July 2026 Vol. 81 No. 7
Business
Business News: Latest industry developments
Wyo-Ben
Wyo-Ben, Inc., a supplier of sodium bentonite, is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2026.
Founded in 1951, the family-owned company has grown from a regional bentonite producer into a global supplier serving the oil and gas, water-well drilling, civil construction, environmental remediation and wastewater treatment markets.
Wyo-Ben operates four bentonite processing facilities in Wyoming and Montana and supplies products used in drilling fluids, trenchless construction and other infrastructure applications.
The company continues to focus on producing sodium bentonite products while supporting customers across infrastructure, environmental and industrial markets. Its long-term growth strategy also includes continuing investment in innovation, environmental stewardship and operational improvements.
“Our 75th anniversary is more than a milestone – it’s a celebration of the people, principles and partnerships that have shaped Wyo-Ben since 1951,” said David Brown, president and CEO.
In concert with the anniversary, the company received national recognition for its corporate guidance. It was one of seven privately held businesses nationwide selected for a 2026 Private Company Board of the Year Award, from MLR Media.
The award recognizes fiduciary and advisory boards that demonstrate exceptional governance practices, strategic leadership, and a strong commitment to serving shareholders, employees, customers, and the communities they impact. Recipients are selected for going beyond legal governance requirements and exemplifying best practices in board structure, oversight, and performance.
“This recognition reflects the strength of Wyo-Ben’s leadership and governance culture,” said Brown. “For 75 years, our company has been guided by long-term stewardship, sound decision-making, and a commitment to creating lasting value for our employees, customers, shareholders and communities.
“Nearly 20 years ago, we made the deliberate decision to appoint a majority of independent outside directors to our seven-member board,” Brown added. “That decision helped shape the company we are today and strengthened our ability to grow while remaining true to the principles that have defined Wyo-Ben for generations.”
Wyo-Ben Inc. is a market leader in mining and manufacturing premium Wyoming Bentonite Clay products. The company serves global industries including oil and gas, water-well drilling, environmental construction, hazardous wastewater treatment, cat litter, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other industrial and consumer markets.
Volvo
Volvo CE has been a cornerstone of Swedish industry for nearly 200 years and continues to make long-term investments in the country. Today, around 40 percent of the company’s total production hours are based in Sweden.
A new excavator factory, in Eskilstuna, a SEK 700 million investment, forms part of Volvo CE’s long-term strategy to build closer to its customers and strengthen its regional presence. Set for completion in 2028, the factory will enhance the company’s competitiveness and reaffirm Sweden’s role as a strong industrial nation.
Eskilstuna already hosts Volvo CE’s global headquarters, its largest research and development center, and the sales organization for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania, as well as a component factory – making it a central hub for the company’s operations.
The investment strengthens Volvo CE’s position in an increasingly competitive global market, where excavators represent the largest and most important segment within the construction industry. The European market for larger excavators has grown by 50 percent since 2010, and demand is expected to continue to increase.
The new facility in Eskilstuna will cover approximately 30,000 square meters and feature mixed module assembly for both electric and combustion engine crawler excavators in weight classes ranging from 14 to 50 tons, with an annual production capacity of up to 3,500 machines. Local production will also result in shorter lead times, reduced supply chain disruptions and lower transport emissions. Access to excavators is also an important part of society’s civil preparedness.
Volvo CE is a global leader in construction solutions, delivering premium products and services that combine power and performance with a more sustainable way of working. We are a company driven by people and together we have a purpose: To build the world we want to live in.
John Deere
John Deere announced the three finalists in its Building America contest. This nationwide contest celebrates contractors, operators and construction businesses helping build stronger communities across the United States. The grand prize winner will receive a New Generation John Deere P-Tier Mid-Size Excavator.
Inspired by America’s 250th Anniversary, the contest invited participants to share their stories through video submissions highlighting how they are helping build America today and how they would use a new John Deere P-Tier Mid-size Excavator to build America for tomorrow.
Three finalists whose businesses, community impact and vision for the future stood out among a highly competitive field (listed alphabetically) are:
- Nick Long – Chamberlain Backhoe Service (California)
- Caleb Lovett – Wolf Creek Land Co. (Tennessee)
- Patrick Rector – Rector Excavating Inc. (Kentucky)
The finalists will now advance to the public voting period, which runs Aug. 17-31, 2026, where anyone can vote to help determine the contest winner. The grand prize recipient will be announced Sept. 8.
Condux International
Condux International is celebrating 140 years of innovation, marking a remarkable milestone for one of Southern Minnesota’s longest-standing manufacturers and a global leader in cable installation equipment for the telecommunications and electric utility industries.
The company’s history dates to 1886, when entrepreneur D.W. Radichel relocated to the Mankato, Minn., area and purchased a harness shop. In 1888, he shifted his focus and established North Star Concrete to manufacture concrete drain tile that helped improve agricultural productivity throughout the region. Over the decades, the family business evolved alongside America's growing infrastructure, expanding into multiple industries before ultimately focusing on utility construction equipment.
That evolution led to the formation of Condux International, which became an independent company in 1998 under the leadership of Brad Radichel, a fourth-generation family member. Today, the company designs and manufactures industry-leading cable installation equipment used by utility contractors and telecommunications providers around the world.
