Degen Excavating Profiled in Equipment Newsletter

Degen Excavating was recently profiled in Columbus Equipment Company’s newsletter. The article highlights Degen Excavating’s history from its beginnings in 1958 to the current award-winning Cairo project. Of particular note is Degen’s commitment to staying versatile and thus the ability to cater to the client’s ever changing needs. Also detailed is the Komatsu equipment utilized by Degen Excavating, including being one of the first to use Komatsu’s excavators in Ohio and the long relationship between the company and Columbus Equipment Company. Click here to read the full article.

Don Conaway Partnering Award

Degen Excavating is honored to be the recipient of the Don Conaway Partnering Award for 2016 from the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Contractors Association, Category 1 ($0 to $5 million). Established in 2013, the award distinguishes those companies whose projects and staff have exemplified best practices in successful partnering now that partnering is a standard way of conducting business on all ODOT projects. Selection criteria included: establishment and achievement of goals, safety record of the project, project completion on time and within budget and demonstration of partnering values.

Don Conaway Award Certificate

Hydro-Excavation in the Winter

We’ve discussed the unparalleled benefits of hydro-excavating many times before, but another great advantage of this innovative technique is its versatility in regard to weather. Some conventional digging and excavation tools have difficulty during the winter months, but if properly maintained hydro-excavation equipment can be utilized year-around.

Why use hydro-excavation in Winter?

This technique uses pressurized water to cut through soil, debris and other hard surfaces/materials. Hydro-vac trucks are equipped with high powered coil heaters that allow them to excavate in harsh winter climates. Heated pressurized water can penetrate and excavate through any depth of ground frost, even in colder weather, the pressurized water is strong enough to cut through the hard frozen ground.

Another great benefit is the ability to dig from a distance. Unlike traditional excavation equipment, a vacuum excavation truck can work from up to 400 feet from the site. This allows digging in confined, hard to reach spaces. During the colder months some work areas may be less accessible, making hydro-excavation an excellent option.

Hydro-excavation has also gained recognition as a best practice for exposing underground utilities in frozen and or congested grounds. Some governments have enacted laws that encourage contractors to use hydro-excavation to prevent damage to underground infrastructure.

A number of industries are adopting this technique. Some of the industry applications for hydro-excavation include:

• Pipelines
• Storm Drains
• Public Works
• Refineries
• Road Construction
• Telecommunications
• Utility Engineering
• Power Plants
• Commercial Construction
• Municipal Utilities
• Electrical Utilities

Degen Excavating proudly offers hydro-excavation for numerous industrial applications. Even during the winter months, of team of highly-trained technicians know how to safely and effectively operate equipment to achieve the desired results. Contact us today to see how we can leverage hydro-excavation to streamline your needs.

What is Hydro-Excavation?

Hydro Excavation Is a relatively new technique used for digging and moving soil through the use of highly pressurized water. Compared to traditional digging methods, hydro-excavation is lower risk and typically more cost-effective.

How does hydro-excavation work?

The highly pressurized water is used alongside an air vacuum to complete the hydro-excavation process. The water is used to break up and dig through the soil and the vacuum carries the debris to a tank for safe and environmentally friendly removal.

When should hydro-excavation be used?

Hydro-excavation is successfully used in a variety of industries from general excavation to potholing. The benefits of this innovative technique far exceed those of conventional excavation.  For example, manual shovel digging through backhoes and other industrial equipment is not nearly as accurate as hydro-excavation. Conventional methods typically result in excess removal of soil and ultimately requires time consuming back-filling after the job is complete. Not to mention the safety risk for laborers while operating heavy duty machinery.

What does hydro-excavation cost?

Hydro-excavation eliminates many issues associated with traditional excavation, making it a more cost-effective and popular method. Hydro-excavation is considerably less labor-intensive and requires fewer laborers than other methods. Hydro-excavation also minimizes environmental risks and allows faster completion of the job with increased accuracy. For a detailed hydro-excavation estimate, contact Degen Excavating Company to speak with a hydro-excavation specialist.

Other benefits of hydro-excavation …

Because the entire process only requires two components – the water and the vacuum, this method provides the ability to access confined spaces that traditional equipment cannot access. The truck with the tank can be positioned remotely, allowing laborers to safely dig within tight spaces while the vacuum efficiently carries the soil to the tank for eco-friendly removal.

Hydro-excavation is less destructive than other methods of digging. The accuracy decreases the amount of soil removed, keeps the worksite clean in comparison to other methods and prevents potential damage to surrounding pipes and utilities.

Hydro-excavation is quickly becoming the most popular excavation technique in the industry. The benefits far exceed conventional methods and the unparalleled accuracy produces quick and efficient results. To learn more about hydro-excavation and other services offered by Degen Excavating Company, contact a member of our highly-trained team.