ObjectivesThe major task of the research work was to develop an

approach in order to optimize the pipe-installing process by investigating several infl uencing parameters on the tractive forces. Primarily the effect of high-frequency vibrations was investigated within the frame of pull tests being performed in a pilot plant scale experimental setup. On one hand, the tractive forces that appear while the pipe is being pulled should be reduced, and on the other, the opportunity should be provided to release/break an already sticking pipe, thus reducing the initial breaking forces.

In the fi rst project phase, the general applicability and feasibility of the vibration method was investigated by using a small scale pilot testing facility. The positive test results gave reason to continue the project in a continuative research phase, particularly aimed at the quantifi cation of the tractive force’s infl uencing parameters. Based on these fi ndings, statements for the process optimization, as well as for the large-scale insitu application have been derived. The practical investigations were supplemented by theoretical considerations and model calculations.

A testing facility was built to scale closer to reality. The test pipes were led through a steel box that was fi lled with soil. Through a circumferential cable, the pipe could be tracked by two different speed levels (1 m/min. and 0.5 m/min.); the tractive force was measured constantly with a dynamometer that was centrically installed at the top end of the pipe. For the tests, two different types of soil were chosen (sand and silt) that are typically traversed within HDD projects.

In order to simulate an insitu soil pressure or rather borehole stress conditions, a static load was induced to the soil material by using pneumatic pads. The main item of the testing facility was the vibration unit, which was installed inside the pipe, and whose rotational frequency could be varied infi nitely. For the test series, mainly PE-covered steel pipes in dimensions of DN100, DN150 and DN200 were used, as well as one DN100 non-covered steel pipe in addition, in order to get information about the infl uence of the pipe shell conditions.


Reducing Construction Risk in HDD Projects: Pulling Force Reduction Through Vibrations

By Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Rossbach and Dr.-Ing. Hossein Tudeshki

TESTING FACILITY Oriented to the aim of the research assignment, pulling tests have been performed systematically under different boundary conditions. In any case, the tractive force was measured as target size and required computer aid. In order to investigate the effects resulting from the vibration impact in terms of the desired reduction of the tractive forces, the influencing parameters were gradually changed. To identify the optimum vibration impact, the initiated vibration energy was stepwise varied by changing the vibration frequency. Furthermore, in selected additional tests, the pulling velocity was varied. Related to a large-scale insitu application, these quantities represent variable and technically realizable parameters. For determination of the influence of the static load (vertical soil coverage and borehole stress conditions) on the required tractive forces, the vertical load was modified stepwise in selective pulling tests. Further, several tests were carried out in a cohesive soil material (silt).



ResultsThe results of the several test series in general affi rmed the

theoretical approach that the initiation of high-frequency vibrations to the pipe lead to an effective reduction of the required tractive forces. This applies to both the initial breaking force, as well as the constant pulling force during the steady installing process. Within the frame of the lab-scale tests, the results show a considerable dependency between the tractive forces and the initiated vibration energy, which again depends on the frequency of the vibrating unit. Best results have been archived in the cohesive soil material (silt). Generally, the highest vibration frequencies that have been investigated, at most 200 Hz, result in the maximum reduction of the tractive forces. In some test series, the silt material maximum pulling force reductions of about 15 percent for the sliding force and approximately 20 percent of the breaking force have been attained. In sandy material, maximum tractive force differences of approximately 8 percent for the initial breaking force and approximately 11 percent for the sliding force have been achieved.

A reduction of the pulling velocity effects — according to practical experience — leads to an additional decrease of the pulling force. In the investigated sandy material, an average additional tractive force reduction of about 5.5 percent for all PE-covered pipes have been achieved; in the cohesive soil (silt) the sliding force difference was approximately 7.6 percent, infl uenced by the pulling velocity only.

Relating to the pipe mass that has to be activated by the vibrations, it is assumed that an appropriate higher application of vibratory energy is required corresponding to an increasing pipe dimension. Corresponding with an increase of the pipe’s cross-sectional geometry, accordingly a higher vibration energy is required, which can be recognized by the incremental shift of the point to the right side where the force curve starts to drop down, thus in the region of high frequencies.

An explanation for the tractive force reduction resulting from vibrations can be given on closer examination of the geo-mechanical procedures, which come along with the vibration impacts on the surrounding soil. The vibrations effect a partial fl uidization of the soil material in a close circumferential area around the pipe’s surface, combined with an increase of the pore water pressure in the corresponding zone.

The impulses resulting from vibrations lead to a reduction of the adherence between the pipe’s surface and the surrounding soil or rather cutting loaded drilling mud, and thus benefi ting the reduction of friction or rather the tractive force. Further, the vibrations ensure a more constant and smooth installing process, which means that no slip-stick effects occur while the pipe gets pulled, particularly not when using uncovered steel pipes in non-cohesive soils.

The application of vibrations within the frame of HDD projects is advisable to break an already sticking pipe or rather in case of a sudden disproportionately high increase of the tractive force, as well as for force reduction in fi ne-grained and cohesive subsoil conditions. The development of the partial fl uidization zone resulting from vibrations requires a full contact between the soil and the pipe surface. The same applies for thixotropic and cutting loaded drilling

muds. Particularly in this case, high-frequency vibrations may contribute to maintain the so-called sol-phase (fl uid phase) of the mud. It can be considered that the use of drilling mud — which could not be realized within the frame of the lab tests — causes even more considerable effects due to the initiation of vibrations or rather the reduction of the tractive forces.

A calculational stress analysis of the pipe material by using Finite-Element-Method (FEM) yielded that the vibrations investigated within the project do not cause damage of the pipe material. The admissible values for the material strength will not be exceeded. With regard to an infi eld application, where appropriate more powerful vibration units must be used, this should be re-checked based on project-specifi c requirements. An analytical approach was developed, which can be used in order to conservatively evaluate the pipe material stress resulting from the vibrations.

