Construction
Globenewswire | August 01, 2023
Aegion Corporation, a leading provider of infrastructure maintenance, rehabilitation and technology-enabled water solutions, today announced the acquisition of Portland Utilities Construction Company, a preferred underground utility contractor in the Southeast and Texas. Portland Utilities Construction Company, LLC (PUCC) plans to operate under its current company name in the near term.
Founded in 1991 by Ernie Woodcock, PUCC found its niche in the trenchless pipe rehabilitation industry by pioneering and promoting the “pipe bursting” method of pipe replacement in Tennessee and its seven border states. In 1995, Ernie’s son, Mike Woodcock, began working at PUCC. Today, PUCC is one of the premier contractors in trenchless pipe rehabilitation servicing municipal clients across the Southeast and Texas.
“The addition of Portland Utilities bolsters our ability to deliver additional specialized services to customers in Tennessee and beyond,” said Rob Tullman, President and CEO, Aegion. “We value PUCC’s legacy in the industry and are excited to leverage their capabilities and grow together.”
PUCC facilities and employees will remain in place, including Vice President Mike Woodcock and Controller John Keck, who will continue to lead the organization for the foreseeable future.
“Our employees, past and present, are responsible for all our success at PUCC. Because of them, our customers have trusted the PUCC name for more than three decades,” said Ernie Woodcock, President, Portland Utilities Construction Company, LLC. “I thank them as we start a new chapter with Aegion and continue to deliver the highest quality service with additional resources and support.”
About Portland Utilities Construction Company, LLC
For more than 30 years, Portland Utilities Construction Company, LLC has been dedicated to the trenchless pipe rehabilitation industry by rehabilitating and replacing pipe in more than a dozen states and the District of Columbia – a total of almost 3,000,000 linear feet – using both CIPP and pipe bursting methods.
About Aegion Corporation
Since 1971, Aegion has developed and delivered products and services for aging potable and wastewater infrastructure across the globe. The company’s industry-leading, technology-enabled solutions extend the useful life of pipelines, minimize environmental disturbances, and help prevent corrosion. Aegion proudly serves customers in the municipal, industrial, and transportation markets – from consultation and design to installation and maintenance. Aegion is committed to Stronger. Safer. Infrastructure.®
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Engineering Tech
Businesswire | August 08, 2023
BWX Technologies, Inc. today announced a contract with TerraPower to design the Intermediate Heat Exchanger for the Natrium Demonstration Project.
The Natrium technology is a 345-megawatt sodium fast reactor coupled with a molten salt-based integrated energy storage system. The Intermediate Heat Exchanger is a critical component of the Natrium advanced reactor. It transfers heat from the primary sodium in the primary heat transport system to the intermediate heat transport system. This work will start from conceptual design, preliminary design and final detailed design activities of the Intermediate Heat Exchanger, and be performed by BWXT Canada Ltd. in Cambridge, Ontario.
“BWXT has the required experience and expertise in commercial nuclear innovation to serve the fast-growing global advanced reactor market,” said John MacQuarrie, president of BWXT Commercial Operations. “We are pleased to work with TerraPower to execute this contract and look forward to meeting our commitments while expanding our role in accelerating the supply of clean energy in North America.”
In November 2021, TerraPower announced Kemmerer, Wyoming as the preferred site for the Natrium Demonstration Project, one of two competitively-selected advanced reactor demonstration projects (ARDP) supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Successful design of the Intermediate Heat Exchanger by BWXT Canada Ltd. is key to the planned achievements of the Natrium Demonstration Project’s power generation.
BWXT is a global leader in the design, manufacture and service of commercial nuclear components. As a result of its investments in people and facilities, BWXT has become an essential partner in the delivery of nuclear projects, supporting customers’ commitment to generating clean, reliable, low-cost electricity for communities and businesses.
About BWXT
At BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), we are People Strong, Innovation Driven. Headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia, BWXT is a Defense News Top 100 manufacturing and engineering innovator that provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With approximately 7,000 employees, BWXT has 14 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. In addition, BWXT joint ventures provide management and operations at a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities. BWXT’s Commercial Operations has over 60 years of expertise and experience in the design, manufacturing, commissioning and service of nuclear power generation equipment. This includes steam generators, nuclear fuel and fuel components, critical plant components, parts and related plant services.
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Construction
PRWeb | September 01, 2023
PlanHub, the leading preconstruction software as a service (SaaS) company, is excited to announce that Takeoff Core, previously released as a cloud-based, integrated takeoff software built into PlanHub, is now also available as a standalone. Takeoff Core helps subcontractors perform takeoffs efficiently, eliminating the need for manual work, outdated desktop software, and complicated digital solutions.
In preconstruction, time is money. The more time it takes to perform takeoffs and submit bids, the more subcontractors risk losing out on valuable revenue opportunities. Manual methods and locally installed desktop software can slow down takeoff processes, and many digital solutions currently on the market can be overly complex and not user-friendly.
Takeoff Core relieves bottlenecks in the pre-construction workflow with automation that makes measuring and estimating faster and more accurate than traditional methods. It features a simple, user-friendly interface and intuitive measuring tools, so getting started is hassle-free.
“We wanted to create an easy-to-use tool that helps subcontractors jumpstart their takeoff in minutes,” says Darius Shafie, Product Manager at PlanHub. “Takeoff Core does not require extensive onboarding or additional user training, so subcontractors can create takeoffs in as little as 15 minutes.”
