February 2026 Vol. 81 No. 2
Rehab News
New rehab tech targets sewer inspection and pipeline repair
Aries Industries
Aries Industries, the industry leader in state-of-the-art equipment for maintenance of underground infrastructure, has elevated the ease and efficiency of sewer inspection, yet again, with the introduction of the Aries LETS Sidewinder Lateral Inspection System.
This powerful new product can simultaneously inspect mainlines up to 1,200 feet, and laterals up to 200 feet, using a lateral camera that captures pipe details with striking control and accuracy. The LETS Sidewinder is the ultimate system to acquire mainline and lateral assessment video, representing a huge leap in ease of use, and quality of inspection capability and results.
The LETS Sidewinder’s compact tractor easily navigates pipes 6 inches or larger. Its lateral camera launches, with or against the flow, at a 135-degree angle. The complete view provided is unlike anything before – and yet is operated with a single, ergonomically-advanced joystick control.
“Aries Industries celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, and the LETS Sidewinder proves that its tradition of innovation remains strong heading into a fifth decade,” said Wes Paul, vice president of sales and marketing. “The LETS Sidewinder provides features our customers have requested, that allow crews to capture both mainline and lateral inspection video in a single deployment. This product helps customers maximize their time and resources invested in underground infrastructure.”
The LETS Sidewinder offers two camera options: Self-Leveling or Pan & Tilt. The lateral camera easily navigates pipe bends. Its view remains clear via Aries’ exclusive Wipercam Pan & Tilt Technology. Digital CANbus controls deliver instantaneous tractor and camera response. The tractor wheels configure to match pipe angles and conditions, while a graphical display shows tractor speed and rollover risk alerts.
Aries Industries' four-decade focus on prioritizing positive experiences for employees, customers, dealers and suppliers has led to unprecedented technological leaps, ones that transformed how municipalities in North America maintain their infrastructure. The company earned a USA Today Top Workplaces 2025 award based on employee surveys.
Vortex Companies
United Felts, a Vortex Company and industry-leading manufacturer of liners for trenchless rehabilitation, earned a U.S. patent for its EnviroCure-Felt liner technology.
US Patent No. 12,467,573 recognizes a cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liner technology with an integrated barrier film that encapsulates styrene in resin, resulting in lower emissions and odor while maintaining liner strength and integrity.
Now patented, this proprietary CIPP liner features a styrene-impermeable polymer barrier that significantly reduces styrene emissions to less than 1 ppm, well below industry standards.
EnviroCure-Felt matches the proven reliability and structural integrity of traditional CIPP liners with enhanced environmental performance. It offers a practical alternative to fully styrene-free options, which are often less durable and more costly.
The liner is suitable for a wide range of applications, from municipal sewer rehabilitation to industrial pipeline restoration, including storm drainage infrastructure and culverts.
“EnviroCure-Felt is engineered to install just like traditional CIPP liners, using the same equipment and methods crews already know,” Matt Timberlake, president of United Felts, said, emphasizing the installation process as a major advantage. “It allows contractors and engineers to adopt a more sustainable solution without changing their workflow – advancing infrastructure longevity, community health, and worker safety in a meaningful way.”
United Felts remains at the forefront of CIPP technology, driven by its commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability under the “UNITED TO DELIVER BIG” ethos. Since its launch last year, EnviroCure-Felt has been widely adopted by major utilities and proven in the field as the benchmark for felt liners meeting styrene emission standards. “United is dedicated to addressing today’s pipeline rehabilitation challenges with Cost effective, reliable solutions and will continue investing in technologies that advance industry needs,” said Vellano.
Vortex Companies also introduced the rebrand of its polyurethane foam grout solutions under the newly established and reformulated Maverick Grouts name. This family of single- and dual-component systems is engineered to solve a broad range of infrastructure challenges, including stopping inflow and infiltration (I&I), filling voids, stabilizing soil, and lifting settled slabs and structures.
“We chose the name Maverick to honor Scott Peterson – the driving force behind our polymerics division, and a man known around here by that nickname,” said Mike Vellano, CEO of Vortex Companies. “It also reflects how we’ve always gone to market: independently, creatively, and often in ways that challenge the traditional playbook.”
The Maverick Grouts family is designed for contractors and municipalities tackling complex geotechnical projects. Applications include anywhere there is inflow and infiltration, major cracks and voids, soil stabilization, curtain grouting, and lifting and leveling.
The updated Maverick grout line includes:
- Maverick I & I – rapid-setting grouts for heavy infiltration & leak stoppage
- Maverick Stabilization – structural foams & grouts to boost strength & load-bearing capacity
- Maverick Void Fill – expanding migration & structural foams for broad infrastructure use
- Maverick Lift – structural lifting foams for roadways, bridges, and soils
- Maverick Acrylamides & Acrylates – for soil stabilization & sealing
“This launch is personal for our team,” said Matthew Peterson, senior vice president, Coatings and Rehab Materials at Vortex Companies. “My father, Scott Peterson, developed the early formulations that became the foundation of our polymerics line. Without his expertise and ingenuity, we simply wouldn’t be where we are today. Naming this line Maverick honors the lasting impact he’s had on our culture, our products, and the way we serve the market.”
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