Industry News, trenchless people
As a recognition for long-term involvement in the International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT) and technical or professional contributions to the ISTT, the ISTT Board has created the membership grade of ISTT Fellow. For an ISTT Member to apply (or to be considered) to become an ISTT Fellow, the Member must meet all of the following criteria:
- Have been an ISTT member (or worked for a company holding an ISTT Corporate Membership) for a cumulative total of at least 15 years (gaps in membership are permitted and membership can either have been through an ISTT Member Society or as an International Member in the case that there was/is no ISTT Society).
- Have registered for and attended at least 12 International No Dig Conferences (exhibit only or 1-day registrations are not counted as full attendance).
- Had a minimum of 5 technical papers included in ISTT Conference Proceedings.
An ISTT Member wishing to be considered to be named an ISTT Fellow should submit an application to the ISTT Executive Director BY 30 JUNE 2020 providing:
Name, address, email address, phone number.
- Half- to one-page biosketch.
- A list of the years of ISTT membership with Affiliated Society name, category of membership (i.e., as an individual or under a corporate membership), and corporate membership name if pertinent.
- A list of the ISTT International No Dig Conferences attended as a full registered participant.
- Citation information for the papers published in ISTT Conference Proceedings.
- A list of the years of services and position with Affiliated Society.
Once the ISTT has verified the data submitted, the candidate’s name will be considered by a special review committee. Applications that are sent forward by the review committee will then be examined by the ISTT Executive Subcommittee before the final decision is made. The granting of Fellow status is based on significant accomplishments in the field of trenchless technology as demonstrated, for example, by work experience, by publications, by inventions, by technology advancements, or by mentoring of individuals.
The special review committee is also empowered to make its own nominations for ISTT Fellow in special cases where an individual has made notable technical and/or professional contributions to the ISTT over a long period of time but does not meet specific aspects of the standard eligibility criteria.
When approved, the individual will be entitled to refer to themselves as “ISTT Fellow” or “Fellow of the International Society for Trenchless Technology” and will receive a certificate confirming their status as ISTT Fellow. The ISTT Fellow designation is a continuing recognition but, to retain the ISTT Fellow designation, the person in question must remain an ISTT member in good standing either as an individual member or under a Corporate Membership. Once an ISTT Fellow status has lapsed, the individual will still be able to list the former status as ISTT Fellow with the years that the status was held.
To apply to be reinstated as an ISTT Fellow, a letter requesting a reevaluation should be submitted to the ISTT Executive Director, Peter Smeallie, at smeallie@istt.com.
Industry News, trenchless products
March 10, 2020 – LAKE MILLS, Wisc. – HammerHead® Trenchless, a leading manufacturer of trenchless installation, rehabilitation, and replacement solutions for underground utility infrastructure, today announced a new addition to its award-winning line of Same Path™ technology: the NEW SLX1300 trenchless pipe extraction system for small diameter steel natural gas services.
Pipe extraction using the patented SLX1300 is an innovative new method of replacing coated and bare steel gas service lines 0.5 to 1.25 inches in diameter, up to 100 feet in length. The hydraulically powered SLX1300 unit produces up to 13.3 tons of pulling force to extract the pipe from the ground while simultaneously pulling new HDPE or MDPE pipe into the same location as the existing pipe, reducing risk to surrounding utilities.
“HammerHead has a strong track record of working closely with crews in the field to find cost-effective solutions for addressing deteriorating gas pipelines,” said Josh Hood, HammerHead Trenchless senior product manager. “A gas company approached us about finding a trenchless way to replace bare steel and our engineering team applied operator feedback to design the SLX1300 to meet needs unique to the gas market. The final design includes innovative features to minimize excavation and reduce operating requirements.”
One feature is the unit’s on-board pipe shear that the operator engages to cut the pipe material as it is extracted into manageable segments for easy disposal.
The pipe extraction process requires two access points: a machine pit located where the service connects to the main, and an access point opposite the machine from which to pull in the new pipe. A cable is fed from the machine through the pipe and attached to the new pipe at the other end. The machine’s jaws clamp the steel pipe and the cable within it, and the machine is then engaged to pull the pipe from the ground. The jaws release and the machine cycles forward to clamp and pull another segment. The pipe shear located behind the machine’s clamping jaw can be engaged at the operator’s discretion to segment the extracted pipe in any length as space allows.
The compact size of the unit requires a working pit approximately 4 feet wide by 4 feet long and the entire system can be transported in the back of a standard pickup truck, reducing costs associated with extensive excavation and support equipment needs.
“The US DOT reports that there are more than 1.5 million of bare steel services still in operation in the US and the lack of a protective coating can cause the steel to corrode and deteriorate faster than other materials. Having efficient and cost-effective replacement methods for these kinds of pipes is critical,” explained Hood. “Operators across the country have observed the cost savings and benefits of trenchless construction methods so we’re proud to introduce a new trenchless technology that facilitates rapid replacement of at-risk steel gas pipes.”
The HammerHead Trenchless line of Same Path Technology also includes a patented pipe slitting system used for the trenchless replacement of plastic gas services. The SLX1300 is designed for steel pipe but preliminary field testing on additional pipe materials is underway.
The new SLX1300 pipe extraction system will be on display in the HammerHead Trenchless booth (#C31747) at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG show March 10-14 in Las Vegas, Nev.
The SLX1300 is available from HammerHead Trenchless authorized dealers in North America. Authorized dealers can be found on the web at www.hammerheadtrenchless.com or by calling 800.331.6653.
Photo: The HammerHead Trenchless SLX1300 pipe extractor offers a trenchless solution for replacing 0.5-1.25” steel gas services by extracting the steel pipe and simultaneously pulling new PE pipe into place.
