HammerHead® Trenchless Unveils New Purpose-built CIPP Trailer

LAKE MILLS, Wisc. – HammerHead® Trenchless, a Charles Machine Works company, has introduced a new, purpose-built trailer for cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) applications that gives installers a uniquely versatile and efficient workstation suited to almost any job they encounter. The LT-20PRO features a modular design with all storage, electrical power and air supply needed for a wide range of lateral lining tasks. The configuration is customizable, allowing the customer to tailor it to their specific needs and avoid duplication of existing equipment.

The 20-foot-long trailer’s modular design not only maintains an efficient workspace during installations but keeps all components secure and at-the-ready while traveling from job to job.

On more restrictive job sites, all equipment in the LT-20PRO can be unmounted for easy relocation. “Our trailer’s modular design accommodates the widest range of environments, difficult site conditions and logistics,” said Matt Gabrielse, HammerHead product manager.

“Versatility was key in creating these trailers for our customers,” Gabrielse said, explaining that ideally all jobs could be completed from right inside a contractor’s trailer. “But in cases where it is necessary to work from a roof or inside a large building, our rig allows key components to be easily removed from the trailer to work remotely.”

Each trailer can be outfitted with the desired inversion drum size, curing equipment, reinstatement and drain cleaning tools to meet each customer’s individual needs.

HammerHead LT-20PRO CIPP trailers are also available ready-made for immediate sale and delivery. All LT-20PRO base models feature as standard

  • Insulated trailer walls and ceiling and a roof-mounted air conditioner
  • 13,000-watt generator with external slide-out
  • Roller bed with wall mount for the wet out table
  • 30-gallon, wall-mounted air compressor
  • External and internal air connections and electrical outlets
  • Unique new HammerHead liner vacuum system for ease in vacuum-prepping liner.

The trailer’s modular configuration optimizes use of space and leaves ample room for storage. Storage features include

  • Upper and lower storage cabinets
  • Lower resin storage cabinet
  • Cleaning supply cabinet
  • Tool boxes
  • A tongue-mounted, lockable storage box
  • Custom inversion hose rack
  • Wall hooks to hold liner and calibration tubes.

The LT-20PRO purpose-built lateral lining trailer is available direct from HammerHead Trenchless in the United States and Canada. Find your HammerHead sales representative at www.hammerheadtrenchless.com or by calling 920.648.4848.

Photos: The LT-20PRO purpose-built lateral lining trailer is available direct from HammerHead Trenchless in the United States and Canada.

Raven Celebrates 30 Years Protecting Infrastructures

Raven’s story began 30 years ago when it used a blue epoxy coating to protect a manhole. Throughout our history, we have continued to build this company and its products on the confidence and trust of that blue flagship product, Raven® 405. This confidence is shown in the 50-year design model, experience and commitment represented every day in our protective coatings, unmatched technical experience and customer service.

Over the course of 30 years, Raven has continued our innovative approach to solving corrosion issues while committing to producing high quality protection products. While known as an industry leader in manhole rehabilitation, Raven is more than just manholes. Therefore, we strive to solve as many corrosion problems in such additional markets as potable water, industrial, OEM and oil & gas.

Raven stands firmly behind its ‘Proven, True & Blue! Proven, True & New! ®’ slogan. With over 21 million square feet of Raven product applied to a variety of structures since 1988, Raven’s team of experts spend endless hours creating and testing products that will endure the most extreme conditions.

As Raven looks back on what has helped propel the company forward as a front runner, the development of quality products and relationships are among the most important. Raven’s success and commitment is largely attributable to the highly trained network of 70+ Certified Applicators (CA) that are dedicated to high quality standards that have come to be expected over the past 30 years.

Raven has a diverse line of products but the more renowned products are:
Raven® 405, the ‘Proven, True & Raven Blue’, is a solvent-free 100% solids, ultra-high build epoxy coating formulated with exceptionally high physical strengths and broad range chemical resistance. 405 exhibits superior bond to concrete, steel, masonry, fiberglass and other surfaces. 405’s unique ultra-high-build ability allows it to be spray applied on vertical and overhead surfaces. The surface tolerance and high physical strengths of 405 allow it to be designed as a structural lining in manholes, pipelines, tanks and other deteriorated structures.

AquataFlex® 505 & 506, are versatile novalac epoxy polyurethane hybrids that have fast cure times and flexibility of polyurethanes and increased chemical resistance of epoxies. They both are USDA Certified Biobased Products and ANSI 61 Certified.

AquataPoxy® A-6 & A-6 Thick, are solvent-free, 100% solids, corrosion resistant epoxy
coatings that can be applied to dry or damp surfaces. Formulated for broad range corrosion protection and certified safe for potable water.

