January 2025 Vol. 80 No. 1
Business
Business News
McElroy
McElroy, the global leader in the design and manufacture of thermoplastic fusion equipment, has launched three new micro-websites dedicated to distributors and customers in Mexico, Peru and Chile.
"The pipe fusion market in these areas has experienced rapid growth in recent years," said McElroy CEO and President Chip McElroy. "At McElroy, we want to ensure that we are providing our customers and distributors with resources tailored to their geographic location."
McElroy works closely with distributors, contractors, and end users to promote the use of high-pressure welding standards, data loggers, and other practices that lead to faster, safer, and higher-quality fusion results. McElroy equipment is a staple of many industries in these countries, including mining, pisciculture, and natural gas.
On these new sites, users can find information about McElroy equipment available for sale or find service options in their regions. Customers who work with McElroy equipment can expect the highest level of reliability and quality assurance, along with more information on how McElroy's polyethylene and polypropylene welding equipment is best for the job or jobs at hand.
Through these new sites, users can also contact staff directly at McElroy's international locations, streamlining the process of purchasing or repairing McElroy equipment. In addition, the site offers a way for users to quickly find the polyethylene and polypropylene welding courses, trainings, and certification opportunities available in the region.
McElroy is the leading manufacturer and innovator in the science of joining thermoplastic pipe. The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based company offers the industry's most complete line of butt, saddle and socket fusion equipment for 1/2" CTS to 2000mm OD pipe, as well as quality assurance accessories that increase productivity and efficiency on the job site.
Cemen Tech
Cemen Tech, the world’s largest volumetric concrete mixer manufacturer, announces an exclusive partnership with West Side Tractor Sales, a premier dealer in construction and forestry heavy equipment. Through this partnership, West Side Tractor will offer Cemen Tech’s full line of innovative concrete production solutions, bringing greater accessibility and support to contractors throughout the Northern Illinois and Indiana markets.
Cemen Tech’s volumetric mixers allow contractors to produce precise amounts of concrete fresh, on-site, eliminating the need for batch plant returns and offering the flexibility to adapt mix designs as needed throughout the day. With advanced technology, Cemen Tech trucks simplify the complexity of concrete projects, ensuring high-quality, fresh concrete at every job site.
In support of the new partnership, West Side Tractor has appointed Drew Aldrich as business development manager for Illinois and Nathan Darter as the primary sales contact for Indiana. Together, they will lead Cemen Tech sales and provide comprehensive service to customers throughout the territory. West Side Tractor will also offer field service, preventative maintenance, and emergency repair, ensuring dependable support with a robust team of service technicians and stocked inventory of parts and components.
Founded in 1962 on Chicago’s West Side, West Side Tractor Sales has grown into a third-generation family business driven by grit, innovation, and a true passion for heavy machinery.
With over 55 years of manufacturing and engineering expertise in the volumetric mixing industry, Cemen Tech, Inc. stands as a global leader, dedicated to delivering the highest quality concrete mixers to its customers.
ASCE
The Maine Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released the 2024 Report Card for Maine’s Infrastructure this week. It includes 16 categories of infrastructure that received an overall ‘C’ grade. That’s a one-step increase from the 2020 Report Card for Maine’s Infrastructure and one step higher than the national average on the 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.
A ‘C’ grade means Maine’s infrastructure is in fair condition and will require attention to ensure it remains reliable in the future.
While Maine’s drinking water grade remained stable at a ‘C-,’ aging infrastructure and new regulations will put pressure on utility systems that rely heavily on user fees and have limited budgets to upgrade their facilities.
Water systems in Maine are not meeting their goal to replace one percent of water service lines each year, which adds anywhere from 10 to 50 years to the typical 100-year replacement cycle. Maine has approximately $60 million in annual drinking water needs for the next 20 years, with an estimated annual shortfall of $27 million. Those funding numbers are expected to increase as water systems comply with new federal regulations which will limit the levels of “forever chemicals” (PFAs) in drinking water.
Wastewater (C-) and stormwater (C) systems in Maine both saw a one-step grade increase in the 2024 report card. While increased funding for these systems has helped make much-needed improvements, there are still potential problems ahead, including many wastewater and stormwater systems nearing the age of their projected lifespans. This will require extensive improvements to ensure they remain reliable and resilient for the future.
Maine’s energy grade dropped two steps to a ‘C-’ in this year’s report card. The state’s energy systems need approximately $2 billion in work to meet current needs. Like most states, Maine is dealing with increasing energy demand caused by more heat pumps used to heat homes and businesses and electric vehicle charging. While new renewable energy sources are coming online, demand is growing faster than the development of new plants. Additionally, power plants built during the 1970s and 1980s are reaching the end of their service life and will need to be replaced. As Maine builds an energy grid for the future, resilience and reliability must be a top priority because Maine is third in the nation in terms of both the frequency and duration of power outages.
