ent001455-014

An engineering firm representative suggested pre-job conferences between the contractor and his supervisory men, and the utility company men and inspectors, as the best way to eliminate job problems. Labor Is Big Problem Contractors said that the big prob- lem today is securing good labor, especially welders. One contractor re- marked that even good men do not seem to have the ambition and drive they had several years ago, probably because jobs are so plentiful. Micro wire was ^reported to be a help in solving the shortage of weld- ers. On main line work, it has re- leased some welders for distribution work and new welders were reported easier to train in this method. Ploughing Pipe Is Not Cure-All Contractors said ploughing in pipe is not cheap and costs the contractor about as much as conventional meth- ods. Also, there is said to be con- siderably more danger to damaging existing underground pipe and cables. Utilities are promoting plastic pipe and ploughing pipe, rather than con- tractors, it was reported. In some areas, utilities were said to be going to plastic pipe as fast as satisfactory materials were , made available and much more plastic pipe was expected to be laid in the future. With utilities pursuing plastic pipe and the ploughing installation, con- tractors were advised to keep abreast of methods, and equipment and have proper equipment available! Equip- ment costs were said to be about the same as for conventional pipelaying. Enjoying the DC A convention are: Harold Mueller, Lloyd Schinker, of Mueller Pipeliners; Arnie Madsen, Pat Lenane, of Massey-Ferguson; and Bob Mueller. While ploughing pipe is uneconomic in congested areas or rocky terrain, it can save money under ideal condi- tions, contractors indicated. Utility men said plastic pipe is making it possible for them to extend their mains economically to more customers, as lower costs perm t serv- ice to smaller towns and more sparse- ly settled areas. In a panel forum discussion on Tuesday, with contractors, utility men and equipment men participating, further interesting reports were heard. John Wold, of H. H. Null, Inc., Houston, saw increased use of plastic pipe due to increasing costs of other materials and inability of gas compa- nies to get adequate rate increases. He said plastic pipe installation re- quires fewer skilled workers and weld- ers who are needed for mainline jobs. R. C. Stewart, of Columbia Gas Co. of Ohio, said there is a trend toward smaller pipe diameters and higher pressures. He has adopted a waiting attitude on plastic pipe as there are still problems to be solved. He men- tioned compatibility of one * plastic with another PVC or Polyethylene Shown here are Don Lancaster, Pub- lic Service Co. of Colorado; Bob Burkhardt, Burkhardt Pipeline Con- struction Co.; Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Morgan, Cleveland Trencher Co.; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Dearth, Dearth Machinery Co.; and John Schearer, Cleveland Trencher Co. and reported joining one to another doesn?╟╓t always work out. Ed Gabrielse, of Gabe?╟╓s Construc- tion CoSheboygan, Wisc., said con- tractors will have to proceed at the same pace with utilities on plastic pipe. Structural strength is not as good as steel, but utilities are looking to 500- to 800-foot extensions to cus- tomers instead of 300 feet, and in- stallation costs on such jobs are lower for plastic pipe. Dick Cline, of Midwestern Engine & Equipment Co., said his firm is making a study of pipe ploughing equipment, feeling it will be more widely used in the future. He said one thing it does, is eliminate the need for sidebooms. L. R. Sharp, of Peoples Natural Gas Division, Northern Natural Gas Co., said his company is a large user of plastic pipe and believes this pipe is here to stay. He predicted more and more use of plastic pipe for gas dis- tribution, especially in small towns. Don Miller, of Miller Pipeline Corp., Green Springs, Ohio, said plas- tic pipe will create more work for the contractor and he will still need conventional equipment for conven- tional pipelaying, plus some plough- ing equipment for plastic lines. A. W. Durning, of Louisiana Gas Service Co., Harvey, La., declared that plastic pipe does have a great future, but it will do away with steel pipe as each has its place in the in- dustry. He felt new and improved joining methods for plastic pipe will be developed. 24 April, 1968