Industry News, trenchless products
Company to offer product line through minority ownership and distribution partnership with Vacuum X-Traction Products Inc.
PELLA, Iowa, February 14, 2020 – Vermeer Corporation announced today it has purchased a minority equity investment in and signed a distribution agreement with Vacuum X-Traction Products Inc. (VXP). Through the agreement, VXP will supply a series of Vermeer-branded, high-capacity, truck-mounted vacuum excavators to be sold exclusively through Vermeer industrial dealers. The first of these products, the VXT500 Vacuum Excavator, will be introduced during the 2020 WWETT Show in Indianapolis on February 18.
The VXT500 is an eight-inch vac with an eight-yard spoil tank capacity. It is ideal for utility applications where a higher capacity machine with a smaller footprint is desired. The VXT500 joins a family of proven VXP-manufactured vacs featuring vacuum blowers that deliver 5,000-6,400 cubic feet per minute and spoil tank capacities ranging up to 16 yards. In addition, VXP has built and will offer a vacuum excavation truck equipped with a pressurized detachable box, and a truck with an extendable long-reaching boom for specialty applications.
This new lineup and strategic partnership with VXP are the next step in Vermeer’s commitment to offer the widest range of innovative and specialized vacuum excavation solutions across industries where soft-dig technology is in demand. Vermeer created a leading powerhouse for vacuum excavation solutions for the underground utility markets in 2018 after bringing together the McLaughlin and Vac-Tron brands. Adding a high-capacity product offering means Vermeer will have one focused product team working together with its dealers to provide one of the most comprehensive lineups of vac solutions on the market.
“Building on our strong Vermeer vac lineup and our recently introduced XR2 vacuum excavator, this VXP partnership will help us offer an even broader range of equipment for our customers to consider depending upon their unique jobsite needs,” said Doug Hundt, president of Vermeer Industrial Solutions. “From utility, to oil and gas, to industrial plant and environmental clean-up applications, these VXP products are proven to meet the specific demands of customers looking for high-capacity vac solutions that will improve their productivity.”
Based in Fort Morgan, Colorado, VXP was founded in 2014 by Gary Harms and Juan Mota, long-time innovators of vacuum excavation equipment. They will continue as majority shareholders and product development leaders through the new partnership with Vermeer. Their expertise and experience, combined with the product innovation Vermeer was founded on, will help drive the continued advancement of soft dig technology in the high-capacity arena.
“The needs for soft dig equipment are ever-changing with customers requiring a wide variety of products on a wide variety of jobsites. We are excited to partner with Vermeer and its dealers who are well equipped to offer and support our range of high-capacity solutions designed to help customers work more efficiently and cost-effectively,” said Harms.
VXP will begin supplying Vermeer machines to Vermeer dealers in mid-2020 with a focus first in North America, and later expanding into other regions of the world where large truck-mounted vacs are in high demand. For more information about these products, please visit vermeermvs.com/truckvacs.
About Vermeer Corporation
Vermeer delivers a real impact in a progressing world through the manufacture of high-quality agricultural, underground construction, surface mining, tree care and environmental equipment. With a reputation for durability and reliability, that equipment is backed by localized customer service and support provided by independent dealers around the world. To learn more about Vermeer, products, the dealer network and financing options, visit vermeer.com. Learn more about Vermeer MV Solutions by visiting vermeermvs.com.
Vermeer Corporation reserves the right to make changes in engineering, design and specifications; add improvements; or discontinue manufacturing at any time without notice or obligation. Equipment shown is for illustrative purposes only and may display optional accessories or components specific to their global region.
Please contact your local Vermeer dealer for more information on machine specifications.
Industry News, trenchless people
East Canton, Ohio – Barbco, Inc, a world class manufacturer of capital equipment for the trenchless excavation, horizontal directional drilling, and underground manufacturing industries is pleased to announce its newest employee, Thomas W. Schmidt, has been promoted into the newly created position of Operations Manager. Mr. Schmidt is a manufacturing veteran with many years of leadership in numerous local plants including Harrison Paint, Heinemann Saw Company, and Georgia Pacific.
While reporting directly to the Owners, he will oversee the following departments: Quality Control, Safety, Compliance, Shipping/Receiving, Maintenance, Fleet, Facilities, Janitorial, and Marketing.
While at Georgia Pacific, he led two ISO 9001 certifications, both resulting in “On The Spot” certifications, which only occurs less than 2% of the time! At the Heinemann Saw Company, he led four consecutive record setting quarters and capital improvement projects in excess of $250,000. Lastly, at Harrison Paint, he personally saved the company from permanent bankruptcy enforced closure, returning 50 people to their well-paying manufacturing positions and maintaining the legacy of company founded in 1911.
