Sunbelt Rentals Named One of Nation’s Top Military Friendly® Employers

Designation based on the company’s active Veterans Program

FORT MILL, S.C.  – Sunbelt Rentals, North America’s premier equipment rental company, has been named a top 2022 Military Friendly® Employer in the nation. This is the second time in recent years they have received the distinction. Sunbelt Rentals received a Silver Designation, indicating the company meets the requirements and scored within 20% of the 10th ranking employer in this category — an achievement attained by only select companies.

Methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by VIQTORY with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining an organization’s survey score with an assessment of the organization’s ability to meet thresholds for Applicant, New Hire Retention, Employee Turnover and Promotion and Advancement of veterans and military employees.

“Sunbelt Rentals is very proud to receive this recognition,” says Brad Lull, Executive VP of Central Operations, Sunbelt Rentals. “We value the work ethic and dedication of our military employees and are committed to growing our Veterans Program to support them. We operate our program on four foundational pillars: resources, recruitment, recognition and retention.”

Sunbelt Rentals has built a robust program aimed at recruiting and retaining veteran employees. The company focuses on aligning the skills that veterans gain during military service with a suitable position where they can thrive. Sunbelt Rentals values safety, action, teamwork and innovation — ideals shared by veterans. They help enrich the company’s culture and contribute to the “Power of Sunbelt” — the promise to offer a rental experience that’s defined by availability, reliability and ease.

Veteran ambassadors support military employees from onboarding and throughout their career at Sunbelt Rentals, serving as liaisons to the Veterans Program and its offerings. The program includes resources such as a hotline, administrative support, accommodation support and interagency coordination. Along with these resources, Sunbelt Rentals launched a uniform program, allowing military employees to show their service branch with a patch on company apparel.

“We are very intentional in our approach to recruiting and retaining those transitioning to life after service, at Sunbelt Rentals,” says Shane McKenzie, director, Veterans Program. “Every aspect of our program focuses on ways we can coach, mentor and develop veterans so they can have a thriving career in the civilian sector. We are proud of the successes we see our military employees achieve.”

“When I left the U.S. Marine Corps, I was looking for a company that had a work-life balance and would encompass my skill set from the military and my previous career. I immediately felt at home when I interviewed with Sunbelt Rentals,” says Daphne Manning, director, Customer Service Strategy and Planning.

Veterans interested in becoming Sunbelt Rentals team members can text “Sunbelt” to 51893 to see current job postings and receive alerts about opportunities in different markets.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: Providing veterans with the resources needed to succeed in their careers is a top priority at Sunbelt Rentals and at the heart of the Veterans Program.

Photo 2: By operating on four foundational pillars — resources, recruitment, recognition and retention — Sunbelt Rentals is able to support its military employees in the civilian sector.

About Sunbelt Rentals: We MAKE IT HAPPEN!  With a passionate team of 15,000 rental experts, a growing network of over 1,000 locations and an extensive equipment fleet that exceeds $11 billion, Sunbelt Rentals helps professionals and do-it-yourselfers get things done.  With a highly diversified offering of equipment, solutions, and services available, we assist customers throughout North America extend their capabilities, complete projects on-time and handle times of crisis. No matter if you are in commercial, industrial, residential, or municipal industries, we are constantly advancing the idea of what an equipment company can do for its customers. Visit sunbeltrentals.com to find out what we can do for you.
About Military Friendly® Employers: Military Friendly® is the standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community. Over 1,500 organizations compete annually for Military Friendly® designation. Military Friendly® ratings are owned by VIQTORY, Inc., a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. VIQTORY is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or the federal government. Results are produced via a rules-based algorithm. The data-driven Military Friendly® lists and methodology can be found at https://www.militaryfriendly.com/mfcguide/.
About VIQTORY: Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service disabled, veteran owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its owned assets such as Military Spouse Magazine®, G.I. Jobs ® and Military Friendly ® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at www.Viqtory.com.

Michael Byrne Mfg. Names Dave Kauffman as Manufacturing Engineer

Michael Byrne Mfg. names Dave Kauffman as Manufacturing Engineer. Dave has a B.S. in Business Administration/Management and brings over 25 years of experience in the Trenchless Industry. He received extensive training in fluid power at The Ohio State University’s – ATI. Dave began his career at American Augers; working his way up from saw operator, fabricator, assembler, Lead man, CIP manager, and manufacturing manager. He was then employed at Underground Professionals Inc., specializing in HDD repair, refurbishing, and parts sales. Prior to joining the Michael Byrne Mfg., Dave & a partner started D&L Underground Solutions, which specialized in parts sales, service, HDD repair, modernization & refurbishments.