Vermeer
Vermeer BorePlan is a new mobile application for horizontal directional drilling (HDD) contractors. This app streamlines the planning process, improves execution accuracy and simplifies project documentation. BorePlan is free on Apple iOS and Android devices, with a premium version offering advanced capabilities for complex projects.
Vermeer BorePlan helps HDD contractors tackle their daily challenges by offering practical solutions for issues like utility avoidance and complex bore path management. This mobile application puts powerful tools directly at operators’ fingertips, enhancing onsite decision-making and efficiency.
Brad Ausman, lead product manager for Vermeer Intelligent Worksite Products, highlights the app’s significance: “BorePlan is designed to make HDD operations smoother and more efficient. It’s like having an expert assistant in your pocket, helping you navigate the complexities of each project.”
The app addresses several key industry needs, helping improve both project execution and productivity:
- Simplified planning. Digital tools create accurate bore plans, reducing time spent on manual calculations.
- Risk awareness. Utility mapping features record potential underground infrastructure, enhancing awareness and aiding HDD operators in making informed decisions during operations.
- Operator efficiency. Rod-by-rod plans enable operators to make quick adjustments during drilling, allowing crews to adapt to unexpected challenges.
- Streamlined documentation. Reporting features help contractors meet industry documentation requirements efficiently.
The Vermeer BorePlan interface is designed with user-friendliness, catering to experienced operators and industry newcomers. Seasoned professionals can leverage features that streamline their workflow, while newcomers can use it as an effective learning tool. The app guides users step-by-step through the planning process and emphasizes key factors for successful bore execution.
The BorePlan free version includes several essential features for HDD operations:
- Straight-line bore planning
- Basic utility mapping
- Onsite accessible rod-by-rod plans
- Integration with high-accuracy GPS tools
- Aerial imagery provided by ESRI
These features enable contractors to visualize their projects within the surrounding environment, leading to more informed decision-making during operations.
To try Vermeer BorePlan for free, download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. For contractors needing advanced features, BorePlan Premium is available for an annual fee of $1,299. It can be purchased directly through the Vermeer website. For assistance with Vermeer BorePlan, contact a local Vermeer dealer.
NAXSA
Construction and safety professionals converged on the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, Florida, Nov. 22 for the state’s inaugural Trench Safety Summit, presented and hosted by the North American Excavation Shoring Association (NAXSA).
Participants arrived in the early morning, ready to reach one common goal: to help prevent a tragedy in the workplace by learning more about trench safety and shoring equipment and practices.
The day-long Summit offered cross-training in both the Fairground Pavilion and using open air excavation/trenching equipment stations. Traditional training in the Pavilion featured Trench Accidents and Statistics, Pipe Plug Safety and Understanding Manufacturer’s Tabulated Data. Attendees also received an OSHA Activity Update.
Excavation/trenching equipment station training, led by industry safety instructors, included:
- Proper use of trench boxes
- Proper use of modular aluminum trench shields
- Proper use of hydraulic vertical shores
- Fall protection & other safety products
The event also featured a Trench Rescue Simulation by the Orange County Fire Rescue team.
NAXSA member companies who organized and cohosted the event were National Trench Safety, Sunstate Equipment, Sunbelt Rentals, United Rentals Trench Safety, and Cherne Industries.
NAXSA was created to promote the safe and efficient use of excavation shoring practices. It represents manufacturers, engineers, rental companies/distributors, universities/educators, associates/suppliers, and government agency representatives who share the common goal of maintaining safety in the excavation shoring industry with the result of zero deaths and injuries.
Xylem
Global water solutions company Xylem has acquired a majority stake in Idrica, a leader in water data management and analytics, to empower water utilities with intelligent solutions for their most critical challenges.
Xylem Vue, which combines Xylem’s existing digital water solutions portfolio with Idrica’s technology platform, empowers customers to address critical challenges such as water scarcity and aging infrastructure with real-time insights. Today’s move will enable the two companies to further integrate their solutions and create a simpler, more powerful customer experience.
Over the past year and a half, water utilities worldwide have deployed the Xylem Vue integrated software and analytics platform to optimize their infrastructure, lower costs, and adapt to new conditions.
For example, the City of Hot Springs, Ark., improved its operations by adding virtual district metering areas using Xylem Vue. The integrated software and analytics platform enabled the city to pinpoint high water loss areas by creating smaller, more manageable zones within the network. By deploying these advanced digital solutions, Hot Springs reduced non-revenue water loss by nearly 50 percent.
Another example is the city of Monterrey, Mexico. Servicios de Agua y Drenaje de Monterrey, I.P.D. (SADM), which serves a metropolitan area of 5.3 million people, sought a digital solution to monitor severe drought conditions and enhance efficiency.
Xylem Vue enabled SADM to implement smart monitoring and management of water pressure, flow and consumption. The platform also helps the utility identify potential anomalies that point to visible and hidden leaks. As a result, SADM has realized overall water savings of 17 percent – and up to 37 percent in certain key sections of pipeline – significantly increasing its operational efficiency and management.
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