Underground Construction - October 2017 - 60

BUSINESS LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS
Straightline Adapts Armadrillco Technology,
Upgrades HDD Tooling Platform

Volvo CE and its dealer Highway Equipment & Supply partnered with Pennsylvania College of
Technology, donating equipment and other training resources to its operator programs.

Volvo CE Fuels Workforce Development

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) continued to address the skills gap and
help students start a career in the construction industry.
"In the U.S., an estimated 600,000 manufacturing jobs went unfilled in 2011
and could grow to over two million in 10 years, according to a report from the
Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte," said Chuck Wood, vice president, human
resource management and administration, sales region Americas, Volvo CE.
"That's a vast skills gap we could face, which is why it's important for us, as an
industry leader, to help support the future of our industry."
Over the summer, the company teamed up with dealer Highway Equipment &
Supply to donate equipment, including an EC220D excavator, and other resources to the operator training programs at Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Ryan Flood, vice president of Highway Equipment, also serves on the program's
advisory council. Located in Williamsport, PA, the college is affiliated with Pennsylvania State University and has more than 5,000 students.
Demand is high for students who complete the college's degree in heavy
construction equipment technology with an operator emphasis, as evidenced by
the program's placement rate of around 96 percent.
Volvo CE also participated in SkillsUSA and Skills Compétences Canada annual
competitions in Kentucky and Manitoba, Canada, respectively. During the events,
Volvo CE and its partners - Rudd Equipment Company, Louisville, KY; and
Westcon Equipment & Rentals Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba - exhibited equipment,
offered simulator training, and participated in panels discussing the skills students
need to stay competitive in the industry.
The Kentucky SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference attracted
more than 15,000 students, teachers, education leaders and representatives from
over 600 national and regional corporations, trade associations and labor unions.
About 6,000 state contest winners competed in 100 different trade, technical
and leadership fields at this national event.
The Manitoba national skills competition attracted 7,500 students from across
Canada. More than 500 students from secondary or post-secondary schools
were tested on their skills in six different sectors, including construction, manufacturing and engineering, employment, information technology, transportation
and service.
"It was very rewarding to share the exciting changes happening in our field of
expertise with the younger generations and to encourage them to start a career
in the industry," said Wood. "The energy in the experienced professionals who
served as judges and exhibitors was also high, and it's refreshing to see them
transferring expertise and skills knowledge to young students."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Volvo Construction Equipment, (717) 532-9181, volvoce.com

ucononline.com

Following its recent
acquisition of Armadrillco,
Straightline HDD has further solidified its position
as a leader in hard-condition tooling. By announcing the adaptation of the
Armadrillco transmitter
housing to the RockEye
Hammer System, Straightline has taken a significant step in
diffusing the patented Armadrillco technology throughout
Straightline HDD tooling platforms.
The Armadrillco side-load housing technology gives users
easy access to electronics, larger capacity fluid/air passages and
improved durability. The housing's patented Arma-Loc system is
a field-proven design that gives users quick access to electronics by removing a single pin. Free from threads, the Arma-Loc
system virtually eliminates problems associated with damaged
or over-torqued bolts, as well as vibration-induced lid failure.
Working in tandem with the Arma-Loc lid security system,
a patented urethane and O-ring system is designed to seal
and protect the sonde cavity from fluid/debris infiltration. The
system also forms a cushioned platform that shields valuable
electronics from punishing vibration and heat produced by a
hammer working in harsh rock environments.
Large internal passages, up to 1-inch diameter, represent a
significant improvement in air/fluid flow. The larger passages
are capable of delivering air volume up to 1,200 CFM and fluid
volume of 300+ gallons per minute.
Hutchinson, KS-based Straightline specializes in the design,
development and manufacture of the industry's most extensive
range of HDD equipment and products - both in-stock and custom-built - with experience in every ground condition possible
across North America, Australia, Europe and Asia.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Straightline, (800) 654-3484, straightlinehdd.com

Volvo
Volvo Construction Equipment has appointed Alta Equipment
Company as its authorized dealer for parts and services in
central and northern Illinois.
Representing Volvo CE since 2009 in Michigan, Alta Equipment Company carries all Volvo product lines, as well as some
allied products.
Alta has also been among the fastest-growing Volvo CE dealers in the U.S. Now with the capability in Illinois, it's positioned
with a comprehensive product and service offering, and will
open new locations in the region specifically designed for the
needs of the construction equipment market.
"Alta is proud to represent Volvo as our flagship brand because we are serious about delivering the best value proposition
in the industry," said Ryan Greenawalt, president of Alta Equipment Company. (717) 532-9181, volvoce.com; (800) 261-9624,
altaequipment.com
Underground Construction October 2017

http://www.straightlinehdd.com http://www.volvoce.com http://www.volvoce.com http://www.altaequipment.com http://www.ucononline.com

Underground Construction - October 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Underground Construction - October 2017