Attachments Offer Jobsite Flexibility

As construction costs continue to rise and more pressure is exerted from owners and the public to build quicker and more cost-effective projects, contractors are continually looking for ways to improve performance, cost and reliability. Numerous suppliers and materials manufacturers are constantly

Just as important to a contractor's bottom line these days is the amount of capital tied up in the machinery on the job. The attachment market has taken on an even more important role, especially in the last few years working in a slow market.

"With the industry being as competitive as it is these days you have to look for every advantage you can find," said Larry Parson of Sundt/Actus. "When we plan a job, we naturally look at what type and how many machines we'll need to do the work. Anytime you can find a way to eliminate the need for additional machines you are going to impact your bottom line."

The need to expand family housing at the Altus Air Force Base in Altus, Oklahoma, provided a wonderful opportunity for Sundt/Actus. They were selected to construct 184 units in 121 buildings at the base. The new housing was to be built from the ground up on a 71-acre site, leaving plenty of room for the contractor to spread its wings.

In order to move and place the pipe on the project, Sundt/Actus used machines that are typically used for earth moving activities. A Case wheel loader with fork tines attached to the bucket brought the pipe to the trench and a backhoe was used to place them. This allowed the pipe placement to proceed at the same time as earth moving operations. The bucket tines attach and detach in a matter of minutes and makes moving from one job to another with minimal effort. Most importantly, there was no need for another machine completely dedicated to moving the pipe around the job site.

Additionally, the Army Corps of Engineers had specified that watertight storm drainage pipe be used for this extensive project, which called for over 12,500 feet of watertight pipe.

"We agreed with Sundt/Actus that high-density polyethylene (HDPE) watertight pipe would meet our specifications," said Glenn Royball at the Army Corps of Engineers. "They wanted a product that was more cost-effective, yet still met our strict watertight performance requirements. HDPE fit the job."

Sundt/Actus chose Hancor Sure-Lok WT pipe, which is engineered to meet today's stricter regulations, while providing a low-cost, high-performance solution. On this project, sure-Lok was able to offer approximately 30-percent more capacity that corrugated steel, aluminum or reinforced concrete pipe (RCP).

The choice of HDPE storm drainage solution improves long-term hydraulic efficiency, often allowing contractors to downsize their piping network from what is required of other materials. This can reduce material and installation costs during the construction process. In additional, HDPE pipe has proven itself to be one of the most durable materials available for stormwater drainage. Hancor's Sure-Lok HDPE pipe won't rust, crumble or deteriorate over the many years that military families will utilize the new housing at the Altus Air Force Base.

"We were able to get the pipe in only a couple of days," said Parson. "It really saved us time, not having to wait on the watertight pipe. We needed to provide the Corps of Engineers with what was specified, and Hancor responded to our need immediately. Hancor helped us to stay on schedule with our project."

Fast installation was critical to meeting the project completion date. Sure-Lok installs quicker than traditional RCP, thereby offering a great savings on the equipment and labor needed during the storm drainage system's construction. This is due to the pipe's gasketed and bell-and-spigot joining system. Sure-Lok's joining system assures joint alignment and improved reliability, and eliminates the need for glue, split couplers or wire ties.

By cutting installation time as well as the need for numerous machines, Sundt/Actus was able to save time, and more importantly money. By cutting cost and time without sacrificing quality, contractors are able to build better projects faster and that has everyone in the construction industry excited.