by Cori Walsh | Mar 24, 2020 | Hole Hammer Piercing Tools
Pneumatic piercing tools, like the Vermeer Hole Hammer®, have been around for a long time, and are still an efficient way to perform small-diameter bores ranging from 15 feet to 70 feet (4.6 m to 21.3 m) in length. With an increasing number of utilities being...
by Cori Walsh | Apr 16, 2020 | Vacuum Excavators
Vacuum excavators aren’t just for utility contractors. Many city municipality departments are also discovering the versatility of these powerful soft digging machines for their own utility work, as well as many additional applications to help city crews work...
by Cori Walsh | Jul 24, 2020 | Auger Boring
S.J. Louis deploys auger boring steerable rock system to complete on-grade sewer install in record time Written by: Neville Missen, applications engineer Provided by: McLaughlin Boring Systems “One of the most time-consuming tasks while auger boring is pulling augers...
by Cori Walsh | Nov 13, 2020 | Vacuum Excavators
Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, the City of Maryville, a suburb of Knoxville, Tennessee, is going through a growth spurt. With a population of nearly 30,000 people and climbing, the town has experienced a big spike in utility development within...
by Joel Eckman | Nov 25, 2020 | Vacuum Excavators
Consider specific needs, demand when selecting the right system Vacuum excavation has seen a surge in the last half decade as contractors across different construction and utility sectors apply the efficiency and operational benefits of vacuum excavators to different...
by Cori Walsh | Jan 21, 2020 | Company
This year’s Bob Vermeer Spirit of Caring Award goes to Vermeer MV Solutions recipient, Franklin Eldridge, continuous improvement technician. He is described as extremely friendly – always going out of his way to ask how his teammates are doing and offering...
by Reed Munro | Jan 7, 2020 | General
Making the call to 811/One Call and waiting the allotted amount of time before getting to work is undoubtedly standard operating procedures (SOP) for utility contractors. However, those steps alone do not necessarily prevent crews from striking a buried utility line....
by Reed Munro | Nov 19, 2019 | General
With the demand for faster data speeds increasing, more utility lines going from overhead to underground has led to a lot of underground congestion, weaving new lines through crowded utility right-of-ways. Because of this, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) crews...
by Reed Munro | Nov 4, 2019 | General
Greenville, NC, October 1, 2019 — McLaughlin, a Vermeer® Company, is expanding and updating its auger boring portfolio with the introduction of new auger boring machine models, a steerable rock system and electronic pitch indicator accessory. Developed to help...
by Reed Munro | Oct 8, 2019 | General, Vacuum Excavators
When it’s time for you to add a new vacuum excavator to your fleet, you’ll likely spend time reviewing equipment specifications to determine the right machine for your needs. With all of the different specs outlined in product brochures, you may have a few questions...
by Reed Munro | Jun 19, 2019 | General
Want to get the most from your vacuum excavator every day? Then you’d better spend a few minutes with your crew discussing routine maintenance. Luckily, vacuum excavators don’t require a lot of effort. Your team just needs to establish a good daily routine they...
by Reed Munro | May 15, 2019 | General
The choice between a trailer, truck skid-mounted or power-takeoff (PTO) vacuum excavator comes down to versatility, maneuverability, pricing and personal preference. Here’s a quick list of pros and cons to consider when you’re researching your next vac system. Trailer...
by Reed Munro | Apr 8, 2019 | General
Vacuum excavators have earned the reputation of being a safe alternative to traditional methods of exposing buried utilities in the underground construction industry. While this soft excavation method will help reduce the risk of a utility strike, there are a few...
by Reed Munro | Mar 6, 2019 | General, Locators
(original article: Utility Contractor Online) The Vermeer Verifier G3 by Vermeer MV Solutions combines trusted precision with a simple, user-friendly interface. Contractors face congested underground conditions, unmarked utilities and increasingly strict regulations,...
by Reed Munro | Oct 10, 2018 | General
Out-of-sight, out-of-mind is the best way to describe the way most people view the world’s congested underground infrastructure — unless of course, you happen to be a utility contractor. For them, what’s buried underground is what keeps them up at night. They have the...
by Reed Munro | Sep 6, 2018 | General
Selecting the right vacuum excavator for your business With all of the different makes and models of vacuum excavators on the market today, choosing the right one isn’t necessarily an easy decision for anyone. However, answering a few easy questions can help narrow...
