Industry News, trenchless products
Program emphasizes safe rental operations for the COVID-19 pandemic and the future
FORT MILL, S.C. – Sunbelt Rentals, North America’s premier equipment rental company, announced it is participating in the American Rental Association’s (ARA) Clean. Safe. Essential. program. The program is aimed at raising awareness of the rental industry’s commitment to safety best practices related to COVID-19.
“Sunbelt Rentals is committed to the safety of our customers and employees and, from the outset of the pandemic, proactively introduced new safety and operational protocols,” says Katy Lovering, vice president of operational excellence at Sunbelt Rentals. “There is so much uncertainty right now and we want to help provide peace of mind in any way we can. Safeguarding our people and our customers is our number one priority.”
“We are pleased that Sunbelt Rentals has committed to the Clean. Safe. Essential. program and will be displaying the logo in each branch location,” says Tom Doyle, ARA vice president, program development. “There are over 3,500-member rental locations participating in this program. Through its participation, Sunbelt Rentals is demonstrating to employees and customers their priority and commitment to safety.”
By joining this program, Sunbelt Rentals branch locations receive a completion certificate as Clean. Safe. Essential. compliant and will have established uniform guidelines along with other rental companies in the industry. ARA previously reviewed Sunbelt’s extensive COVID-19 related safety and operational protocols and trainings and deemed them as compliant with the ARA’s Clean. Safe. Essential. program requirements.
Sunbelt Rentals will continue to work with ARA to advance the program through industry awareness and sharing of best practices.
To date, Sunbelt Rentals has already established curbside pickup of rental equipment, which will be a permanent offering, and can be requested via an online reservation or by phone. In addition, the company is following stringent sanitizing, cleaning and handling guidelines, per the CDC, and observing social distancing and the wearing of face coverings at its branches.
Customers are encouraged to reserve equipment online at sunbeltrentals.com.
Industry News, trenchless products
PELLA, Iowa – Vermeer Corporation announced today it has acquired electric-powered horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and fluid systems technology from Normag. Through this acquisition, Vermeer assumes the rights to develop, manufacture and distribute the proven fully electric HDD rigs, generator sets and fluid management systems, which are currently operating across Europe under the Normag brand.
As a world leader in the HDD and fluid management industry, this acquisition is a key part of the Vermeer strategy to meet growing demand for electric-powered worksite solutions.
The Normag electric HDD technology offers a unique integrated electric power system that optimizes efficiency across the generator set, drill rig and fluid management systems during operations. When connected to the electric grid, the system can operate as a fuel-free system. All systems have also been designed to match standard international shipping container dimensions to reduce the machine footprint, jobsite set-up time, complexity and cost.
“With this technology already proven in operations across Europe, our Vermeer team can now fast-track an electric HDD offering that helps operators better control their cost of operations and worksite impacts through reduced fuel use, near-zero emissions, limited noise and an overall smaller rig footprint,” said Vermeer President and CEO Jason Andringa. “This investment critically supports our innovation and product development focus to continually help customers optimize their worksite efficiency, while limiting environmental impact.”
The Normag HDD system technology has been in development for more than eight years in the Netherlands. It was purpose-built to help companies comply with European transportation and worksite regulations and meet their goals to lower their environmental and worksite impacts. Drill rig and fluid packages have been piloted with customers across Europe for the last several years. Because they are European-market ready and tested, Vermeer will focus first on introducing the products to the European customer base to support large-diameter underground infrastructure projects. Products will be sold under the Vermeer brand in partnership with Vermeer dealers.
All product development, engineering, marketing and production for the technology will immediately move to the Vermeer EMEA headquarters in Goes, Netherlands. Vermeer expects that its first rigs and fluid systems will be in production and ready for distribution in Europe by late 2021. That will likely include a system built around a 120-metric ton HDD rig, a 2,500-liter reclaimer and high-pressure pump. The company also plans to offer additional fluid systems in the first year to establish a range of reclaimers ranging from 750 to 3,000 liters per minute of cleaning capacity.
