Trenchless Technology Magazine Through the Years

So, what has happened over the last 25 years in the world of trenchless technology? In a word? A lot (OK, that’s two but why quibble…).

 

The trenchless industry is just as vibrant as ever with the technology reaching new heights each year. No longer a “new” industry with unheard of or unproven technologies and methods, trenchless technology is older, wiser and just better —  no longer the new kid on the construction block.

We wanted to give you a capsule of the last quarter century of how the industry — as well as its companies, people and associations — has grown over the years. To do that, we had to dive into the Trenchless Technology vault.

Editors Sharon M. Bueno, Jim Rush, Andrew Farr and Michael Kezdi were tasked with going through each and every issue to jot down just a few of the headlines the magazine has brought you. A long and informative stroll down memory lane!

The following are just some of those headlines, as well as industry trends. Hope you enjoy!

Enjoy your scroll through the issue summaries.

1992

Trenchless Technology debuts with the July/August issue! Aldridge Electric, active in HDD installations, profiled in the first cover story. Washington, D.C., hosts International No-Dig, draws more than 1,000. The Trenchless Technology Center and Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station initiate the largest trenchless research program ever conducted, under the CPAR Program. Herrenknecht, Soltau establish U.S. offices, signals rise of microtunneling in the United States. Insituform North America announces plans to buy sub-licensees Naylor Industries and H.T. Schneider, signifying a trend of moving away from licensing model toward a national contracting model of what would become the largest company in the trenchless arena. Cherrington Corp. completes 4,150-ft. crossing of the Sacramento River for PG&E, pulling in 42-in. pipe — a new standard for HDD.

1993

Trenchless Technology moves to monthly circulation and introduces its annual Person of the Year and Projects of the Year awards. Miami-Dade grouting program going full steam. The Miami-Dade sewer rehabilitation program would later serve as a model for other “super agencies” and formed the basis of EPA CMOM guidelines. Evolution of mini directional drills continues as Ditch Witch and Vermeer introduce new self-propelled, self-contained drills.

Person of the Year:

Dr. Tom Iseley, Louisiana Tech/Trenchless Technology Center

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) Oak Valley Drive Project

(New Installation) 170-Mile Cable Replacement Project in Peoria, Ill.

1994

Insituform inventor Eric Wood dies in a plane crash. From the time of its development in 1970 to 1994, more than 20 million ft. of cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) had been placed worldwide. Telco Burnup & Sims acquires Church & Tower Group and changes its name to MasTec, which would become a major HDD roll-up company in the late 1990s. British Gas, PIM Corp. and TT Technologies reach a settlement in a patent infringement suit. Under settlement terms, TT Technologies, under a licensing agreement, is able to market British Gas’ patented technology in the United States. BRH-Garver awarded five microtunneling contracts for the Greater Houston Wastewater Program; the $1.1 billion fast-track program, one of the first large-scale renewal programs in the country, help jumpstart the microtunneling market in United States. The City of Waterloo and the University of Waterloo announced formation of the Centre for the Advancement of Trenchless Technology (CATT).

Person of the Year:

Richard O. Thomasson, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

Projects of the Year:

(One awarded) Yorktown (Va.) Pipeline Crossing

1995

PSE&G purchases three vacuum excavators, bringing its fleet total to 17. This new equipment facilitated slurry cleanup in HDD operations and would also prove useful for excavating test pits. Insituform Technologies and Insituform Mid-America, an Insituform licensee, merge, creating a $300 million trenchless firm. The Wellesley Extension Relief Sewer project is completed for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. The $12.1 million project, which included the CIPP lining of 38,000 ft of 48- to 60-in. sewers, was called the largest sewer rehab project completed in North America.