Accuracy is everything when it comes to takeoffs—manual takeoffs are more error-prone, and incorrect measurements can lead to insufficient (or excess) materials, costing difficulties, and lost project revenue. With Takeoff Core, subcontractors can modernize their takeoff process with a digital solution that helps mitigate risks by providing better takeoff accuracy than traditional pen and paper or outdated desktop solutions.
Takeoff Core offers subcontractors a centralized hub to manage their takeoffs in a single place simply by uploading projects and their associated files. Team members can see takeoff statuses and collaborate in real time, regardless of where they are located. And because Takeoff Core is cloud-based, there is no software to upgrade or make manual updates to—it easily scales as a business achieves growth.
"At PlanHub, our goal is to simplify preconstruction for everyone. Following overwhelming positive feedback from our subcontractor network using the new Takeoff Core, we are excited to make it available to all construction professionals, whether they have a contractor account with us or not. With Takeoff Core, we're giving contractors of all sizes powerful user-friendly tools to save time and work more efficiently," shares Ro Bhatia, CEO of PlanHub
About PlanHub
PlanHub is the data-driven platform transforming the preconstruction landscape within the construction industry. By empowering construction professionals with data insights and easy to use tools, PlanHub enables them to forge strong business relationships, streamline pre-construction processes, and make informed decisions effortlessly. PlanHub provides faster, simpler, and unmatched accuracy, laying a solid foundation for the rest of the construction process.https://planhub.com
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Construction
Globenewswire | July 27, 2023
North American Construction Group Ltd. (“NACG” or the “Company”) (TSX:NOA) today announced that it has entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement to acquire (the “Transaction”) MacKellar Group (“MacKellar”) for an estimated $395 million (the “Consideration”). MacKellar Group, with its heavy construction equipment fleet, is an Australia-based provider of heavy earthworks solutions to the mining and civil sectors, with a strong reputation derived from decades of reliable performance. The Transaction will significantly expand NACG’s capability and allow the Company to serve a highly valuable and diversified base of customers globally.
The Transaction emerged through continued dialogue with MacKellar over the past two years, following NACG’s entry into Australia through the acquisition of DGI Trading Pty Limited in 2021. The acquisition of MacKellar is highly complementary to, and a natural strategic fit with, NACG given shared cultural alignment, focus on safety and operational similarities. MacKellar will continue to operate and execute on its growth strategy, while delivering on its commitment of service to all its customers and partners.
“NACG has built a strong relationship with MacKellar over the past two-plus years. Given the operational and cultural similarities that our companies share, this acquisition is a rare and attractive opportunity,” said Joe Lambert, Chief Executive Officer of NACG. “Over the years, we have worked extremely hard to be part of the solution to help lower the operating costs of our customers through safe, efficient operation and maintenance of our equipment fleet. We are excited about partnering with MacKellar to serve our expanded customer base with the same innovations at a time when commodity producers are striving to maximize production and efficiency. I want to welcome the MacKellar team to the NACG family. We are extremely proud to be sharing in what we believe will be a bright future together.”
“Joining NACG offers a significant opportunity for both companies to share best practices and execute on our growth strategy. Our shared culture, highly skilled maintenance and operations teams, and now global operations will position us as a leader in heavy equipment fleet, allowing us to better serve customers across Australia,” said Duncan MacKellar, Chairman of MacKellar Group.
Strategic Highlights
Combined Business with Significant Global Reach and Diversified Customer Base: MacKellar provides the opportunity to expand the Company’s geographic and operational presence in Australia, while adding a high-quality investment-grade customer base. The Transaction provides diversification with no single end market contributing more than approximately a third of adjusted EBIT.
Shared Core Values and Culture: MacKellar shares NACG’s values and is committed to hands-on management, continuous drive to be the low-cost provider, a focus on building strong partnerships with customers, and maintaining operating and safety excellence.
Turnkey Operations with Highly Valuable Asset Base: MacKellar Group adds approximately 450 mobile heavy equipment assets; 1,000 employees, including over 375 maintenance personnel; and 15 operating projects across a variety of service offerings including contract mining, civil earthworks, dry and maintained equipment rentals and component rebuilds. Its asset base is comprised of a well-maintained fleet operating at effective utilization levels.
Prudent Approach to the Transaction Minimizes Execution Risk: Continuous dialogue and in-person operational field reviews by both parties has allowed for the Company to ensure there is a strong cultural fit and alignment between the two organizations. This alignment is also reflected in the transaction structure with a significant portion of the consideration being deferred.
Robust Growth Prospects with Strong Backlog: Operations in Western Australia and Queensland serve as a growth pillar given the large and diverse resource markets combined with a mining friendly jurisdiction. The combined company is expected to have over $4.0 billion in contractual backlog by December 31, 2023 which will be the foundation to drive significant growth.
“The transaction represents a major milestone for NACG and adds significant scale to our business. Both NACG and MacKellar are leaders with strong reputation, culture and commitment to safety. This partnership will accelerate our combined growth and allow us to better serve our customers on a global scale,” said Martin Ferron, Chairman of the Board of NACG.
About NACG
North American Construction Group Ltd. is a premier provider of heavy civil construction and mining services in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. For 70 years, NACG has provided services to the mining, resource, and infrastructure construction markets.
About MacKellar Group
Established in 1966 based on humble family values MacKellar has earned an enviable reputation in the industry for performance and reliability. MacKellar specialize in heavy earthmoving equipment solutions and has a proud history of working on both mining and civil earthwork projects around Australia.
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