According to experience, vibrations cause soil compaction within a certain effective range if the vibration frequency of the exciter cell is in the range of the resonance frequency of the subsoil. This is specifi cally and technically utilized for soil improvement/soil stabilization, but must be considered as counterproductive within the present application. Thus, it is required that the initiated vibrations are explicitly higher than the soil’s natural frequency in order to avoid soil compaction. In particular this must be considered for a large-scale application or rather the design of a practicable vibration unit.

Today, numerous technical solutions exist in order to generate directed vibrations with the required frequency and amplitude, and particularly avoid critical revolution speed ranges during the run-up and run-out of the vibrator that may cause negative impacts on the subsoil due to natural vibrations. For an infi eld application, it is recommended to design an in-pipe vibration unit that is mobile and that can be braced centrically within the pipe.

Conclusion Due to the achieved research results it generally can be

considered that the vibration method for HDD applications can be transferred to practical in-fi eld conditions. Within the study, calculational approaches have been developed that can be used for estimating the required vibrations for a fi eld application. All research results and fi ndings are recorded in the fi nal report of the research project.

All research results and fi ndings are recorded in the fi nal report of the research project. It should be pointed out that the exact and detailed reproduction of the real insitu situation, boundary conditions, as well as the respective interactions of the infl uencing factors in a lab-scale experimental setup can take place rudimentary and incompletely. Calculational approaches or rather modeling methods can only consider the complex relationships through approximations. On this account, fi nally only a fi eld test under real conditions can provide further expertise, which would be desirable for a next research step.

Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Rossbach, Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Habi and. Hossein Tudeshki, Department for Surface Mining and International Mining, Institute of Mining, Clausthal University of Technology.



T he International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT) chapters from around the world met June 2-6 in Moscow for the annual International No-Dig

Show. The Russian Society for Trenchless Technology (RSTT) worked with event organizers Sibico International Ltd. and held the No-Dig show in conjunction with a major water show that Sibico had also organized.

Early in the planning process, expectations were tempered about what the attendance would be at this first-ever No-Dig held in Russia. Amazingly, there were 140 exhibitors and the No-Dig Show participants totaled approximately 1,000. Together with the water event, there were 12,000 visitors.

The show was held at the new Crocus Center, which is a huge exhibition facility. Moscow is going through so much growth that Crocus Center is actually on the outskirts of town. Many attendees arrived at the show using the impressive Metro subway. The Metro, which dates back to the era of Joseph Stalin, is quite an experience, reaching speeds of 50 to 75 miles per hour. The ride on the Metro to the Crocus Center can be seen on a special video that is posted on TT TV at www.trenchlessonline.com.

The show had a strong contingent of North American-related companies, including Astec Industries, Barbco, Baroid, Cetco, Digital Control Inc., Ditch Witch, HammerHead, Herrenknecht, HOBAS, Insituform Technologies, Pure Technologies, The Robbins Co., Tracto-Technik (TT Technologies) Trenchless Technology, TRIC Tools, Vermeer Corp., Ultraliner and Universal HDD.

One of the highlights of the International No-Dig is the presentation of ISTT’s annual No-Dig Awards. This year, ISTT chairman Dec Downey presented three No-Dig awards. Herrenknecht Tunneling, Germany, received the Product Award for its Direct Pipe, which is a combination of microtunneling and HDD to get through difficult ground conditions. The Project Award went to Longbore TT Ltd., United Kingdom, for its project that involved installing the power cable from the first tidal power water turbine to be installed in the United Kingdom in an area of great environmental sensitivity. The Academic Award was presented to The Technical University, Kielce, Poland, for developing the first post-graduate course in trenchless technology ever organized worldwide.

Many fi rst-time visitors to Moscow took the opportunity to visit the Kremlin and Moscow’s famous Red Square. The Golden Ring fi ve-star hotel located in the heart of Moscow served as the host hotel. The Gala Dinner was unique in that it was a boat cruise on the Moscow River that went from the Crocus Center to the area of the Golden Ring Hotel. The No-Dig awards were presented during the cruise.

While at the show, Trenchless Technology Internationalconducted numerous video interviews. The videos can be viewed on www.trenchlessonline.com (click on TT TV).

The 2009 International No-Dig will be hosted by the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) March 20-April 3 in Toronto, Canada.

Trenchless CommunityMeets in Moscow

The 2009

International

No-Dig Show

Heads to Canada


54 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY July 2008


ISTT chairman Dec Downey addresses the attendees at the show.

Digital Control Inc.’s booth at the No-Dig Show.

The Herrenknecht booth at the No-Dig Show. TRIC Tool’s Greg Abbott and Miriam Hen at their outdoor booth.

This group is having a great time at the Gala Dinner Cruise on the Moscow River.

Astec Underground displayed its HDD drills.





Prof Andrezej Kuliczkowski (right) accepts ISTT’s Academic Award.

Universal HDD showed off its latest equipment.

Insituform Technologies’ booth was a popular spot.





Having a good time at the Chairman’s Dinner are (from left): ISTT vice chairman Sam Ariaratnam, retiring ISTT executive secretary

John Castle, ISTT executive director John Hemphill and ISTT chairman Dec Downey.

Herrenknecht’s Diana Pfeff accepts the ISTT Product Award for the company’s Direct Pipe.

ISTT Project of the Year winners (from left) are Longbore TT Ltd.’s Ross Henderson, business development manager and John Ritchie, managing

director.

At the Gala Dinner are TTC director Dr. Ray Sterling, Bernie Krzys, Trenchless Technology International; ISTT

chairman Dec Downey and ABRATT president Paulo Dequech.

Vermeer Corp. enjoyed many attendees at its booth. At the Barbco booth are (left): George Dugan, CETCO; Boris Guz, HDD Midwest; and Mindy and Kenny Clever, Barbco.






UPDATEISTT Program for Change 2008

The March 2007 edition of TTI reported on the adoption of “2K 10,” the ISTT Strategic Plan needed to take the Society to its 25th anniversary in 2011. Further issues of TTI since then have described how the ISTT is run democratically by its Board of Directors and, on a day-to-day basis, by the chairman supported by the Executive Sub Committee (ESC). The March 2008 edition of TTI reported that the directors had endorsed a Program for Change, drawn up by the ESC during 2007 to meet the objectives of “2K10,” which was to take effect during 2008 — and it has all been happening since then.