Person of the Year:

C. Michael Garver, BRH-Garver

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) Wellesley Extension Relief Sewer Rehabilitation Project, Contract No. 7

(New Installation) Keahole Point Microtunneling Project

1996

Trenchless Technology conducts first Engineering Survey, with Montgomery Watson topping the list. The Trenchless Technology Center reports 114,630 ft of pipe was installed by microtunneling over a one-year period; this represented a highwater mark of microtunneling in the United States. Case Corp. acquires Bor-Mor, enters into HDD market. New Orleans hosts International No-Dig. The event drew nearly 2,000 people. Trenchless Technology Inc. launches Directional DRILLING, signaling the rapid growth of what was becoming a multi-billion segment of the trenchless marketplace.

Person of the Year:

Robert W. Affholder, Affholder Inc.

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab & New Installation) New St. James Avenue Interceptor Project

(Environmental) Hamburg Township Sewer Project

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

Montgomery Watson, $40.5 million

1997

Trenchless Technology International launched. The start the HDD rollup era. Quanta Services formed to provide nationwide network of infrastructure contractors to meet the needs of electrical and telecommunications companies. Quanta acquires large players in the HDD business, including Mears, Ranger Directional and Tom Allen Construction, and posts more than $2 billion in revenue in 2000. Kinsel Industries begins work on $700,000 pipe bursting project in Baytown, Texas, involving the replacement of 13,000 ft of 36-in. RCP with 36-in. HDPE. Pipe bursting becoming more of an accepted means of trenchless replacement. A record 17,500 people attend WEFTEC in Chicago; 15 percent of the 700 exhibiting companies directly related to the trenchless market. Clean Water Act marks 25th anniversary; the congressional act, passed in 1972, has been a driving force behind major rehabilitation efforts and the subsequent rise in the use of trenchless technologies.

Person of the Year:

Leo Barbera, Horizontal Holes International Inc.

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) Miami-Dade Infiltration/Exfiltration/Inflow Reduction Program

(New Installation) North Mission Valley Interceptor Sewer Phase 2 Project

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

Parsons Brinckerhoff, $41.8 million

1998

Columbus Waterworks in Columbus, Georgia, is the first municipality in North America to purchase a full-component pneumatic pipe bursting system, a Grundocrack, from TT Technologies. Fiber installs via HDD on the rise as is microtunneling and the industry calls for more infrastructure funding. NASTT becomes a self-managed association. Halliburton completes merger with Dresser Industries (Baroid Industrial Drilling Products) and Tulsa Rig Iron purchases Ingersoll-Rand’s HDD Division and forms Tulsa Trenchless.

The industry lost Michels Pipeline Construction founder Dale Michels, Frank Helm and Jerome Kalishman, vice chairman of Insituform Technologies Inc.

Person of the Year:

John Jurgens and Dave Gellings, Trenchless Resources International Inc.

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) Perry (Ohio) Nuclear Power Plant CIPP Lining

(New Installation) South Orinda Sewer Project – Microtunneling

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

URS Grenier Woodward Clyde, $18 million

1999

A group in Ontario forms the North American Association of Pipeline Inspectors (NAAPI) to train on pipe defect codes and CCTV inspection procedures. ASTM publishes ASTM Standards Related to Trenchless Technology compiling 78 standards related to trenchless. Some notable mergers and acquisitions: Astec Industries acquires American Augers and Trencor, Hayward Baker acquires Denver Grouting Services, Michels Pipeline acquires Pilchuck Contractors and Pilchuck Diversified Services, URS Corp. acquires Dames & Moore Group, Quanta Services acquires Tom Allen Construction Co. and Visual Inspection Technologies Inc. and Everest Imaging Ltd. merge to form Everest VIT. Brierley Associates opens in Boston and Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) becomes a standalone organization.

