Piercing tools power fiber installation success

PROBLEM: In the crowded utility spaces of Southern California’s commercial areas, fiber-optic installation contractors face challenges with traditional installation methods that require large equipment footprints and extensive crews. These constraints can limit access to work areas and increase project costs, particularly in dense urban environments where space is at a premium.

SOLUTION: Fibertel Communications adopted Vermeer Hole Hammer quarter-turn pneumatic piercing tools as their primary installation method for fiber-optic conduit. This stitch boring approach requires minimal equipment — just a compressor and piercing tool — and can be operated by a two-person crew. The company maintains a range of piercing tool sizes to accommodate various conduit requirements from 1.5- to 4.5-inch diameter installations, allowing them to adapt to changing customer needs.

RESULT: Using the Vermeer piercing tools, Fibertel Communications has built a successful operation providing fiber-optic installation services throughout Southern California. Their three stitch-boring crews consistently achieve impressive daily production rates of 350 feet at 36-inch depths. The smaller footprint and reduced crew size have enabled the company to work efficiently in cramped commercial spaces while maintaining cost-effectiveness. This approach has been so successful that even after adding horizontal directional drilling capabilities, Fibertel continues to rely on piercing tools as a staple of their business, particularly for installations in tight spaces where larger equipment isn’t practical.

352-728-2222; www.vermeer.com