Underground Construction - August 2021 - 34

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Vacall Hydro Excavators Perform
Critical On-site Safety Exploration Work
Barton Malow Co., the largest construction firm in the state of Michigan,
required the best tools possible to generate high-efficiency work and safe
working practices at the Cross Winds Energy Park in Tuscola County. Based in
Southfield, Michigan, Barton Malow is Consumer Energy's lead contractor for
the 105 MW wind farm - designed to capture and convert wind to electricity.
The infrastructure plan included 62 wind turbines in an electrical generation
system involving easements on 51,300 acres for the underground electrical
collection system. Consumer Energy had already been providing natural gas
and electricity to 6.6 million of the state's 10 million residents in Michigan's
lower peninsula. But a new state law set a deadline for any company that sells
electricity in the state to have at least 10 percent of that electricity come from
renewable energy resources. Efficient, productive construction practices at
Cross Winds were necessary to meet that deadline.
Vacall's AllExcavate hydro excavators help Barton Mallow meet the deadline.
To create safe pathways through the project for heavy equipment, and to plot
the future location of collection lines, Barton Malow crews found it necessary
to verify the location and depth of underground gas, utility and fiber optic lines
shown on existing maps.
Over the years, Barton Malow has had experience with every leading brand
of hydro excavators for this type of critical work and settled on a preference for
Vacall's AllExcavate models for Cross Winds.
" It's got a lot of power, " said operator Bob Angell, who was digging holes
to install ports where the utility lines could be viewed. He especially liked the
AllSmartFlow™ control system that's standard on all Vacall machines.
Using a color LCD screen and a wireless remote-control device, he was able
to locate the boom properly and dial in the jetting and vacuum forces that he
wanted. " It's very precise, and when you dial it in, you'll get exactly what you
want all day long, " he said.
Operating an AllExcavate is much simpler than other hydro excavator
brands that require much more complicated procedures, he noted. " It's got the
features I appreciate, like a vibrating debris tank that makes it easier to dump
than competitive models. And a nice siren that sounds when it's low on water,
so I can shut it off. "
" Plus, it's very reliable in cold weather, and we get a lot of that here in this
part of Michigan, " he added.
Barton Malow acquired two AllExcavate models from Southeastern
Equipment, the local Vacall distributor. One is equipped with the optional
heavy-duty, full-length rubber hose and redesigned cold-weather option
with a larger heated compartment for operators to change out of wet, cold
work clothes.
Daniel Ortega, safety coordinator on the site, said the company is especially
sensitive to job site safety, so the job performed with the Vacall machines
at the Cross Winds project to create safe pathways for machine travel and
transmission lines was critical to its success.
Learn more about Vacall AllExcavate Models at http://www.vacall.com.
For a demo, call 330-339-2211. Vacall products are designed, manufactured
and supported by Gradall Industries, Inc., a world leader in pioneering
hydraulic technologies. *
34 AUGUST 2021 | UCONonline.com
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Underground Construction - August 2021

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