Underground Construction - May 2022 - 17

tion with our customers. At that time, we
were running two trenchers - a Tesmec
1075 and a Vermeer T655.
" A combination of back-to-back projects
helped us establish ourselves with
our clients and it got our name out to
new potential customers. "
By 2019, the company was in a position
to purchase equipment that the
partners believed would help the company
grow and better serve its customers.
The company purchased a Tesmec 1150
and Tesmec M5.
Then, in 2020, the pandemic arrived.
Diversification
With the pandemic and other market
factors, Acton said Arrow Trenching diversified
into wind and solar work, while
maintaining relationships with customers
in oil and gas.
Acton explained that for Arrow's part
in projects, there's not much difference
for either wind, solar or oil and gas customers,
except the widths and depths of
trench and the allowable tolerances of
different trenches.
" On a pipeline project, " he continued,
" the digging is from point A to
point B along a detailed route set forth
by the client. On a wind project, there
are multiple trenches on different routes,
all leading back to a substation. A map of
the trenches would look like a family tree
template, with branches of trenches in
different directions.
" On a solar project, the site location is
confined to the size of the solar farm, and
all of the trenches are running side by side
in straight lines parallel to each other. "
Arrow Trenching has grown and expanded
into new markets, but its business
focus remains digging trench with
trenchers for its customers. It does not
handle what goes in the trench or make
connections to pipes that are installed.
The company works regionally,
primarily in Texas and New Mexico,
and also has completed projects in
Oklahoma and Arizona.
" Trenching can be demanding, and equipment must be
operating properly to be productive. Our experience and
knowledge have helped us do that. We also outfit our company
trucks with necessary tools and supplies. Personnel ... receive
continuing training on equipment operation and maintenance. "
" We are open to job opportunities
wherever they may be, " Acton said.
Focus
Keeping Arrow's focus on trenching, he
explained that the primary contractor
manages all other aspects of the job -
manholes, bores, line crossing, installation
and backfill.
" Pipe range from diameters of 4 to
30 inches is installed in the work that we
provide for oil, natural gas and water, " he
said. Widths range from 24 inches to 42
inches and depths from 4 to 8 feet. "
For wind farm work, trench is excavated
to the tower and from the tower to
substations.
" Wind and solar cable is direct buried,
not put in a pipe or conduit, " Acton
pointed out. " Trench widths vary from
18 to 24 inches with an average depth of 4
feet. Equipment uses different size chains
for the smaller widths of trenches. "
Challenging projects completed include
the company's first large pipeline
that was 63 miles long, he commented.
Others were trenching for a wind
farm project through the rolling hills
of Oklahoma and trenching in some of
the hardest rock company crews ever
encountered in Arizona.
" No matter what the challenge is, "
said Acton, " we always find a way to
push through it and come out the other
side stronger and ready for the next
challenge. "
Expansion
Today, Arrow owns five trenchers and
is anticipating expanding operations.
Equipment ranges from 90,000-pound
weight class to 160,000-pound weight
class for trench widths from 18 to 42 inches.
All are digging chain type machines.
" We have owned a variety of brands
of trenchers, " said Acton, " but we have
stayed true to what got us into this business,
Tesmec. My partner and I worked
for Tesmec before venturing off to start
our own business, so we know the machines
well, what they are capable of, and
how they were built. "
Arrow Trenching is based in
Andrews, Texas, located in West Texas
on the border with New Mexico, approximately
110 miles southwest of
Lubbock and 35 miles northwest of the
Midland-Odessa area.
Acton said the company provides customers
with high-quality service, and the
right equipment and dedicated personnel
to get jobs done on time, the first time.
Looking back, Renfro said he believes
it is the partners' knowledge of trencher
manufacturing and understanding of the
importance of proper service that gave
them an edge when starting their business.
" We knew the equipment and how to
keep it in good repair and running, " said
Renfro.
" Trenching can be demanding, and
equipment must be operating properly
to be productive. Our experience and
knowledge have helped us do that. We
also outfit our company trucks with
necessary tools and supplies. Personnel
in the Arrow family receive continuing
training on equipment operation and
maintenance. " *
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tesmec USA, (800) 851-5102, tesmec.com
Arrow Trenching, (254)394-2447,
arowtrenching.com
UCONonline.com | MAY 2022
17
http://www.tesmec.com http://www.arrowtrenching.com http://www.UCONonline.com
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