American Liquid Waste Magazine » Uncategorized

Safety Features Protect Workers and Increase Productivity

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 23:19:39 +0000

Bad news often means good business for those in the liquid waste industry. Tornados, oils spills, and other disasters generally require a quick response—first from safety and rescue workers, but next in line are portable restroom operators, sewage pump trucks, and others who help support cleanup efforts or, as in the case of the Gulf oil spill, help perform the cleanup work themselves.
Companies that provide equipment to those in the liquid waste industry have expanded their offerings to include tools and equipment that offer safety features that not only protect workers but also help increase productivity. In some cases, the improved equipment is the result of government standards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has dictated some of the changes. Others have come from standards set by the military or other government agencies. Customers have requested other improvements as they try to do more work with fewer employees. Equipment has to be safe and secure to limit lost work hours in the field.
Toico Industries, one of the companies providing such equipment, specializes in restroom and truck parts for the liquid waste industry. The company was established in 1996, in Ogden, Utah, and later expanded to Atlanta to better serve East Coast customers.
The company’s Sales and Marketing Manager, J.R. Kidman, said one of the company’s best sellers is its fourteen-inch lined PVC Gauntlet glove. Hygiene is a big issue for those in the liquid waste industry because workers constantly are in contact with material that harbors disease. The PVC Gauntlet glove is a necessary piece of equipment for these workers.
“We offer a full line of gloves, hard hats, and Handi-Grabbers just for the liquid waste industry,” Kidman said.
The Handi-Grabbers come in thirty-six-inch, fifty-one-inch and ninety-six-inch lengths. In addition, Toico is offering a new design of twenty-four-inch trigger grip grabbers. The grabbers are ergonomically designed with a trigger action that grips and has a rotating head and rubber claws with magnetic tips, he explained. The trigger grip grabbers come in twenty-four-inch, thirty-two-inch, and thirty-six-inch options.
Bill Brown, President of Liquid Waste Industries, which also provides equipment, appreciates the irony of bad news being good business for companies like his. An example is the company’s high-rise lift sling assembly kits, which allow an operator to place a portable restroom on a roof or on a boat. In the case of the Gulf oil spill, the lifts are increasingly used to transfer portable restrooms onto barges in the Gulf.
“Ours is made of quarter-inch steel, and a lot of people are buying ours because it is the strongest in the industry, and OSHA has approved our kits because they are so strong,” Brown said. OSHA has especially rigid standards for items that will be lifted overhead. LWI’s lift can support 1,000 pounds.
The high-rise lift slings are nine feet tall and can be used for lifting units by crane. They fit all portable restrooms and can be broken down into four-and-a-half foot lengths for easy transport. “A lot of people are buying these right now,” Brown stated.
Brown said another product that his company sells that reflects a focus on safety is the T Lift Manhole cover, an item that unseats, lifts, and sets manholes. “I think that this is a really great invention,” Brown asserted. “It’s something that one person can use, and it is good because a manhole can weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. The T Lift can prevent inadvertent slips and save strain on muscles.”
One item that his Atlanta-area company will be promoting later this summer is a recently redesigned hose for liquid waste that has the cuff incorporated into the hose; other designs had the cuff attached or glued to the hose. This Plastiflex hose is especially useful for vacuum operations, which in the past have had such force that they occasionally dislodged the cuff from the hose, Brown explained.
“The cuffs at the end of the hose were glued on and sometimes, especially with vacuum trucks, the cuffs would come off. Plastiflex has integrated the cuff into the hose.” A cuff that dislodges from a tank is messy and potentially dangerous, Brown noted. “If a cuff comes off, you’ve got spillage and possibly hazardous materials that would spill all over. Whoever the guy is at the end of the hose—I would not want to be him.
“We sell to the largest companies and the smallest companies. There’s nothing worse than with a two-person, family operation, and the man is out pumping and the end of his hose comes off,” Brown said. The integrated cuff and hose is a huge improvement, according to Brown.
He continued to explain that Liquid Waste Industries sells everything from toilet paper to vacuum pumps, so what happens in the news can be directly reflected in the sales of some items. For example, last year when fears spread of an H1N1 flu epidemic, sales of hand sanitizer jumped at Brown’s company. The sanitizer was in demand at businesses and other places that were doing work for the military as well as at Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-related jobs that required stringent sanitation.
Yet another company that provides equipment is T & T Tools in Spring Lake, Michigan. Jon Thompson and his wife, Sue, founders and co-owners, began selling tools about seventeen years ago, some of which Thompson developed and designed himself. Tools that are safe and durable have been an important part of T & T Tools’ success over the years. One example is the company’s Mighty Probe, which Thompson designed and patented. The probe is a durable, insulated metal soil probe that has been tested to 50,000 volts. Thompson has heard of several examples of workers who thought they were in a clear area for trenching, only to have the Mighty Probe discover high-voltage pipe that was not on any set of plans.
“I developed the Mighty Probe with insulated capabilities but there are others that do not protect workers from inadvertent power,” Thompson said. “I came out of the corporate world, and I saw the need [for safer equipment]. Safety has always been very prevalent in my world. If you build a tool, it’s so easy to build the safety function into it and still make it functional.”
Thompson has been selling the Mighty Probe for fifteen years, but he acknowledges that a lot of people in the field still have never heard of it. “One of the best advertising sources is word of mouth. When I prototyped it, I gave it to some guys in the field, and they wouldn’t give it back,” Thompson said.
Another product Thompson has designed through T & T Tools is his Top Popper, a high-quality manhole opener that comes with either an in-line handle or a rotated handle. “It can open manhole covers, grates or grids, or septic tank lids. It’s a diverse hook. We have taken it to a different level by making it using an alloy steel that is heat treated to make it stronger and more durable—and stronger makes it safer,” Thompson explained.
Still another example Thompson cited is a ball valve handle that helps take stress and strain off on the operator. Although the item was not developed by Thompson, he began making one after the original manufacturer no longer produced it.
“A lot of people don’t think about (safety or strength). They see one [product] that is $20 and another that is $24, and they go for the cheaper one. It’s like anything else; you get what you pay for.”
Thompson said workers in the liquid waste industry are no more vulnerable to injury than those in other fields such as agriculture or construction. Like other types of jobs, the tools can make a difference in safety and durability. Stronger is better. Simple design changes can limit wear and tear on machines and bodies.
“There are some things that are more important in the liquid waste industry—sanitation, for example. The training, compliance, and equipment have improved. And with the price of pumper trucks, you just don’t put anyone on the equipment,” Thompson said.
“I think the people in the liquid waste industry are becoming more informed of the environment and of their work environment and their safety in that environment,” Thompson continued. “I think they are finding there is a significant difference in the safety and quality of their tools. “
With this increased focus on safety, companies such as Toico Industries, Liquid Waste Industries, T & T Tools and others will continue to expand upon those tools and services that can provide a safer working environment and greater productivity.