At the June 2 board meeting in Moscow, ISTT chairman Dec Downey introduced new ISTT executive director John Hemphill (See May issue of TTI). He was also pleased to announce that Kyoko Kondo, Membership Secretary for the JSTT, would take on responsibilities for the ISTT Membership Database after the retirement of Pat Nolan in April. The database will be reduced in size to only hold the details needed for distributing the offi cial magazine and for controlling access to the ISTT Web site Technical Resource Center (Now containing more than 1,000 trenchless reference documents).

The Board also heard how a Technical Panel to advise the Board had been formed to replace the role undertaken previously by Dr. John Heavens and this would be managed by the ISTT vice chairman Prof. Sam Ariaratnam, supported by John Hemphill.

The ISTT Web site, Downey reported, will continue to be hosted by Profundis Presse and Media Service in Germany and will be developed and expanded.

The fi nal change — which Downey said had been the most diffi cult decision — was to select Great Southern Press, Melbourne, Australia, to be the new ISTT External Communications partner to work with the ESC to take all ISTT communications activities to a higher

level across all its forms, hard copy, Internet, Web site and emerging versions of DVD, CD-ROM and memory devices. This work will include a new offi cial magazine to be produced four times a year, with a fi rst issue in October.

In welcoming John Hemphill, the Board also said a fond farewell to John Castle, Executive Secretary since 1998, who would continue with a handover to John Hemphill until mid-August.

The Board also thanked JSTT chairman Taigo Matsui, who stepped down from the ESC after six years service, and elected SSTT vice chairman Gerda Hald to take his place.

In concluding the meeting, the Board heard how the re-organization would release funding and resources to concentrate on raising the profi le of trenchless technology on the world stage and in recruiting new members, particularly from countries with growing economies and diffi culties with rapidly increasing urban communities.

Ukraine Society for Trenchless Technology (USTT)

Last year, the USTT, based in Kiev, unable to continue and was de-affi liated from the ISTT on April 30. However, a very enthusiastic group of trenchless technologists has been running in the Odessa region for many years, which Professor Ray Sterling visited as ISTT chairman in May 2005. The Ukraine Association for Modern Trenchless Technology (UAMTT) is now a thriving association with 18 members representing the client and supply sides of the industry and also academia. It organizes a well attended annual seminar, runs a Web site and is in touch with a wide range of decision-makers. So the ISTT Board of Directors had great pleasure in welcoming UAMTT chairman Victor Prokopchuk to its meeting in Moscow and, after a presentation, in inviting his association to affi liate to the ISTT. The UAMTT will join as soon as formalities can be completed. ISTT chairman Dec

Downey also thanked Olga Martynyuk, a member of the ESC, for all her help in the contacts with the UAMTT and for keeping trenchless technologists in the Ukraine in touch with the international community.

Polish Society for Trenchless Technology (PSTT)

The PSTT has had a busy year, led by its Chairman Professor Andrzej Kuliczkowski. In April, the Society hosted No-Dig Poland in Kielce, which attracted 216 delegates and 28 exhibitors. Additionally, 40 guests were invited from Kielce itself and the local region. The Society presented “Expert 2008” awards to 13 recipients, including Jerzy Adamski, who founded the PFTT in 1998, and Arkadiusz Bachan, its fi rst Secretary.

Then in June, Kuliczkowski was in Moscow to receive the ISTT Academic No-Dig Award for 2008 for the entry

by the Technical University Kielce for running the fi rst post-graduate course in trenchless technology ever organized worldwide, which attracted 28 post-graduates from cities across Poland.

No-Dig Award Winners for 2008

There were three award winners this year. No student award was made. In a change in procedure, the three prize winners were asked to present their

PSTT chairman Prof. Andrzej Kuliczkowski



submissions in a keynote session that followed directly on from the Opening Ceremony.

Herrenknecht Utility Tunneling, Germany, represented by Dipl. Ing Diana Pfeff, presented its Product Award — Direct Pipe. ISTT Chairman Dec Downey described as combining the best features of HDD and microtunneling to give a new and important new technique for use in diffi cult ground conditions. “Two plus two does, in this case, give fi ve,” Downey said, as the combination of techniques gives a signifi cantly better technique than either HDD or microtunneling alone.

The Technical University, Kielce, Poland, represented by course tutor Eng. Agata Zwierzchowski, Ph.D., presented the post-graduate course, which won the academic Award.

Ross Henderson, business development manager of Longbore TT Ltd., presented their Project Award winning entry “Strangford Loch Marine Turbine Cable.” This project involved successfully installing the power cable from the fi rst tidal power water turbine to be installed in the United Kingdom in an area of great environmental sensitivity.

26th International No-Dig 2008

The event was a great success. There were 140 exhibitors from 20 countries occupying 2,534 sq m of indoor space and 894 sq m outside, making this the largest dedicated trenchless exhibition held in Europe in recent years. This year, 325 delegates were registered for the conference from 25 countries and 48 papers were presented in two streams with authors from 18 countries. There were 21 poster presentations. The social program was excellent. A Welcome Reception on the opening day was followed by a Gala Evening held on a river cruiser making it from the Crocus Centre back to the hotel area in central Moscow. During the evening, the No-Dig Awards were presented with the Longbore TT project winners dressed in traditional Scottish kilts and trews.

In a Closing Ceremony speech, ISTT Chairman Dec Downey thanked the Russian Society for its contribution as co-hosts and SIBICO International for its work as event organizers. More than 12,000 visitors attended the exhibition and there is a strong chance that No-Dig Russia will become a regular national event in future years.

Make a note in your diaries International No-Dig 2009 Toronto March 29-April 3.

See you there.

Entries are invited for the N0-DIG AWARDS for 2009, to be presented at International No-Dig 2009 Toronto (29 March – 1 April 2009).

Awards will be made for entries in 4 categories for work completed

during 2008/9 as follows:

Academic research project or training aid/course•

Trenchless project completed•

New machine, tool, material, system or technique introduced•

* • Student or young professional paper

(* Members regularly enrolled in college or university, or spending at least half

their time on academic course work)

The aim of the ISTT is to promote the science and practice of trenchless

technology, and the Awards are intended to raise the profi le and status

of the Society and its Award Winners.

