Wilwerding joins Felling Trailers as sales manager
Felling Trailers appointed Michael Wilwerding as its Southwestern regional sales manager. In this role, he will be responsible for all sales development, activity and dealer support within California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Hawaii. He will be taking over the region once served by Roger Magers, who retired at the end of 2020.
WJTA releases new recommended practices for vacuum equipment use
The WaterJet Technology Association released the new fourth edition of the Recommended Practices for the Use of Industrial Vacuum Equipment. Featuring updates and a redesigned, full-color layout, the new manual is available in both full-sized and pocket-sized formats. Revisions include medical alert cards for operators, a new example of confined space entry procedures and recommended hand signals for starting and shutting down a vacuum unit. Additional updates include revisions to the best practice methods for loading and off-loading flammable and combustible liquids, a brief treatment of automated/robotic vacuum tools and several new definitions added to the glossary.
The WJTA’s Vacuum Recommended Practices form the basis of the association’s vacuum operator training and certification program and are referenced extensively by contractors, manufacturers, asset owners, regulators, researchers, consultants and more.
Vacuum Truck Rentals opens 17th location
Vacuum Truck Rentals opened its 17th location in Roxana, Illinois. This location will serve customers in eastern Missouri, Illinois and the surrounding areas and will be fully equipped to handle rentals, sales, service and parts needs. Missouri native Eric Wilson will serve as branch manager and brings more than 25 years’ experience to the team.
PPI announces new board chair
The Plastics Pipe Institute announced that Douglas Keller, technical lead — Americas for Equistar Chemical’s Pipe Resins, is the chair of its board of directors, a two-year appointment. Keller, who has been a member of PPI for 12 years, moves to the chair position after serving as the vice chair for the past two years. He has also been on the association’s board as treasurer.
Hamilton to lead NUCA’s membership programs
The National Utility Contractors Association announced that George Hamilton has joined NUCA as its membership development director to lead the association’s membership and chapter development programs. Before joining NUCA, he led the membership department for the International Association of Business Communicators and served CFRE International as its marketing and membership manager. NUCA expanded its membership last year by 6% and is expecting increased growth this year as utility construction businesses expand their post-pandemic operations and projects.
McElroy University unveils new courses and webpage
McElroy University’s online homepage has a revised look and is also offering new courses. The website provides an overview of each course, details about topics and equipment covered and available dates and locations for any in-person training. In addition, an option was added to further customize operator qualification training through a la carte options. For many classes, in-person, hands-on training accompanies the online training so students receive practical experience on equipment. Other classes are offered 100% online for students to learn on their own time from almost anywhere in the world.
Hitachi Construction Machinery dissolves joint venture with Deere
Hitachi Construction Machinery and John Deere announced plans to dissolve their joint venture in the Americas. The dissolution will be completed Feb. 28, 2022. At the same time, HCM announced that Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America will assume all product and service operations for the Americas in spring 2022. HCMA will continue to be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hitachi Construction Machinery Group. HCMA is planning to add more than 60 new local positions to strengthen its North American headquarters in Newnan, Georgia.
Trenchless Equipment announces new team members
Trenchless Equipment, based in Turlock, California, announced four new members to its team, Michael Lien, Miriam Brenner, David Huff and Bill Seals. Lien, with over 20 years’ experience at TRIC Tools managing all aspects of the business, has taken the position of managing director with Trenchless. Brenner comes to Trenchless Equipment with over two decades of experience. She has taken the position as international sales specialist with the company. Huff comes to Trenchless Equipment with four years’ experience and was the national sales manager with TRIC Tools. He joins the company as director of sales. Seals comes to Trenchless with four decades of working with service professionals at both Spartan Tool and TRIC Tools.
