Industry News, trenchless people
New leadership leverages strengths for next level of strategic growth
HOUSTON, March 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — ClockSpring|NRI, the leading high-performance critical infrastructure solutions company, today announced that Frank Firsching has been named the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective immediately. Firsching succeeds Matt Boucher, who is stepping down after leading the transformation of ClockSpring|NRI over the last few years.
“We thank Matt for his leadership and laying the foundation for the success of ClockSpring|NRI, including the acquisition and integration of six companies and achievement of nearly 30 percent annualized organic growth over his tenure,” said Alex Washington, Managing Director, Wind Point Partners.
Frank Firsching brings close to 30 years of experience starting, leading and building businesses serving the oil & gas, water & wastewater, and power utility industries, with an emphasis on pipeline rehabilitation technologies over the past 15 years. Most recently, he served as the President of the $600 million Infrastructure Solutions business unit of Aegion Corporation. He was a founding partner in Underground Solutions, Inc. which was sold to Aegion in 2016. Frank spent 13 years with USFilter where he was President of the $1.0 billion Water & Wastewater Systems Group from 2001 – 2006. Frank has a B.S. Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Virginia, an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and is the immediate past chair of the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT).
“As we look to scale the platform, Frank’s deep understanding of the technical, regulatory and commercial landscape will provide strong leadership as we continue to meet the evolving needs of infrastructure asset owners,” noted ClockSpring|NRI Board Chair, Guy Broadbent.
“ClockSpring|NRI is shaping the future of critical infrastructure renewal by delivering solutions built around high performance composite materials, specialty valves and geopolymer offerings designed to extend infrastructure asset lives while minimizing downtime, maximizing cost-effectiveness and adhering to the strictest industry safety standards,” said new CEO Frank Firsching. “I look forward to supporting the continued growth of the business and delivering value for our customers and business partners.”
About ClockSpring|NRI
ClockSpring|NRI is shaping the future of critical infrastructure through innovative composites, valves, and concrete solutions. With global headquarters in Houston, TX, the company manufactures high-performance critical infrastructure construction and repair products and provides associated engineering support and training services. ClockSpring|NRI solutions are delivered via the CSNRI, GeoTree and Advanced Valve Technologies brands and are used to construct, maintain, strengthen, protect, and rehabilitate oil, gas, and water pipelines, natural gas distribution lines, high-consequence industrial pipework, tanks, storm and sanitation assets, and civil structures. ClockSpring|NRI products are easy to install, cost-effective to deploy, and durable for decades. www.cs-nri.com
Media Contact
Judy Murray
713-419-1552
Media@CS-NRI.com
Industry News, trenchless projects
Barbco, Inc. Co-Owner and CEO, Anthony R. Barbera was granted U.S. Patent #10465460 for the Barbco FlexBor tooling and technology on November 5, 2019. This is a proud moment in this East Canton, Ohio manufacturer’s storied 30-year history of driving the trenchless technology, horizontal boring, and underground manufacturing industries forward with world class capital equipment and cutting-edge technology. The FlexBor is an extremely cost-effective, environmentally safe trenchless method and tooling. The FlexBor is designed to virtually eliminate “frac-outs” / ”inadvertent returns” that are often associated with horizontal directional drilling and the use of bentonite.
The Patent Abstract reads: “A cutting assembly and method for drilling an underground borehole. The cutting assembly includes front and rear cutting heads of different diameters mounted on a shaft. An air passage defined through the cutting assembly may be placed in fluid communication with a pressurized remote air source and with a bore of a casing extending rearwardly from the cutting assembly. Pressurized air flows through the air passage and entrains cuttings produced by the front and rear cutting heads. A housing extends rearwardly from the larger diameter rear cutting head and an auger provided within the housing aids in directing cuttings into the casing. The auger rotates independently of the rest of the cutting assembly and may be configured to further reduce the size of the cuttings. A collar on the housing seals the borehole cut by the rear cutting assembly and aids in preventing frac-out.”
For more information on Barbco’s products and services, visit their website.
