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"I finished my engineering degree in 1999 from the University of Yucatan while working at the company full time. "Since the transition, I have expanded the company’s services to include storm systems, cable and fiber optics, power and electricity. Most of the work is related to housing development infrastructure," explained Mauricio Evia. The existing trencher fleet needed updating to keep up with the increasing project demands. Exinsa had worked with the Gilbert family many years before, "it was an easy decision, we had experience with them and have a good business relationship established. Plus, they design a rugged and dependable trencher suitable for the kinds of jobs we have," Mauricio explained. The Trench-Tech® TT-2300C model arrived in August 2005, in the middle of a Storm Drainage project in the city of Cozumel, Mauricio stated, "my only regret is that I didn’t order it sooner." Because the project required rainwater to drain from the city into the sea, a depth of 4.3 meters was required. "Part of the decision process was selecting the right trencher from their line. The TT-2300C had all the features we needed but didn’t quite meet the depth requirement for this one job, which was an anomaly. We could have selected the larger TT-2500C with a deeper digging depth, but is was really too large a machine for our other projects, so we decided to use an excavator to help get the depth we needed in certain areas. When the machine arrived, it went right to work and helped trench 1360 meters from mid August to late October in hard caliche rock. "The reliability of the Trench-Tech® equipment along with our operator’s experience and the machine’s production were essential in getting the job done successfully. Our operator really feels the machine was custom-made just for him because he was so comfortable in it," explains Mauricio. The operator found the maintenance "simple and easy", Exinsa was also pleased the CAT® engine can be serviced locally if needed."
Mauricio sums up, "Adding the TT-2300C to my fleet helps me to be competitive and to get more work than we could imagine. I am grateful to the staff at Trench-Tech® for taking the time to come down and get us trained and answer all our questions. We trust in them as much as we trust the equipment. And the senior Gilbert would also argue Homer’s statement as well, sons Jerry and John Gilbert certainly have carried on what their father started as I have." Where does the Trench-Tech® trencher go from here? The company has a 30-day turnaround on a sewer line and then it travels to the Island of Cozumel for the second phase of the storm drainage project. Exinsa works in the Yucatan peninsula covering the states of Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo, The Mayan Rivera and Cozumel. They have a base of 50 employees. Exinsa.com.mx TT-2300C trenches effectively at 75% slope in Utah.
Digging 50-60 miles of trenches per year for the oil/gas industry in the Rocky Mountains is hard work especially for a trencher. So, when Dusty Monks, vice president of operations for Tracy Monks Construction in Myton, Utah decided to purchase a new trencher, he conducted an intensive study. "I think I gave them (3 different manufacturers) a headache, but this was an important purchase for our company," explains Dusty. "I studied the pros and cons of both the hydrostatic and mechanical drives and decided on the Trench-Tech® model. "They met my requirements and proved to me that the mechanical drive would stand up through the tough rock we cut without slowing production or busting our tooth replacement budget. And they also met my requirements for a D8 cutting chain, a heavier boom, and crumber, delivering all the features I needed." Tracy Monks purchased two machines, a TT-2300C and TT-2500C delivery was made in 2005. Since 1984, the company’s typical work has been in oil and gas digging 5-6 foot deep high-pressure lines used as a type of underground sprinkler system to force water in the underground formations forcing material into the producing well. The company began expanding to do other projects requiring an additional trencher. And in 2005, they subcontracted for WW Clyde on a challenging project from the Bureau of Reclamation. The task was to trench right and left embankments at a dam in the Big Sandwash Reservoir in Dushane County to create two keyways.
There were two cuts one on the left and on the right at 250 feet each at a depth of 9 feet and width of 26 feet in solid rock at a 1.5 to 1 slope. “Our main concern was would the trencher tumble down the hill working at a 75% slope,” commented Dusty. W.W. Clyde worked with them to develop a cradle system held in place with a wench on a CAT D9L dozer. The TT-2500C trencher started at the top of the slope and the wench supported it as it worked its way down. Cleats were also welded to the track to insure the footing. Another challenge was coordinating between the trencher operator and the wrench operator. At times the trencher would encounter sandstone and need to adjust pressure on the digging chain, changes such as this needed to be reported via radio to the wrench operator for necessary adjustments. Dusty continued, "working with the Trench-Tech® team was a positive experience, I know I made the right decision and that this trencher will prove that time and time again." Flippin's Trenching - Las Vegas, Nevada Flippins Trenching has 17 current projects in the Las Vegas area including the storm drain work on a consolidated car rental facility, three high-rise condo projects, a tower of the Palms, and Steve Winn’s new casino. In business since 1956, they have about 80 employees.