Story by Marie Elium

Landscaping a Tank for Easier Inspections and More Revenue

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 23:17:58 +0000

For the last few years, I have been suggesting to contractors and homeowners they should voluntarily start doing annual inspections and only pumping when necessary; there are several reasons for this suggestion. The first is purely environmental. There are fuel costs, air pollution from diesel engines, pollution to rivers, the potential for disease transmission if a land app is done incorrectly, and nutrient run off into lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans. The second reason to conduct annual inspections is financial. Diesel fuel isn’t inexpensive and neither is the dump fee you pay when you unload at a treatment plant. Even if you are doing a land app, you are looking at the cost to prep that load and the time you spend in the process, as well as the cost of maintenance and repairs on that rig. Although the cost is transferred to the homeowners, the more you have to charge, the less happy they are.
Still another reason I push voluntary inspections is because if the government starts stepping in, it could backfire. I was talking to a contractor in one area who was charging $350 for his inspections because he could—inspections were required in that area, and he was the only contractor available. While the government forcing people to pay you $350 a year may seem like the ideal money-making scheme, that price is on par with what those homeowners would be paying for city treatment. Eventually, when homeowners are presented with the option of public sewer treatment, rather than recognize the cost to set up the system ($30,000 to $60,000) or the environmental consequences, they focus on the monthly cost.

If you want your customers to stay with a septic system, it needs to be a far better value. In the long run, an inspection program is far cheaper for you, and it is a savings that you can pass on to your customers.
For example, I, too, had my tank pumped every few years rather than inspecting it. My tank was only six inches deep, so in the past, we dug it up—but even digging a few inches took time. And from frequent removal, the manhole cover was beginning to crack and crumble around the edges, which was a safety issue. The access pipe over my exit baffle/effluent filter was also too short—every time I pulled off the cap, dirt fell into the tank.
[could delete the following paragraph and pix and jump to “During our inspection…” if space is needed]
Working side by side with my best crew, we went to work to correct these problems and set it up for easy (fast) future inspections/service/pumping. (pic 1)

(pic 2) A lid like this is a tragedy (lawsuit) waiting to happen.

During our inspection, we found a few problems; the first was an exorbitant amount of toilet paper that was not breaking down. Part of the problem was we had all been on antibiotics over the last six months, and this was contributing to slow bacterial activity in the tank. In cases like this, a proper additive may be necessary to boost the activity in the tank/soil.
The second reason was the type of toilet paper we were using. My wife is a coupon shopper, and she got a great deal on some two-ply “soft-as-a-cloud” paper, which won’t break down as easily.

To remedy the digging problem, we set landscape blocks to outline the tank, laid down weed barrier, and filled it in with red mulch. [again, if space is an issue, delete this sentence and pix and go to “But we were not through…] In short order, we went from a sloppy mess to this.
(pic 3) (pic 4)

But we were not through. I wanted more than an easy-to-service system; I also wanted something that looked nice and was safe. We set in a birdbath, whiskey barrel planters, and used fake rocks to cover the access covers.

(pic 5)
The most important reason for covering these ports is safety. A homeowner can hit and damage the risers with a lawnmower and knock the lids loose. Children become curious, and as a result, there have been several cases of kids falling in to a tank and drowning.

Another reason for fake-rock cover is that it will provide a thermal break and insulation in the winter. Check out www.fakerock.com

After discussing the situation with Tom, who pumps systems, there were other modifications that I needed to make:

I would have to install a washing machine filter in my house.
I would need an effluent filter.
Every April, Tom would send out a postcard reminder that he would be inspecting my system sometime in May.
If the system did need to be pumped—unless it was an emergency—Tom would schedule it for sometime when it was convenient for him.

To determine whether there were any problems, I needed to visually inspect the area, looking for outside damage and vehicular traffic over the drain field. I’d need to redirect downspouts away from the system, etc. Then, Tom would open the tank to look for the “bad items” and to assess the bacterial activity in the tank. After putting the “sludge judge” to work to determine if the tank needed to be pumped, he would fill out his report with his findings and provide any suggestions. This report and the invoice would be left for me. If, however, any problems were discovered, Tom would talk to me in person or on the phone to make sure I knew what was happening.
The cost for this process is $75. If and when the tank needs to be pumped, then the cost would be $150. Although many believe that they cannot generate a profit with this process, it is possible. Additionally, it is not about doing one inspection, it is about doing a whole neighborhood. If you have ten homes on the same street, you are looking at $750 gross ($500 net) by midday. And, while I was able to do the work myself, not every homeowner is willing or able to do it—that means they will probably be paying you to do most or all of it. With filters, rocks, blocks and risers, a standard pump-and-run could turn into a $500 to $1,000 job. Further, if you are really into landscaping with the fountains and waterfalls, you could be starting a whole new facet for your company.
If you want an unbiased, third party, endorsement to convince your customers to follow a plan like the one above, I will be putting a full explanation of why all homeowners should conduct inspections, complete with step-by-step pictures on my websites: www.septicprotector.com and septicprotector.org.
Keep in mind, you don’t have to “own” a pump rig to offer this program; you can sub-contract that out. But there are precautions to take when reporting items found in the tank, scheduling pump-outs, or prescribing additives. You will occasionally encounter a homeowner who believes that he/she never had a problem before and that you are simply trying to make more money. To protect yourself, you should make certain the tank actually needs a dosing or a pump. Take pictures and save the evidence to show the homeowner—allow him or her to witness the toilet paper or other materials in the tank. These steps can ensure that a homeowner will not question your assessment.

By Jim vonMeier

Jim vonMeier performs educational programs directed at homeowners, teaching them the health and environmental need for proper septic systems and how to find a certified septic professional to inspect/design/install/maintain their systems. He has also represented homeowners in their fights against public sewer projects and speaks at contractor certification courses around the country on the subject of customer service.
1-763-856-3800 jvonmeier@septicprotector.com

Top Innovations from Industry Leaders

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:12:29 +0000

Innovation can be dramatic and technologically advanced, or it can be much simpler and more down to earth. In an industry that sees to some of our most basic human needs, judgments regarding “simple” and “dramatic” are in the eye of the beholder—and occasionally the distinction is not so…well…distinct. Take solar lights in portable restrooms—not something most people think about until the need arises, and then voilà! Let there be light.