Person of the Year:

Frank Canon, Baroid Industrial Drilling Products

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) Millstone Pipebursting

(New Installation) Missouri River Crossing

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

URS Corp., $17 million

2000

The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is formed as a follow-up initiative to the U.S. DOT’s “Common Ground Study of One Call Systems and Damage Prevention Best Practices.” John Hemphill elected new executive director of NASTT, NUCA names Bill Hillman executive vice president and Michael Burkhard becomes NASSCO’s new executive director. NASSCO forms Pipe Bursting Division, Chemical Grout Technical Committee and the Trenchless Equipment Manufacturers Association becomes a division of NASSCO. Lots of mergers and acquisitions in 2000; here are few notables: Tracto Technik signs strategic alliance with Prime Drilling GmbH. Contractors BRH Garver, Pipeline Products and PM Construction merge to create rePipe. Wirth GmbH acquires Soltau Microtunnelling, Boretec acquires The Robbins Co., Wenzel Downhole Tools purchases Underground Tooling & Technologies Ltd., Haley and Aldrich merges with Groundwater Resources, Montgomery Watson and Harza Engineering merge and Reliant Services LLC purchases Miller Pipeline Corp. The industry mourns the loss of Charles W. “Buzz” Hair III, a civil engineer and president of Louis J. Capozzoli & Associates and James Upton, retired managing director of DCA.

Person of the Year:

Joe Barsoom, City and County of Denver

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) The Wahluke Branch Siphon Relining Project

(New Installation) Alpine Oil Field

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

Montgomery Watson Americas Inc., $42 million

2001

NASTT forms HDD Consortium made of DCCA, NUCA, PCCA, DCA and EMI, which later published “Horizontal Directional Drilling Good Practices Guidelines” and formulated training curriculum. NASSCO implements PACP with assistance from WRc. CGA names Bob Kipp its first executive director. Canada leads the way in testing and implementing last mile fiber-optic installs in municipal sewers in North America. The rapid growth of the directional drilling begins to decline as a sluggish stock market and decreased funding for telecom companies building fiber-optic networks. Dropoff results in layoffs at major directional drill manufacturing facilities. Michels Pipeline Construction Inc. becomes Michels Corp. The Robbins Co. purchases of Contractors Manufacturing Services, Insituform acquires Kinsel Industries, ISCO Industries acquires Fife Pipe Co., Pearpoint acquired by United Dominion, and Reynolds Inc. acquires remaining outstanding shares of Inliner Technologies Inc. from Johnson Corp. Among those the industry lost were Shannon Scott Neal, Quadex, Bill Menzel, founder of Rib Loc Pipeline Technologies and GEI Consultants co-founder Ronald C. Hirschfeld.

Person of the Year:

Ray Sterling, executive director of the Trenchless Technology Center

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) Atascadero Sewer Project

(New Installation) Nimitz Highway Reconstructed Sewer Project

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

URS Corp., $20 million

2002

Construction Industry Manufacturers Association and Equipment Manufacturers Institute merge to form the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). Irv Gemora becomes NASSCO executive director as Mike Burkhard moves to Severn Trent Pipeline Services. The first NASTT Educational Auction held at the NASTT No-Dig Show in Montreal, raising $25,000. NASSCO holds first Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program (PACP). Exelon Underground changes its name to InfraSource Underground Services. Quanta Services acquires North Houston Pole Line Corp, Insituform acquires Elmore Pipe Jacking, URS acquiring Carlyle Group’s EG&G Technical Services holdings LLC, rePipe acquires Heller Co., SOS Contracting and PPR Pipe Rehabilitation and ISCO Industries acquires Poly-fab Inc. Everest VIT sells North American Environmental Business Unit to Envirosight LLC a standalone business formed by Everest VIT veterans and iPEK. Wenzel Downhole Tools president Donald Barber passes away.

Person of the Year:

Mark Wallbom, senior vice president of Miller Pipeline

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) Salt River Outfall Bypass

(New Installation) Snoqualmie River Crossing

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

Montgomery Watson Harza Inc., $55.5 million

2003

The HDD market starts rebounding as more sewer and pipeline construction turns to trenchless. Mayor Shirley Franklin and Atlanta’s newly created Department of Watershed Management introduce BAMI. Patricia D. Galloway, P.E., F.ASCE, PMP named first female president of ASCE. Tiffany Sewell-Howard appointed COO at The Charles Machine Works Inc. CONTECH Construction products purchases Culfabco Inc. and Southern Culvert; Insituform Technologies inks deal to acquire Insituform East, its last North American licensee, for $5.5 million and it acquires remaining shares of Ka-Te Insituform AG; and Source: HDD acquires StraightLine Mfg. Inc.

