Industry News, trenchless people
East Canton, OH — Barbco, Inc. was deemed an essential industry and has been working during the Ohio’s stay-at-home directive. The company has been adhering to and exceeding both the Federal and State’s strict protective guidelines to ensure employee safety through the proactive approach of appointing a COVID19 Workplace Coordinator.
Despite the pandemic, Barbco has delivered strong sales result for the first quarter of 2020. While certain parts of the country and certain industries have been shut down, others have been working at full capacity. Subsequently, Barbco has seen strong sales of its augers and parts business. Sales for the first quarter met the budget goals. Being the brand and technology leader in horizontal auger boring machines and augers has enabled Barbco to have a very successful first quarter.
“Our manufacturing team has stepped up in these very challenging times to produce machines to meet and exceed customer demand,” said Dave Barbera, President and Co-owner. Sales during the first quarter have been strongest in the Southern states, where the weather broke soon and contractors have been able to work around the clock improving America’s underground infrastructure on many important projects.
The sales success was also aided by the introduction last year of Barbco’s patented FlexBor and partnered with its existing industry leading TriBor technology which allows for horizontal directional drilling, (HDD) using only air or air and water which protects the environment better than any other technology available. The FlexBor and TriBor is truly disruptive technology which will change the HDD market for the better because it is safer for the environment.
“With more stringent regulations in the use of chemicals and liquids in HDD, the marketplace is quickly recognizing our patented technology as the only way to safely do HDD,” commented Tony Barbera, CEO and Co-owner.
As the country begins to reopen in certain states, Barbco is well-positioned to meet the need for HDD augers and equipment. Barbco’s commitment to build environmentally safe equipment will only strengthen its technology leadership.
About Barbco, Inc.
Barbco, Inc. (www.barco.com) is HDD manufacturing company based in East Canton, OH. The company’s line of Auger Boring Machines, its FlexBor and TriBor technology position the company to continue its leadership position in developing superior equipment that meets strict environmental guidelines ensuring a better, safe environment.
Industry News, trenchless people
This week we’re featuring the fifth and final installment in the latest NASTT blog series featuring the 2020 Argent Memorial Scholarship winner essays.
One of the requirements to apply for a student scholarship from NASTT is to write an essay on the state of the trenchless industry and what the student sees for them self in the future within the industry.
Ian Walczak of Rutgers University was awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
The North American Society for Trenchless Technology was introduced to me last year by the Rutgers Student Chapter. Before that I had never given tunneling and trenchless construction any thought. Now I am the President of the Rutgers Student chapter. Through my time in NASTT I attended the No-Dig show in Chicago and learnt about all the different applications the trenchless industry is capable of.
One specialty area that interests me most is tunnel engineering. I live close to New York City so trench cutting to replace utilities or build tunnels is a thing of the past. From now on most of the work done underground is in the trenchless industry. Last year I got the opportunity to go to The Moles Students Day at the East Side Access project in NYC. This was the first time I had seen a massive trenchless project firsthand. The logistical challenges and the innovative solutions the engineers needed to come up with required not only a sound understanding of engineering fundamentals, but also a creative mind. This kind of challenging work is why I decided to become an engineer. Deciding to become an engineer is more than just deciding on what career to pursue, it is more like deciding the kind of lifestyle you want to live throughout life. Life as an engineer means lifelong learning, serving your community and never halting innovation. These main aspects of life as an engineer are what intrigue me most and I believe the most rewarding industry is the trenchless industry.
Within the near future I do see myself pursuing a career in the trenchless industry. I am currently talking to Mott MacDonald about an entry tunnel engineering job. I am to start an internship next semester and that will work into a full-time position as a tunnel engineer at Mott MacDonald. My goal is to hopefully be a critical part of the planned Gateway Project in the Northeast Corridor. The project will expand and renovate the existing deteriorating Northeast Corridor Rail Line. Within this project major tunneling operations will be conducted and it is my hope that I will be involved in the design and construction of these tunnels.
In conclusion, The North American Society for Trenchless Technology has given me opportunities that I never could imagine. There is a great sense of community within NASTT and I am proud to be apart of it. Community is very important to me; when we collaborate with one another there is nothing we can not accomplish. I hope to hear from you soon and I thank you in advance for your anticipated generosity. I will leave you with a quote, “An optimist will tell you the glass is half-full; the pessimist, half-empty; and the engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be” – Anonymous
Congratulations Ian! Best of luck in your current position and future endeavors in the trenchless industry!