Many successful companies operate on the premise that coming up with a new idea is virtually the same as giving the customer what he or she wants. Tom Aerts, General Sales Manager for Imperial Industries based in Wausau, Wisconsin, has noticed that the call is increasing for specialization in the custom tanks that they manufacture. “Orders for stock units are going down. Every year, people want equipment that is more specialized and customized.”

As a result, Imperial Industries manufactures a specialized six-inch aluminum debris filter that is available as an accessory attachment for tanks used in land application. The comb that filters solids in Imperial’s Ultimate Debris Collector comes in two spacing options to meet state regulations, and application is much cleaner and more efficient.

“The Ultimate has become very popular this year,” says Aerts. “It saves a lot of time and effort in the field.”

Along with customized equipment, Aerts has also seen an increase in orders for self-contained, slide-in tanks that were originally designed for the back of a pickup truck or a small trailer to service portable restrooms. Imperial Industries offers these portable service units in painted steel, aluminum and stainless steel and in 300-, 450-, 550- and 650-gallon total capacities for waste and water or for waste only.

Gayle Humphries, Owner and President of Best Enterprises in Cabot, Arkansas, has been designing and fabricating stainless steel pumping trucks and tanks for more than thirty-four years. That means he’s spent a lot of time thinking up ideas and innovations that benefit the portable toilet and septic pumping industry. In a time of increasing call for specialized equipment, Best’s ability to customize has given the company an advantage.

Humphries believes wholeheartedly that high-quality, well-maintained equipment is the surest way to make a profit in this industry, and he’s proud of the custom trucks and tanks his company has put on the road for his customers. He won’t hesitate to tell you about the first stainless steel tank he built in 1978, which is still on the job in Phoenix.

“About the year I built my first tank,” he says, “we perfected a system for putting a clutch on a vacuum pump and operating it from a switch on the dashboard similar to the air-conditioner switch.”

Hydraulic systems were developed soon after, but Humphries didn’t forget the air-conditioner switch from 1978, and the ease of operation. “We now have developed a system of electromagnetic clutches that can be installed on a jetter or a vacuum pump [and] that allow you to run them either simultaneously or with a remote control. With this, one man can do it all. He runs the jetter and uses the remote to turn it on and off.

“It’s a whole lot easier to maintain than hydraulic systems,” Humphries says. “Since not many companies have people who can work on hydraulics, it means that a hydraulic unit would have to sit until someone can get to it. Our system, repairs can be made quickly, and you can be back in operation without a lot of down time.”

“Plants are continuing to pressure the contractor to reduce his hourly rate or improve productivity,” says Sales Director Tony Fuller of Federal Signal Solutions.

Headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, Federal Signal is the parent company of Guzzler, a world leader in industrial vacuum technology. Along with sister companies Vactor Manufacturing, Jetstream and Elgin Sweeper, the four make up Federal Signal’s Environmental Solutions Group.

In response to the pressure, Guzzler has developed the Guzzler NX vacuum loader next-generation air mover. Where a standard vacuum loader will require emptying when only three-quarters full, the Guzzler NX allows operators to pump more and dump less.

“This is a highly efficient, low-noise-level machine, designed to overcome any lack of air conveyance,” explains Fuller. According to specs on the company’s website, the NX features the “industry’s quietest blower,” better fuel economy and improved loading with vacuum recovery technology, which allows for cleaning the baghouse while still vacuuming material.

Fuller also speaks of Federal Signal’s extensive training platform. Along with an array of Haz-Mat courses and OSHA training, the company provides training from job set-up to all aspects of operation.

“What’s a vacuum? It’s an equalization of pressure. The objective is to create negative pressure in the debris tank. Our training shows how to understand the process better and learn the tricks on how to make it more efficient.”

Jack Doheny Supplies oversees what it bills as the world’s largest selection of sewer cleaning truck equipment, street sweepers, and vacuum trucks from its corporate home in Northville, Michigan. It services what it sells from eleven key facilities around the country that are available to customers twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

“We view our customers as being in an emergency business,” says company President Dan Weber. “A fuel spill or a leak or sewage overflow that affects the health and welfare of the community, that is an emergency situation, and we will respond [to] and support our customers.”

While this commitment is not innovative, the way Jack Doheny Supplies implements its services may be considered fresh. “What we bring to our customers is a multitude of ways of getting equipment into customers’ hands,” Weber explains. “We do it through multiple financing approaches, including in-house financing, rental-purchase approaches, and having a very diverse rental fleet.”

This cross-section of trucks provides Doheny’s clients with access to rent or lease equipment to handle a variety of specialized jobs—“when they haven’t yet developed the core business to support the investment.” Should that aspect of the business prove profitable in the future and should the client be capable of making the investment, Doheny offers his customers fair and reasonable lease-purchase terms.

“Our customers are able to create equity in the units and acquire the assets,” says Weber. “And no one else does it like we do. It allows them to enter markets that limited capital might not have allowed them to enter.”

Jack Doheny also offers “the most comprehensive and complete equipment overhaul in the industry” for worn sewer cleaning and industrial vacuum trucks. The company’s “remanufacturing” process rebuilds each piece to original equipment standards, so that the equipment works like new and can be warranted like new. The company promises to “systematically go through every component of your truck” and bring it back to “original performance standards.”

In an industry that often focuses on what we human beings discard or wish to get rid of, it is refreshing to find so many innovators who are committed to finding ways to build equipment for decades of use and who then provide service or will rebuild as a way to extend the lifetimes of these products even further.