The judges will be asked to consider:

Does the entry make a contribution to the advancement •

of trenchless technology world-wide?

Does the entry contribute to protecting the •

environment and/or to reducing social costs?

Are the above benefi ts clear from the entry?•

Is the entry innovative, ingenious, elegant or novel?•

Is the entry commercially and economically practicable?•

Will the award make an impact with the media, •

decision-makers and the general public?

Will the award impress ISTT members?•

Has the entry been well explained and presented?•

The entry can relate to the practical use or development of trenchless systems, or to equipment for the installation or rehabilitation of underground utility networks. As examples

they may be concerned with achievements in terms of:

improved economy and competitiveness •

of trenchless installation;

length of speed of drive for installation, •

replacement or renovation;

accuracy or size of installation;•

materials used;•

ground conditions successfully dealt with;•

improved acceptability for clients, operators •

and/or the environment;

underground detection, recording and mapping •

of obstacles, both natural and man-made;

health and safety of employees and the general public;•

matters related to training in the fi eld of trenchless work.•

research into any of the topics which surround •

working on utilities underground.

Entries are required in English and should be prepared with the above

criteria in mind to a maximum of 1,000 words supported by suitable

illustrations in one of the standard electronic formats (for example MS

Word ®, WordPerfect ® ). The illustrations should be in JPG format so

that they can be circulated quickly to the judges. Further details are

available from the ISTT.

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES TO THE ISTT AT

[email protected] BY 16 JANUARY 2009

NO - DIG AWARD 2009



JAPAN SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Mr Taigo Matsui; Secretary: Kyoko Kondo JSTT 3rd Nishimura Bldg, 2-11-18 Tomioka, Koto-Ku, Tokyo, 135-0047 JAPAN; Tel: +81 3 5639 9970; Fax: +81 3 5639 9975; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.jstt.jp

LITHUANIAN SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Arturas Abromavicius; LIATT c/o UAB SWECO BKG, A. Gostauto Str. 11, LT-01108, Vilnius, Lithuania; Tel: +37 05 2622621; Fax: +37 05 2617507; E-mail: [email protected]

NETHERLANDS SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Theo Evaraers; Secretary: Jelle de BoerNSTT Postbus 483, 2700 AL Zoetermeer, THE NETHERLANDS; Tel: +31 (0) 79 3252265; Fax: +31 (0) 79 3252294; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.nstt.nl

NORTH AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Piero Salvo; Secretary: Michael Willmets NASTT 1655 North Fort Myer Dr., Ste 700, Arlington, Virginia 22209, USA; Tel: +1 703 351 5252; Fax: +1 703 739 6672; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.nastt.org

POLISH FOUNDATION FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Andrzej Kuliczkowski; Secretary: Marek BanasikPFTT 25-001 Kielce 1, SKR. Pocztowa 1453, POLAND; Tel: +48 41 3622145; Fax: +48 22 642 13 44; E-MAIL [email protected]

RUSSIAN SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Stanislav Vladimirovich Khramenkov; Secretary: Elana Viktorovna GuesenkovaRSTT Odinzovskii Arrears, "Marfino", 99 143025, MA, RUSSIA; Tel: +7 (495) 290 90 36; 598 96 91; Fax: +7 (495) 290 90 36; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.robt.ru

SCANDANAVIAN SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Magnar Sekse; Secretary: Tina Juul Madsen SSTT Agatan 15B, SE-745 35 Enkoping, SWEDEN; Tel: +46 171 44 02 60; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.sstt-skandinavien.com

SOUTH AFRICA SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Craig Burnie; Secretary: Joop van Wamelen SASTT PO Box 13048, Clubview, Centurion, 0014, SOUTH AFRICA; Tel: +27 12 567 4026; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.sastt.org.za

UNITED KINGDOM SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Steve Kent; Secretary: Val Chamberlain UKSTT 38 Holly Walk, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 4LY; Tel: +44 (0)1926 330 935; Fax: +44 (0)1926 330 935; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.ukstt.org.uk

ISTT was founded in 1986 to advance and promote worldwide the advantages of installing, renovating, repairing and replacing underground pipelines and services with the minimum of excavation.

There are two types of membership: the International list, held by the Headquarters in London or through Affiliated Societies in 24 countries and regions of the world. Both types of membership will receive publica-tions on a regular basis organized by ISTT, together with other membership benefits of discounted sales for international conferences and publications.

ISTT • A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE AND REGISTERED IN LONDON NO. 2053569 • ALSO A REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 295274

For membership applications, contact your national society (in your own country — see list of affiliates or contact:

ISTT15 Belgrave Square

London SW1X 8PS, UKPh: +44-20-8850-9119Fax: +44 20-8850-7447E-mail: [email protected] site: www.istt.com

Chairman: Dr. Dec Downey • Executive Secretary: John Castle

AUSTRIAN ASSOCIATION FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Robert Selinger; Secretary: Ute BocciolIAATT Osterreichische VereinigungFur grabenloses Bauen und Instandhalten von Leitungen; Schubertring 14, A-1015 Wien, AUSTRIA; Tel: +43 1 5131 588-0; Fax: +43 1 5131 58825; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.oegl.at

AUSTRALASIAN SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Menno Henneveld; Secretary: Jeff PaceASTT 18 Frinton Place, Greenwood, WA 6024, WESTERN AUSTRALIA; Tel: +61 (0)8 9420 2826; Fax: +61 (0)8 9420 3171; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.astt.com.au

BRAZIL SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Sergio A Palazzo; Secretary: Fabio TesarottoABRATT A1. Ogla, 422 cj. 97, Barra Funda — CEP 01155-40, Sao Paulo - SP - 01156-000, BRAZIL; Tel: +55 11 3822 2084; Fax: +55 11 3825 2414; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.abratt.org.br