Industry News, trenchless people
This week we’re featuring the fourth installment in the latest NASTT blog series featuring the 2020 Argent Memorial Scholarship winner essays.
One of the requirements to apply for a student scholarship from NASTT is to write an essay on the state of the trenchless industry and what the student sees for them self in the future within the industry.
Monica Samano, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona was awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
The trenchless technology industry offers so many opportunities in the Los Angeles area. With the new Metro Lines and underground utility lines the amount of trenchless work that needs to be done in Los Angeles has more than doubled in the past few years. Various underground utilities exist in the Los Angeles area which leaves the issue of repairing old utility lines and working around them. There is major work with renewing older water systems in the entire area. As a current intern for an electrical subcontractor, I have begun to notice the amount of electrical work that has been increasing underground. My project managers have begun to take an interest in the means and methods to insert underground lines as well. As construction begins to rise exponentially for the 2028 Olympics the demand for construction work that needs to be done in Los Angeles to accommodate the large influx of visitors and residents has caused a boom for construction and will only grow as more businesses and owners prepare for 2028.
As my senior year comes to an end, the need for contractors and subcontractors has been noted at my current workplace. I have noticed that there is more work than there are people and supplies and that I need to prove my worth and skills now. I want to dive into a job that is driven by trenchless technology so that I can use my knowledge and expertise to merge with other contractors to bridge the gap between trenchless technologies and methods with the work that needs to be performed. During the next few years I hope to learn more detailed information about trenchless technology in order to be able to coordinate with vendors about work that needs to be completed. I want to be able to speak to workers handling the equipment to ensure that projects are being handled safely and efficiently by being able to understand the trenchless methods taking place. I also want to be able to identify underground problems and suggest safer and effective trenchless methods. I plan to continue attending future No-Dig Shows to keep up to date with the latest technology and case studies to take back to any workplace. I plan to become a crucial member who is asked to consult on trenchless activities and become one of the pioneers to introduce it to any company that is looking into trenchless technology. As my current company hosts multiple departments I hope to one day create my own division that specializes in Trenchless Technology advocacy and create a greater understanding of trenchless in the workplace.
Congratulations Monica! Thank you for your service and best of luck on your future endeavors in the trenchless industry!
Industry News, trenchless people
This week we’re featuring the third installment in the latest NASTT blog series featuring the 2020 Argent Memorial Scholarship winner essays.
One of the requirements to apply for a student scholarship from NASTT is to write an essay on the state of the trenchless industry and what the student sees for them self in the future within the industry.
Raj Magan of Indiana University Purdue University – Indianapolis (IUPUI) was awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
Construction has always been in the roots of my family. As a child I was always around the building construction environment with my late father. This has always been my source of inspiration into a career path in construction. Working in the trenchless industry for the past 2 years of my college career has given me the knowledge that there is a whole different world that exists underneath us. Trenchless professionals have been able to provide non invasive services with the help of advancing technology in equipment and materials. Instead of using traditional excavators for open cut methods, we are able to go hundreds of feet below the earth and create tunnels across cities for Storm/Sewer pipes, Communications/Data lines, Electrical lines, Transportation, etc.
As Research and Development increases in trenchless technology methods, cheaper and more efficient methods of tunneling will become more prevalent in the industry and allow government/private entities to invest in this type of infrastructure for several different purposes. Geotechnical engineers, tunneling consultants, survey engineers, dewatering specialists, erosion specialists, are just some of the roles that contribute to a tunnel project.
The opportunity to serve as a Project Engineer Intern last summer on one of Indiana’s largest tunnel projects has given me the knowledge and interest to pursue a career in the tunneling industry. Multiple TBMs including an Akkerman microtunneling machine was used on this project as well as centrifuges that are used to separate the solids and liquids in the slurry extracted from the tunnel. Getting a first hand with the crew that is inside the tunnel operating the TBM and installing ring beams and lagging has been a unique experience. I learned that you never know what you will run into underground and this increases the liability you have on the job significantly. One thing that I took out of this experience is that specialty trenchless jobs can be tough but they are definitely more rewarding than a typical construction project due to the nature of the project.
After I graduate from the Purdue School of Engineering, my goal is to become a PE after my 5th year working at a tunneling construction company. I plan to gather enough experience over the next 5 years in order to start my own business in the future providing services that cater to the tunneling industry.
Congratulations Raj! Best of luck on your current and future endeavors in the trenchless industry!
trenchless people
This week we bring you the second installment in the latest NASTT blog series featuring the 2020 Argent Memorial Scholarship winner essays.