Story by Anne Biggs

The Oil Spill and Our Future

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:11:00 +0000

By Jim vonMeier
Right now, the spotlight is on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Obviously, no one wanted this to happen in the first place, and no one wants it to continue, but people will give different reasons why it needs to be stopped. Some are worried that it will drive up the cost of gas (which it will); others see the pictures of oil-soaked birds and say innocent animals are dying. Still others say their summer vacations at the Louisiana beach will be ruined.
Regardless of the reasons people give, most do not realize how far into the future and widespread this damage is going to reach. Even if it were stopped today and BP provided the 20+ billion dollars to help restore the region, the reality is that no amount of money is going to fix it, at least in our lifetime.
The damage is already hitting me in Minnesota. I like shrimp, but the cost of these tasty little morsels has already gone up $2 a pound. In Louisiana, people are canceling their vacations to the beaches. But the damage won’t be limited to the Gulf Coast, because the current will push that oil all the way around Florida and up the East Coast. That will not only hurt the Atlantic fishing industry, but their tourism industry as well.
The sad part is that we already had a solution to this problem more than thirty years ago: solar panels and tax credits for alternative forms of energy, proposed during President Carter’s administration. Unfortunately, the solution was short-lived, and many quickly abandoned these alternatives.
We ignored the oil/energy crisis; instead of building smaller, more energy-efficient homes and business buildings, we put up huge glass and steel monstrosities because they were attractive and all those windows allowed a better view. We bought bigger and more powerful SUVs and glossy pick-up trucks. At the same time, we put solar, wind, fuel cell and battery technology on the back shelf.
The President at the time (Regan), reassured America that this was a good thing, because it was what we needed; but maybe, just maybe, if he had kept those tax breaks in place, there would have been enough incentive for us “little guys,” to come up with efficient alternative energy sources, and we wouldn’t have more than 50,000 barrels of crude oil pumping into our ocean today.
Unfortunately, that is one of the negative effects of big business…the corporations sell what they have available and not necessarily what is the best solution—and because they have a lot of money, they can use that cash to influence the politicians who make the choices. The politicians, in turn, push big business’ products while stifling the competition.
But the oil disaster isn’t the only crisis we are facing; our water quality and supplies are in serious jeopardy, the public just hasn’t heard that much about it. Just as there were alternatives available then, there are currently alternatives that can help our situation now.
Large-scale treatment facilities are big business, and, like any big company, the goal is to get as many customers/sales as possible Just like the energy industry, however, these companies don’t always look beyond their year-end earnings report. The massive discharges from our sewage treatment facilities are contaminating our lakes, rivers, and oceans. And, because most facilities operate on the “take it from local sources and flush it downriver to the ocean” process, our aquifers are suffering.
But you already hold the solution—a septic system. When properly designed, installed, and maintained it will not only treat wastewater better, it will also return water to the aquifer where it originated.
Every week, I get emails from homeowners around the country asking how to fight the big-pipe projects; two weeks ago, when I got a technical question from a woman who lives on one of the many barrier islands off the East Coast, I assumed this was the case. So I answered her question, but I continued to tell her what would happen if the projects didn’t stop: over-development, environmental damage, depleting her local water supplies, etc.
She responded to me and said, “You don’t understand, this project is already underway. It was started a few years ago and is now about two-thirds done, but you are wrong on your timetable. You said we would start seeing the problems in five to seven years. Guess what? Everything you said would happen already has begun; the development, the tax increases, our wells…and it isn’t even completed yet!”
This is a worldwide problem, but it is those of you in the industry who can fix it. These homeowners who are calling me should be contacting you…or you should be contacting them before these projects get started. I can help you fight them, but to be honest, often by the time I get the call, it is too late and they have already spent a huge amount of money on their environmental impact and engineering studies.
The Gulf oil spill is the main focus in the media right now, but we (you) can use this environmental tragedy to show the world that big business is not always the answer…the small family-owned businesses can often fix things better, faster, and cheaper.
Jim vonMeier performs educational programs directed at homeowners, teaching them the health and environmental need for proper septic systems and how to find a certified septic professional to inspect/design/install/maintain their systems. He has also represented homeowners in their fights against public sewer projects and speaks at contractor programs around the country on the subject of customer service. He can be contacted at 763-856-3800 or jvonmeier@sepicprotector.com

Colorful Components and Convenience Items Spur Growth in Hose, Nozzle and Reel Industry

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:50:25 +0000

Liquid waste haulers can be a practical group; and considering what they do all day, moving waste from place to place, that should be no surprise to anyone. Their equipment has to be durable and easy to handle. Those two requirements have been especially important over the past eighteen months as private haulers have struggled to keep their businesses up and running during the worst economic downturn in decades. Repairs are costly—replacement even more so. And if operators have to do more with fewer workers, the hoses and other equipment has to be lightweight and easy for one or two people to handle.
Did you know that these same liquid waste haulers also care a great deal about how that equipment looks? That has been an enjoyable and ongoing challenge for manufacturers of the equipment. Not only do the hoses have to work well but they also have to have a bit of pizzazz to them, too. The reason is simple. Haulers want customized hose colors so their trucks look as good as they work.
Three companies have taken the lead in providing high-quality components for the liquid waste industry: VARCo of Virginia, Hannay Reels of Westerlo, New York, and Kuriyama of America, of Schaumburg, Ill.
Ron Selfe is president of VARCo (Virginia Rubber Corp.) “We have seen more of a trend toward lighter weight, more flexible hose and hoses that are made in colors to match the trucks. Customers continue to ask for more colors,” Selfe said.
The color hose trend is one that has persisted for several years, perhaps, some in the industry have noted, because of reality TV shows that have focused on elaborate makeovers for heavy trucks and equipment.
“We have custom made our EPDM line of hose in red and black, blue and black, yellow and black and green and black to respond” to customer requests, Selfe said. “These colors are available in sizes 2 inch through 4 inch and even though they cost us more, we sell them all for the same low price.”
Ed Rash of Hannay Reels, said customers are increasingly interested in getting customized equipment, the type of equipment that the company can provide through its extensive and well-established facilities and design expertise.
The company has provided custom-designed reels that can handle hose and cable in limited space and in special environments. Its website claims Hannay Reels designs and manufactures more custom built reels than any other manufacturer.
The ability to meet special requests from liquid waste haulers and others in the industry is a point of pride for Rash.
We have equipped our customer division’s abilities to meet almost any special or custom design for extreme heavy duty and high pressure applications, specifically geared to the liquid waste and pumper cleaner industry,” Rash said.
Hannay Reels is looking to expand its already extensive offerings. The company has prototypes of a heavy duty Hi Pres reel with a swivel base and hose guide that is currently being extensively tested and reviewed. “We have had requests to make reels to customers’ specs so they can free up their workforce to (concentrate) on truck building and assembly,” Rash said.
Over at VARCo, Selfe said that in addition to the color hoses, the company has begun selling its new line of Battioni pumps. The mec2 pumps are continuous duty and have seven vanes for increased air flow. The benefit is that operators loss fewer cfms on deep pumps. “The pumps are at a great introductory price where you can get a 400 cfm pump for less than $2,300,” Selfe said.
“We also introduced a max pack for under $4,500 which gives you the pump, the stand, the secondary, the final filter, the muffler and the gear box all built into one bolt-and-go unit. This price is unheard of and means you don’t have to weld stuff to your truck anymore,” he said.
As customers continue to try to do more with less, they want to simplify their buying experience, says Selfe. “Customers have asked us to carry a larger variety of products,” he noted. “We want to be your one-stop store. We are the only company (in the industry) open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even on holidays.”
The expanded selection means more products that will reach into other aspects of the liquid w aste industry beyond the company’s already product line. “Look for us to start carrying more stuff on the portable toilet side – scents, urine cakes, portable toilet parts, etc. as we grow our catalog. We just grew the catalog to 24 pages and are now working on our 32-page version due out shortly,” Selfe said.
What has the economy meant for these industry heavy hitters? Their business seems to have not only weathered the economy but has found ways to grow during this uncertain period. “We are surprised at the industries’ growth and potential and also the quality of the equipment being designed and built,” Rash said.
Like Selfe, Rash has seen his customers trying to make the most of what they have. Growth in the industry comes from how well a company such as Hannay
Reels, VARCo and Kuriyama of America respond.
“It seems they want more efficiency with time and labor cutting devices and equipment,” Rash said.
Selfe concurred. “The industry seems to be coming back well. We have done well all along with about a forty percent to seventy-five percent growth yearly while the septic side is starting to grow. The oil field side of the business is one fire. Our website business more than doubled and we have focused a lot on growing that side and giving customers easier and quicker ways to do business with us.”
How much of that growth will continue clearly depends on making it easier for customers to find lightweight, high quality and easily available products. The ability to design and manufacture specialty equipment is especially attractive to some liquid waste customers. For others, the ability to buy colorful hose is important. And as always, customers like to streamline their shopping experience by using one-stop shopping, internet catalogs and other conveniences.
The economy has apparently not been a big factor for the manufacturers who have met their customers’ needs. In a business world full of bad news, that is an encouraging and enviable piece of good news.
Story by Marie Elium

