Junttan Brings New Line of XCMG Rotary Drilling Rigs to U.S.

The release says that Junttan recognized an increase in drilled shafts in the North American foundation market and wanted to expand beyond its traditional line of piling rigs and hammers to meet the changing needs of its contractor customers. The new line of XCMG drilling rigs allow the company to provide equipment and tooling for both driven and drilled pile foundations. These rigs are designed for Kelly drilling, continuous flight auger (CFA), full displacement piles (FDP), single column mixing (SCM), cased CFA (CCFA), and low headroom applications. Junttan USA also expects to expand its technology to perform cutter soil mixing for diaphragm wall applications.

“This partnership will allow Junttan to expand its already extensive line of piling rigs and bring new options to our customer base,” says Tim Dutton, Junttan USA’s vice president of sales and operations. “We are proud to be partnered with an organization like XCMG.”

The XCMG line of drilling rigs have a large range of operating weights from 45 to 200 tons and torque values between 130 and 800 kNm. All are outfitted with Cummins engines and will be Tier 4 or greater to comply with emission standards in the U.S. Junttan USA has access to the Cummins InSite software for troubleshooting and diagnostics. This allows all engine service to be performed by Junttan technicians with no outside support from a Cummins dealer. All new products will be backed by a one-year/2,000-hour warranty and handled directly through Junttan USA.

Junttan USA will provide service and stock a comprehensive inventory of parts for the XCMG product line at its Delaware and Florida locations. XCMG has also committed to stocking parts at its locations in Nevada, Texas, and Minnesota.

Junttan USA is the American subsidiary of Junttan Oy, which designs and manufactures hydraulic piling equipment. The Junttan product range includes pile driving rigs, multipurpose piling/drilling rigs, and deep stabilization rigs, as well as hydraulic impact hammers, rotary heads and power packs. For more information, visit junttan.com.

Junttan USA Inc., a subsidiary of Junttan Oy, has announced a signed dealer agreement to represent XCMG foundation drilling rigs in the United States. In a release, Junttan says these rigs, custom-built by XCMG for Junttan, will be backed by a full line of drilling tools, temporary casings, shoes, drive adapters and teeth.

“Junttan and XCMG will work closely to help strengthen both of our product lines in the future,” Junttan USA General Manager Miika Eskelinen says. “Both companies share the same values of quality, trust and partnership with our valued customers. It is with great pride that we see our U.S.-based company strengthening its products.”

The release calls XCMG one of the largest construction equipment manufacturers in the world, adding that it has 20 years of experience manufacturing foundation equipment. This partnership, the companies say, will expand Junttan’s product line from primarily piledriving equipment into foundation drilling equipment.

“The signing of this agreement between XCMG and Junttan USA is a mutual relationship that is built on respect and communication,” says Kong Qinghua, president of XCMG Foundation Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. “We see a great opportunity to provide drilling equipment in the United States and are very happy with our new partner Junttan USA.”

Thompson Pump Wins Cigna Well-Being Award

Florida-based Thompson Pump and Manufacturing Company has, for a second year in a row, received recognition for efforts to create a health workplace. The company was recently named a 2021 Cigna Well-Being Award recipient.

“The health and well-being of everyone who works here is a top priority for us,” says Chris Thompson, president. “Happy and healthy employees are vital to our success and the relationship between productive, satisfied teams and business performance.”

In a release, the company says it has focused more on employee health and well-being over the last eight years, adding activities each year to compliment that focus. This year, the company’s wellness committee implemented walking steps challenges, a challenge focused on meditation and relaxation, and employee engagement efforts.

For its dedication, Thompson Pump was honored with the top-tier award level of “Outstanding Culture of Well-Being” in North Florida. A panel of Cigna Health promotion experts considers award applications based on core components of company well-being programs, including leadership engagement, company culture, strategy and goals, implementation and employee engagement.

“These past couple of years have been extremely difficult for all of us and we want to make sure we are helping everyone through these times,” says Victor Nadeau, Thompson Pump’s human resources director. “I’m so proud of the work we’ve done and will continue to find new, engaging ways to provide a healthy working environment for everyone at Thompson Pump.”

Thompson Pump — family owned since 1970 — manufactures a variety of pumps ranging in size from two to 18 inches and with capacities up to 14,000 gpm. The Florida-based company sells and rents its entire line to customers in sectors including public works, construction, agriculture and mining. The company operates 21 branches throughout the United States and has a worldwide network of distributors. It also has achieved ISO 9001 quality certification for their Port Orange, Fla., manufacturing facility. For more information, call 800-767-7310 or visit www.thompsonpump.com.

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DFI Announces Co-chair of Tunneling and Underground Committee

The DFI Tunneling and Underground Committee focuses on identifying and advancing new methods and technologies for design, construction, inspection, maintenance and operation of tunnels and underground systems as well as liaising with deep foundations technologies for ancillary underground structures.

The DFI is an international association of contractors, engineers, academics and suppliers in the deep foundations industry with more than 4,000 members worldwide. For more information about the Deep Foundations Institute, visit www.dfi.org.

The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) has announced Robert Stier of Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring as the new co-chair of the group’s Tunneling and Underground Committee. He joins co-chair, Jim Morrison, P.E., P.Eng., COWI, and takes over for outgoing co-chair David Klug of David R. Klug & Associate.

In a release, the group describes Stier’s 35 years of tunneling and underground experience. He oversees the eastern region for specialty geotechnical firm Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring (DTDS), which performs tunneling operations throughout the U.S. Since joining DTDS in 2018, Stier has helped procure tunnel projects on both the West Coast and eastern U.S., and has procured and managed the company’s first foundation projects in the eastern region. Under his guidance, DTDS procured its largest GC design-build contract for National Parks Service, and he currently manages that project.

Stier earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering technology from Southern Polytechnic State University (Kennesaw State) in Marietta, Georgia.