Blog, Industry News
THOMPSON, CONNECTICUT USA, July 5, 2017
Numa, the world’s leading drilling technology provider, is proud to announce the addition of Drilling Supplies Europe (DSE) as its new distributor in Ireland. DSE is a leading supplier and manufacturer of consumables and equipment to the ground engineering market and brings a wealth of drilling experience to support the Numa DTH hammer and bit product line.
Established in 2001, DSE was formed to cater to the new and expanding HDD sector in Ireland. The company supplied the day to day consumables such as drilling heads, dies and drilling fluids. In March of 2017, industry veteran Niall Meehan took over as owner and managing director of DSE. Niall has over 20 years of industry experience and has completed numerous projects in the fields of water well, geotechnical, environmental, geothermal, trenchless, CBM and Shale & Gas Storage. DSE brings a great depth of experience to customers along with extensive product knowledge, practical solutions and a friendly service. The company also represents many other leading brands from drilling fluids to drilling rigs, compressors and mud pumps. The combination of a wide range of products, now including Numa DTH hammers and bits, allows DSE to tailor drilling packages to the specific needs of customers in the region.
Ralph Leonard, President of Numa, commented, “We are delighted to have partnered with DSE for the distribution of Numa’s DTH products. DSE is an extremely knowledgeable company focused on service and support which is an essential component to our continued expansion in the European market.”
Niall Meehan owner of DSE added, “Numa is a highly versatile and innovative manufacturer with a big future. We’re proud to be aligned with such a top flight organization as we continue to provide the right solutions for our customers”.
ABOUT NUMA
Numa provides the world’s leading drilling technology with over 110 DTH Hammer and Bit products serving 11 different industries. Our products are designed to drill vertical, horizontal, and reverse circulation holes from 3½ to 48 inches (89 – 1219 mm) in diameter in hard rock, overburden, or loose strata formations. Having customers in 105+ countries, we have built our customer-centric reputation on providing the highest value in products, performance, and personal service available in the rock drilling industry.
ABOUT DRILLING SUPPLIES EUROPE
Established in 2001 and with over 20 years of industry experience, Drilling Supplies Europe is a leading supplier and manufacturer of equipment and materials for both the trenchless and vertical drilling sectors.
The company has the knowledge and experience to provide and support industry with quality, reliable product at affordable prices.
Blog, trenchless people
We are proud to spotlight NASTT’s 2017 No-Dig Show Silver Sponsor Global Machinery.
Global Machinery was founded with the primary focus of selling used utility construction equipment internationally. Associates were established to market quality used units and to provide service support in entry markets I South America and Southeast Asia. In 1996, Global Machinery expanded into the rental business with the acquisition of Cable Placing Equipment Company. This company specialized in the rental of utility construction equipment focused initially on the telecom fiber installation market. Global Machinery’s focus is on the rental, sale, service and support of utility construction equipment used in utilities installation and maintenance.
Global Machinery has grown and expanded since it began 20 years ago. They have broadened their rental fleet and lines of dealer representation of major utility equipment and have expanded into the tree care industry be representing several industry leading manufacturers.
Blog, Industry News, trenchless people
OLATHE, Kansas, July 10, 2017 — Vermeer Great Plains, a full-service construction equipment dealer with locations in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Western Missouri, is now 100 percent employee-owned through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
As part of the new ESOP structure, Scott Ryals, former General Manager of Vermeer Great Plains, has taken on responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer. He leads the dealership with a vision focused on maximizing and improving the customer experience, though this goal is nothing new for the dealer’s employees.
“Since Vermeer Great Plains was founded, we have placed a high emphasis on serving our customers, Ryals said.” “The new ESOP plan will only reinforce this culture as the dealership’s success will directly benefit our employees who work every day to take care of our customers. We’re all working toward the same goal.”
Research shows that an employee ownership structure creates a positive work environment as employees all work towards a common goal. In the upcoming months, the employees of Vermeer Great Plains will be further educated about the new ESOP structure.
“The transition to the ESOP means the employees will receive an added future benefit based on how well we all grow the company,” Ryals said.