CHINA HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Ian Vickeridge; Exec. Secretary: Mr Choi, Hon Ting DerekCHKSTT 10/F Hing Lung Commercial Building, 68-74 Bonham Strand East, HONG KONG; Fax: +852 8148 7764; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.chkstt.org

CHINA TAIPEI SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Liao Tsung-Shen; Secretary: (Bob) W C Chen CTSTT 3F, 92, Sec.4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, TAIWAN; Tel: +886 2 8369 5160; Fax: +886 2 8369 5161; E-mail: [email protected]

CZECH SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Prof. Stanley Drabek; Secretary: Dr Jiri Kubalek CZSTT Bezova 1658/1, 147 14 Praha 4, CZECH REPUBLIC; Tel: +420 244 062 722; Fax: +420 244 062 722; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.czstt.cz

FINNISH SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Mikko Isakow; Secretary: Jani VakevaFISTT Pl 493, 00101 Helsinki, FINLAND; Tel: +358 400 439004; Fax: +358 5 7495010; E-mail: [email protected]

FRENCH SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Patrice Dupont; Secretary: Dominque GuillermFSTT 4 rue des Beaumonts, F-94120 Fontenay Sous Bois, FRANCE; Tel: +33 1 53 99 90 20; Fax: +33 1 53 99 90 29; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.fstt.org

GERMAN SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Hoelterhoff; Secretary: Dr. Klaus Beyer GSTT Messedamm 22, D-14055 Berlin, GERMANY; Tel: +49 30 3038 2143; Fax: +49 30 3038 2079; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.gstt.de

IBERIAN SOCIETY FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Alfredo Avello; Secretary: Elena Zuniga Alcon IBSTT C/Josefa Valcarcel, 8-3a PTLA, 28027 Madrid, SPAIN; Tel: +34 91 418 23 44; Fax: +34 91 418 23 41; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.ibstt.org ITALIAN ASSOCIATION FOR TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGYChairman: Paolo Trombetti; Secretary: Cristina CoisIATT Via Ruggero Fiore, 41, 00163 Rome, ITALY; Tel: +39 06 3972 1997; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.iatt.it



July 2008 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY 63 www.trenchlessonline.com

NUCA Foundation’s Leadership Institute Comes Back Strong

After a two-year hiatus, the NUCA Foundation for Education and Research recently brought back its Institute for Leadership Development’s Core Curriculum Program on front-offi ce management.

Held Feb. 25-29 at NUCA headquarters in Arlington, Va., the program for current and rising project managers, estimators and supervisors attracted 17 participants from NUCA member companies around the country. The training sessions, which were presented by experienced faculty, who understand the diverse challenges of running a utility construction company, focused on safety, insurance and bonding, estimating and bidding, fi nancial management, construction law and leadership skills. The week-long program also included a trip to Capitol Hill,

where attendees met selected members of Congress and learned how to lobby for the utility construction industry’s legislative issues.

Early feedback from participants has been uniformly positive. Andy Hedrick of Reynolds Inc. (Fairburn, Ga.) had this to say: “The NUCA Leadership Course was a great opportunity for me to gain valuable industry-specifi c leadership training. Especially worthwhile was the open forum, which fostered the exchange of ideas among some of the best utility contractors in the country. And, the Capitol Hill visit certainly emphasized the hard work and dedication of the NUCA staff in keeping our industry strong for future generations.”

Asked to single out the session he found most useful, Justin Smith of Schlouch Inc. (Blandon, Pa.) chose those presented by Charles Vander Kooi on estimating and bidding, job scheduling and fi nancial management: “I would have to say that the best part of the program for me was Charles Vander Kooi. Really great speaker. I picked up the most information from his sessions.” (Note: Vander Kooi, who has presented at previous Institutes and Utility Construction EXPO, has more than 40 years experience in the construction industry in estimating, upper management and consulting.)

Mark Gravel of Willow Construction Inc. (Powder Springs, Ga.) summed up the event like this: “I thoroughly enjoyed the program overall. It was well worth the time and expense.”

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

Institute instructor Charles Vander Kooi presented on estimating and bidding, job scheduling and fi nancial management.



Circle 202 on reader service card.



BUSINESS CARDS








AMerik Engineering Inc. Trenchless Supplies● Top SealTM lateral sealing system 6 to 20 inches● AM cutters from 6 to 24 inches● Fiber Spot Repair - Sectional Liners 6 to 40 inches● H-Expander - rerounds pipes 6 to 16 inches● Slugger - removes resin slugs in laterals● AM root cutter - turbine driven

2600 Ainsley Ct. Marietta, GA 30066Ph. 770 924-2899, Fax 770 924-2301

e-mail: [email protected] ● www.amerikengineering.com











Horizontal Boring & Tunneling Pipe Ramming & Bursting • Directional Drilling

MALCOLM BACHAND10085 Dallas Drive, Kamloops, BC, V2C 6T4Bus. (250) 573-7814 | Fax: (250) 573-7815

Email: [email protected]

Currently seeking qualifi ed foreman/operators.

BUSINESS CARDS

Circle 216 on reader service card. Circle 217 on reader service card.

CLASSIFIEDS

OUTSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Dynamic national company specializing in pump, pipe, tank, & fi ltration rental sales & service is seeking an Outside Sales Rep. with strong sales skills in Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange County and the South Bay area. Hiring for ability and will train. Pump, fi ltration, water treatment or rental exp. a plus but not required. BA/BS degree or equivalent needed. Must be motivated & possess good communication, PC & math skills. Excellent compensation & benefi t package. To join a growing & team oriented Company, send your resume to:

Human Resources Ref: RFROSRain for Rent

Fax: (661) 391-3565 www.rainforrent.com

All applicants must submit to a pre-employmentbackground check, drugscreen & physical.

