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Note From The Editor
Greetings,
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When it rains, it pours.
Luckily, “pouring” among McElroy engineers and distributors refers to the rush of ideas about fusion equipment at the McElroy Distributor Management Conference (DMC). The DMC is an annual meeting of McElroy personnel and McElroy fusion product distributors. At the meetings, some of the most knowledgeable minds in the polyethylene pipe industry come together to talk about the future of McElroy’s impact on the industry. This year’s conference was aptly named Focus 08.
While one could choose to focus on the rain, in hindsight, I believe the major focus of the DMC was a camaraderie that fostered ideas, friendships, and understanding. Focus 08 became a forum for new ideas through a change in format that put product engineers front and center before distributors.
Listening in on new product presentations, the large amounts of feedback had engineers eagerly attentive, recording suggestions and ideas brought up by distributors that see the products at work in the field on a daily basis. Ultimately, these ideas and suggestions work their way into modifications of existing product, benefiting the customer. If there’s one thing I learned from this DMC, it’s that without the strong relationships that exist in the industry, such a bold exchange in ideas would not be possible.
The mix of old and new products found on the grounds during DMC was the most comprehensive in McElroy’s history. Distributors were able to see, touch and experience a sample of nearly every McElroy line (TracStar, PitBull, etc.), some of which may have never been in their own fleet.
Even before the business end of the DMC had started, a raucously fun trivia night proved the relationships that exist between the attendees are of such a nature that more than $30,000 could be raised for a joint Distributor/McElroy charitable project – the Panny McElroy Distributor Scholarship.
Although it was great to experience an entertaining and inspiring evening, the most eye-opening aspect of the DMC may have been the business day, where distributors became the first outside of McElroy to see new products. While I fully expected to see a casual observer here and there, every attendee took in product information with a furrowed brow that indicated the strictest of focus on new products that could fill key roles in their fleets.
Here are four more highlights from Focus ’08:
- Test Drive 08 – For the first time, distributors sent other critical members of their staffs to become intimately familiar with the latest additions to the McElroy line of products. Again, the same intense focus on products, what the products can do and how the products can benefit the fusion industry was readily apparent.
- 3 New International Distributors – Three new international distributors officially joined the McElroy family - Geomembranas Y Geosinteticos of Mexico; SKW Industrial Supplies covering South Africa, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, and Botswana; and QSI Motor Group of Venezuela.
- DMC Business Meetings – Part of the fusion update presented by National Sales Manager Chris Greggs marked common success factors in the polyethylene fusion industry. Several seemed especially poignant, including having a passion for the industry, embracing new products and technologies, and utilizing the McElroy team. While McElroy’s emphasis is to always be the fusion experts, another motive is to always be able to put fusion’s best foot forward through helping others in the field.
- 2009 – Puerto Vallarta – The DMC will be even bigger and better in 2009, when McElroy visits Puerto Vallarta.
Sincerely,
Tyler Henning
thenning@mcelroy.com
P.S. – Do you have an interesting job coming up that uses McElroy equipment? Whether new equipment or old, a traditional job or a unique one, a large scale job or a small fuse, we want to know about it. Just e-mail me at the link above or call (918) 831-9286
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| McElroy in the News |
There’s Still Time to Enroll at McElroy University…
October
If you are interested in McElroy’s large-diameter machines, then any or all of the three classes on the schedule in October could be a good fit. The dates for the schools are as follows:
Oct. 13-14 Large Diameter Electronics Repair School
Oct. 15-17 Large Diameter Hydraulics Repair School
Oct. 20-23 Large Diameter Fusion Operations School
Registration is open for these classes. The seats are limited and classes often fill to capacity.
Click here to register today.
November
You can join other students that will be learning the TracStar ropes in November. The dates are:
Nov. 10-11 TracStar Electronics Repair School
Nov. 12-14 TracStar Hydraulics Repair School
Click here to register today. |
| The Alliance for PE Pipe is Up and Running |
A new organization focused on spreading educational messages regarding water conservation and water infrastructure needs has just released their first e-newsletter. McElroy Manufacturing is excited to be a founding member of the Alliance for PE Pipe.
“I am confident that the Alliance and its members will create many opportunities for the PE industry to educate municipalities about the benefits of using PE,” said Dave Hughes, director of business operations for McElroy.
While the Alliance for PE Pipe’s website (www.pepipe.org) is scheduled to be launched in the upcoming days, the e-newsletter is available for download in PDF format below.
Click here to download the newsletter. |
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| Documentary on Nation's Deteriorating Water Infrastructure to Air in October |
Experts fear aging national water infrastructure system is under stress and on the verge of failure
University Park, PA — It is out of sight and out of mind, but America's aging water system is in dire need of an overhaul. Penn State Public Broadcasting (WPSU-TV) is set to premiere a public television event on the looming crisis underneath our feet and how communities are trying to meet this challenge. "Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure," tells of America's distressed essential infrastructure systems: drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater. These complex and aging systems — some in the ground for more than 150 years — are critical components for basic sanitation, health, public safety, economic development, and a host of other necessities of life.
