2023 NUCA Annual Meeting

The 2023 annual NUCA meeting is an important meet up for professionals in the trenchless arena. This year the meeting was held in conjunction with the March 14-18 CONEXPO-CON/AGG event. The meeting is a one day event held prior to the start of CONEXPO.

 

The annual NUCA meeting encapsulates many different components from the trenchless industry. Throughout the day there are several committee meetings which are a great avenue for industry professionals associated with NUCA to network, and talk about specific challenges, and opportunities they are facing. Furthermore, an important conversation from the annual spring economic outlook speaker is given to forecast the new year.

NUCA MEETING NUCA MEETING

We at Barbco also want to extend a congratulations to Rob Kyzys from Benjamin Media  Inc. At this past annual meeting, Rob was honored with the Associate Member of the Year Award from NUCA. What Rob and Benjamin Media do for the trenchless industry through their multiple publications is integral to the understanding, progression, and innovation we see year after year.

David BarberaNUCA MEETING NUCA MEETING

Barbco’s President David Barbera was also in attendance at this year’s annual meeting. David is on NUCA’s board and plays a serious role in the development and deployment of new ideas from NUCA. Being a part of such an impactful organization is part of what makes his job so rewarding!

NUCA MEETING

NUCA plays an instrumental role in pushing trenchless methods of installation to the forefront of the construction arena. They have done this through many different avenues, however one of the most effective has been their Trenchless Construction and New Installation Methods, 5th Edition manual. According to NUCA, “As the industry continues to grow, many contractors are adding trenchless projects to their operations. Some bid trenchless projects without the proper knowledge to complete the job as specified, and or their inexperience results in major project problems and costs.

Trenchless Tech Manual

After four years of volunteer effort by industry professionals, NUCA’s Trenchless Construction and New Installation Methods manual has been updated by the trenchless experts and professionals of NUCA’s Trenchless Technology Committee”. If your interested in purchasing a manual for yourself click here.



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2023 Underground Construction Awards by Underground Construction Technology

From February 7th to the 9th Barbco attended and exhibited at the 28th annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference and Exhibition (UCT), in Orlando Florida. This three day event helps connect our industry’s most influential water, sewer, gas, telecom and electric contractors, owners, operators, and manufacturers through the course of the event. 

UCT SHOW UCT SHOW

Barbco was pleased to see plenty of good friends from various contractors and vendors alike! Barbco’s booth was set up at the entrance of the exhibit hall which was great for traffic. Their booth encompassed literature regarding their equipment such as their ABM’s and Tri-Bor, hats  and shirts, stickers, and a posterboard and a monitor showcasing IS Machines HDD World Record Offshore Crossing using a Barbco BD500 horizontal directional drill. The reason Barbco was showcasing this company’s project to the audience was not only because they used a Barbco drill, but also because they were finalists in the 2023 Underground Construction Awards (UCA’s) for Energy Pipeline Project of the year. Along with two other contractors, IS Machines HDD was a finalist in their category. There were 12 categories in total. In short, IS Machines HDD broke the world record for the longest successful offshore crossing. This project took place in the Gulf Coast of Mexico. Not only was this job a world record at 7000 feet, the amount of ingenuity and precise planning that is needed to complete a project of this caliber is staggering.

 

The UCA’s were held on the evening of February 8th, following the UCT show. The evening began with a cocktail hour then dinner was served. Following the dinner the speaker began to announce the winners of each category.

UCA's    UCA'sUCA's UCA's   UCA's

When it came down to it, unfortunately IS Machines did not win the overall Energy Pipeline Project of the Year, however this does not lessen the magnitude of the successful crossing. 

Regardless of them winning or not, it shows that with proper planning and the right equipment, we can continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in this industry. 

 

We want to give a huge thanks to everybody from Underground Construction for putting on this event and to our domestic dealers Trenchless Rental Solutions and U.S. Shoring & Equipment Co. for coming to represent Barbco.

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Barbco Pathfinder Redesign

Barbco Inc. is in the process of redesigning its pilot tube machine named Pathfinder.  Pathfinder has been under Barbco’s many trenchless products for over 10 years and the new design will allow for a smaller footprint when in operation.  Pathfinder is an attachment that works in conjunction with an auger boring machine (ABM).  It is set up in front of the ABM and allows the operator to install a tube that is 5.5” in diameter.  Once the pilot is fully installed, Pathfinder is disconnected from the ABM, taken out of the pit, and the job can now be bored.  The machine allows for critical line and grade measurements to be maintained in ground that is densely populated with other utilities.  In today’s environment, many contractors are faced with this dilemma when bidding on certain jobs.  Pathfinder gives contractors the assurance that jobs can be completed successfully and because of the power Pathfinder provides, they are able to pilot holes north of 300’ long.  To learn more about Pathfinder, call Barbco at 1-800 448-8934.