Condux’s product portfolio includes cable pullers, fiber optic cable blowers, duct rodders, pulling accessories and specialized installation tools that help contractors complete projects more safely, efficiently, and productively. The company’s equipment has supported the expansion of electrical grids, telecommunications systems, and fiber optic networks throughout North America and internationally.
In 2009, Condux further strengthened its position in the global utility market through the formation of Condux Tesmec, a joint venture with Italy-based Tesmec S.p.A., combining decades of North American manufacturing expertise with advanced transmission line technology.
Charps
Pipeline infrastructure contractor Charps LLC was confirmed as a state-approved hydrostatic testing services provider by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). To meet state requirements, Charps had to demonstrate that it possesses the in-house expertise and resources for pipeline integrity testing, made possible by its pressure testing service range, which includes hydrostatic test planning and execution.
Supplying construction, maintenance, integrity, and emergency response services across North America, Charps had decades of experience, project records, and customer testimonials to leverage when working with CalFire throughout the application process.
California’s pipeline safety standards are stricter than elsewhere in the country, meaning the list of approved vendors is limited and specialized. With the addition of Charps to this list, pipeline operators in California now have access to turnkey hydrostatic testing services enhanced by real-time monitoring, leak detection, and digital reporting, provided through subsidiary company, PipeSense. Part of the Charps’ family of brands, PipeSense develops, designs, and implements technology-driven pipeline leak detection and monitoring services, including its 360-degree hydrotesting platform, PipeTest.
Through advanced dynamic pressure pulse technology, PipeTest delivers pressure trending, instant stabilization insights, and real-time AI-driven leak detection data straight to customer dashboards, minimizing downtime, and driving better decision-making. As an approved vendor, Charps’ in-house expertise and solutions, like PipeTest, will be available to the regional market.
Charps and PipeSense are now exploring opportunities to support regional operators by supplying pressure test mobile trailers equipped with safe, efficient, and reliable hydrostatic testing operations. Designed for rapid mobilization, these trailers will serve as operational hubs for on-site testing activities.
ADS
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a leading provider of innovative water management solutions in the stormwater and onsite wastewater industries, was named to TIME’s 2026 list of the World’s Most Impactful Companies. This annual recognition highlights organizations that are making extraordinary contributions to addressing global challenges through innovation, sustainability and measurable impact.
ADS was recognized for its leadership in advancing sustainable infrastructure, expanding circular manufacturing practices and delivering solutions that protect and manage the world’s most critical resource: water.
ADS leads the industry in water management innovation. Central to this leadership is the Company's 110,000 square-foot Engineering and Technology Center – the largest and most advanced stormwater research facility in the world. It features:
- 90,000-gallon, closed-loop recyclable water system that replicates real-world storm conditions
- Hydraulics lab that supports water separation, traditional filtration and low-impact development filtration
- Materials Science Lab dedicated to structural performance analysis and recycled plastics testing
- Advanced Technology Lab equipped with 3D printing, prototyping and small-scale sample pipe production.
Together, these capabilities accelerate product development and validation, enabling ADS to deliver solutions that help customers meet evolving regulatory requirements, mitigate flooding risk, optimize land use, and improve water quality – creating measurable environmental and economic value.
A key driver of ADS’ impact is its commitment to circularity. As one of the largest plastic recyclers in North America, the company diverts over half a billion pounds of plastic from landfills annually and transforms it into high-performance drainage products. This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also provides customers with durable, cost-effective solutions that meet evolving sustainability goals.
Caterpillar
Caterpillar opened the Black Hills Engineering Design Center, offering a firsthand look at how virtual reality and advanced visualization are transforming equipment development and training.
The 17,000-square-foot (1579.35 square-meters) facility serves as a hub, supporting Caterpillar teams worldwide across machines, engines, electrification and autonomy. Inside, teams use extended reality and digital prototypes to collaborate across continents, catch issues earlier and move faster – reducing the need for costly builds. The facility is home to about 100 employees – and growing – blending engineering with animation, design and data visualization.
The Rapid City team plays a critical role in the company’s global organization – developing tools and technologies that help teams design faster, make better decisions and deliver solutions to customers more efficiently. The investment also builds on a long-standing partnership with the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, continuing to strengthen the company’s pipeline of talent and innovation.
Inframark
Inframark LLC, a leading provider of water and wastewater operations and maintenance (O&M) services, established a new partnership with the Town of Hull’s (Mass.). The company will provide operations and maintenance services for Hull's wastewater treatment facility, seven wastewater pump stations, low-pressure sewer system, a stormwater pump station, and the Town's 43-mile wastewater collection system.
Inframark's approach emphasizes close collaboration with municipal leaders, proactive asset management and ongoing operational excellence. The company will leverage its New England regional operations team and national technical resources to support system reliability, regulatory compliance, and long-term infrastructure performance.
The Hull partnership expands Inframark's existing footprint in New England, anchored by its flagship operations and maintenance partnership in nearby Fall River, Mass., the company's regional hub.
"Hull is a unique coastal community with critical wastewater infrastructure that must perform reliably every day," said John Struzziery, director of Wastewater Operations, Town of Hull. "We look forward to partnering with Inframark to help ensure the continued reliability and resilience of our wastewater system while delivering value and innovation."
Comments