Dave supplies a wealth of knowledge with hydraulic and can bus systems relating to the Mobile Construction industry. Dave brings a hands-on approach to implementing incremental improvements and problem solving for HDD and Auger boring equipment. Michael Byrne Mfg President Jim Weist adds, “Dave’s addition to the Michael Byrne Team brings another perspective from a respected industry leader with experiences hard to find today”.

For more information on Michael Bryne Manufacturing, visit their website at byrnegroup.com.

NASTT Announces 2021 Outstanding Trenchless Paper Awards

November 10, 2021 – The North American Society for Trenchless Technology is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 NASTT Outstanding Trenchless Paper Awards for Rehabilitation and New Installations. These awards recognize excellence by commending authors of the best NASTT No-Dig Show papers each year. The winning papers were presented at the 2021 NASTT No-Dig Show in Orlando, Florida.

2021 Outstanding Paper: Rehabilitation

Columbia Canal Brick Arch Tunnel Geopolymer Lining in South Carolina
Joe Royer, Ph.D., Vice President R&D, GeoTree Solutions, LLC, Spartanburg, SC 
Bill Sharpe, Business Development Manager, Inland Pipe Rehabilitation, LLC, Columbia, SC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five years prior to the main project, the owner did an early technology evaluation and pilot project. “This gave us the opportunity to show the current larger effort as well as the success of the earlier projects,” explained Joe Royer. “The support of the asset owner on the difficult access issues on the project also helped shape the narrative.”

The paper brings attention to the use of geopolymers and spray-applications as an important part of the trenchless industry. “The work we at GeoTree Solutions and our contracting partner on this project IPR have done to develop the technology showcase viable solutions for large diameter projects.”

Columbia Canal Brick Arch Tunnel Geopolymer Lining in South Carolina is featured in the fall issue of Trenchless North America.

2021 Outstanding Paper: New Installations

HDD Lessons You Can Only Learn in the Field

Kimberlie Staheli, Ph.D., P.E., Staheli Trenchless Consultants, Seattle, WA

Jake Andresen, P.E., Staheli Trenchless Consultants, Seattle, WA

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I have thought about putting this together for years,” says Kimberlie Staheli who was introduced to trenchless technology on her first job after college with a microtunneling contractor. “The industry was so new that it really excited me. The more I learned, the more I realized that I had a shot of making a difference.” Staheli has seen the industry in an ongoing state of rapid transformation for more than 20 years and believes it is an industry where an engineer can continuously learn and grow.

“I see engineers specifying things that are not constructable. Then when we get there to perform Risk Management InspectionTM, we have to work through the issues in the field.  I wanted engineers to be aware of how the designs need to be changed in the field to avoid claims.”

HDD Lessons You Can Only Learn in the Field will be featured in the winter issue of Trenchless North America.

The winning papers (and all the NASTT No-Dig Show papers) are available in the NASTT product store .

Authors of both papers will give encore presentations at the 2022 NASTT No-Dig Show in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Visit the conference website.

PIPE Cure Offers a Better Way to Restore and Protect Underground Pipes

October 2020—Crosslink Technology Inc. has developed PIPE (Pressure Infused Protective Epoxy) Cure, a fast, easy, and cost-effective way to completely rehabilitate the inside of underground pipes, specifically laterals.

PIPE Cure provides a less destructive and less costly alternative to digging out underground pipes for repair, and it also provides unique advantages over the traditional CIPP (Cure in Place Pipe) restoration products.

While CIPP is a widely used trenchless technology, it can use unsaturated styrenated polyester resin, which may give concern to volumetric shrinkage, odor, adhesion/strength, and sensitivity to temperature.

Crosslink Technology Inc.’s PIPE Cure has been formulated to have:

  • Excellent strength and adhesion (flexural modulus of over 500,000 psi and flexural strength of 7000 psi)
  • Exceptionally low linear shrinkage (0.0001 inch/inch)
  • No odor
  • Ability to cure in underground temperatures as low as 10°C/ 50°F (without a heat source AND regardless of the ambient temperature when it was mixed)
  • Excellent wetting out of fiber in the liner
  • Better health and safety rating than styrene

With Crosslink Technology’s PIPE Cure, you will get a safe, easy, budget-friendly cure for your underground pipe repair problems.

About Crosslink Technology Inc.:

 At Crosslink Technology Inc., we deliver innovative thermoset solutions which make a real difference to our customers’ business. We produce a wide range of Epoxy and Polyurethane applications and Custom-cast Electrical components which lower processing costs, improve product quality, and boost profitability.

Since 1981, we have dedicated ourselves to staying on the leading edge of technical innovation, creating solutions tailored to customer needs and processes.

Today our dedicated and knowledgeable workforce produces applications embraced by companies in the United States, Mexico, Australia, and the Far East.