Person of the Year:

Irene McSweeney Woodfall, Boston Water and Sewer Commission (first female recipient)

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) Northwest Outfall Inceptor Emergency Rehabilitation Project

(New Installation) Alexandria, Virginia, Sewer Project

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

MWH Americas Inc., $38 million

2004

Trenchless Technology Inc. changes its corporate name to Benjamin Media Inc. After a notable three-year of struggle, the HDD market rebounds in 2004 due to a surge in the housing market, general construction and communications industry spending. Inliner Technologies files a patent for its steam-cure CIPP process. The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) marks its 40th anniversary. McElroy Mfg. celebrates 50 years. Emerson H. Clark, DCA’s first president, passes away in November.

Person of the Year:

Steven Kramer, (then with Jacobs Civil Inc.)

Projects of the Year:

(Rehabilitation): Newark, N.J. 108-in.

(New Installation): Duke Energy Hubline Project using HDD

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

MWH Americas Inc., $38

2005

ASCE releases its 2005 Report Card for U.S. Infrastructure, earning a cumulative grade of D; drinking water and wastewater both score a D-. R&R Visual, RapidView form partnership with IBAK Helmut Hunger GmbH & Co. KG of Kiel, Germany to distribute IBAK camera inspection technology to U.S. market. The Federal Communications Commission designate “811” the new one-call notification number to encourage “Call before you Dig” practices for safe excavation. Layne Christensen Co. acquires Reynolds Inc., for $112.5 million.

Person of the Year:

Dr. David Bennett, CEO of Bennett Trenchless Engineers (then-Bennett/Staheli Engineers)

Projects of the Year:

(Rehabilitation): Dalhousie Generating Station CIPP

(New Installation): City of Portland West Side CSO Pipeline Project

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

Black & Veatch, $26.9 million.

2006

Trenchless Technology publishes its first-ever Pipe Relining Guide special supplement in August. Home Depot buys Hughes Supply for $3.2 billion in January, integrated into “HD Supply,” increasing its pipe and accessories offering for the trenchless industry. Cretex Specialty Products marks 25 years. Tony Radoszewski joins PPI as new executive director. John Paz, founder of Godwin Pumps, died at 76. NASTT’s No-Dig Show celebrates 15 years.

Person of the Year:

Mark Bruce, president of Can Clay Corp.

Projects of the Year:

(Rehabilitation): Whites Creek Performance – Based I/I Reduction Project

(New Installation): Gazoduc Becancour— HDD Intersect

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

MWH, $130 million

2007

Trenchless Technology celebrates 15 years. Midwest Mole celebrates 25 years in the trenchless industry. Plastic pipe and fitting manufacturers J-M Mfg., PW Eagle announce merger. Layne Christensen acquires American Water Services’ Underground Infrastructure Group. Inland acquires re-Pipe and PM Construction. Bennett/Staheli Engineers split into two separate firms, Bennett Trenchless Engineers and Staheli Trenchless Consultants. Prime Resins celebrates 25 years in business.

Person of the Year:

Chris Brahler, president of TT Technologies

Projects of the Year:

(Rehabilitation): Milwaukee CIPP Sewer Rehab

(New Installation): Indianapolis Airport Utility Connector Tunnel

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

Black & Veatch, $45 million.

2008

The economic recession of 2008 dominates headlines as non-residential construction impacted through 2010. IDEX Corp. acquires Nova Technologies. Mike Willmets named NASTT executive director, replacing John Hemphill, who took over as ISTT executive director. Avanti International celebrates 30 years in business; Akkerman celebrates 35; Vaporooter marks 40 years; and Vermeer marks 60. Cardno acquires TBE Group in September.