Customers have always been the most important aspect of the Vermeer Great Plains vision. They can expect even better service as the company learns and grows through this transition. According
to the ESOP Association, 84 percent of companies who participate agree the ESOP improved motivation and productivity. The combination of determined employees, excellent leadership and a
fresh employee-owned plan is sure to be a recipe for success and outstanding customer satisfaction at Vermeer Great Plains.
About Vermeer Great Plains
Vermeer Great Plains is a full-service dealer of Vermeer industrial equipment across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Western Missouri. Established in 1964, the dealership has grown to five locations in the region with 80 team members dedicated to sales, parts and service. Now 100 percent employee-owned, the Vermeer Great Plains team supports customers in the treecare, landscape, wood waste, organic recycling and underground utility construction industries. Vermeer and the Vermeer logo are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries.
© 2017 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Blog, Industry News, trenchless products
THOMPSON, CONNECTICUT USA, Jun 27, 2017:
Numa, the world’s leading drilling technology provider, has announced an expansion of manufacturing capabilities at its US plant to keep up with growing demand for its DTH hammers and bits.
Over the past several years, Numa has heavily invested in its manufacturing capabilities to tackle the demands of building the world’s leading DTH equipment. The latest addition is a Doosan Puma 3100 which is a composite turning center that combines the functions of both a lathe and a machining center. By integrating the capabilities of multiple machines into one system, the turning center minimizes machining time and the number of machining operations. Complicated parts that previously required multiple machines and setups can now be completed by just one unit and one setup. The new equipment will improve productivity, precision, and ease of operation for the company and further improve its ability to manufacture quality products in a timely manner for its customers.
“The expansion of Numa’s manufacturing capabilities supports our vision for growth and puts us in the best position to build the world’s leading down hole hammers and bits,” said Ralph Leonard, President of Numa, “The new multi-tasking turning center offers higher productivity, greater accuracy, and enhanced user convenience which is instrumental to support the growth of our customers.”
ABOUT NUMA
Numa provides the world’s leading drilling technology with over 110 DTH Hammer and Bit products serving 11 different industries. Our products are designed to drill vertical, horizontal, and reverse circulation holes from 3½ to 48 inches (89 – 1219 mm) in diameter in hard rock, overburden, or loose strata formations. Having customers in 105+ countries, we have built our customer-centric reputation on providing the highest value in products, performance, and personal service available in the rock drilling industry.
Blog, trenchless people
We are proud to spotlight NASTT’s 2017 No-Dig Show Silver Sponsor, Five Star Products.
Since the company began as The Nash Babcock Engineering Company in 1955, founded by H. Nash Babcock, the company’s focus has been to develop products that industrial and commercial customers can trust. Mr. Babcock steered the engineering consulting firm into product development and received more than 100 patents worldwide. As a result of 30 years of growth and an expanding international customer base, the company was renamed Five Star Products, Inc. in 1985 and began marketing an array of precision grouting, waterproofing and concrete restoration products for industrial use. Five Star Products Inc. continues its seamless commitment to provide technically advanced products of quality and reliability to meet customer needs.
Five Star Products, Inc. is a team of professional specialists who inspire practical and creative industrial construction and rehabilitation solutions. Built on over five decades of innovative leadership, Five Star Products, Inc. holds a singular focus to provide solutions that meet the ever-increasing demands of modern industrial construction. When it comes to harsh conditions and environments, your installations must perform. Professionals in the industrial, infrastructure, marine, and commercial industries depend on our product solutions every day across the world. Five Star Products, Inc. provides a comprehensive support system including technical, specification and customer support with an unsurpassed record in the industry. Customers can be confident they will be supported every step of the way with superb expert technical service and by a network of certified distributors and licensees.
Five Star’s proprietary formulations include high-performance cement and epoxy-based products developed specifically for challenging environments and applications. Their renowned high performance, precision, non-shrink Five Star® machinery grouts, structural repair mortars, and anchoring and foundation systems have proven to be the products of choice among engineers and specifiers who are responsible for significant projects and cannot afford to be anything but successful. Five Star Products’ new EZ-Cure® brand of contractor-grade products offer contractors the strength of the Five Star® reputation in value-priced solutions.