Guzzler Equipment is in Position to Help with Massive Gulf Oil Cleanup

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:39:12 +0000

As the enormous oil spill teases the Gulf coastline with its threat of environmental disaster, hundreds of industrial vacuum trucks manufactured and serviced by Guzzler Manufacturing are poised along beaches to help with anticipated cleanup efforts.
The 3,000-gallon, multi-service trucks generally are sent to construction areas, factories, and other high-traffic places. However, for the past six weeks, hundreds of them have been positioned along bayous, inlets, and delicate marshlands. The Guzzler vacuum trucks are in the hands of local contractors, many of whom are being paid by British Petroleum (BP) to sit and wait for cleanup work, said Tony Fuller, Director of Industrial Sales for Guzzler.
The company, a subsidiary of Federal Signal Corporation, has positioned employees throughout the Gulf Coast region to assist local contractors. Company officials watched closely as the environmental disaster unfolded. BP and others responsible for the massive oil leak hope to have a portion of the oil flow redirected to a drill ship on the surface, but that still leaves massive amounts of oil drifting in the Gulf of Mexico—and it provides a ready target for the team of Guzzler trucks and operators.
As the largest manufacturer of vacuum equipment in the world, the company has had experience dealing with massive cleanups, according to Fuller. Although the company has no specific outline for disaster help, it has extensive real-world experience. Guzzler trucks were instrumental in the colossal cleanup after Hurricane Katrina and with flooding in the Midwest, Fuller explained.
It is too soon to tell when the oil slick in the Gulf or the huge plumes of oil that are still deep below its surface will come to shore or where the trucks will be needed most. In the meantime, people have been playing a frustrating but necessary game of “wait and see.” Fuller explained that the Guzzler equipment is perfectly suited for maneuvering into areas such as bays where hoses can pick up globs of oil. The Guzzler trucks and equipment can skim delicate marshes, providing important cleanup in some of our nation’s most vulnerable coastal areas.
“As the largest manufacturer in the world of vacuum equipment, we have the lion’s share of business in the Gulf Coast region,” Fuller said.
While oil is certainly different from other sewage or other liquid waste, the trucks need no special adaptation for sucking up the oil when it comes ashore, he explained. “The machines are designed to suck up any liquid. They will be sucking up oil and water, and they require no special filtering system for the oil,” Fuller continued.
The oil spill happened on April 20, following a blowout and explosion on the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil platform. The explosion killed eleven platform workers, injured more than a dozen others, and ruptured a connecting pipe some 5,000 feet underwater. The platform was located about forty miles southeast of the Louisiana coastline. The ruptured line has been discharging between 5,000 and 100,000 barrels of crude oil a day, making it one of the worst oil spills in history. Efforts by BP officials to capture some of the leaking oil have had mixed results. The ultimate goal will be to seal the well, but a specific timetable is as contingent upon good engineering as it is on good luck. The very first positive news about the spill came on May 16, when a mile-long tube was inserted into the damaged pipe, giving BP engineers hope that they could buy time for a longer-term solution.
Scientists have said that damage to wetlands and beaches had been averted so far because of chemical dispersants and the use of booms, along with winds and tides that have kept the growing slick from moving onshore.
As soon as news of the oil spill broke, Fuller’s company started getting calls—calls from contractors along the Gulf Coast who wanted to make sure replacement parts, hoses, and other items were readily available for what they anticipated would be an enormous oil cleanup. Area contractors also wanted to make certain that their employees had proper training on the vacuum trucks. Fuller confirmed that he has had a handful of employees working throughout the region to make sure that everyone who wants to be trained for using the equipment for hazardous cleanup gets the training. In short, company employees are making sure they are available along the Gulf Coast so that when the oil comes ashore, Guzzler equipment and operators are prepared for one of the largest coastal cleanups ever recorded. Some of the Guzzler equipment could also end up on barges or platforms in the Gulf, positioned close to the source of the spill and providing a unique application for the industry workhorses.
Even with a “best case” scenario, if winds and weather keep the fluctuating oil spill from reaching delicate coastal areas, oil toxicity and oxygen depletion in the sea could cause huge problems for the profitable Gulf fishing industry. Getting as much oil out of the water is just as important as cleaning it up if—or when—it reaches shore.
Fuller explained that because the company is comprised of a relatively small group of people, it has the flexibility to respond quickly to customers’ needs, especially with a slow-moving disaster like the one lingering off the Gulf coastline.
“We don’t really plan other than [to] make sure we have the equipment available in case there’s a spike in demand” such as in the days after the oil platform explosion. “We are well rounded in being prepared for disaster; that is our core business,” Fuller continued.
To keep the vacuum trucks operating at their best, the company has staff mechanics available for contractors. They will work not only on Guzzler trucks but also on trucks manufactured by other companies.
The scope of the environmental disaster will no doubt play out over the upcoming weeks, if not for months or years. In May, the Coast Guard had estimated 170 boats and vessels, 7,500 workers, and 2,000 volunteers were involved in the cleanup so far. Add to that the hundreds and hundreds of Guzzler vacuum trucks staged throughout the Gulf region, and the result is an impressive response to the environmental disaster that is mounting offshore. Some of the oil will disperse, some will be collected by booms, some will drift off to sea, and eventually some will come ashore, fouling wetlands, bird sanctuaries, and breeding grounds for sea turtles, and spoiling commercial fishing areas.
The spill has taken on a life of its own, buoyed by currents and weather. Regardless of where or when the oil wreaks its worst damage, the damage will be contained at least in part by Guzzler vacuum trucks and the coastal contractors who will be using them.