Person of the Year:

Maynard Akkerman, president of Akkerman Inc.

Projects of the Year:

(Rehabilitation): Bear Creek Power Generation Station

(New Installation): Portland’s East Side CSO Project

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

Jacobs Engineering Group, $40.16 million.

2009

President Obama signs a $787 billion stimulus recovery bill, which includes $100 billion for infrastructure to combat the economic recession impacting the construction market. Gary Vermeer, founder of Vermeer Corp., passes away at 90. Michael E. Argent, founder of Permalok Corp., passes away at 54. Trenchless advocate Trent Ralston, founder and president of TRB Specialty Rehabilitation Inc., passes away at 71. GENIVAR acquires WSA Trenchless and Envirotel. Arcadis merges with Malcolm Pernie. Michels Corp. celebrates 50 years.

Person of the Year:

Dr. Glenn Boyce, of McMillen Jacobs Associates (then-Jacobs Associates)

Projects of the Year:

(Rehabilitation): Renewing WSSC’s Water Transmission System

(New Installation): HDD in Hampton Roads Harbor, Va.

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

Hatch Mott MacDonald Inc., $60 million.

2010

First curved microtunneling project in the United States completed in Connecticut. Compact HDD rig market continues to grow with influx of fiber-optic work, CIPP work expands to above-ground market and rehab work in larger diameters on the rise. Key acquisitions include Ditch Witch buying HammerHead, Pure Technologies buying Pressure Pipe Inspection Co., ITT Corp. buying Godwin Pump ($585 million) and Arcardis and Malcolm Pirnie partnering. Industry lost Midwest Mole founder Len Liotti and Godwin Pump’s Joe Abbott. NASSCO’s Irv Gemora retires, Ted DeBoda named new executive director. Utility mapping market on the rise, as well as cities moving to digital reporting software.

Person of the Year:

Keith Hanks, City of Los Angeles

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) San Diego Regional Airport Authority Fiber-Reinforced CIPP Project

(New Installation) Record-Setting HDD Crossing of 24-in. Fusible PVC

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

CH2M Hill, $66.83 million

2011

The CIPP process and Insituform turns 40, American Water marks 125th anniversary, Vac-Con turns 25, Kenny Construction celebrates 85 years and the Trenchless Technology Center turns 20. Notable acquisitions include Ditch Witch adding Radius HDD, Vermeer buying HDD Broker and Insituform buying Fyfe Group ($115 million). NASSCO names Kathy Romans its first ever female president. Los Angeles reaches 1 million-ft milestone of rehabbing sewer using trenchless. Use of styrene becomes an CIPP industry issue. Industry trends featured include acoustic leak detection and demand for large diameter pipe for sanitary and storm sewers. Notable passings include Alessandro Caldera of Pipeline Analytics and Doug Chick, a founder of Insituform.

Person of the Year:

Robert Westphal, Michels Corp.

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) CIPP of Leaking High-Pressure Cast-Iron

(New Installation) East Boston Branch Sewer

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

CH2M Hill, $95.3 million

2012

NASTT inducts inaugural Hall of Fame class: Bernie Krzys, Frank Canon and Gary Vermeer. Notable anniversaries: Vactor Mfg. (101 years), Griffen Dewatering (75 years), Midwest Mole (30 years), Herrenknecht (35 years), Earth Boring Co. (65 years), ICON (30 years), ISCO Industries (50 years) and Gabe’s Construction (70 years). The Charles Machine Works acquires American Augers and The Toro Co. enters the HDD market with purchase of Astec Underground’s HDD drill line. ISCO Industries founder Jim Kirchdorfer passes away. AWWA report says $1 trillion needed for water infrastructure over next 25 years. Clean Water Act turns 40.