EEO/AA Emp. M/F/V/D

AD INDEXADVERTISER PAGE RS #Allied Construction Products, LLC 35 24

Amerik Supplies 65 215

Applied Felts 8 5

Aries Industries Inc. 64 200

Arntzen 65 212

Bor-It Mfg. CO., Inc. 31 20

Forrer Supply Co. Inc. 64 204

Griffi n Pump 64, Back Cover 201,39

Guilin Huali Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. China 47 30

Hammerhead 2 2

HDDBroker Inc. 34 22

The HDD Co. 34 23

Holly Pipe Corporation 64 205

Horizontal Technologies Inc. 14 12

Icon Equipment Distributors, Inc 17 16

ISCO Industries 37,64 25,206

Kamloops Augering 66 216

Laney Directional Drilling 14 13

Lee Supply Company, Inc. 5 3

McLaughlin 9 6

Mears Group Inc. 50 31

Melfred Borzall 19 17

M-I SWACO 43 28

Michels Corp. 12 9

Midwest Mole 10 7

Moffatt Enerprises 12 10

NESCO 64 202

ADVERTISER PAGE RS #No-Dig 2009 45 29

No-Dig Sewers Without Trenches 65 211

NoVoc Performance Resins 16 15

NST Corp 64 207

Per Aarsleff I-2 1

Pipe User’s Group 33 21

Pipelogix 65 208

Prime Horizontal Ltd. 39 26

Rain for Rent 13 11

Ridgid 15 14

The Robbins Co. 71 38

Roose Manufacturing 65 209

RootX 51 32

Sekisui SPR Americas, LLC 66 217

Select Tech 65 210

Slabach Enterprises 65 214

Sol’s Pipe and Steel 64 203

Trenchless Road Show - Series 59 35

Tri-Flo International 63 36

TT Technologies 27 19

TT TV 67 37

Underground Devices, Inc. 41 27

Underground Tools Inc. 7,56 4,33

Universal HDD 25 18

VacTron 65 213

Vermeer 11 8

Weftec 08 57 34

HELP WANTEDA leading multidisciplinary utility contractor based

in the upper Midwest is looking for an experienced

tunneling machine/hydraulic mechanic. Qualifi ed

candidates must have a solid background in

maintenance and repair of tunneling and other

construction related equipment. Experience in

hydraulics, electronics, diesel repair, generators,

excavators and cranes are benefi cial. Welding,

fabricating, and agricultural repair experience is a

plus. Must possess ability to work independently

and also as a team player.

Come work for a company who takes pride in

their reputation for quality work performed safely

and with care for the environment. Be an integral

part of a growing, innovative company who values

strong work ethics and is committed to teamwork.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Send your resume to:

classifi [email protected]

Sekisui SPR Americas, LLC 1045 Research Center Atlanta Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30331, USA Phone: 512-914-4570 ; Fax: 678-510-1826 E-mail: [email protected]

www.sekisui-spr.com




Trenchless TechnologyVideos on Demand

Register on TT TV for benefi ts that will add to your viewing experience. Once registered you can log in and:

• Upload and manage videos you want to share with the trenchless industry

• Get higher quality videos

• Add your comments to videos

• Rate videos

Features Include:• Jobsite Videos

• No-Dig 2008 Interviews

• Product Launch Videos

• Industry News Videos

• Industry Trade Show Videos

• TT TV Home Page

TT TV brings the trenchless industry video reporting from all over the world, covering trade shows, product launches and project stories. It all kicked off at the 2008 No-Dig Show as Trenchless Technology editors interviewed several industry peers at the trenchless industry’s biggest and most talked about event.

Register Today at www.bmi-media.com/login.php and start enjoying Trenchless Technology Television today!

Benjamin Media Inc.1770 Main St., PO Box 190, Peninsula, OH 44264 USA

Ph: 330-467-7588 Fax: 330-468-2289 www.benjaminmedia.com

Piercing ToolsAllied Hole-Hogs — underground

piercing and pipe pushing/pulling tools — are one of the most effi cient, least expensive method for underground pipe or service placement in construction and installation work. Pneumatic Hole-Hogs open clean, compacted, self-contained tunnels for pipe, cable, conduit or wiring

at the lowest cost per foot. Allied Hole-Hogs come in a broad range of sizes (2-1/8 to 6 in. in diameter) to match a wide range of applications, including tunneling/moling, pipe pushing, pipe bursting and pipe pulling.

Allied can also provide an equally broad assortment of application accessories like body expanders, pulling and pushing assemblies and nose wear covers. RS# 150

Pipe FusionMcElroy recently introduced its

newest pipe handling system, the PolyHorse. This system consists of a series of adjustable racks to store and help install the pipe on the jobsite. It was designed for use with PE pipe sizes 3 to 20 in. in diameter. It can reduce manpower expense and provide a well-organized staging area for handling pipe bundles.

PE pipe is off-loaded from the delivery truck directly onto the PolyHorse. Pipe is stored off the ground and out of the

way until needed. In use, the operator rolls the pipe down the rack and onto the integral pipe rollers where it is easily loaded into a McElroy fusion machine. This eliminates the costs for operating a backhoe or other lifting device along with the associated manpower. RS# 151

PRODUCT SHOWCASE



City of San Francisco Tests Infrastructure Coordination Online

Envista Corp., a provider of Web-based software for infrastructure coordination, recently announced that the City and County of San Francisco’s Department of Public Works (DPW) will pilot Envista’s new map-driven solution.

The Envista solution enables municipalities, utilities and highway agencies to exchange and coordinate construction and maintenance project schedules online. San Francisco is the largest city to date to participate in Envista’s pilot program. Envista now has 20 municipalities and numerous utility companies and government agencies participating in its program. Envista’s Web-based software helps infrastructure owners, such as cities and utility companies, work together to lessen the impact of construction and maintenance on roadways and to minimize encroachment upon each other’s infrastructure facilities.

According to Dan McKenna, deputy bureau manager for the San Francisco Department of Public Works, “In the past several years, we’ve made great progress in coordinating our project schedules with those of utility companies. Now with Envista, we’re eager to go to the next level. Envista’s map-driven technology for infrastructure coordination online looks very promising.”

Envista’s infrastructure coordination solution leverages construction budgets and optimizes the planning of utility and roadway projects while reducing the impact of street cuts on local communities.

www.envista.com.