Story by Marie Elium

Stimulus Money Starting to Work, So You Don’t Get To

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:33:37 +0000

Minnesota is known for quite a few things; two of its more famous attributes are cold winters and a lot of water. The winters (with the exception of northern Minnesota) are blown out of proportion. I talk to people in New Jersey, New York or Pennsylvania and they often say, “Oh Minnesota, I bet you guys are cold today aren’t you” when in fact it is usually colder where they live. But when it comes to water it is not an exaggeration. Here you can spit in any direction and hit a lake. In fact, there are about thirteen thousand lakes, but thirteen does not look good on a license plate so they go with the slogan, The Land of 10,000 Lakes.
What I find amusing is when people leave Minnesota for a southern climate like Arizona, Texas or New Mexico, only to come back because they miss the lakes and rivers—when you live here you seem to take them for granted. And of course when you have an abundance of lakes you have people that want to live on or near those shimmering jewels.
In the old days, people had cabins, and in most cases they were not what you would want to call luxury palaces—they were small, dank, dark, leaky and cold—but roughing it was part of the allure. On Friday night, dad would load up the car with all the gear, gather up the family and head to the cabin for a weekend of fishing and hunting—of course Grandpa said in those days, the fishing was so good you had to hide behind a tree to bait your hook.
But eventually things started changing; instead of a location you made a few dozen trips to over the summer, people began building actual houses and living in them year round. Of course today because of bad planning and lack of foresight, those lake communities are facing wastewater issues and the big-pipe representatives are lined-up to solve the problem.
Now in most of these areas the homeowners are clueless. When they hear the pitch about how great the pipe will make their lives and protect their lake from the ravages of septic pollution many say, “Okay.” And why are they so ready to sign on the dotted line—because no one is telling them the whole story, which means, neither the negatives of the pipe nor the positives of onsites.
And fighting these projects is difficult because those people that oppose it are usually a very small percentage [approximately 10%] of the community. And they are not very well organized with no clear plan because fighting city hall for a public utility project is a totally new concept.
What this means is when I receive a call, I have to convince this small group to start reaching out to their neighbors and try to get that 10% up to 40% or 50%. Then we need to schedule community meetings to get that number up to at least 70%. From there we need to work with the local contractors to get estimates on what type of onsite systems can be used as well as the costs and then present these solutions to the local unit of government as a viable alternative to the pipe and one that the majority of the people prefer. To say that this is a very time consuming and difficult process would be an understatement.
But last year, a few people mentioned a nearby community that was in the process of fighting the pipe and suggested I call them to see if I could help. I talked to a few participants in the group and, from what they told me, the county had built a treatment plant about 4 miles away and now were looking for customers. Their plan was to run a main down the county road to another area and as long as they were passing by, lay a loop around this lake giving the 371 property owners the opportunity to hookup.
What shocked me is the fact that these people already had it together. Approximately 70% of the homeowners were already against the county plan and those that needed it were willing to upgrade their systems to current code. With numbers like that right out of the gate, I figured they couldn’t lose and said the only thing I could offer would be to try and help them get that last 30% onboard with their program. They thanked me but said they didn’t feel it would be necessary—and I agreed.
Last weekend I got an email from someone involved in the community with a link to a story in the local paper:
Diamond Lake sewer project gets go-ahead from County
ATWATER — A long-debated project to install a common sanitary sewer collection system around Diamond Lake was unanimously approved Friday night by the Kandiyohi County Commissioners.
I couldn’t believe it. I mean this group was one of the most organized that I had ever seen; they had even applied for and received a grant to bring in an outside engineering firm to assess the lake’s lots for the best onsite solutions. Even the outfit burying that mainline was surprised that it passed because there was such opposition to it from the homeowners—however, they still lost.
I got on the horn and started calling to see what happened. It seems a major selling point was that the county was granted a few million in stimulus dollars to run that mainline past Diamond Lake which would knock down the assessments from $20,000 to $16,000 per household. Why with the pipe running a sale like that how could the county refuse?
What this means is those local contractors that would have kept those 371 customers were now going to lose them forever, and let’s not forget those customers at the end of the line that will be lost. As an afterthought, I asked what kind of support did their group get from the local contractors—their answer, “None.”
Now if I were working that area, particularly with business as slow as it has been and my business future in jeopardy, I wouldn’t have just been sitting and waiting for the phone to ring; I would have spent a few weeks of my time going door-to-door and done visual assessments/bids to make sure every homeowner knew what the onsite options would be and maybe the numbers would have been 99% against rather than 70%. That is what is called investing in the (your) future.
There is a small chance they can still shut it down—if they are still willing—but this is a prime example of your competition using those stimulus dollars to put you out of business.
Jim VonMeier performs educational programs directed at homeowners teaching them the health and environmental need for proper septic systems and how to find a certified septic professional to inspect/design/install/maintain their systems. He has also represented homeowners in their fight against public sewer projects and speaks at contractor certification courses around the country on the subject of customer service.