 

Check out this video of Barbco’s new 2023 Pathfinder Target Housing

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Barbco Blood Drive

Recently, Barbco sponsored it’s first ever blood drive with Vitalant, a national company that is in the business of taking blood donations and dispersing it locally to people in need. Vitalant set up the site inside the office area of Barbco. Staff from Vitalant was at Barbco for around 5 hours and was able to collect 10 units of blood which in the end, can help up to 30 patients. Vitalant staff was very pleased with the level of cooperation they received from the individuals who donated as well as the office staff that they encountered at Barbco and plan to work with the company three to four times a year for future blood drives. At this time, the next drive will be taking place sometime during the month of May. Barbco was incredibly pleased with the entire process and with the guidance from Vitalant, will make this a regular event.

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Industry Publications

Industry Publications 

 

Whether you are a vendor, manufacturer, contractor, or consultant, keeping up with the news in your industry is essential to staying on top of your game and making sure you don’t fall behind. In the trenchless industry there are several media outlets that are essential for staying up to date with industry news.

Benjamin Media out of Richfield, Ohio is one of the largest print publishers in the trenchless drilling space. Since their founding in 1992, Benjamin Media has accumulated six different brands which revolve around trenchless, drilling, solar, water/wastewater, utilities, and more.

One of their most popular brands, Trenchless Technology, is the most widely recognized magazine serving the underground construction market.

Benjamin Media also boasts their Utility Contractor magazine, which is the official publication of the National Utility Contractors Association. This brand is aimed towards keeping members up to speed on association news and practices affecting the industry. 

Furthermore, Benjamin Media has created Tunnel Business Magazine, which is the leading tunnel industry publication covering the North American market for more than 20 years.

They are also tapped into the solar industry with their publication Solar Builder, which focuses on being the go-to resource for solar installers looking to grow their business and expand profitability.

Being in the construction industry, they also have a brand called Compact Equipment, which is specifically for construction and landscape professionals who purchase, maintain and operate compact equipment.

Along with other publications revolving around utilities, Benjamin Media has become a key player in helping to keep the underground construction industry connected. 

 

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Barbco Inc., U.S. Shoring & Equipment Co. and NUCA Texas PorkaPULLuza

Get your tastebuds ready! Barbco Inc. and U.S. Shoring & Equipment Co. will be sponsoring the 7th annual Clay Shoot and PorkaPULLuza, being held by Nuca Texas. This one day event is a great opportunity for contractors, manufacturers, renters, etc. in the trenchless industry to connect, network, and have a great time together! This fun event will be taking place on October 14th at 8AM, in Fort Worth, Texas. Registered teams will be driving from station to station at Defender Outdoors Clay Sports Ranch participating in clay shootouts to see which team will come out victorious. Along with having some of the best pulled pork in Texas for lunch, shooters will also get to enter raffles for some great prizes.

The main Presenting Sponsor of this fine event is Barbco’s domestic dealer U.S. Shoring & Equipment Co., out of Euless Texas. U.S Shoring & Equipment Co. is one of the largest distributors of Barbco boring machines and directional drills in the United States. We also rent and sell a broad range of trench shoring products, trench boxes, road plates, Wacker Neuson products, BW Tech gas detectors, Trimble lasers, and more.

 

U.S Shoring & Equipment Co says,

“From our location in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, U.S. Shoring can support your construction needs throughout North America. We work with pipeline, specialty, and sewer and water contractors and can provide complete engineered shoring plans, confined space training and OSHA competent person classes. We stock and rent a variety of augers, up to 84″ in diameter.

Trucking to your job site can be arranged by us throughout the United States and Canada, and we have our own flatbed and crane mounted trucks for local shoring deliveries. Give us a call to discuss how we may best support you.”

Having diligent, educated, and respected Dealers selling your equipment has always been a top priority to Barbco Inc., that’s why U.S Shoring was the perfect Choice!

For more information on U.S. Shoring & Equipment Co. please click here

For more information on this event, or to register please click here

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5th Annual Auger Boring School with Barbco Inc.

Calling all professionals in, and related to the trenchless industry! This November Barbco Inc. along with other auger boring experts, will be hosting The 5th Annual Trenchless Technology Center Auger Boring School! This informative course is aimed at providing attendees with the knowledge and background needed to understand the important aspects of auger boring. More so, it’s an opportunity for less seasoned individuals to get their hands on a Barbco auger boring machine, and see how they really work. This information is relevant to not only auger boring professionals but also to trenchless contractors, engineers, project superintendents, foremen, crew members, estimators,  public officials, and more.

This training course is being held at the new Barbera Education, Research & Training (BERT) Facility located on Louisiana Tech University grounds. This name was coined to pay tribute to James and Leo Barbera, who are both considered innovators in the auger boring industry. Retiring only 12 years ago, the late Jim Barbera was loved by many and impacted numerous lives throughout his extensive career. As a result of his contributions to the trenchless industry, Trenchless Technology Center awarded Jim and his brother Leo the first TTC LifeTime Achievement Award in November 2018. This facility will honor the past while investing in the future through its workforce development, which is essential to creating a properly trained workforce in any industry.