E-BIZAOC Launches New CIPP Web Site

AOC expands the scope of its commit-ment to the cured-in-place pipe industry by launching a new Web site dedicated ex-clusively to CIPP technology. Users access the site by going to www.cippresins.com or through links at www.aoc-resins.com. The site is designed for a range of interests — from those new to CIPP technology to onsite project managers. Included are a CIPP process description and the benefi ts of this special trenchless technology.

www.cippresins.com

Condux Launches New SiteCondux International Inc. recently

launched a new interactive Web site. The site aligns the product menu system with the current catalog to make it easy for us-ers to fi nd the products they need. The refi ned navigation system provides easy access to information on Condux’s com-plete line of cable installation equipment. Condux catalogs and manuals are available online in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

www.condux.com.

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1. OUTSIDE CONTRACTING FIRMS❑ Utility Contractor❑ Distribution Contractor❑ Road Boring/

Directional Drilling Contractor

❑ Tunneling Contractor❑ Pipeline Contractor❑ Cable Contractor❑ General Contractor❑ Other; Specify:__________________________

2. ENGINEERING FIRMS❑ Construction❑ Geotechnical❑ Environmental❑ Pipeline❑ Other; Specify:__________________________

3. GOVERNMENT/PUBLIC WORKS

❑ Water and Sewer❑ Gas and Electric❑ Other; Specify:__________________________

4. UTILITY COMPANIES❑ Water and Sewer❑ Electric❑ Gas❑ Cable/Telephone❑ Other Utilities; Specify__________________________

5. INDUSTRIAL FACILITY❑ In-House Contracting❑ In-House Construction❑ In-House Engineering❑ Other; Specify

__________________________

6. MFG/SUPPLIER❑ Manufacturer❑ Rehabilitation Systems❑ Pipe Manufacturer❑ Other; Specify__________________________

7. OTHERS IN THE TRENCHLESS INDUSTRY

❑ Consultant,❑ Library❑ Student/Professor❑ Other; Specify___________________________

What is your primary business at this location. (CHECK ONE)

How would you describe your primary trenchless activity?❑ Rehabilitation ❑ New Installation ❑ Both

Would you like:

1. Renewal notices by email? .............................................................❑ YES ❑ NO

2. Conference & Webinar info from Benjamin Media by email? .........❑ YES ❑ NO

3. Pre-screened 3rd party emails? ......................................................❑ YES ❑ NO

4. Renewal notices & other industry info from Benjamin Media? ......❑ YES ❑ NO

CHECK your job TITLE ❑ Owner/Partner ❑ President ❑ Vice President ❑ C.E.O. ❑ C.O.O./C.F.O.❑ Manager/Coordinator/Administrator ❑ Supervisor/Foreman/Inspector ❑ Superintendent ❑ Engineer/Estimator/Consultant ❑ Director/Commissioner ❑ Safety ❑ Operator/Field Personnel/Technician ❑ Other; Specify: _____________________________________________________

Reader Service & Subscription Card

Fax to: 330.657.2855

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I want to renew/subscribe to TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY FREE* ❑ YES ❑ NO

Signature: _________________________________Date: _______________

TT0708 Expires 11/2008

*This offer is free in USA & Canada.

Name: ________________________________________________________Job Title: ____________________Company _________________________Address: ______________________________________________________City: ________________________State/Province: _____ Zip/Postal Code: __Country: ____________________Email: _____________________________Phone: ______________________Fax: ______________________________

Please allow 4 - 6 weeks for processing

Fax to 330.657.2855



A s an OEM, it is a privilege when someone purchases our equipment. Our company

focus is to design equipment for the industry that will increase productivity, effi ciency and profi tability to your business and your customer.

It is essential to know the estimated cost of maintaining your equipment, which should be provided by the OEM. That cost should be included in the cost per fusion and your daily machine expense. There is a direct correlation between a functional maintenance program and your run-time availability.

The provider of the equipment you purchase should always provide the mechanical training and guidance in daily servicing of the equipment and routine scheduled maintenance per the operator’s manual provided. If they do not provide it, fi nd another provider that does.

An operator’s manual is your guide to minimizing your operating and maintenance expenses and maximizing the hours of operation of

your equipment, as it will list the daily inspection points that will help avoid problems and shutdowns; it will also have a complete schedule of when oils, fi lters, track tension, planetary bolt torque, etc., are required and additional time is needed to be scheduled. Specifi c startup and break-in procedures are also included that ensure you maximize the life expectancy of the equipment you have purchased.

Require the person who is responsible for the maintenance of your equipment to be adequately trained by the OEM or its distributor and that he or she fully understands the accountability of the inspection points, the correct oils and lubricants to be used and the location and availability of those OEM service parts called for.

The OEM will list specifi c oils, fi lters and replacement parts and you should only purchase OEM replacement parts and product. A fi lter is not a fi lter and we see expensive errors made in the repair of equipment when someone makes an assumption that all fi lters,

oils and replacement parts are the same. Each OEM knows what its equipment specifi cations needs are and will provide that to you in the most convenient and economical way possible.

Implementation of an oil analysis program is also essential for your engine, hydraulics and, in our case, compression. This allows both you and the provider of the equipment to follow and forecast what your service and maintenance needs will be long before you would have a major component failure.

You spend a tremendous amount of time and effort looking at your return on investment (ROI) of the equipment you purchase. By just following some simple guidelines of maintaining and operating that equipment will ensure your objectives and expectations are met.

Dick McKinley is the founder and CEO of Fast Fusion LLC, which is based in Palisade, Colo.

Tips for Fusion Machine Maintenance

TECHNICAL FORUM

AUGUST

17-20 APWA Public Works Congress & Exposition, New Orleans, APWA(816) 472-6100; [email protected].

SEPTEMBER

10-12 Tunneling Short Course, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo., (303) 444-2650, Web: www.microtunneling.com

15-18 CONEXPO Russia, Moscow, US (414) 298-4144, Russia, +7 495 784 4013, Web site: www.conexporussia.com.