1-763-856-3800 jvonmeier@septicprotector.com

SPRING IS HERE…TIME FOR A TUNE-UP

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:48:19 +0000

By Jim vonMeier
This is the time of year where my inbox is flooded with, “We have a big wet spot in the yard…the toilets are flushing slowly…we had six inches of sewage backup in our basement. What should we do?” My first instinct is to answer: “Buy a new house.”
But I know most of these people would fail to see the humor, so I skip it and tell them the first step is to find a good, certified contractor and have the system assessed to see what the problem is. Is it a mechanical problem, like a plugged baffle or line, or is it an operational failure, like a leaking faucet overloading the system?
Another possibility is a design problem; if the tank is too small, it won’t allow for proper settling/storage of solids, and solids will be flushed out to the soil system. If the soil system is too small, it won’t meet the daily flows from the house. Or it could be something more serious, like an old cesspool that is not only illegal in most parts of the country, it is a danger—from cave-ins—to anyone in the house or neighborhood. The only way to determine what the problem is would be to call in a pro.
Naturally, some individuals have a distrust of contractors because of the horror stories circulated throughout the neighborhood, “I used to work with this guy, and his brother had an uncle whose best friend called a contractor out to pump his tank, and the guy failed it and turned it over to the county. They came out and told him he needed to put in a new $30,000 system. Didn’t have the money and lost his house.”
Hear a few stories like that and people will quake in fear just looking at the yellow pages. I tell them those horror stories make the rounds, just like in any other industry …but the problem is, I have never actually known anyone that it has happened to. Yes, there have been cases where someone is selling a house, and they were too unknowledgeable (or cheap) to have their system updated before they put a price on the house and listed it. Then, they got caught at the point of sale and had to shell out the big bucks to have it done before they could transfer the property. But the average homeowner with a problem? Nope, never seen it.
The truth is, most contractors do not want to be the septic police; their jobs are to fix systems, not make enemies. They also have to live and work in your neighborhood, and if they start reporting people, they won’t be working long. I tell them they are going to need to trust someone sooner or later; they may as well do it now or stock up on the rubber boots and air freshener.
In some cases, people have said, “The contractor walked around the backyard for three minutes and said I needed a new system and then left.” My reply: “Chances are, that guy has been working in your neighborhood for years and already knows all the systems on your street are faulty, and the only real solution is a replacement. It would be more frustrating if he spent three hours digging up your yard and then told you the same thing while handing you a bill for a half- day’s work. He did you a favor.”
But I do agree that not all contractors handle the bad news in the best manor. If the system does need replacing, you shouldn’t just hand the homeowners huge estimates and walk away like writing out a check for thousands of dollars is no big deal. You need to tell them why it is in their best interests to get the system repaired properly, starting with the pollution issues from an improperly designed system.
My favorite method is telling them that it could be contaminating their well, and “You could be drinking today what you had for dinner last night.” That usually gets them a little green around the gills. I’ve even triggered the gag reflex a few times when I tell them about people who have had their bogus systems replaced and two weeks later, their wells ran dry. Crude, but effective.
When they ask how this could happen, I tell them states have ignored septic systems for years because sewage is not a popular topic of conversation and, contrary to popular opinion, the health departments don’t want to force people out on the street over a bad system, so they have let homeowners slide. That doesn’t mean you can go on indefinitely flushing your toilet into your neighbor’s yard because things are getting tighter, but in most cases, they will work with you to help solve the problem.
However, don’t just give homeowners the bad news; follow-up with the advantages of a proper system: not only will they be able to sleep better at night and reduce pollution, it will also raise the value of their homes without raising their property taxes. Bonus round.
But let’s say you get the call and, after assessing the system, it comes out clean per code requirements; it is just slow/failing because of abuse. Something you should offer is a tune-up, using the analogy, “You have to tune-up your car; your septic system needs the same type of maintenance.”

The tank should be inspected and pumped if necessary.
The distribution box should be checked for cave-in or settling out of level.
The lines from the distribution box should be checked and, if warranted, jetted to clean them of any potential obstructions.
The next step would be to use an additive to treat the soil area. Most contractors have products they like for this purpose. In the old days, using acids was common; it was cheap and easy. However, these have been outlawed in most areas because that acid ends up in the drinking water supplies, causing cancer and birth defects. Today, there are safe products to use; one I like is Septic Scrub by Arcan (888-352-7226) to clean the sulfide build-up. If they have clay soils with sodium damage, I like Septic Seep by Drayner (800-372-9637). These are both environmentally safe products that have proven track records. There are also numerous bacterial agents on the market.
Today, there are add-on aerobic components like Aero-Stream (877-254-7093) that fit in the existing tank and provide additional treatment before the effluent goes out to the soil area.
If the soil system is in really bad shape (vehicle compaction), you could try soil fracturing (Terralift; 413-298-4272).
A riser should be installed on the tank for future inspections; just make sure it is a secure riser with the safety net installed, because there have been several cases of the risers getting damaged when a homeowner hits it with his riding mower. The lid comes loose, and children could start jumping on the covers and then falling into the tank and drowning. I would go so far as to put something over the riser like a fake rock (877-329-6757).
An effluent filter installed in the tank and a washing machine filter in the house to protect the soil system from further plugging/damage is also a possible solution.

Now that you have the system up and running again, you should encourage the homeowners to enter into an annual inspection program; for a reduced cost, you can inspect their systems for potential problems and determine if the tank needs to be pumped…and you can do this far cheaper because you have set the systems up for quick inspections, and you can do it from a pick-up truck, not a huge service/pump rig.
Just to show you how effective a simple explanation can be: a while back, I asked a friend if he included effluent or washing machine filters in his designs/installs. He said no because people don’t want to spend the extra money. I suggested when someone asks him for a bid, he ask them how long he wants the system to last—ten to fifteen years or indefinitely. When he is scratching his head, take the opportunity to explain how a system works and what causes it to fail (solids plugging the soil is a leading cause of failure) and how for a few more dollars, he could have a Cadillac system.
The contractor now not only puts in those more expensive Cadillac systems, he also wins bids over many other (cheaper) contractors because by explaining things, he shows the customer that he is looking out for him or her. Those few extra minutes can mean a lifelong business relationship…and with the city treatment plants and public utilities competing for your customers, you will need that loyalty.
Jim vonMeier performs educational programs directed at homeowners, teaching them the health and environmental need for proper septic systems and how to find a certified septic professional to inspect/design/install/maintain their systems. He has also represented homeowners in their fight against public sewer projects and speaks at contractor programs around the country on the subject of customer service.