This event spans from November 7th to the 10th and registration is open now! 

For more relevant details, or to purchase your tickets please click here.

For any information on Barbco Auger Boring Machines, click here, or email us at sales@barbco.com

 

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James Barbera to speak at Canton Chamber of Commerce Panel on Family Business Legacy

This October 18th, Barbco General Manager, James Barbera, will be speaking at the second annual Financial Legacy Symposium, held by the local Canton City Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Beese Fulmer Private Wealth Management. The purpose of this event is to shine a light on multi-generational businesses and focus on the unique opportunities, and challenges that may lie ahead.

As big businesses grow and the family owned business pool shrinks, the question of how to sustain a profitable small, family owned business is raised. There are many answers to this question depending on the unique positions a business has been in over the years. A strong first generation ownership is necessary across the board, as these are the people who have done the heavy lifting in getting the business on its feet starting out. Barbco’s founder, the late James S. Barbera was no stranger to this task. Starting Barbco in 1989, James did what it took to get his business rolling, whether it was not taking a paycheck personally, or working 60-80 hour weeks to make sure his clients were satisfied. He understood these things were necessary to start your own business. 

Since then, Barbco has continued to grow in not only, but two generations. Now being managed and operated by the second generation of Barbera’s, the Barbco vision has expanded  in unexpected ways. While the third generation is working their way to management, it’s important for everybody in a family operated business to be on the same page. Working with your own blood can present eccentric opportunities and challenges alike. However, most people would tell you they wouldn’t have it any other way. 

For more information on this upcoming event, please visit the link: https://www.cantonchamber.org/financial-legacy-symposium 

For more information on Barbco Inc. please visit www.barbco.com or give us a call at 1-800-448-893

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Modern Machine Shop at Barbco Inc.

Barbco’s founder, James S. Barbera, his family, and a growing number of employees have developed and supplied their domestic and international clients with some of the field’s earliest technology since 1989. Trenchless drilling refers to the underground boring utilities or oil and gas companies need. Traditionally, these companies would dig holes in the ground in order to lay pipes, however, Barbco’s technology allows construction crews to continue digging underground without disturbing the earth above. Barbco has consolidated three parts: a push bar, a hook roller, and the track rail. The five-axis machine improved part access, allowing Barbco to machine the parts in one piece, include new features, make them stronger with cheaper materials and achieve higher repeatability.  With CNC machining, issues regarding machining have largely disappeared. Consolidating assembly has strengthened the hook roller, as well. This increases the weight of the now solid piece. The five-axis machining generates less heat when welding. So the five-axis machining has improved repeatability for the 34-foot rail set. Users no longer require specialized connectors to combine track rails because of this. The fabrication department and machine shop will also have to experience significant changes to their process shift. The two departments now regularly collaborate on part development.The CNC and CAD software changes led to further overhauls in Barbco’s designs and processes. The company plans on continuing their investigation of new CNC machining centers every 12 months.

Video link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTxHmaOAlKQ

 

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Second Annual St. Baldrick’s Head Shaving Fundraiser at Barbco, Inc.

Barbco, Inc, a world class manufacturer of capital equipment for the trenchless excavation, horizontal directional drilling, and underground manufacturing industries is pleased to announce that their Second Annual St. Baldrick’s Head Shaving Fundraiser to benefit the FIGHT AGAINST CHILDHOOD CANCER was a resounding success!  The event, called Bald is Badass at Barbco occurred on Friday, October 29th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.  The Barbco team converted their Assembly Bay into a St. Baldrick Barbershop!

These community spirited employees had their inaugural event in 2019 when 34 of them Braved the Shave and raised $6,199 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.  Unfortunately, the Barbco PRIDE had to stand down in 2020 due to COVID 19 safety considerations.  

Saint Baldricks Barbco Inc

This year the team raised $5,306 and had 37 men braving the shave to help in the FIGHT AGAINST CHILDHOOD CANCER!  A huge shout to our luncheon sponsor Todd Hindman of National Tube Supply.  He arranged for a Barbeque luncheon provided by Old Carolina Barbeque!

Joining Barbco in this fundraiser are the following SUPERFANTASTIC Corporate Partners: U.S. Shoring & Equipment Company; Trenchless Rental Solutions; SACS Consulting & Investigative Services, Inc.; Midwest Mole; National Tube Supply; Kraft Fluid Systems; Great Work Employment; MECO; Shale Directories; Ohio CAT; Industrial Tube & Supply; Brent Scarbrough & Company; Wolff Brothers Supply, Akron Bearing, and The Universal Steel Company.  In addition, community volunteers David Angione, Stark County’s Bald Realtor for You; Toni “The Cookie Diva” Cotopolis; and Trisha Mossor of Aim Transportation Solutions were on hand to help with the event.

You can learn more about the important work of St. Baldrick’s at https://www.stbaldricks.org/

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