Person of the Year:

Dr. Sam Ariaratnam, Arizona State University

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) Sliplining with Design Build

(New Installation) Record-Setting HDD Crossing under Lake Houston

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

CH2M Hill, $135.6 million

2013

LMK Enterprises and Perma-Liner were bought by Triwater. Granite Construction purchases Kenny Construction for $130 million. NASSCO partners with WEF to expand education of infrastructure assessment. Notable anniversaries include The Toro Co. (100 years) Hamilton Kent (70 years), ChemGrout (50 years), Akkerman (40 years), Schoenstedt Instrument (60 years) and CUES (50 years). Trends for HDD include a focus on fiber-optic work and new equipment sales were up. Industry lost Jim O’Brien Sr., founder of Sewer Equipment Co. of America.

Person of the Year:

Larry Kiest Jr., president of LMK Enterprises

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) Consolidated Mutual Water Co. Pipe Bursting Program

(New Installation) Empire Connector Extension using HDD

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

CH2M Hill, $159 million

2014

Trenchless Technology Canada is launched. Marked 30th year of microtunneling introduction to North America. Trends: pressure pipe rehab and UV cured-in-place pipe. Industry lost Avanti International founder David Magill Sr., as well as Bowman Tool Co. and lateral guru Tom Bowman, TTC executive director Robert McKim, R.S. Technical Services founder Rod Sutliff, and Aries Industries’ Dick Schantz. Notable acquisitions include Stantec’s purchase of Dessau and WSP Global of Parsons Brinckerhoff ($1.3 billion). AECOM buys URS Corp for $6 billion and Jacobs Associates merges with McMilllen LLC. Vac-Tron marks 20 years, Sharewell 30 years. First Direct Pipe project completed in Canada by Michels Canada.

Person of the Year:

Gerry Muenchmeyer, NASSCO

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) 39-in. Water Transmission Main Rehab Using Swagelining

(New Installation): New Jersey-New York Expansion Project (HDD)

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

AECOM, $169.2 million

2015

Trenchess Technology ‘s Pipe Survey showed that HDPE was the choice for municipalities (51 percent) vs. PVC (41 percent). NASTT celebrates 25 years (and a record No-Dig Show with 2,300 attendees/173 exhibitors) and TTC research work expands into oil and gas pipeline renewal markets. Jason Andringa succeeds his mother Mary Andringa as Vermeer CEO. Industry lost Gene Miller (Miller the Driller), Julius Hammelstein (Carylon Corp.), Edward Cruz (E.E. Cruz & Co.) and Jack Burke (tunneling icon). Pure Technologies acquires Wachs Water Services ($18.5 million) and Hatch Mott MacDonald separates into Hatch and Mott MacDonald. Notable retirements: HDD guru Frank Canon (Baroid).

Person of the Year:

Dan Liotti, president of Midwest Mole

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) Arlington National Cemetery Water Main Replacement

(New Installation) Houston Ship Channel

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

CH2M, $161.3 million

2016

The inaugural World Trenchless Day celebrated on Sept. 22. Notable anniversaries: NASSCO (40 years), IPLOCA (50 years) and Melfred Borzall (70 years). Aegion Corp. acquires Fusible PVC manufacturer Underground Solutions for $85 million, Stantec purchases MWH Global for $793 million. HammerHead acquires RS Lining Systems, StraightLine buys Armadrillco and auctioneer Ritchie Bros acquires Iron Planet. Fiber deployment continues to grow, aiding the HDD market, while oil and gas work struggles. Ditch Witch founder and industry icon Ed Malzahn, 94, passes away, as does Formadrain founder Gerard Marc-Aurele.

Person of the Year:

Lynn Osborn, NASSCO

Projects of the Year:

(Rehab) Rehabilitation of the Oakland Macomb Interceptor Drain

(New Installation) Indian River HDD Crossing

Top 50 Trenchless Design Firm Survey No. 1:

CH2M, $164 million

2017

Person of the Year:

Jim Rankin, Vermeer Corp.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!