Blog, Industry News, trenchless people
Cleveland, Ohio – The North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) celebrates 30 years of industry advocacy and education in 2020. NASTT is an engineering society of individuals, public organizations and private companies with strong beliefs in the practical, social and environmental benefits of trenchless technology.
Founded in 1990, NASTT represents nearly 2,400 members throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico who all promote better and more responsible ways to manage underground infrastructure. NASTT’s mission is to advance trenchless technology and to promote its benefits for the public and the natural environment by increasing awareness and knowledge through technical information dissemination, research and development, education and training.
As NASTT continues to grow and take on new challenges, it is important for the not-for-profit Society to serve and support their diverse industry partners. NASTT proudly represents municipalities and public utilities, consultants and engineers, manufacturers and suppliers, trenchless contractors and academia. NASTT reaches out to all these groups and shares with the community the latest industry trenchless advancements and their continuing education opportunities. For 30 years, the all-volunteer members of NASTT have presented non-commercial information seminars and training about these “green alternative” engineering methods to North American communities.
The annual NASTT No-Dig Show is the Society’s flagship educational and networking event. This conference and trade show offers 160 quality, non-commercial technical papers; an exhibition hall with more than 200 trenchless companies displaying their products and services; a series of specialized trenchless training courses, plus many entertaining networking events and special industry related awards. The NASTT No-Dig Show is the largest trenchless technology conference in the world averaging over 2,000 industry professionals.
In 2019 the Canadian Regional Chapters of NASTT hosted the inaugural No-Dig North conference. Nearly 600 attendees from across Canada met in Calgary, AB to learn from each other, network and discuss all things trenchless. This show will be an annual event with the 2020 No-Dig North being held October 19-21 in Vancouver, BC.
In celebration of its 30th Anniversary, NASTT will look back at the history of the Society with a series of Flashback Friday (#fbf) social media posts along with various activities throughout 2020. You are invited to join in a celebratory toast during the NASTT 2020 No-Dig Show Opening Ceremony Ribbon Cutting in Denver, Colorado on Monday, April 6 at the Colorado Convention Center.
Industry News, trenchless products
Company to offer product line through minority ownership and distribution partnership with Vacuum X-Traction Products Inc.
PELLA, Iowa, February 14, 2020 – Vermeer Corporation announced today it has purchased a minority equity investment in and signed a distribution agreement with Vacuum X-Traction Products Inc. (VXP). Through the agreement, VXP will supply a series of Vermeer-branded, high-capacity, truck-mounted vacuum excavators to be sold exclusively through Vermeer industrial dealers. The first of these products, the VXT500 Vacuum Excavator, will be introduced during the 2020 WWETT Show in Indianapolis on February 18.
The VXT500 is an eight-inch vac with an eight-yard spoil tank capacity. It is ideal for utility applications where a higher capacity machine with a smaller footprint is desired. The VXT500 joins a family of proven VXP-manufactured vacs featuring vacuum blowers that deliver 5,000-6,400 cubic feet per minute and spoil tank capacities ranging up to 16 yards. In addition, VXP has built and will offer a vacuum excavation truck equipped with a pressurized detachable box, and a truck with an extendable long-reaching boom for specialty applications.
This new lineup and strategic partnership with VXP are the next step in Vermeer’s commitment to offer the widest range of innovative and specialized vacuum excavation solutions across industries where soft-dig technology is in demand. Vermeer created a leading powerhouse for vacuum excavation solutions for the underground utility markets in 2018 after bringing together the McLaughlin and Vac-Tron brands. Adding a high-capacity product offering means Vermeer will have one focused product team working together with its dealers to provide one of the most comprehensive lineups of vac solutions on the market.
“Building on our strong Vermeer vac lineup and our recently introduced XR2 vacuum excavator, this VXP partnership will help us offer an even broader range of equipment for our customers to consider depending upon their unique jobsite needs,” said Doug Hundt, president of Vermeer Industrial Solutions. “From utility, to oil and gas, to industrial plant and environmental clean-up applications, these VXP products are proven to meet the specific demands of customers looking for high-capacity vac solutions that will improve their productivity.”
Based in Fort Morgan, Colorado, VXP was founded in 2014 by Gary Harms and Juan Mota, long-time innovators of vacuum excavation equipment. They will continue as majority shareholders and product development leaders through the new partnership with Vermeer. Their expertise and experience, combined with the product innovation Vermeer was founded on, will help drive the continued advancement of soft dig technology in the high-capacity arena.
“The needs for soft dig equipment are ever-changing with customers requiring a wide variety of products on a wide variety of jobsites. We are excited to partner with Vermeer and its dealers who are well equipped to offer and support our range of high-capacity solutions designed to help customers work more efficiently and cost-effectively,” said Harms.
VXP will begin supplying Vermeer machines to Vermeer dealers in mid-2020 with a focus first in North America, and later expanding into other regions of the world where large truck-mounted vacs are in high demand. For more information about these products, please visit vermeermvs.com/truckvacs.
About Vermeer Corporation
Vermeer delivers a real impact in a progressing world through the manufacture of high-quality agricultural, underground construction, 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. Learn more about Vermeer MV Solutions by visiting vermeermvs.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
East Canton, Ohio – Barbco, Inc, a world class manufacturer of capital equipment for the trenchless excavation, horizontal directional drilling, and underground manufacturing industries is pleased to announce its newest employee, Thomas W. Schmidt, has been promoted into the newly created position of Operations Manager. Mr. Schmidt is a manufacturing veteran with many years of leadership in numerous local plants including Harrison Paint, Heinemann Saw Company, and Georgia Pacific.
While reporting directly to the Owners, he will oversee the following departments: Quality Control, Safety, Compliance, Shipping/Receiving, Maintenance, Fleet, Facilities, Janitorial, and Marketing.
While at Georgia Pacific, he led two ISO 9001 certifications, both resulting in “On The Spot” certifications, which only occurs less than 2% of the time! At the Heinemann Saw Company, he led four consecutive record setting quarters and capital improvement projects in excess of $250,000. Lastly, at Harrison Paint, he personally saved the company from permanent bankruptcy enforced closure, returning 50 people to their well-paying manufacturing positions and maintaining the legacy of company founded in 1911.
Mr. Schmidt is a long time Canton, Ohio resident with a B.A. from Kent State University (Summa Cum Laude), a M.B.A. from the University of Akron (Cum Laude), holds APICS certification, and is a Leadership Stark County graduate. He is also a passionate local business advocate and dedicated community volunteer. While his community service and awards would too exhaustive to list in its entirety, he has served two terms on both the Jackson Belden (Board President) and Canton Regional Chambers of Commerce Boards of Directors. He is currently the Past President and current Treasurer of the National Sales and Marketing Executives of Akron Canton’s Board of Directors.
Recent awards include the 2016 United Way of Greater Stark County Volunteer of the Year, the 2017 Canal Fulton Chamber Commerce Volunteer of the Year, and the 2019 United Way of Greater Stark County Collaboration of the Year for his creation and leadership of Progress4TheCure, which to date has raised nearly $50,000 to equally benefit the breast cancer departments of Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center. Last fall, Mr. Schmidt was ‘knighted’ as a Squire of Hope by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation recognizing his long history in raising both awareness and money in the Fight Against Childhood Cancer! Lastly, by Mayoral Proclamation, May 10th is officially “Tom Schmidt Day” in Massillon, Ohio in recognition of his decades of community service and charitable activities to make his community a great place to live, work, and play.
For more information, visit the Barbco, Inc. website.
Blog, Industry News, trenchless people
Tri-State Utilities enters their 30th year of operation in 2020. As they look forward to new leadership and direction, they are excited to announce the following promotions and present their management staff.
Tri-State Utilities is pleased to announce that Jonathan Thomas, PE has been promoted to Vice-President / General Manager and will lead them into the new decade. With 10 years of project management experience at Tri-State Utilities, Jonathan will be overseeing the Chesapeake, Virginia and the Winston-Salem, NC offices. The addition of Jonathan to the Senior Management team will position the company for continued growth in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Ron Parsons has been promoted to Vice-President of Operations. With 15 years of experience at Tri-State Utilities, Ron will now lead field operations to bring a continued expertise in Cleaning & CCTV services and CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe) Lining. Ron started his career as a Vactor operator and has held positions as a CIPP cutter operator, CIPP Foreman and Superintendent. Ron has invaluable experience cleaning and lining pipe of all sizes and possesses great personnel management skills.
Craig Welsh will now lead the Estimating Department in addition to his role as a Project Manager. With 16 years of experience at Tri-State Utilities, Craig will oversee an estimating department that will focus on Cleaning & CCTV services, CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe) Lining, and traditional open-cut storm, sewer, and water line services. Craig’s experience with site work as well as rehabilitation methods provides him with a unique skill set for providing accurate estimates for Tri-State to build.
John Saintsing is the Business Development Manager for Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. With seven years of experience at Tri-State Utilities, John will continue to explore new, better and innovative methods for CCTV services and CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe) technologies. John’s responsibilities will include attendance to industry conferences, building key customer relationships, and developing new services and products in Infrastructure Rehabilitation.
Sean Merryman was hired last year as the Business Development and Project Manager for the southwest North Carolina region and South Carolina. Sean will maintain a heavy presence in the area while establishing a new lining crew and Clean & TV crew to service this growing region. Tri-State Utilities is very excited about the experience Sean brings with him from his previous employer and the opportunity to service municipalities and engineers who have historically been outside of our footprint.
Connor Mathis is a Project Manager with eight years of experience at Tri-State Utilities. Connor will manage projects throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina while focusing most of his time on the Construction Services contracts for the Cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. These services include: Cleaning and CCTV, CIPP Sectional Liners, Rausch Repair Sleeves, and CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe) for Storm and Sanitary Pipe Rehabilitation. Connor is also certified in land disturbance and manages all heavy excavation work, road repairs and off-road ditch maintenance.
James Farris is a Project Manager with a total of six years of experience in utility construction and the last four years with Tri-State Utilities. He has gained valuable experience on Consent Order driven inspection and rehabilitation of storm and sanitary sewer systems. Before coming to work at Tri-State Utilities, James spent four years with Real Estate Improvement, a Virginia Beach based Class A construction company. Prior to that, James was with Norfolk Southern Railway for eight years focusing his efforts primarily on customer service, purchasing, and sales.
Rick Sharp is the newest member and Project Manager of the Tri-State Utilities’ team. Rick brings with him over 15 years of project management experience from residential and commercial construction as well as land development. Rick will be managing projects throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Andy McSweeney will continue to lead Tri-State Utilities as Vice-President of Project Management with a focus on Estimating and Business Development as they grow their footprint deeper into North and South Carolina.
Joe McSweeney, after 27 years of service with Tri-State Utilities, has decided to retire. A career that included responsibilities of a CCTV Operator, CIPP Foreman and Superintendent, and Vice-President of Operations. A career full of accomplishments and a future full of possibilities. Tri-State Utilities wishes Joe much more success in his future endeavors.
The management team of Tri-State Utilities is can all be reached at (757) 366-9505. Visit their website for more information on the company.
Industry News, trenchless people
Mr. Denis Pellerin’s role will be to develop CCI’s Engineering and EPC capabilities outside the North American market. He will be based out of Paris, France. Denis Pellerin is a Civil Engineer from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (1983) and has received his MBA from INSEAD (1990). He has 35 years of experience in the trenchless crossings industry.
In 1985, he joined the start-up company, HDI, as a field engineer. HDI became one of the world’s foremost HDD contractors, introducing Horizontal Directional Drilling into Europe, Australia and several countries in Africa, South East Asia and South America. During those pioneering years, Denis and his HDI colleagues introduced new HDD techniques, such as buoyancy control systems for large diameter pipelines, entry casings for pilot holes and gravel shield reamers.
After serving as Site Engineer, Project Manager, Operations Manager and Commercial Manager, Denis was appointed Managing Director of HDI SA in 1991. Throughout his career, Denis has implemented Horizontal Directional Drilling, Direct Pipe®, Microtunneling, Pipe Ramming and Auger Drilling
technologies, sometimes combining technics in order to gain optimal efficiency.
His career with HDI has taken him on more than 2200 trenchless crossings projects, spanning more than 40 different countries worldwide, all safely concluded. Together with HDI, Denis received several industry recognitions, in Australia (1987), USA (1999), Europe (2011) and France (2012, 2015 and 2018), for innovative HDD projects onshore, as well as marine based. He was a founding member and the first treasurer of the professional organization DCA Europe in 1994 and served as its Vice-President from 2008 to 2016.
The CCI Group of Companies are pleased to have Denis join their team.
Industry News, trenchless people, trenchless products, trenchless projects
In the trenchless excavation, horizontal directional drilling, and underground manufacturing industries, one family stands out as leaders in this close-knit community: The Barberas. Family Patriarch, James S. Barbera founded Barbco, Incorporated, a world class capital equipment manufacturer in these industries. In fact, his status is so renown and legendary, that in April, he will be posthumously inducted as a member of the Class of 2020 into the North America Society for Trenchless Technology’s Hall of Fame, joining a very elite and highly esteemed society of industry ground breakers. James S. Barbera has passed the torch onto his three sons, Anthony, David, and James A., who now own the family business, Barbco. The Barbera clan continues to drive the industry forward and now have brought the third generation of the family into this exciting field.
On January 2nd, grandsons Drake Barbera (son of Anthony) and James V. Barbera (son of James A.) along with co-owner Clay Gillian successfully completed their very first horizontal bore with their new company AccuLine Underground at an urban work site in Metuchen, New Jersey. AccuLine partnered with project General Contractor J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc. to complete a 250 foot long crossing that was at a depth of 20 feet under the length of a busy city road skillfully avoiding numerous very critical city main utilities. To say that this 3,000 man hour project was challenging is a complete understatement.
The AccuLine team’s years of experience and deep knowledge of the industry was readily apparent before the first shovelful of dirt was removed from the job site. In his initial meeting with the job owners, Drake made a strong and convincing counter-proposal to the microtunneling option with his recommended approach using a conventional auger boring machine pushing a BMTA (boring machine tunnel attachment). Drake’s proposal proved to the winning combination, securing AccuLine this very prestigious and highly visible contract.
The crew faced numerous job site challenges ranging from old and forgotten infrastructure to rocky and sandy soils. Their expertise allowed them to make on site equipment modifications and adjustments coupled with some new to the field innovations to keep the job on line and on grade, dramatically saving the job owners both time and money. This highly successful initial foray into the Barbera family business as proven that the third generation of Barberas and their company, AccuLine Underground is a force to be reckoned with! Grandfather Barbera must be very proudly watching over his progeny!
Industry News, trenchless products, trenchless projects
Adaptable machine will begin bore at 11.6 m then size down to 9.9 m
In December 2019, the City of Dallas, Texas, USA unveiled the largest hard rock TBM ever to bore in the U.S. The 11.6 m (38.1 ft) diameter Robbins Main Beam TBM will excavate the 8 km (5 mi) Mill Creek Drainage Relief tunnel, and its size is not its only distinction. The adaptable machine will change size partway through the bore, to a more compact 9.9 m (32.5 ft).
The unique Robbins TBM will be used to dig a tunnel designed to provide 100-year flood protection for east and southeast Dallas, areas affected in recent years by severe storms. The tunnel will protect 2,200 commercial and residential properties, including Baylor Medical Center. The current drainage system in these areas was constructed 50 to 70 years ago, and only provides two to five years of flood protection. “The completion of the TBM assembly marks a major milestone in the Mill Creek Tunnel Project,” said Council Member Lee Kleinman, chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the City of Dallas. “I’m thrilled to see this type of engineering marvel happening right here in Dallas.”
The dual-diameter aspect of the Robbins TBM will be a first-of-its-kind conversion process. The contractor, Southland/Mole Joint Venture (SMJV), will make the conversion underground about 2.8 km (1.8 mi) into the bore. The two diameters are needed as the upstream section of the tunnel is designed with a circular cross section and peak flow rate of 42 m3/sec (15,000 ft3/sec), while the downstream 2.8 km (1.8 mi) portion has a higher peak flow of 565 m3/sec (20,000 ft3/sec) and was initially designed as a horseshoe cross section. Using the TBM for the entire tunnel is less time consuming and costly. “Robbins and SMJV are working closely to create the safest and most efficient sequence for completing this conversion within the limits of the bore. The City of Dallas (Owner) and our Project Team are very excited to embark on this unique challenge,” said Nick Jencopale, Project Manager for Southland Holdings.
The Robbins TBM, named “Big Tex” with permission of the State Fair of Texas, has been designed with a specialized cutterhead including removable spacers and adjustable bucket lips to convert to a smaller diameter. The TBM will first complete its 11.6 m (38.1 ft) diameter section of the alignment, then back up about 21 m (75 ft) to a transition area for the conversion, which is expected to take six to eight weeks.
As the TBM bores, it will pass through Austin Chalk between 12 to 30 MPa (1,800 to 4,400 at depths from 31 to 46 m (100 to 150 ft) below the city. The route is potentially gassy, so probe drilling is mandatory throughout the project. Crews will utilize ground support including eight 3.9 m (13 ft) long rock bolts every 1.5m (5 ft) with wire mesh and channel straps as needed. The finished tunnel will be lined with a 380 mm (15 in) thick cast-in-place concrete lining.
“Big Tex will work 24 hours a day to excavate the tunnel with crews ranging in size depending on activities,” said Rachel Sackett, marketing and communications director for Southland Holdings. Based on previous work through similar geology, the project team expects TBM excavation to progress rapidly to an average of 25m (80 ft) per day, allowing the project to be completed on schedule in 2023.
Image 1: The 11.6 m (38.1 ft) Robbins Main Beam TBM is the largest hard rock TBM ever to be used in the U.S.
Image 2: A ceremony was held in December 2019 to mark the impending launch of the unique Robbins TBM, which will undergo a first-of-its-kind diameter conversion approximately 2.8 km (1.8 mi) into the bore.
Image 3: The 8 km (5 mi) Mill Creek Drainage Relief tunnel will provide 100-year flood protection for east and southeast Dallas, areas affected in recent years by severe storms.
Image 4: The adaptable Robbins machine will change size partway through the bore, to a more compact 9.9 m (32.5 ft).
Photos by Shannon Faulk
For more information/questions please contact:
Desiree Willis
Technical Writer
Email: willisd@robbinstbm.com
Direct: 253.872.4490
The Robbins Company
29100 Hall Street
Solon, OH 44139
USA
Industry News, trenchless people
CDM Smith environmental engineer Ajay Shrivastav, P.E., ENV SP, is the winner of Trenchless Technology’s World Trenchless Day (WTD) Sweepstakes.
The WTD Sweepstakes was hosted by Trenchless Technology and was generously sponsored by Akkerman, Applied Felts, Michels Corp., Maxliner, NASTT and Vortex Companies. The Sweepstakes generated more than 400 entries throughout the year, with the drawing held on World Trenchless Day.
Shrivastav’s prize package includes: one free conference registration to the NASTT 2020 No-Dig Show, April 5-9; a ticket to attend the annual No-Dig Show Gala Awards Banquet Dinner on April 7; standard room accommodations at the host hotel for up to four nights and up to $500 for airfare to Denver.
Congratulations Ajay and we’ll see you in Denver!
Want to join him? Register today and save before early discounted registration ends.
HOUSTON, March 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — ClockSpring|NRI, the leading high-performance critical infrastructure solutions company, today announced that Frank Firsching has been named the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective immediately. Firsching succeeds Matt Boucher, who is stepping down after leading the transformation of ClockSpring|NRI over the last few years.