One of the requirements to apply for a student scholarship from NASTT is to write an essay on the state of the trenchless industry and what the student sees for them self in the future within the industry.
Kyle LaRose of Oklahoma State University was awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
The trenchless technology industry offers a very diverse set of opportunities for students and professionals in many different areas. Whether a construction project in a metropolitan area that uses microtunneling to install or upgrading utility lines or a drilling operator in West Texas running a system which locates the next oil deposit for consumption, trenchless technology will always be a growing field. No matter what industry you are in, the building industry or the oil and natural gas industry it is a very common practice to use different trenchless technologies to further the advancement of infrastructure operations across the world. Without the multitude of different technologies and techniques, more issues would be created instead of solved.
While growing up in the industry has given me many skills and assets needed to be successful in my professional career, though I still have much to learn. I believe with my degree in Construction Engineering & Technology at Oklahoma State University as well as work experience will always be exposed to trenchless technologies and what it has to offer. The construction industry is constantly improving and expanding, not only in every state across the U.S., but across the globe. Picturing myself 5 years in the future if difficult, but not impossible. Once graduation comes and I commission as an Army National Guard Officer in Horizontal Engineering, I will be established with a company and planning training exercises with my military unit all at the same time. As for the company that I am with, only time can tell.
Though I plan to be an officer in the military, I will also pursue my civilian career in the construction industry. I chose being a Horizontal Engineering Officer because I wanted my military and civilian jobs to build off each other. I am constantly trying to learn skills needed to be the best construction manager in the industry and what better way to do that than be a part of the military as well as work in the civilian market. I believe that being a part of the military has taught me many skills needed to be a professional within the industry such as my leadership skills and heightened my verbal communication skills. I am extremely excited to see what my future has in store for me, but only I am the one that sets limitations on my progression within the construction industries which include commercial, trenchless and heavy civil.
Congratulations Kyle! We thank you for your military service and best of luck on your future endeavors in the trenchless industry!
trenchless people
We are pleased to bring you the first installment in the latest NASTT blog series featuring the 2020 Argent Memorial Scholarship winner essays.
One of the requirements to apply for a student scholarship from NASTT is to write an essay on the state of the trenchless industry and what the student sees for them self in the future within the industry.
Josiah Dehnke of Kent State University was awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
The rapid growth of the trenchless industry comes at a pivotal time for the underground infrastructure in the United States. The 2017 ASCE report card graded drinking water, wastewater, and energy all a D+ or lower. A large portion of our underground utilities are in desperate need of repairs, rehabilitation and replacement. Although this underground infrastructure is the primary carrier of drinking water, wastewater, gas, oil, and power, it is also widely overlooked. This is the epitome of “Out of sight, out of mind”.
Luckily, as trenchless technology continues to grow, so does the opportunity to begin a career in the field of trenchless and help ensure the bright future of our civilization and its prosperity. From rehabilitation to new installation, the opportunities in this rapidly growing industry are endless. Not only is trenchless technology the most cost and time effective option, but it is also far superior in terms of intrusion and environmental concerns. As the emphasis on minimal environmental impact continues to grow, so do the benefits of trenchless.
The trenchless industry is a great opportunity for students such as myself looking to get into a unique and ever changing career upon graduation. Because our underground infrastructure is the carrier of every type of commodity, this creates a wide variety of opportunities in the electric, wastewater, drinking water, and oil and gas industries. Within those industries, a project manager or engineer could be involved in rehabilitation, new install or repairs.
Becoming a part of this industry would also provide opportunities to travel all over North America and possibly the world. These possibilities are some of the many reasons why I am looking forward to attending my first NASTT No-Dig Show in Denver. Upon deciding to pursue a concentration in Civil Construction, my first class was Civil Utilities and my professor largely covered trenchless technology. Upon beginning the coursework, I instantly became interested in the industry and wanted to learn more. A few months into the semester, our NASTT student chapter was lucky enough to have Bernie Krzys on campus for a speaking event. Hearing Mr. Krzys speak as well as having a conversation with him about the ever-expanding industry and the developing technology in the trenchless community made me eager to learn more.
I’m hoping to have some networking opportunities at the No-Dig show that may lead to employment opportunities with some of the most respected contractors in the country. This industry’s diverse and unique opportunities truly intrigue me. I chose to be a part of the civil construction industry because of the opportunity to directly improve our infrastructure and wellbeing; being able to be a part of a unique and environmentally sound community such as trenchless technologies would make my career choice even more fulfilling.
Congratulations Josiah and best of luck on your future endeavors in the trenchless industry!