As the products get established in Europe, the company will look to introduce them in key global markets where electric systems are desired, including North America and Australia. The intent is to bring the products to those markets within the next 24-36 months.
Learn more about this acquisition at vermeer.com.
About Vermeer
Vermeer delivers a real impact in a progressing world through the manufacture of high-quality underground construction, agricultural, 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.
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
It is with regret, but much fondness, that we remember the life and contribution of ISTT Chairman Emeritus Ted Flaxman who died December 8, 2020, aged 92.
Ted (EW) Flaxman, Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, had a distinguished career with Binnie and Partners (now Black and Veatch). As Past President of the Institution of Public Health Engineers (IPHE), he chaired the organizing committee of the IPHE Conference “Trenchless Construction for Utilities,’’ the 1st No-Dig Event in 1985. In his concluding address, he proposed a series of international trenchless events, the formation of the International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT), an industry journal, and an annual prize for innovation.
With customary vigor, he made all of these promises happen, and ISTT was established in 1986. Ted served as its Chairman from 1986-2003 and as a Guarantor until 2016. In 1988 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers. He received the Kurose Award in 1993 and the UKSTT’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Ted was Master of the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators in 1996 and with Ted Jackson he published a “Sweet and Wholesome Water-five centuries of the history of water bearers in London.”
A much accomplished leader, visionary and friend who did much to encourage generations of trenchless technologists, he had a keen wit and joked that his epitaph should be ‘Ted Flaxman fled taxman’!
Respectfully,
Dec Downey
Image caption: Ted Flaxman (right) with (from left) Rolf Bielecki, Dec Downey and Dr. Tohyama. Photo courtesy of Dec Downey.
Industry News, trenchless people
Insituform Technologies, an affiliate of Aegion Corporation, the world’s largest cured-in-place pipe 
(CIPP) provider in underground pipeline rehabilitation, announced that Cindy Preuss, P.E. has joined the company as Senior Business Development Manager for the Northern California and Pacific Northwest Regions.
Cindy brings more than 21 years of professional engineering experience working in the design consulting industry, where she was an important driving force for evaluating, designing, and promoting trenchless technologies for myriad pipeline projects in the West. Formerly Principal/Vice-President and Associate of HydroScience Engineers and Harris & Associates, respectively, her reputation in the industry is both impressive and significant, and Insituform is fortunate to have her aboard.
Hailing from the University of California at Berkeley, Cindy is well known both nationally and regionally through her recent service on the NASTT Board of Directors, the WESTT Board of Directors, the Northern California Pipe Users Group (PUG), and through her current service as an instructor for the NASTT Trenchless Good Practices Courses offered nationally. She is a strong asset to both the trenchless industry and the Insituform team.
Cindy will be responsible for handling business development in the Northern California and Pacific Northwest Regions, in addition to participating in R&D and strategic planning in the pressure pipe rehabilitation arena. She can be reached at cpreuss@aegion.com or at (925) 408-3815.
Industry News, trenchless people, trenchless projects
On Thursday, November 12 the NASTT Student Chapter at Rutgers University participated in a trenchless presentation discussing various projects in the Northeastern United States.
A Zoom session was hosted by Dennis Walsh – Senior Project Manager – Horizontal Directional Drilling of PSE&G and the presenter was Rich Palmer of Northeast Remsco. Scott Murray – Project Executive at Northeast Remsco arranged for Rich to present and worked with Rutgers Professor Nenad Gucunski and Student Chapter President, Ian Walczak to make it happen.
12 attendees logged on to this evening session which included project info, lots of photos and a lively Q and A session.
Many thanks to all the volunteers that made this happen and are helping our Student Chapters stay involved during the quarantine where group learning settings can be difficult to navigate.
FORT MILL, S.C. – Sunbelt Rentals, North America’s premier equipment rental company, announced it is participating in the American Rental Association’s (ARA) Clean. Safe. Essential. program. The program is aimed at raising awareness of the rental industry’s commitment to safety best practices related to COVID-19.