Mr. Schmidt is a long time Canton, Ohio resident with a B.A. from Kent State University (Summa Cum Laude), a M.B.A. from the University of Akron (Cum Laude), holds APICS certification, and is a Leadership Stark County graduate. He is also a passionate local business advocate and dedicated community volunteer. While his community service and awards would too exhaustive to list in its entirety, he has served two terms on both the Jackson Belden (Board President) and Canton Regional Chambers of Commerce Boards of Directors. He is currently the Past President and current Treasurer of the National Sales and Marketing Executives of Akron Canton’s Board of Directors.
Recent awards include the 2016 United Way of Greater Stark County Volunteer of the Year, the 2017 Canal Fulton Chamber Commerce Volunteer of the Year, and the 2019 United Way of Greater Stark County Collaboration of the Year for his creation and leadership of Progress4TheCure, which to date has raised nearly $50,000 to equally benefit the breast cancer departments of Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center. Last fall, Mr. Schmidt was ‘knighted’ as a Squire of Hope by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation recognizing his long history in raising both awareness and money in the Fight Against Childhood Cancer! Lastly, by Mayoral Proclamation, May 10th is officially “Tom Schmidt Day” in Massillon, Ohio in recognition of his decades of community service and charitable activities to make his community a great place to live, work, and play.
For more information, visit the Barbco, Inc. website.
Blog, Industry News, trenchless people
Tri-State Utilities enters their 30th year of operation in 2020. As they look forward to new leadership and direction, they are excited to announce the following promotions and present their management staff.
Tri-State Utilities is pleased to announce that Jonathan Thomas, PE has been promoted to Vice-President / General Manager and will lead them into the new decade. With 10 years of project management experience at Tri-State Utilities, Jonathan will be overseeing the Chesapeake, Virginia and the Winston-Salem, NC offices. The addition of Jonathan to the Senior Management team will position the company for continued growth in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Ron Parsons has been promoted to Vice-President of Operations. With 15 years of experience at Tri-State Utilities, Ron will now lead field operations to bring a continued expertise in Cleaning & CCTV services and CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe) Lining. Ron started his career as a Vactor operator and has held positions as a CIPP cutter operator, CIPP Foreman and Superintendent. Ron has invaluable experience cleaning and lining pipe of all sizes and possesses great personnel management skills.
Craig Welsh will now lead the Estimating Department in addition to his role as a Project Manager. With 16 years of experience at Tri-State Utilities, Craig will oversee an estimating department that will focus on Cleaning & CCTV services, CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe) Lining, and traditional open-cut storm, sewer, and water line services. Craig’s experience with site work as well as rehabilitation methods provides him with a unique skill set for providing accurate estimates for Tri-State to build.
John Saintsing is the Business Development Manager for Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. With seven years of experience at Tri-State Utilities, John will continue to explore new, better and innovative methods for CCTV services and CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe) technologies. John’s responsibilities will include attendance to industry conferences, building key customer relationships, and developing new services and products in Infrastructure Rehabilitation.
Sean Merryman was hired last year as the Business Development and Project Manager for the southwest North Carolina region and South Carolina. Sean will maintain a heavy presence in the area while establishing a new lining crew and Clean & TV crew to service this growing region. Tri-State Utilities is very excited about the experience Sean brings with him from his previous employer and the opportunity to service municipalities and engineers who have historically been outside of our footprint.
Connor Mathis is a Project Manager with eight years of experience at Tri-State Utilities. Connor will manage projects throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina while focusing most of his time on the Construction Services contracts for the Cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. These services include: Cleaning and CCTV, CIPP Sectional Liners, Rausch Repair Sleeves, and CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe) for Storm and Sanitary Pipe Rehabilitation. Connor is also certified in land disturbance and manages all heavy excavation work, road repairs and off-road ditch maintenance.
James Farris is a Project Manager with a total of six years of experience in utility construction and the last four years with Tri-State Utilities. He has gained valuable experience on Consent Order driven inspection and rehabilitation of storm and sanitary sewer systems. Before coming to work at Tri-State Utilities, James spent four years with Real Estate Improvement, a Virginia Beach based Class A construction company. Prior to that, James was with Norfolk Southern Railway for eight years focusing his efforts primarily on customer service, purchasing, and sales.
Rick Sharp is the newest member and Project Manager of the Tri-State Utilities’ team. Rick brings with him over 15 years of project management experience from residential and commercial construction as well as land development. Rick will be managing projects throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Andy McSweeney will continue to lead Tri-State Utilities as Vice-President of Project Management with a focus on Estimating and Business Development as they grow their footprint deeper into North and South Carolina.