As Raven continues to engineer solutions to protect infrastructures, it joined forces with
VersaFlex, Inc. on January 1, 2018, to provide a more robust portfolio of specialty coating technologies across a plethora of markets.

“We are excited to leverage each other’s strengths to continue providing the outstanding service our customers have become accustomed to over the past 30 years,” said Raven Lining Systems’ COO Rob Pawlak. “These two influential brands will pioneer a whole new era in the specialty coatings industry.”

Raven’s tag line is Protect with Confidence®! Visit their website for more information.

CASE STUDY: UTILITIES Geophysical Survey Ground Penetrating Radar Systems

Challenge

To bring their latest industry-leading Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) systems to market, Geophysical Survey Systems Inc. (GSSI) needed a capable, flexible controller platform for use with their highly specialized devices. After years of operating with a custom controller that couldn’t always keep up with the fast pace of technology evolution, GSSI needed a solution that could support workers in the most challenging conditions and better withstand rigorous use.

Solution

After considering other players in the rugged computing market, GSSI decided to pair their GPR device with the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1 and Toughpad FZ-M1 tablets, which offer visibility, impressive battery life and best-in-class durability that holds up to the environmental challenges they face every day in the field.

Result

By deploying the Toughpad tablet, GSSI was able to create a partnership with a brand that has a similar reputation for being rugged enough for the toughest field environments. GSSI now offers customers a highly capable solution in a device that will last, eliminating fears of damage or replacement.

As manufacturers of the highest quality ground penetrating radar technology in the market, GSSI is an organization that understands the rigor of field work, and their customers operate in environments that are as tough as it gets. GSSI’s technology aids field work across industries, from construction sites to public utility work and even search and rescue missions following a natural disaster. Despite their reputation for industry leading software, they can’t do it alone. GSSI relied on a custom controller that was hardened for field work. While it met the unique hardware requirements for their ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology, the controller couldn’t keep up with the design cycle and the hardware too frequently became outdated. In a market that requires staying ahead of technological advancements, GSSI sought a new hardware partner to accompany their best-in-class software.

After investigating other options in the rugged tablet market, GSSI ultimately landed on Panasonic because they wanted a partner that had a similar reputation for being rugged and durable. With the assistance of their engineering team, the company purchased a fleet of both the Toughpad FZ-G1 and Toughpad FZ-M1 tablets and designed proprietary software for use with their GPR systems, creating a bundled full-suite package that offers customers full control over these complex, finely-tuned radar systems. A Toughbook customer for over 20 years, GSSI had experience with Toughbook laptops, but for this particular use case, GSSI decided a tablet form factor was the better fit. Lightweight and portable, the tablet doesn’t compromise on performance or screen size and offers portability and offers greater flexibility in the field.

Due to the uniquely challenging environment of their work, a rugged design was the first thing to come to mind for GSSI when considering new hardware. One of the key reasons for choosing Panasonic was simply that Toughbook and Toughpad products are known for holding up to the rigor of tough work conditions. In an environment where concrete is being cut, airborne dust poses a hazard and pleasant weather is never guaranteed, a commercial tablet simply wouldn’t suffice. GSSI needed a device that could withstand the varying conditions of this environment to seal out the elements, and the Toughpad was the right fit for the job. In addition to doing tough work, GSSI customers are known for being tough on their equipment. Operating in construction and safety zones, these devices might be tossed in the back of a truck, shipped around the world and dropped countless times. GSSI needed to ensure that a tablet-based system could endure how their employees handle the devices as much as the environment they work within.

Since GSSI customers primarily work in outdoors environments, visibility and battery life were other crucial features. Particularly in bright light conditions, commercial grade tablets get washed out and critical data is difficult to read on the screen. The ability to ensure visibility in all light conditions was another important aspect. GSSI was also attracted to the added battery life available with the Toughpad. Especially in emergency response and disaster recovery situations, device failure due to battery loss simply isn’t an option.

A result of two companies who pride themselves on serving workers in uniquely challenging environments, this solution will support GSSI customers though whatever conditions they face today, tomorrow and for another 20 years. Panasonic Toughpad was the right choice for GSSI for several reasons, but the main one is clear: it’s built to last.

GSSI Unveils StructureScan™ Mini LT – All-In-One GPR Concrete Inspection System

GSSI, the world’s leading manufacturer of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, announces the new StructureScan™ Mini LT – the latest member of GSSI’s popular all-in-one concrete inspection GPR systems. With all the capabilities of previous versions of the StructureScan Mini, the new StructureScan Mini LT features a lower price point that makes it even more affordable.