Blog, Industry News, trenchless projects
Large Diameter XRE Machine to bore Akron, Ohio’s Wastewater Tunnel
A Robbins Crossover (XRE) TBM measuring 9.26 m (30.4 ft) in diameter underwent factory acceptance on May 30, 2016. The gargantuan machine was initially unveiled at Robbins’ Solon, Ohio headquarters during a press day on May 25 before being shipped 40 km (25 mi) south for construction of the Ohio Canal Interceptor Tunnel (OCIT) in Akron. Those present included Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan, Robbins chief engineer Dennis Ofiara, and David Chastka, project engineer for contractor Kenny-Obayashi JV.
The TBM, which includes features of both EPB and Hard Rock Single Shield TBM types, is the first Crossover machine to be used in the United States. It will be launched from a 12 m (40 ft) deep portal site and build the first 68 m (226 ft) in soft ground, transitioning to a 183 m (600 ft) long zone of partial face shale before switching to hard-rock mode for the remainder of the drive in full face shale. Probe drilling will be done continuously using two probe drills to determine which mode the TBM should be in.
Unique aspects of the machine include a versatile cutterhead that will be configured with consideration for both the short soft ground section and the longer section (about 65% of the tunnel) in hard rock. A combination of disc cutters and sacrificial rippers will be used in case a cutter becomes blocked. The required rolling torque of the disc cutters has been reduced by 25% to encourage smooth rotation in soft ground. The motors of the XRE machine have been reworked from an original EPB configuration to permit higher motor speed at reduced torque for the open mode segments of the drive.
Muck removal will be achieved with a durable screw conveyor, the first flight of which is covered welded-in wear plates. The auger shaft is lined with hard facing in a crosshatch pattern, while the screw conveyor casing has been similarly lined in wear plates and hard facing. A wear monitoring plan has been prepared for the entire drive in order to maximize efficiency in the section of more abrasive rock. Robbins Project Manager Pablo Salazar is proud of the utilization of local jobs during the TBM construction and design process: “We have built good portion of the machine in the northeast Ohio area. Many components were fabricated locally with sub-suppliers, as well as in our own shop.” The muck will be transported out of the tunnel using a Robbins continuous conveyor system—the setup will be the 100th such conveyor supplied by Robbins for operation behind a TBM.
The machine was dubbed “Rosie” in honor of Rosie the Riveter, an icon representing the American women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II. Hundreds of “Rosies” including Akron resident Rose May Jacob worked in factories to turn out materials and armaments for the Allied war effort. The TBM will be shipped in truckloads to the jobsite, with the large cutterhead shipped in four pieces. “The entire process of assembly has allowed the contractor to follow very closely through the testing of the machine, so they are very familiar with the TBM at this point. At the jobsite, we will also provide immediate support for both spare parts and personnel,” said Salazar. Jobsite supervisors from Robbins will assist in TBM assembly and excavation for at least the first 1,000 m (3,280 ft) of boring. Tunnel boring is scheduled to begin in August of this year.
The OCIT Project for the City of Akron consists of the construction of a conveyance and storage tunnel system to control Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) for several regulators in the downtown Akron area. The EPA-mandated project includes the 1.89 km (1.17 mi) conveyance and storage tunnel, as well as drop shafts, diversion structures, consolidation sewers, and related structures. The consent decree specifies that the tunnel must be operational by December 31, 2018.
Image 1: The 9.26 m (30.4 ft) diameter Robbins Crossover Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was designed and built in Robbins’ Solon, Ohio, USA facility.
Image 2: Robbins personnel proudly stand in front of the 9.26 m (30.4 ft) machine dubbed “Rosie”—the first Crossover TBM in the U.S.
Image 3: The Robbins TBM will bore in sections of both hard rock and soft ground to complete the Akron Ohio Canal Interceptor Tunnel (OCIT).
THOMPSON, CONNECTICUT USA, July 5, 2017
