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PCCA Journal|1

st

Quarter 2015

44

.FNCFS /FXT

Continued from page 43

Blackstone Forms Leading Utility and

Heavy Equipment Platform

B

lackstone on January 30 announced the formation of

a new utility and heavy equipment platform, Utility

One Source, in partnership with three family-run

businesses, including PCCA member Utility Fleet Sales.

Through the partnership, private equity funds managed by

Blackstone will provide growth capital for significant addi-

tional investment in equipment, innovation, and an expand-

ed geographic footprint, which will ensure Utility One Source

has the customer-focused solutions the industry requires.

Importantly, each company will continue to be family-owned

and operated following the investment by Blackstone.

Utility One Source intends to build upon the market posi-

tions of Utility Fleet Sales, Custom Truck & Equipment, and

Forestry Equipment of Virginia (FEVA), while serving as a

single source supplier for the utility and heavy equipment

industries with a focus on sales, rental equipment, parts,

transportation, and service.

Leveraging Blackstone’s significant resources and expertise,

the platform’s efforts will be coordinated by Chairman Chris

Ragot, whose comprehensive operating background includes

serving as Group President of Terex, Vice President and

General Manager of Ingersoll-Rand Europe, CEO of FreightCar

America, CEO of Novariant, and CEO of Exopack.

“We are very excited to be a part of the alignment of three

family-owned and operated companies that will be the initial

team forming Utility One Source in partnership with Black-

stone,” Utility Fleet Sales CEO George McMahon said. “We

look forward to continuing to expand Utility One Source

and leveraging the expertise of the group to better serve our

customers globally.”

Vermeer D100x140 S3 Navigator HDD

O"ers Advanced Features

T

he Vermeer D100x140 Navigator horizontal direc-

tional drill already offered exceptional downhole

power—now a Tier 4 final engine and other en-

hanced features help improve speed and simplicity.

The D100x140 S3 features a 275-horsepower CAT diesel

engine that meets the Tier 4 Final emissions standards and

provides 100,000 pounds of thrust/pullback and 14,000

foot-pounds of rotational torque, plus increased rotational

speed of 203 rpm, providing the power downhole to improve

productivity.

The D100x140 S3 is also available with the InSite asset

management system, which provides real-time machine data

so that fleet managers and business owners can make in-

formed decisions on how they use and maintain their equip-

ment. The data can be delivered anywhere and on multiple

platforms, including tablets and mobile devices.

The D100x140 S3 also comes with the DigiTrak Aurora dis-

play, which is a touch-screen interface for horizontal drilling

that provides real-time locate information and enhances the

operator’s ability to monitor drill performance.

The D100x140 S3 offers two Firestick drill rod options—15

feet or 20 feet—to meet contractor preferences. The 15-

foot rod option is applicable for jobsites that may require a

smaller footprint, and those looking for maximum on-board

rod footage may consider the 20-foot rod. Firestick drill rods

have a one-piece construction for exceptional strength and

bend radius. Stackable rod boxes with a single pin design

and patent-pending auto-lock allow an additional rod to be

loaded from an upper rod box.

Service and maintenance accessibility was also a factor

in the design. A pivoting swing-out door provides access to

hydraulic components where the pump and filters can easily

be reached. A flip-up panel provides access to the engine

bay, and a separate enclosure contains the battery, fuses, and

controller.

Terramac Signs SMS Equipment as

First Canadian Dealer

T

erramac LLC, a

manufacturer of

innovative rubber

track crawler carriers, has

added SMS Equipment Inc.,

headquartered in Acheson,

Alberta, to its dealer net-

work. The newest dealer in Terramac’s dealer network—and

the first Canadian dealer—SMS Equipment provides sales,

rentals, applications expertise, and parts and service support

for the Terramac RT9 crawler carrier throughout Canada.