The North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) recognized winners of the Abbott Innovative Product & Services Award at the recent NASTT No-Dig Show in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The award is named for the late Joseph L. Abbott, Jr., an active NASTT member since its founding in 1990 and a champion of innovation. The award recognizes companies with a state-of-the-art product or service making a significant impact in advancing the trenchless industry in the areas of rehabilitation or new installation.
The 2022 winner in the “New Installation” category was Boyd Tech for its B-Tech Connections.
A means to mechanically connect HDPE piping for pulling, pushing and transitions, B-Tech Connections provide a pipe-to-pipe connection wherein ID and OD remain the same. Either permanently locked or temporarily installed, connections are water-tight with a broad range of applications in trenchless and non-trenchless applications. Pull-ability of connections exceed 70% of virgin pipe strength while retaining flexibility. Connections can be applied to a wide range of pipe sizes and wall thicknesses. Transitions to other pipe materials can also be provided to ease with compatibility issues.
In confined space applications, work crews save time and resources when compared to other, time-consuming connection techniques or bulky mechanical methods. Connections can be supplied in short spools to 36 inches, or pre-fused to any length of pipe to produce custom length spools. Long life span and fast assembly times make this connection method efficient and cost-effective for any HDPE project or application.
The 2022 winner in the “Rehabilitation” category was Aegion LLC for its CIPP Carbon Filter System.
It is a carbon filtration solution for CIPP steam-cured product that exhausts Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and accompanying odors. The innovative filtering system uses selected carbon and other filtration media in a filter canister design to capture the VOC. The steam hose is attached to the uncured liner and connects to the plumbing attachment of the filter. This allows the steam to flow down into the canister and then outward through the openings in the four sides. Each of the four sides has carbon filter panels so that gas exiting must pass through before discharge into the environment.
In addition, a mesh screening system is deployed inside of the unit, which helps remove water from the steam emissions and prevent contact with the carbon filter panels. In order to monitor VOC levels, a PID sensor can be added to the unit to provide measurement efficiencies. This device will significantly reduce or eliminate (depending on the diameter of the CIPP installation) the amount of VOCs from the emissions. Potential reduction of reportable greenhouse gas emission is greater than 90%.
The application process for the 2023 Abbott Innovative Product & Services Award will open in the fall of 2022. Email Carolyn Hookat chook@nastt.org with any questions.
