Videos Video Profile

Hydroexcavation is one of M.L. Chartier Excavating’s top services today, but it wasn’t always that way. The Fair Haven, Michigan-based company was founded in 1954, long before hydroexcavation became commonplace. Owner Todd Chartier explains in this video that the company’s service offerings have been like a “roller coaster” over the years, as it has adapted to changing market demands and the needs of its customers. In this video, you can also see an M.L. Chartier crew do some hydroexcavation work on a job in the Detroit suburbs replacing gas service lines. Read more about the company in the September/October 2018 issue of Dig Different magazine.

Arizona’s Horizontal Boring uses auger boring, tunneling machines and directional drills to keep company growing

The first step to every job is also the most important: safety. Ditch Witch president Dennis Wierzbicki explains in this video that the company is constantly listening to users and contractors about what they need to better identify utilities and the company is designing that into the equipment every day.Beyond the equipment, Ditch Witch also takes its dealership personnel and customers through its training program. When a customer purchases a drill, the company will spend two days — at a minimum — training the customer. Ditch Witch will then go to the job site for a couple days to make sure the safety training is being continued.Ditch Witch officials in the video explain how important it is to double check locates and make sure everyone is on the same page when starting a job.

Selecting a nozzle can be one of the most critical aspects to a hydroexcavation job and there are several factors a contractor or operator should look at before starting a job.In this video from Ditch Witch, Chris Thompson explains the importance of selecting the proper nozzle and walks you through procedures for exposing utilities with a vacuum hydroexcavator.“Many variables must be considered when using a vacuum excavator to expose underground utilities,” Thompson says in the video. “These include nozzle selection, water pressure, water temperature, distance from utility, duration of exposure and type or age of utility.”He goes on to say that not all nozzles are equal and not every nozzle can be used for every application. For example, fan nozzles should never be used near underground utilities because they can damage them. Instead, contractors should use rotatory or spinning-type nozzles, which are effective for excavating, but not harmful to utilities.Thompson also suggested that contractors keep the lances moving and never keep it motionless because the cutting action won’t work as well.