by Reed Munro | Aug 3, 2018 | General
In Lordsburg, New Mexico, the utility division of Morrow Enterprises, Inc. performed a difficult sewer line relocation project to help accommodate Union Pacific’s plans for future railroad expansion. The job entailed installing four new sewer pipes under existing...
by Reed Munro | Jun 13, 2018 | General
When you’re shopping for a vacuum excavator, auger boring machine, locator, piercing tools, or any underground construction tooling or machinery, what happens after the sale is one of the most important things to consider. It’s why McLaughlin Underground works so...
by Reed Munro | May 29, 2018 | General
It’s common sense among contractors that renting can be a cost-effective way to supplement their fleet when they need an extra piece of equipment or a project calls for a machine they may not utilize frequently. Rental stores carry a wide range of excavators, loaders...
by Reed Munro | May 15, 2018 | General
With congested underground easements and roadways, it is becoming increasingly important to visually identify the location of underground utilities — gas, fiber, water, telecommunications and sewer — to prevent an accidental utility strike. However, using a compact...
by Reed Munro | Mar 21, 2018 | General
Whether you’re a utility contractor, work for a municipality or specialize as a potholing subcontractor, you likely already know how versatile a quality vacuum excavator can be. But, did you know vacuum excavator tools and accessories can help improve your team’s...
by Reed Munro | Dec 18, 2017 | General
Basketball and auger boring are two completely unrelated topics, unless Mike Boyd has a say in it. At the end of a lengthy career of coaching basketball, he knew he’d miss the excitement and strategy he left on the court. So he took that dedication and applied it to...
by Reed Munro | Dec 14, 2017 | General
Piercing tools are small yet powerful tools that allow for a quick and easy way to install utility lines. These 10 tips will help in the selection, inspection, use and maintenance of the tool. 1) When selecting a piercing tool, the diameter of the tool is the first...
by Reed Munro | Nov 27, 2017 | General
The vast and complex array of underground utility lines means that a One Call contractor’s marks may not be as accurate as your underground project demands. What to do before you start digging The first step is to contact your state’s One Call office and provide them...
by Reed Munro | Nov 13, 2017 | General
Part of Brighton, Colorado’s successful formula for growth is a sound infrastructure that provides businesses with access to up-to-date facilities and services. The city has taken steps to upgrade and expand its infrastructure to attract new businesses to the area....
by Reed Munro | Oct 16, 2017 | General
Joe Kandefer started out as a plumbing contractor, but it wasn’t long before his company began to take on bigger, more complex projects. Kandefer made the decision to form Kandey Company, Inc. That was in 1984, and his union contracting company has been a trusted...
by Reed Munro | Oct 10, 2017 | General
McLaughlin has introduced two new mid-range vacuum excavators to the underground utility contractor market — the ECO75 truck-mounted vacuum excavator and the VX75 trailer-mounted vacuum excavator — to answer the market’s demand for a compact vacuum excavation system...
by Reed Munro | Sep 25, 2017 | General
The utility industry’s biggest show — The International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) is just around the corner. The show will take over the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville October 3 through 5, and our team has been hard at work...
by Reed Munro | Sep 11, 2017 | General
Working for a city means being prepared for the unexpected at all times. Residents depend on municipal contractors to keep everyday utilities operating properly and to respond to any issues in a timely manner. In order to meet those expectations, a city needs to...
by Reed Munro | Aug 21, 2017 | General
Arguably the most important part of any underground excavation job is always the same: accurately locating the utility lines. While there are other pre-work measures, work cannot begin on the jobsite until all utilities are identified. While locating remains an...
by Reed Munro | Aug 7, 2017 | General
Starting with specialization It started with one man and his pickup truck. Tom Banks’ then one-man operation was rooted in specialization. Formed in 2001, Banks Gas Services, Inc. quickly grew from one employee to nearly one hundred. Today the company is a...
by Reed Munro | Jul 10, 2017 | General
Boosting safety on your next auger boring job Anytime individuals are working around large equipment like auger boring machines — no matter the industry — there is always a risk for injury. Despite the best efforts of crews and contractors to instill a culture of...
by Reed Munro | Jun 14, 2017 | General
Four factors to consider for a scalable vacuum setup. These days, contractors are finding that getting to and from a project with a vacuum excavator that scales is a challenge in and of itself. Between harsher state and federal regulations and a shortage of viable...