1-763-856-3800 jvonmeier@septicprotector.com

Planes, Trains and Automobiles?

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:36:48 +0000

Not exactly—portable restrooms, sinks and trailers are more like it!

In these times, when diversification and expansion within your company framework is so important, it might be time to take a hard look at these areas.
If by some chance you have gotten to where you are in the portable sanitation business and you don’t yet deploy restrooms, sinks and trailers, what are you waiting for?

Before you venture into providing these services, ask yourself these few questions:

How much am I comfortable paying for these facilities?
How long do I expect them to last?
How much do they (realistically) cost to repair?

In many individuals’ minds, the portable restroom is what it is—a seven- and one-half-foot tall box that sits on a 44” x 47” base. I, personally, believe that it’s more than just a tall box and that when it is fitted out with available amenities, it can be the talk of the party. When considering deployment of these facilities, the mindset of the end user is very important.

The large event market has long been a tremendous profit center for this industry. What’s better than setting up an event with eighty plus regular units, six to eight wheelchair units and an array of hand-washing units, a few restroom trailers and VIPs? Add in some services, then pick everything up and set it all up again the following weekend in a different location. It’s ideal.

I don’t believe that the event market is suffering as much as their coordinators are trying to make you believe. The buzzword I keep hearing is “staycation.” Corporate sponsorship may be down, but more families are enjoying the local event scene now, as they may not be able to afford to travel.

The worst thing these events can do now is cut back on the level of sanitation that they consider providing for these events. You need to be at your best to up-sell to the individuals who plan the events and help them understand the ramifications of shortcutting in this area. You know the deal: if the restrooms are disgusting, then many of the attendees will simply leave. Getting them back in coming years may be difficult, simply due to the condition of the restrooms. Be sure to remind the event coordinators of this when discussing pricing.

In the private sector, the mindset of the end user brings a whole different thought process to the table. Whether it is the backyard party, block party or wedding in a park setting, most of these folks want what they want and in some cases, are trying to keep up with the Joneses. It’s a perfect scenario for providers in the industry—put your best equipment and service on the table and then charge accordingly. By no means should you gouge; but make certain to address the customers’ needs and get your price.

When targeting your customers, remember that portable restrooms with freshwater flushing, sinks, lights and mirrors are readily available and are great additions to your fleet of rental equipment. Women prefer them, as the waste in the tank is concealed. Consider putting together a wedding package: a standard unit with a hand sanitizer for the men and a unit for the women with all the amenities.

The sink, whether it is freestanding or installed in the unit, is the perfect piece to up-sell to your existing customer base and create additional revenue. If you are not talking up hand washing for special events, you are missing the boat. It’s not a large investment, and it’s becoming more and more important to customers. Not only are sinks used in or around the bank of restrooms, they are often needed in the concession areas as well. In some places, sinks are mandatory on construction sites and are even required to be heated. With all of the new GAP-compliant regulations being developed, the need for sinks in the agriculture sector will soon be mandatory.

Don’t forget hand-sanitizing options as well. They are mounted on the wall in a unit and can come in free-standing stations.

Lastly. the restroom trailer has really found its niche in the business. Whether it is a huge event that requires multiple trailers or a high-end backyard wedding, these units can get you into places that your business has never been before, including golf tournaments, NASCAR and upscale corporate events, to name just a few.

I suggest taking measured steps in this arena, as your investment can be substantial. I know of smaller operators who get into the trailer game and work regionally with other operators to have a chance at some of the larger events they would normally not be able to handle themselves.

Long-term rentals are now beginning to develop for trailers, and, with the inventory of trailers from the mid to late 1990s starting to age, I believe they will start to show up more and more on construction sites.

In a nutshell, you can’t rent what you don’t have, and now is not the time to be saying no when it comes to new areas of business. Restrooms, sinks and trailers could be valuable assets to your company and to your profit margin.

Consider these options, make sensible choices, and don’t give your service away!

The Pumper & Cleaner Expo 2010 – 30th Anniversary Show!

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:35:57 +0000

Over 12,000 people from 4,000 companies attended this year’s Expo, rated as one of the top trade shows by Tradeshow Week Magazine. It’s also one of the fastest growing, offering an incredible 500 exhibits and over 75 free seminars covering all aspects of the industry.

Gideon Smith, publisher of American Liquid Waste, enjoyed the hectic pace, as well as the chance to speak with readers and advertisers in person. “You deal with people every day over the phone and through email,” said Smith. “It’s great to shake hands and say hi to the people we publish for. They gave us a lot input for articles they’d like to see in the coming year.”

The Expo, this year held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville from February 24 to 27, provided attendees with the information and connections to improve their services while increasing company profits. The Expo serves several industries, including septic system installers and contractors, portable restroom service companies, drain and sewer cleaning and repair, and municipal water and sewer system maintenance managers.

Exhibitors covered every aspect of the industry. Companies offered business support such as consulting, insurance, engineering services, marketing and promotion; educational information and opportunities; machinery, equipment, uniform and chemical suppliers. Plus, 16 national, regional and corporate industry associations were on hand to support their members.

February 24 was Education Day, which gave attendees the opportunity to attend seminars without missing any exhibit activity. Over the course of the event the Expo offered a variety of seminars, some of which applied toward continuing education credits with the ease of a quick badge scan and the award of an attendance certificate.

Many of the seminars covered the latest high-tech advances in the industry. Technological advances occur quickly now, and there are constant upgrades and new equipment and methods that you can offer to your customers which both improve their operation and your bottom line. Many of these advances are affordable to even the smallest operators, helping them to stay current and grow their business.

Thursday afternoon, after the exhibit hall closed, many attendees relaxed and refreshed at the Industry Appreciation Party held at the Cole Pub. It was a chance to catch up in person with people in the industry, as well as put faces to the names of the people you deal with regularly.

The expo ended with a cheer, accompanied by Sawyer Brown and Phil Vassar at the Saturday Evening Jam, Revisited. Sawyer Brown, an energetic ensemble featured at the ’03 and ’04 expos, had the hall on its feet for their popular mix of originals and covers. Phil Vassar, who you might have seen at the Grand Ole Opry in 2005, played hits from his latest album as well as old favorites.

Smith and his associates had a great time, “You don’t stop moving for four days, and I can’t wait to do it again next year.”

Story by Catia Whitmore