Trench-Tech®’s TT-2300C and TT-2500C models are on one of their housing development jobs installing wet and dry utilities. This 13,000 house development consists of two areas one in southwest Las Vegas Valley and the other on the northwest edge. Ken Flippins, Jr. operations manager played a role in selecting the trenchers. “We’ve owned lots of trenchers over the years and we’ve always gauged production based on a competitive model. “When we saw what the Trench-Tech® model could do, we changed our production model. “In some instances the production is double that of a competitive model. “The decision was pretty easy,” remarked Flippins. When we asked Flippins about the best feature he had to say, “reliability.” “You know you’re not going to be down for two hours a day to install new teeth. “I’m an estimator and I know we will get 800 -to 900 feet a day with the Trench-Tech® machine, and that is with the tough rock around here. “That makes it easy to meet my projections every day. “That trencher is there for us and attaining our goals every day is paramount to our success,” he summed up. Terra Contracting- Las Vegas, Nevada
“Ed, I’m worried you are going to grow up to be a ditch digger,” Ed McSwain’s mother use to say. And, moms are always right. Ed and Laura McSwain are owners of Terra Contracting an underground utility contractor with 385 employees including their son Justin. Ninety percent of their work is housing with 10% commercial projects. It all started in 1993 with McSwain as sole proprietor, a truck and a backhoe plus 15 years’ prior experience with a top utility contractor. And as they say “the rest is history.” The company name is derived from their daughter Tera. Terra Contracting is currently managing 158 projects in the area which includes; Las Vegas Valley, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Las Vegas. Some of the developers the company installs utilities for are KB Homes, Beazer, US Homes, Christopher Homes, Centex, Astoria and others. Overseeing the projects are three project managers and five superintendents. Equipment inventory includes some 130 pieces of iron and among that mix are several Trench-Tech® Chain Trenchers. McSwain explains his decision. “I purchased my first Trench-Tech® model in 2003, for several reasons; number one, I like the idea of a mechanical direct drive vs. hydrostatic transmission, which we ran in the past. Secondly, the weight ratio makes the machine more productive.” “Lastly, and the main reason we purchased the Trench-Tech® machine was due to the slow chain speeds. It really cuts the hard rock yet reduces my tooth wear and that cuts my tooth expense way down – 10 to 1 versus hydrostatic machines.” Ed adds, “It is an excellent, excellent tractor.” Terra has since purchased a TT-2500C that digs three feet wide and 20 feet deep and recently another TT-2300C with two foot width and a 12 foot depth. Most of Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County is built on tough caliche and conglomerate, cement-like rock that makes replacement teeth a major expense. When the first machine was delivered McSwain ordered a test. He ran the 2300 along side of a competitive model for two days, switching operators and after two full days the Trench Tech® tractor was further ahead and had used less teeth.
The direct drive or mechanical drive feature enables the chain to dig slower using first gear, this better breaks up the material and puts less wear on the teeth. The mechanical drive has four different chain speeds providing high torque, low speeds allowing maximum tooth penetration and extended tooth life. Mel Glines operator of the TT-2500C has been an equipment operator since age 14, he states, “this machine is a diggin’ fool.” He also appreciates the roomy cab and easy access. “If something were to go wrong, you can get out quick, not like other models where you have to crawl over hoses.” The hydraulically elevating cab is another reason Glines enjoys operating the Trench-Tech® machine, “there is great visibility, I feel very confident with what I am doing because I can see. “Also, the discharge conveyor has different discharge speeds in either direction this is important because if you are working in a tight area you can put the spoil 20 feet from the machine or right up against the track. “My only complaint is that there isn’t a cup holder,” he adds jokingly. Terra’s Master Mechanic Orin Jones states, “these machines require very little maintenance, we grease them three times a day and blow out the filters. “With 5000 people moving into the area every month we run them 12 hours a day, six days a week. “We need a machine that is easy to maintain and has a lower operating cost because of fewer moving parts and that is what we got with these trenchers.” Jones adds.
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