22-24 Plastic Pipes XIV, Budapest, Hungary, Plastic Pipes Conference Association, +36 1 212 00 56, e-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ppxiv.org

23-25 No-Dig Live, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, United Kingdom, UKSTT, +44 (0) 20 8876 188, Web: www.westrade.co.uk

23-25 IFAT China 2008, Shanghai, China, +49 89 949 20244, Web: www.ifat-chi-na.com

OCTOBER

6-10 17th International Corrosion Congress, Las Vegas, NACE

(281) 228-6200, Web site: www.nace.org/nace/content/

conferences18-22 WEFTEC 2008 Annual Conference &

Expo, Chicago, WEF (800) 666-020622-24 10th Annual International

Conference on Underground Infrastructure of Urban Areas, Warsaw, Poland, Institute of Civil Engineering of Wroclaw University of Technology,

ph: +48 71 320 2354 +48 71 32029 14 www.wbliw.wroc.pl/uiua/200829-Nov. 3 IPLOCA Convention, Crete, Greece,

Web: www.iploca.com

DECEMBER

8-9 UIM Asset Management Conference, Indianapolis, Benjamin Media Inc., (330) 467-7588

JULY 22-23 Trenchless Road Shows

Cleveland, Holiday Inn Strongsville, Ohio, Benjamin Media Inc., (330) 467-7588; Fax: (330) 468-2289, www.trenchlessroadshow.com

SEPTEMBER 17-18 Trenchless Road Shows

Concord (Sacremento), Sacremento, Calif, Benjamin Media Inc., (330) 467-7588, Fax: (330) 468-2289, E-mail: [email protected], Web site: www.trenchlessroad-show.com.

NOVEMBER11-12 Baltimore Trenchless Road

Show, Baltimore, Benjamin Media Inc., (330) 467-7588, Fax: (330) 468-2289, E-mail: [email protected], Web site: www.trenchlessroad-show.com

CALENDAR OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS



POINT OF VIEW

The Need for Trenchless Technology Education By Dr. Alan

Atalah, P.E., Ph.D.

The driving forces behind the rapid trenchless technology growth in North America are the

need for trenchless solutions in urban areas and relentless innovation and col-laboration to fulfill these needs. We cur-rently install new pipes and replace/ rehab old pipes using trenchless tech-nology in many small towns and sub-urbs across North America. It is antici-pated that trenchless construction methods will be the primary method for installing underground utilities in urban environment in the near future: Education is the key for making this future come sooner.

ASCE evaluated the American under-ground infrastructure and gave them average grades of D and F. The EPA and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the annual gap between the current budget allocations to water and wastewater infrastructures and the needed funded to be $35 billion. The awareness of the U.S. population of this funding gap and its consequences on health and quality of life is the key for finding and agreeing on the best means to meet this funding gap.

The democratic system is among the best in the world, and periodically electing our leaders brings many bene-fits to our society. However, this creates a conflict between the short- and long-term interests. We strive to serve our best interest, and the short-term inter-est of our leaders is to be re-elected. This leads to investing our limited funds in projects that bring the highest return on investment in terms of get-ting re-elected. Unfortunately, under-ground infrastructure are not visible unless they reach extreme limits and cause serious problems at much higher cost to rehab or replace.

The general public needs to learn about the funding shortage and be active in finding the best economical means to correct infrastructure neglect that accumulated over the years. The underground infrastructure industry needs to educate our leaders and the public that being proactive in moni-toring, rehabbing and replacing our

deteriorated infrastructure is more economical in the long run than wait-ing until disaster occurs. We need to cultivate political leaders who cham-pion the cause of investing in our infrastructure.

The underground utility construc-tion community includes utility own-ers, engineers, permitting agencies, DOTs, suppliers, manufacturers and contractors. They need to know the various trenchless techniques available, the capabilities and limitations of these techniques and the why, when, where and how to apply these techniques. Their employees need to take full advantage of the adopted trenchless techniques and monitor the rapid trenchless developments that continu-ously improve the marketplace. The learning needs of the underground util-ity construction community includes how to design and inspect a trenchless project and how to develop complete and concise bid documents that reduce disputes. They also need to learn how to handle disputes if and when they arise. The contractors need a much deeper knowledge about the specific trenchless system that they are using. The operators of the trenchless sys-tems need to learn not only how to operate and maintain the system, they also need to learn how to handle diffi-cult situations such as soil conditions, congested utilities, limited space, etc.

Probably the greatest resource of future growth lies in the area of educat-ing the next generation at the collegiate level. Many universities across North America are involved in trenchless research and education. The Trenchless Technology Center at Louisiana Tech University is a leader in these efforts. The undergraduate students have been indi-rectly exposed to trenchless technology in many civil/construction classes. Offering an elective trenchless technol-ogy class to the students is recommend-ed because they will definitely encoun-ter trenchless technology in their future construction life. The support of the local and national trenchless industry is invaluable to the success of the class.

Trenchless construction requires technically oriented and imaginative employees with a strong work ethic and intellectual abilities. The construc-tion industry strongly competes for these highly capable employees with the trenchless industry. Our challenge is to find a vehicle to bring trenchless technology to civil engineering and construction management programs in the colleges and universities across North America and develop skilled leaders prepared for the challenges of the industry. It is an endeavor filled with surmountable obstacles and worth the effort. The aforementioned factors that fuel the industry can ignite a col-legiate level program. It benefits both the academia and the trenchless indus-try to build bridges among them.

The student program during the annual No-Dig conference provides the student with an excellent opportunity to interact with the trenchless industry in many ways. The students attend paper presentations, network and socialize with the industry leaders, interact with the exhibitors and attend-ees and meet fellow students from other institutions. They also showcase their research during the previous year, sharing it with the industry. They also share their trenchless technology activ-ities with the conference attendees.

At No-Dig 2008, 50 students from the following institutions attended the stu-dent program: Arizona State University, Bowling Green State University, Concordia University, Louisiana Tech University, McGill University, Polytechnic University, Queen’s University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Waterloo and Virginia Tech University. NASTT strongly encour-ages students from civil engineering and construction management depart-ments in the North American universi-ties to develop a trenchless technology student chapter.

Dr. Alan Atalah, P.E., Ph.D., is an associate professor and MIT graduate coordinator at the College of Technology at Bowling Green State University.






Documents

Trenchless Technology