Underground Infrastructure - April 2023 - 18

Underground Infrastructure Conference
RehabZone Continues to Educate
Infrastructure Industry
For
22
years,
the RehabZone has
been an integral element in the annual
Underground Construction Technology
International Conference & Exposition
(UCT), and it was again, in February,
at the 2023 event.
Th e RehabZone, or " Zone " as some
like to all it, started out as a novel experiment
and has become a " must-see "
part of UCT for thousands of att endees.
UCT is an industry trade show,
and such events are for exhibiting and
selling products and services. So why
would any trade show set aside a valuable
portion of exhibit space and designate
it a " no sell " zone?
But that's exactly what a group of
company owners, managers, marketing
and sales representatives proposed for
UCT, in 2001. Th e RehabZone would
educate att endees about the varied
methods available to rehabilitate sewer,
water and storm water infrastructure.
Th e information available and presented
would be generic, and the volunteers
who set up and staff the stations
throughout the Zone - many direct
competitors - agreed everything would
be non-commercial, rather only informative
and educational.
As far as anyone knows, there had
never been such an area in any trade
event, certainly not one in this industry.
But in February 2023 in Orlando,
Fla., the RehabZone was still going
strong at yet another UCT, updating
those who passed through about everything
regarding rehabilitation of buried
infrastructure.
" I believe that RehabZone was well
att ended this year, " said David J. Hill,
cutt er/TV manager for SAK Pipeline
Infrastructure Solutions and 2023 RehabZone
industry chair person. " Th ere
were a lot of new faces coming through,
as well as some we see every year. "
Tour with a View
Att endees walked along a specifi c route
with stations for soſt ware inspection
temperature curing, safety, artifi cial intelligence,
spot repairs, CIPP, root control,
grout, manhole rehab and UV Lining.
At the end of the route, visitors
picked up the 2023 RehabZone T-shirt.
Over the years, the uniquely designed
artwork featured on the shirts has made
them collector items. Many regular RehabZoners
report they still have shirts
from the fi rst year of the event.
Th e pathway through the RehabZone
began with an area of historical
photos from 50-plus years of CIPP rehabilitation.
Th e Cutt er Challenge stations
were moved to the far back wall this year
which gave more space and created an
open feel to the entire fl oor.
" We also had an Artifi cial Intelligence
soſt ware group with a display
this year, " Hill reported, " a fi rst for that
emerging technology and we hope to
see more representation from it in the
future. Fiber temperature sensing technology
was also on-hand this year, and
other technologies that are gaining a
foothold in the rehab industry.
" We did hear a lot of positive feedback
from the att endees. While all
exhibits got foot traffi c, there was a lot
of traffi c and discussions about the pictures
on display. "
Hill stressed that the no-sell policy
allows competitors to work together to
engage and educate people who go to
the various stations. Th ere is no pressure
to make a sale or get contact information,
and att endees don't have to listen
to sales presentations about products.
" It's a great concept that serves the
RehabZone well, " said Hill.
He also praised the volunteers who
plan and run the RehabZone.
" I will say this plainly - without the
18 APRIL 2023 | UndergroundInfrastructure.com
http://www.UndergroundInfrastructure.com
Underground Infrastructure - April 2023

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