Joe McSweeney, after 27 years of service with Tri-State Utilities, has decided to retire. A career that included responsibilities of a CCTV Operator, CIPP Foreman and Superintendent, and Vice-President of Operations. A career full of accomplishments and a future full of possibilities. Tri-State Utilities wishes Joe much more success in his future endeavors.
The management team of Tri-State Utilities is can all be reached at (757) 366-9505. Visit their website for more information on the company.
Industry News, trenchless people
Mr. Denis Pellerin’s role will be to develop CCI’s Engineering and EPC capabilities outside the North American market. He will be based out of Paris, France. Denis Pellerin is a Civil Engineer from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (1983) and has received his MBA from INSEAD (1990). He has 35 years of experience in the trenchless crossings industry.
In 1985, he joined the start-up company, HDI, as a field engineer. HDI became one of the world’s foremost HDD contractors, introducing Horizontal Directional Drilling into Europe, Australia and several countries in Africa, South East Asia and South America. During those pioneering years, Denis and his HDI colleagues introduced new HDD techniques, such as buoyancy control systems for large diameter pipelines, entry casings for pilot holes and gravel shield reamers.
After serving as Site Engineer, Project Manager, Operations Manager and Commercial Manager, Denis was appointed Managing Director of HDI SA in 1991. Throughout his career, Denis has implemented Horizontal Directional Drilling, Direct Pipe®, Microtunneling, Pipe Ramming and Auger Drilling
technologies, sometimes combining technics in order to gain optimal efficiency.
His career with HDI has taken him on more than 2200 trenchless crossings projects, spanning more than 40 different countries worldwide, all safely concluded. Together with HDI, Denis received several industry recognitions, in Australia (1987), USA (1999), Europe (2011) and France (2012, 2015 and 2018), for innovative HDD projects onshore, as well as marine based. He was a founding member and the first treasurer of the professional organization DCA Europe in 1994 and served as its Vice-President from 2008 to 2016.
The CCI Group of Companies are pleased to have Denis join their team.
Industry News, trenchless people, trenchless products, trenchless projects
In the trenchless excavation, horizontal directional drilling, and underground manufacturing industries, one family stands out as leaders in this close-knit community: The Barberas. Family Patriarch, James S. Barbera founded Barbco, Incorporated, a world class capital equipment manufacturer in these industries. In fact, his status is so renown and legendary, that in April, he will be posthumously inducted as a member of the Class of 2020 into the North America Society for Trenchless Technology’s Hall of Fame, joining a very elite and highly esteemed society of industry ground breakers. James S. Barbera has passed the torch onto his three sons, Anthony, David, and James A., who now own the family business, Barbco. The Barbera clan continues to drive the industry forward and now have brought the third generation of the family into this exciting field.
On January 2nd, grandsons Drake Barbera (son of Anthony) and James V. Barbera (son of James A.) along with co-owner Clay Gillian successfully completed their very first horizontal bore with their new company AccuLine Underground at an urban work site in Metuchen, New Jersey. AccuLine partnered with project General Contractor J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc. to complete a 250 foot long crossing that was at a depth of 20 feet under the length of a busy city road skillfully avoiding numerous very critical city main utilities. To say that this 3,000 man hour project was challenging is a complete understatement.
The AccuLine team’s years of experience and deep knowledge of the industry was readily apparent before the first shovelful of dirt was removed from the job site. In his initial meeting with the job owners, Drake made a strong and convincing counter-proposal to the microtunneling option with his recommended approach using a conventional auger boring machine pushing a BMTA (boring machine tunnel attachment). Drake’s proposal proved to the winning combination, securing AccuLine this very prestigious and highly visible contract.
The crew faced numerous job site challenges ranging from old and forgotten infrastructure to rocky and sandy soils. Their expertise allowed them to make on site equipment modifications and adjustments coupled with some new to the field innovations to keep the job on line and on grade, dramatically saving the job owners both time and money. This highly successful initial foray into the Barbera family business as proven that the third generation of Barberas and their company, AccuLine Underground is a force to be reckoned with! Grandfather Barbera must be very proudly watching over his progeny!
PELLA, Iowa, February 14, 2020 – Vermeer Corporation announced today it has purchased a minority equity investment in and signed a distribution agreement with Vacuum X-Traction Products Inc. (VXP). Through the agreement, VXP will supply a series of Vermeer-branded, high-capacity, truck-mounted vacuum excavators to be sold exclusively through Vermeer industrial dealers. The first of these products, the VXT500 Vacuum Excavator, will be introduced during the 2020 WWETT Show in Indianapolis on February 18.