A four-minute trailer is available for viewing now at liquidassets.psu.edu online.
Click here to read entire story!
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| 2008 Trenchless Technology Pipe Selection Guide |
By Leanne Butkovic, Trenchless Technology magazine
With the cornucopia of pipe available on the market, discerning which type of conduit is best for your application can be an overwhelming decision. Trenchless Technology contacted pipe associations and manufacturers to create profiles of their respective stocked pipe in order to help you overcome the great puzzle of pipes.
The following pages offer initial insight into piping styles, from steel, clay and iron to plastic, fiberglass and concrete. All information was provided by the associations or manufacturers.
This guide merely scratches the surface of the endless pool of knowledge that is piping. It is by no means intended to be the end-all description for pipe. To learn more about each kind of underground channels and their uses, please contact the manufacturers, associations or your consulting engineers.
Click here to read entire story!
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| Lakehaven Sinking $4.8 Million into Puget Sound Project |
FEDERAL WAY, Washington -- In an effort to enhance water quality protection measures in the Redondo Beach and surrounding marine environment, the Lakehaven Utility District will sink $4.8 million into the upgrade of the Redondo Wastewater Treatment Plant outfall line. The outfall discharges treated wastewater effluent into the Puget Sound.
Construction began in July on a project to replace the existing Redondo Wastewater Treatment Plant marine outfall pipe, located near the southern end of the boardwalk along Redondo Beach Drive. The original marine outfall was constructed in 1963 and consists of a 30-inch diameter pipe extending approximately 1,030 feet offshore. The existing outfall line is approximately 123 feet below sea level at its terminus.
Click here to read the entire story. |
| AWWA Issues Calls for Papers, Presentations |
DENVER -- The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has announced two paper and presentation calls on its website.
A call has been issued for oral or poster presentations on the subject of water and wastewater for its annual convention, ACE 09. Presentations will be shared at the annual conference and exposition's professional program on June 14-18, 2009, in San Diego, Calif. The deadline for submission is September 15.
A call for papers on security for water professionals has been issued for AWWA’s 2009 Water Security Congress in Washington, DC, on April 8-10, 2009. Deadline for submission is October 1.
Click here to read the entire story. |
| Oil of the 21st Century |
Arizona mulling over new water source — ocean
PHOENIX — Arizona officials are studying the possibility of importing treated ocean water from a popular coastal Mexican resort 60 miles south of the border.
The move would help sustain urban supplies in Arizona by bringing potentially billions of gallons of water to the state a year and could someday bring relief to rural residents, who have long sought a water source to replace rapidly depleting aquifers.
A Scottsdale company already is looking at possible designs for a desalination plant in Puerto Penasco in the Mexican state of Sonora. Overworked groundwater wells there are on the verge of running dry.
Click here to read the entire story. |
Big Southern California water line nearly ready
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — A massive mechanical mole that has spent the last five years burrowing under the San Bernardino Mountains has resurfaced, marking a major step in completing a 44-mile water line that will eventually serve thirsty Southern Californians.
The Inland Feeder is expected to pipe water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta during the rainy season into the Diamond Valley Lake reservoir in Riverside County by 2010. The water will be distributed from northern Los Angeles County to the Mexican border.
Click here to read the entire story. |
55 towns in N.C. don't have a water conservation plan
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — North Carolina water officials have said 55 towns haven't filed a required water conservation plan and eventually could face a penalty up to $10,000 a month.
A law passed last year requires the plans to be filed by July 1. The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that towns without their own plan must follow state conservation rules when restrictions are imposed.
Click here to read the entire story. |
| Links |
Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI)
Founded in 1950, The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI) is the major trade association representing all segments of the plastics piping industry. PPI members share a common interest in broadening market opportunities that make effective use of plastics piping for water and gas distribution, sewer and wastewater, oil and gas production, industrial and mining uses, power and communications, duct and irrigation.
http://www.plasticpipe.org/index01.php |
North American Society for Trenchless Technology
The North American Society for Trenchless Technology is a multiple disciplinary society of individuals and organizations with professional, utilitarian or environmental interests in Trenchless Technology. It was founded and incorporated as a non-profit organization in June 1990.
http://www.nastt.org/ |
American Water Works Association
Established in 1881, AWWA is the oldest and largest nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to safe drinking water in North America . AWWA has more than 57,000 members worldwide and its 4,700 utility members serve 80 percent of America 's population.
http://www.awwa.org |
American Society of Civil Engineers Foundation
Assists ASCE with resource development and the enhancement of its programs through the philanthropy of its membership and the wider public.
http://www.asce.org/foundation/ |
McElroy Connections welcomes your feedback, story ideas, tips, or anything else related to PE Pipe and Pipe fusion. Please email your comments and story ideas to:
FOR NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe, visit http://www.mcelroy.com/fusion/forms/newsletter.htm
McElroy Connections is published by McElroy Manufacturing Inc. The information contained within each issue is meant as a service to our customers, distributors, and those involved with Polyethylene Pipe applications.
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