Rugged, compact, and flexible, StructureScan Mini LT is ideal for locating rebar, conduits, post-tension cables, and voids. It can help identify structural elements, including pan deck and concrete cover, and can also provide real time determination of concrete slab thickness. StructureScan Mini LT is the perfect entry-level concrete inspection system, and backed by a two-year warranty.

The integrated all-in-one concrete inspection tool comes with an antenna, positioning system, and control unit combination. It features an easy-to-use interface and six-button control options. With its 1.6 GHz antenna, the StructureScan Mini LT offers superior target resolution, reaching depths of 20 inches (50 centimeters).

Featuring a rugged and compact design, StructureScan Mini LT is IP 65-rated to withstand a jobsite’s toughest conditions. Users get first-in-class data visualization with a high-resolution 5.7-inch full color display with an easy user interface and different operation modes tailored for beginner to advanced use. The StructureScan Mini LT also makes it easy to customize the data display with a variety of color adjustments. Real-time migrated data, onscreen reference markers and multiple display modes are also available. Other useful features include an ergonomic handle, positioning lasers, and 4-wheel drive.

About GSSI

Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. is the world leader in the development, manufacture, and sale of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, primarily for the concrete inspection, utility mapping and locating, road and bridge deck evaluation, geophysics, and archaeology markets. Our equipment is used all over the world to explore the subsurface of the earth and to inspect infrastructure systems non-destructively. GSSI created the first commercial GPR system over 45 years ago and continues to provide the widest range and highest quality GPR equipment available today.

How ECHO Utility Engineering and Surveying Benefits from Vacuum Excavation

ECHO Utility Engineering and Surveying focuses on a specific aspect of Utility Engineering: Subsurface Utility Engineering.

Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) refers to a branch of engineering that involves managing certain risks associated with utility mapping at appropriate quality levels, utility coordination, utility relocation design and coordination, utility condition assessment, communication of utility data to concerned parties, utility relocation cost estimates, implementation of utility accommodation policies, and utility design.

ECHO purchased a Vac-Tron AIR 373 SDT vacuum excavator in 2017 and shared the benefits this unit has created for the company.

Project Descriptions

Locating existing subsurface utilities data.

Solution

Vac-Tron Low Profile AIR 373 SDT unit with customized accessories. This unit is powered by an 83 HP Yanmar diesel engine that delivers unmatched power and performance. Hand built in the USA from the ground up including the durable I-Beam trailer assembly. The low profile trailer keeps the components of the unit easily accessible while making the unit safe to tow and a much smoother ride. The AIR unit comes equipped with a hydraulic rear door, which opens fully so the operator can completely empty the contents. For operator safety, the door is controlled by push buttons located on the side of the unit. The AIR unit offers the patented filtration system with 0.5-micron filtration that is unmatched by competitors. It also comes standard with a reverse pressure system and a heavy-duty trailer with Dexter torsion axles.

Results

ECHO has been using the Vac-Tron AIR unit for over a year now. The main efficiency has been getting into tight places and safely onto curbs with the Low Profile unit.  “It allows us to get to projects that we normally wouldn’t be able to do,” says President of ECHO UES, Jerry Comellas. “One of the projects we worked on was in a covered garage and if it wasn’t for this unit there is no way we could have accomplished the project because of the low clearances. This was a $48,000 project and is revenue that we wouldn’t have been able to have otherwise.”

“Vac-Tron’s customer service has been outstanding, getting us setup quickly, as our business works really fast, and catering to some of the refinements we made on the unit made it a pleasure to work with Vac-Tron,” Jerry concluded.

Check out the full video interview with ECHO and the unit in action here. For more information on Vac-Tron Equipment and its full fleet of vacuum excavators, please visit them online at www.vactron.com or call 1-352-728-2222.

Rocky Mountain Chapter Visits HDD Installation in Littleton, CO

Earlier this month, Lithos Engineering, Global Underground Corp and Centennial Water and Sanitation District presented an educational morning for a group of industry professionals to learn more about the Mirabelle Project through Chatfield State Park, that included a 2,500 ft long horizontal directional drilled installation of a 16” FPVC pipe.  The event was hosted the Rocky Mountain Chapter of NASTT.

Benny Siljenberg, Vice Chair of the Rocky Mountain Chapter and VP of Lithos Engineering, said, “Trenchless technology is an ever-evolving technology within the infrastructure industry and by providing these educational opportunities RMNASTT helps industry professionals become more comfortable with unfamiliar construction techniques. This knowledge will allow more options for planning future infrastructure improvements that ultimately result in a better society”.

It’s great to see our Regional Chapters working within our communities to educate, network and spread the trenchless good news story!