Industry News, trenchless people
Annually, the Third Graders from East Canton Elementary School partner with area businesses to create special one of a kind Valentine’s Day card boxes. It is a great tradition that is spearheaded by Mrs. Rebecca J Carter, Principal of East Canton Elementary.
This year Third Grader Maddie Karahuta, daughter of Barbco, Inc. Maintenance Leadman, Shaun Karahuta designed an incredible box that is a miniature version of one of Barbco’s powerful, ground boring, augers!
Maddie presented this wonderful box to Barbco Co-Owner and General Manager, David Barbera recently!
This Valentine’s Day Box is proudly displayed in the Barbco, Inc. lobby!
Industry News, trenchless people
BROWNSVILLE, Wis. (April 1, 2020) — It is with profound sadness that Michels announces the passing of industry icon Robert H. Westphal on Tuesday, March 31.
Bob devoted 55 years of his life to Michels, tirelessly pushing the company’s performance, and the pipeline and trenchless construction industries’ potential to higher levels. Hired by Dale Michels in April 1965 as a pipeline laborer, Bob quickly established himself as a great leader, generous mentor and valued friend to those he worked with, including the Michels family.
“It is our belief that the strength of his successors defines a leader’s true success,” said Pat Michels, President and CEO, Michels Corporation. “In that regard, Bob was the best. He was selflessly devoted to improving the abilities and skills of those who worked with him.”
“Throughout the decades, I have had the privilege of calling Bob my boss, my mentor, my colleague and my friend,” Michels said. “He had a major impact on me in each of those roles.”
In his career, Bob filled many roles, including laborer, operator, foreman, superintendent, general superintendent, vice president, senior vice president and, at the time of his death, senior construction advisor. He helped guide Michels’ development and execution of strategic business initiatives domestically and internationally.
A statesman in the construction industry, Bob was a valued member of many organizations. In 2019, he was inducted into the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) Hall of Fame and was named Trenchless Technology Person of the Year in 2011. Bob was also an active member of the Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA), where he served on the Board of Directors for 13 years and as president in 2005. In 2018, he was named an Honorary Member.
Bob’s legacy will leave a significant impact on Michels and the industry he loved. We extend our thoughts and condolences to his wife, Jone; his sons Scott, Jeff, Matt and Chad; his many other family members; and his large extended family at Michels.
Industry News, trenchless products
Multiple configurations available for maximum versatility
PELLA, Iowa, March 11, 2020 – Building on the success of the D220x300 S3 Navigator® horizontal directional drill (HDD), which created a new category in the HDD industry, Vermeer is setting a new standard with the D220x500 S3 Navigator® horizontal directional drill. With the ability to be configured for large-diameter water and utility installs in urban areas, as well as challenging pipeline work, the Vermeer D220x500 S3 delivers up to 54,000 foot pounds (39,828.2 Nm) of torque at a spindle speed of 36 revolutions per minute, 240,400 pounds (1069.4 kN) of thrust/pullback, and fluid flow rates of up to 350 gallons per minute (1324.9 L/min) if the onboard pump is selected. The D220x500 S3 is available with an onboard cab or stand-alone operator cab, and with a 20-foot to 30-foot (6.1-m to 9.1-m) rod rack. Contractors can also choose between a rod stager or full-length catwalk, as well as add an optional mud pump, crane or hydraulic scissor lift for optimum staging efficiency.
“The new D220x500 S3 integrates many of the quality features found on the Vermeer D220x300 S3 HDD, but with even more versatility and ramped-up performance,” said Tod Michael, product manager of trenchless products for Vermeer. “This drill is designed to meet the needs of utility contractors performing large-diameter city work, as well as pipeliners that are performing long, large-diameter bores.”
Choose the configuration
Outfitting the Vermeer D220x500 S3 with a 30-foot (9.1-m) rack gives crews the ability to use a variety of Range 2 drill pipe at various diameters and a range of 29 feet to 32 feet (8.3 m to 9.8 m) in length — an ideal setup for performing pipeline work. This rack configuration can be paired with a rod stager that holds four rods or a full-length catwalk. Crews will also like the benefits of using the optional hydraulic scissor lift with the rod stager to help reduce drill rod and wireline staging cycle times. Also, if paired with a stand-alone pump, the D220x500 S3, with its four 1.5-inch (3.8-cm) mudlines and 3-inch (7.6-cm) head shaft, can accommodate 650 gallons per minute (2460.5 L/min) of downhole drilling fluid flow.
For more mobile operations, the D220x500 S3 can be equipped with an on-board excavator-style cab that has a view of the open-top vises, as well as the rack and rod stager. Both the on-board and detached cab include the same dual multifunction joystick controls found on all Vermeer S3 horizontal directional drills.
Jobsite performance
The Vermeer D220x500 S3 is built with a 415-horsepower (310-kW) Cat C13 ACERT Tier 4 Final engine that is convenient to service. The drill also runs quiet at just 81.2 dB(A).
“The combination of the D220x500 S3 drill’s class-leading rotary torque and fluid pressure delivers optimized drilling and reaming performance in challenging ground conditions like rock,” added Michael. “More torque helps reduce the number of reamer passes crews need to make when widening a hole, and high fluid flow help protect tooling while maintaining the drill hole integrity and operational efficiencies.”
The D220x500 S3 also features a sliding vise that helps clamp the rod connection at different positions when reaming and pulling product, and includes a wireless remote for repositioning plus mounted cameras near the drive chuck, vise and rod handling areas for outstanding operator visibility.
For more information about the full line of pipeline horizontal directional drills, contact your local Vermeer dealer or visit vermeer.com.