by Reed Munro | Jun 12, 2017 | General
Introducing the Vermeer MEGA VAC VXT Series PTO-driven power, scalable tank capacity and reliability for high-production contractors We’re extending our Vermeer MEGA VAC vacuum excavator product line with new PTO-driven options. We heard your requests for a...
by Reed Munro | May 22, 2017 | General
Application is King in Vacuum Selection It’s no secret that vacuum excavators are a big purchase, and you’ll find out quickly if you made the wrong choice. Different jobs require different size and power characteristics. If we could stress only one thing about the...
by Reed Munro | May 10, 2017 | General
How to increase the productivity of your vacuum excavator operation Vacuum excavating is growing in popularity not only out of necessity but also viability. The ability to quickly and effectively remove dirt and debris from an urban area has enhanced the demand and...
by Reed Munro | Apr 19, 2017 | General
We’ve spent the last month covering common locating mistakes and some tips for trouble-shooting tough locates. Avoiding mistakes and following tips is great, but if you don’t have a quality, effective utility locator, these precautions won’t do you much good. ...
by Reed Munro | Apr 11, 2017 | General
4 steps for troubleshooting a challenging locate Last month, Cody Mecham — regional sales manager at McLaughlin — walked us through the most common locating mistakes he sees from both rookie and seasoned locators. Since April is Safe Digging Month, we’re continuing...
by Reed Munro | Nov 10, 2016 | General
The underground infrastructure is a crowded place and so is the market for industry equipment. This list should make your purchasing process a little easier. 1) Suite of equipment As the industry continues to change, one factor remains the same — any job that takes...
by Reed Munro | Jan 9, 2017 | General
Precautionary steps necessary for precise, safe locating With the growing utility demands of today’s world comes an ever-expanding network of infrastructure pathways necessary to support these services. Everything from sewer and water to natural gas and...
by Reed Munro | Jan 27, 2017 | General
Pneumatic piercing tools offer an alternative trenchless method for utility installations Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) has quickly become the preferred method of the underground construction industry. Travis Fields, owner of the Mole Inc., isn’t afraid to say...
by Reed Munro | Feb 6, 2017 | Auger Boring, Core Saw, Directional Drills, General, Mighty Mole
With a nickname like “Silicon Hills,” it’s no surprise that the fiber market in Austin, Texas, is thriving. Gearing up for a fiber install project in Austin often means navigating a puzzle of difficult ground conditions, the section of rock tooling and an underground...
by Reed Munro | Feb 27, 2017 | General
We know the CONEXPO-CON/AGG trade show is huge and overwhelming. Sometimes, it’s hard to know where to start. To help, we put together a list of why you can’t miss the McLaughlin booth this year. “Locate” utilities right in the McLaughlin booth. And while you’re at...
by Reed Munro | Mar 23, 2017 | General
The most frequent missteps in locating and how to correct them More utilities are going in the ground every day — and that means the risk of a utility strike happening is going up. Many contractors refuse to take chances by relying on One Call and 811 records alone,...
by mightymole | Mar 10, 2017 | General
How do you make one of our most productive vacuum excavators even more effective? Onsite training and support from a McLaughlin representative. Cody Mecham, regional sales manager at McLaughlin, visited a customer who had recently bought a Vermeer MEGA VX200 vacuum...
by mightymole | Nov 3, 2016 | General
Purchasing a vacuum excavator and struggling to balance weight regulations with your jobsite needs? We just made it easy for you. Click the link below to view our powerpoint! →DOT Part 2: Vacuum Excavator Selection- Weighing Your Options← Missed out on last weeks...
by mightymole | Nov 3, 2016 | General
By Jeff Wage, vice president at McLaughlin Drilling fluids, utility locates, tight deadlines. An HDD jobsite is already a complicated place. Recently, contractors are finding that getting to and from a project with a vacuum excavator that scales is a challenge in and...
by mightymole | Nov 3, 2016 | General
From start to finish, from welding a skid to painting a tank, hands on management is the McLaughlin way. Here at McLaughlin painting our vacuum excavator’s is a three part process: starting in the wash down booth, to the epoxy primer, and completed with a...
by mightymole | Nov 3, 2016 | General
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by mightymole | Nov 3, 2016 | General
We spoke with Brian from Capricorn Pipe Cleaning & Maintenance to learn more about their new equipment and the company’s expanded capabilities. It was two years ago when Brian Barram met with Vermeer product specialist Anthony O’Grady to discuss purchasing a...