Business
John Deere
John Deere is rolling out its new construction simulators. The modular update outfits the new John Deere simulators to one of six machine types: backhoe, crawler dozer, excavator, wheel loader, joystick-controlled motor grader and fingertip-control motor grader.
Felling Trailers
Felling Trailers Inc., a leader in industrial trailer manufacturing, was awarded a national cooperative contract for heavy equipment trailers through Sourcewell (formerly NJPA). Sourcewell members can now purchase any of Felling’s 240 trailer models at an exceptional value through Sourcewell’s competitively solicited contract.
Volvo
Volvo CE has finalized acquisition of Swedish machine adaptation specialist CeDe Group. The deal includes CeDe Group’s intellectual property, operations, other assets and about 45 full-time employees.
NACE International
NACE International, the nonprofit association and leading resource for corrosion expertise and education, launched its newly redesigned website. Based on feedback from frequent users and customers, the new site features enhanced tools and search functions, intuitive navigation to help users quickly locate information, and convenient mobile functionality and responsive design.
Vacall
Gradall Industries Inc. released a new video providing an in-depth look at its Vacall family of products. The 12-minute video features an up-close tour of Gradall’s New Philadelphia, Ohio, manufacturing facilities and the state-of-the-art manufacturing processes that produce Vacall sewer cleaning, hydro excavation, industrial vacuum and sweeper models.
Berntsen International
Berntsen International Inc. received a U.S. patent for its Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) RFID technology, the centerpiece of the company’s connected infrastructure locating and asset management solutions.
New INGAA Report Highlights Importance of Natural Gas to a Lower-Carbon Economy
Natural gas will remain a significant contributor to the energy portfolio and to economic growth in the United States over the next two decades, playing a key role in meeting low-carbon goals, a new study commissioned by the INGAA Foundation finds.
MTA to Build First All-Terrestrial Fiber Line From Alaska to Contiguous U.S.
MTA Fiber Holdings, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MTA, Alaska’s best choice for technology and communications products, announced today that it plans to build AlCan ONE (Alaska Canada Overland Network), the first and only all-terrestrial fiber network connecting Alaska to the contiguous United States and beyond.
Questions Abound After Toro Acquisition of CMW
Jeff Griffin | Senior Editor It’s been two months since The Toro Company announced it had reached an agreement to acquire The Charles Machine Works (CMW), best known as the parent company of Ditch Witch. The news came as a surprise to much of the underground construction industry and to CMW empl..
Utility & Communications Construction Update
Strong revenue and profitability marked the first quarter of 2019 for the utility and communications industry, particularly among the publicly traded members of the Utility & Communications Construction Index (UCCI).
$21.95 Billion Global HDD Market Forecast by 2026
A new report by ResearchAndMarkets.com estimates the global horizontal directional drilling (HDD) market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.6 percent to $21.95 billion in 2026 from $6.43 billion in 2017.
Hoffman Southwest Expands Nationally Via Tri-State Acquisition
Hoffman Southwest acquired Chesapeake, Virginia-based Tri-State Utilities in a transaction that creates a national presence through the combination of two major underground infrastructure firms on the East and West coasts.
Avanti International Celebrates 40 Year Anniversary
Avanti International is proud to announce that the company has reached a milestone, celebrating 40 years as an industry leader.
CASE Announces Fourth-Annual Dire States Equipment Grant
CASE Construction Equipment has issued the call for entries for the 2019 Dire States Equipment Grant. Submissions can be made at DireStates.com/Grant. The 2019 entry deadline is March 31, 2019, and the winner will be announced in April 2019.
People in the News
Yancey Bros/Caterpillar yanceybros.com; cat.com Trey Googe assumed majority ownership of Yancey Bros. Co., a Cat- erpillar dealer in Georgia, succeeding Jim Stephenson as CEO. A share- holder since joining the company in 200..
NASSCO: Active Year Marks Diverse Efforts For NASSCO
Welcoming a new executive director, continuing programs to establish and improve wastewater infrastructure standards, and educating the industry about maintaining and rehabilitating sewer infrastructure kept members and staff of NASSCO busy throughout 2018.
Giacomo (Jack) Conte
NASSCO honoree Giacomo (Jack) Conte grew up literally learning the business from the ground up. As his career progressed, Conte quickly reacted to market opportunities and became a respected innovator and leader within the underground infrastructure industry.
Texas Pipeline Contractor Expands with Horizontal Directional Drilling
Scott Andrews of S & J Contractors has seen boom and bust years over three decades in the industry and believes having the right team of people is the best way to survive those peaks and valleys.
Gas Distribution Replacement Work Continues Strong Pace
As recently as 2017, the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) estimated 30,000 miles of cast-iron pipe still carried gas in the United States, with the highest percentage of these mains located in older eastern cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Welcome to Our New Home (Page)
Sometimes updating your home is a good thing. And sometimes completely scrapping the old home for a new one is a great thing. Our completely new website was designed to meet the evolving needs of the underground construction and rehabilitation industries.
Maryland Stormwater Partnership Ahead of Schedule, Under Budget
A stormwater partnership between Prince George’s County, Maryland and Corvias reported it has completed its initial pilot phase ahead of schedule and under budget.
Latest Industry News
Felling Trailers felling.com Felling Trailers Inc. conducted its sixth-annual online auction of an FT-3 drop deck utility trailer to benefit a non-profit organization. The winning bid of $3,400 was placed by Jon Stein, ow..
American Rental Association Releases New Strategic Plan
The American Rental Association (ARA) released a new, industry-wide strategic plan that will drive program initiatives over the next three years
People In the News
BOND Bond BOND promoted Anthony “Tony” Bond to president and Kane Cuddy to CEO of the Northeast building, civil, utility and energy construction firm’s civil and utility division. As civil and utility president, Bond (a fifth-gene..
Perma-Liner Celebrates 20 Years in Trenchless Pipeline Rehab Industry
Perma-Liner Industries LLC is celebrating 20 years in the trenchless pipeline rehabilitation industry, marking a milestone of innovation and perseverance in an ever-changing and growing industry.
PCCA Looks Forward to Busy 2019
The Power & Communications Contractors Association plans to follow a productive year with a 2019 focus on advocacy, educational initiatives and programs that help its members run more successful businesses.
DCA President Jay Osborn Sees Opportunities for Industry Newcomers
Underground Construction met with DCA President Jay Osborn to discuss his career success from field to executive suite, his longtime involvement in DCA and his outlook for the contracting industry.
Toro to Acquire 'Ditch Witch' Parent Charles Machine Works
Toro Charles Machine Works, parent company of Ditch Witch and other underground construction equipment brands, in a $700 million cash transaction expected to close in October
In Memoriam: Richard Kinsel, Jr
In MemoriamRichard Kinsel, Jr., died Oct. 2, 2018, in Friendswood, Texas. He founded Kinsel Industries Inc., a Houston-area civil construction firm primarily involved in water/sewer business, in 1976. Under his leadership, the company became a pioneer in trenchless pipe construction/rehabilitation ..
NASSCO Tech Tips Pipe Plug Safety
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- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds