Industry News News

The Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA) applauds the Ford Government's action to make bidding on publicly-funded construction contracts open to all qualified companies. For too long, some very competent contractors have been shut out of publicly-funded project work in their local communities. The government's action today will bring a much greater degree of fairness to procurement processes across the province. 

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HammerHead Trenchless, a Charles Machine Works Company, of Lake Mills, Wisconsin, USA, and Per Aarsleff Pipe Technology, of Aarhus, Denmark, have signed a long-term, strategic partnership agreement that includes plans for HammerHead to produce and distribute the Bluelight LED Curing System for Cured-In-Place pipe (CIPP) to markets outside of Europe and Russia.

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Vermeer Corporation has announced its purchase of Vac-Tron Equipment, LLC, and its plans to bring the Florida-based company together with McLaughlin Group, Inc. which was purchased by Vermeer in 2017. This acquisition and integration of the two companies builds on the Vermeer strategy to provide a comprehensive suite of vacuum excavation technology, equipment, training and support to the growing underground utility and soft dig markets.

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The first class of contractors to graduate from HammerHead University, the world's most advanced trenchless technique learning centre, received manufacturer certification after three days of hands-on, guided instruction. The training facilities and curricula had been officially announced as fully operational at the Lake Mills, Wisconsin, headquarters of HammerHead Trenchless, a Charles Machine Works company, during its annual August sales meeting.

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The North American Society for Trenchless Technology Canadian Chapters are bringing the 2019 No-Dig North Show to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, October 28–30, 2019.

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During the weekend of October 20th, Sanexen Water, Inc., a member of the LOGISTEC family, successfully completed major repairs in the Lincoln Tunnel in New York City with minimal impact. When the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) began planning repairs and upgrades to Route 495 and the Lincoln Tunnel, one of the requirements was to repair two cast iron cement-encased water main sections at each end of the tunnel that supply water for fire prevention.  Sanexen Water was selected for its unparalleled expertise and its innovative Aqua-Pipe trenchless technology, to repair these aging water mains while other construction work was in progress. New trenchless technology is used for the replacement or rehabilitation of existing underground infrastructure with minimal excavation and disruption to surface traffic. 

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More than 50 percent of reported underground utility damages are the result of insufficient excavation practices according to the 2017 DIRT Report. The Ditch Witch organization, a Charles Machine Works Company, has introduced an industry-first Virtual Reality (VR) Simulator to better prepare horizontal directional drill (HDD) operators for safe underground construction through cutting-edge training technology. 

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Cat machines, engines, generator sets and work tools will soon have a new look. Caterpillar is replacing the current "Power Edge" trade dress (Cat trademark on a black background accented with a diagonal red bar) with a fresh new graphic design called "Cat Modern Hex." The Cat Modern Hex design combines the traditional Cat trademark and product model names with a bold, three-dimensional red hexagon and grille pattern. The red color is a throwback to the graphics used on the company's very first crawler tractors in 1925.

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Ditch Witch, a Charles Machine Works Company, released a new JT20XP horizontal directional drill (HDD) package featuring a JT20XP drill and XP44 mixing system. The industry-first solution is the only drilling system in its class to utilize all on-board horsepower for thrust and rotation. Together, the full 118-hp solution provides operators industry-leading power and superior productivity for larger utility-installation jobs. 

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Tim Dunphy has been named Marketing Director of Underground Technologies for RIDGID. In this role, Dunphy will manage new product development, partner relations and new business opportunities for the RIDGID line of diagnostics, inspection, locating and drain cleaning products.

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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. 

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Vertex Resource Group Ltd. is pleased to announce that it has acquired the business of a private company providing hydro-vac services to the Edmonton, Alberta region in a transaction valued at $4.3 million. This acquisition will double Vertex's hydro-vac fleet with the addition of 11 hydro-vac units servicing clients in the municipal and utility industries. 

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Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) President Dennis Slater issued the following statement expressing disappointment for the Trump Administration's decision to move forward with tariffs on imported goods from China:

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The launch of the newly redesigned HammerHeadTrenchless.com website now gives customers in a wide range of industries even faster, easier access to in-depth information and resources regarding trenchless methods, products and consumables.

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Vacuum lifting technology offers an effective approach to moving materials on tough concrete demolition and construction, road and landscaping projects. Ditch Witch, a Charles Machine Works Company, has partnered with Tulsa-based Vacuworx to bring the benefits of vacuum lifting technology to an expanded network of underground construction contractors, landscapers, municipalities and utilities.

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Crosslake Fibre has announced that it has selected Hexatronic Cables & Interconnect Systems AB of Sweden to supply the high-fibre-count submarine fibre optic cable and Maritech International LTD to construct the Horizontal Directional Drilled (HDD) shore ends for its 58km submarine cable project being developed across Lake Ontario.

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Granite Construction Incorporated has announcedthat it has acquired LiquiForce, a privately-owned company which serves public and private sector water and wastewater customers in both Canada and the U.S. Today, LiquiForce provides a variety of underground contracting services including lateral liner rehabilitation, mainline Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP), project management, manhole rehabilitation, and mainline point repairs. In addition, they are recognized as a leader for their patented LiquiForce Junction Lateral Liner. Through this acquisition, we welcome more than 100 employees to the Granite team. Going forward, LiquiForce will continue to operate from offices in Kingsville, Ontario, Hamilton, Ontario, and Romulus, Michigan. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to Granite's 2018 earnings per share.

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Pella, Iowa-based Ring-O-Matic is now under new ownership. Brian Metcalf, Ring-O-Matic President and CEO, bought the company December 31. The construction equipment company specializes in the design, manufacture and customization of vacuum-excavation machinery and equipment. 

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Ditch Witch recognized Robbin Womack of Ditch Witch of Houston with the 2017 Lowell Highfill Award – the organization's most prestigious award for salespeople worldwide. This award is presented annually to the top individual salesperson in the global Ditch Witch organization for his/her superior product knowledge and performance in promoting and marketing Ditch Witch products, jobsite solutions and services. 

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Equipment Sales & Service Limited (ESS) has been recognized for overall business performance and sustained growth with the prestigious Canada's Best Managed Companies designation. The 2018 Best Managed program award winners are among the best-in-class of Canadian owned and managed companies with revenues over $15 million demonstrating strategy, capability and commitment to achieve sustainable growth. Having achieved the Best Managed designation for seven consecutive years, ESS joins an elite group of companies that have attained Platinum Club status.

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