For More Information:
Christa Foy
Product Manager
Crosslink Technology Inc.
6380 Viscount Rd.
Mississauga, ON   L4V 1H3 Canada
Cell: (437) 244-7620

Pipe Bursting vs. Open Cut Excavation Comparison When Replacing Water Main (Video)

Thank you to Murphy Pipelines for this guest post. Check out the video!

Watch the video of a typical day of pre-chlorinated pipe bursting

View what a ‘typical’ day of pre-chlorinated pipe bursting looks like when replacing water main in a residential neighborhood. This pipe burst entails replacing 650 feet of 10-inch cast iron water main with new 10-inch HDPE pipe.

It’s generally stated that static pipe bursting uses 85% less excavation than open cut when replacing water main. But what are the real numbers on an actual project?

Static pipe bursting uses 11 times less excavation:

Looking at the math of how we get to 11 times less excavation using static pipe bursting to replace water main.

Murphy Pipeline Contractors
12235 New Berlin Rd
Jacksonville, FL 32226
Headquarters: 904-764-6887
Feasibility Support: 414-321-2247
South Florida: 954-842-4771

Robbins Main Beam Overcomes Obstacles in Guangxi Province

Tough TBM breaks through after navigating Faults, Karst, and More

In January 2020, a Robbins 5.97 m (19.6 ft) diameter Main Beam TBM cleared its final hurdle when it broke through in Guangxi Province, China. The TBM excavated its first of two tunnels, an 11.9 km (7.4 mi) long conduit for Lot 1 of the North Line Water Irrigation Project, Letan Water Reservoir, Drought-Relief. The tunnel was marked by a gauntlet of challenges, from karst cavities to fault zones and water inflows. The workers on the jobsite, contractor Guangdong No. 2 Hydropower Bureau Co., Ltd., and the owner, Construction Management Bureau for the Letan Water Reservoir, had much to celebrate after completion of what is widely regarded as the most complex and longest tunnel on the North Line project.

Boring with the Robbins Main Beam TBM and continuous conveyor system began in summer 2015. “There was no precedent in this province for using a Main Beam TBM to excavate a tunnel longer than 10 km. We didn’t have relevant local experience to use for reference,” explained Yongjiu Jin, Deputy Manager of the Project for contractor Guangdong No. 2 Hydropower Bureau Co., Ltd. The machine did encounter a number of difficult geological obstacles as it bored through limestone rock, but was still able to achieve advance rates up to 40 m (130 ft) per day in good ground.

Much of the geology consisted of lightly weathered limestone in rock class II to III, with some sections in class IV to V rock that required the heaviest amount of ground support, ranging from rock bolts to ring beams and mesh. “Our team encountered a coal seam, gasses in the tunnel, two large water inrushes, three fault zones up to 103 m long, 11 karst cavities, and more. In order to solve the ground problems, there were more than 160 special technical research meetings held,” said Yongjiu.

Throughout tunneling, the contractor expressed thanks for Robbins Field Service staff. “Robbins personnel provided good technical support from equipment installation and commissioning through to tunnel completion. After the equipment was handed over to our company, they still helped us with equipment usage on our project, which makes us very satisfied with the Robbins after-sales service. Robbins really delivered: the after-sales phase was not the end of service, but the beginning of site service,” said Yongjiu.

While the completion of the first tunnel—the longest single-heading construction on record for water tunnels in Guangxi—is a milestone, there is more to do. The Robbins machine will be inspected and relaunched to bore a second tunnel 4.2 km (2.6 mi) in length. The ground conditions are predicted to be equally challenging, but the tunneling operation has some help from ground prediction methodology. Tunnel Reflection Tomography (TRT)—consisting of ground prediction using seismic waves—is being used to detect changing conditions ahead of the TBM. The method can predict the distribution and scale of joints and fissures, allowing the crew to plan ahead.

Located near Laibin City, the North Line project provides much needed drought relief using a network of tunnels totaling 29.4 km (18.3 mi). “This tunnel will realize the dream of drought control that people in Central Guangxi have had for many years. The breakthrough is the most important milestone event in this first phase of the North Line project,” said Yongjiu.

Image 1: Contractor Guangdong No. 2 Hydropower Bureau Co., Ltd., the project owner, and Robbins celebrate the January breakthrough of a Robbins Main Beam TBM.
Image 2: The 5.97 m (19.6 ft) Robbins TBM traversed fault zones, karst cavities, a coal seam, and more while achieving up to 40 m (130 ft) in one day.
Image 3: Robbins Field Service and Engineering staff played an important role in the project’s overall success. They advised the contractor and gave after-sales support throughout the difficult ground conditions.
Image 4: The Robbins Main Beam TBM bored through limestone rock, and installed a full range of ground support, from rock bolts to ring beams and wire mesh.