Ditch Witch - Job Stories

Equipment World "Dream Package" Includes Ditch Witch SK650

Equipment World magazine named Mario Ramos of Mar-Con Services, Pasadena, TX, as the winner of the 2010 "Contractor's Dream Package." Valued at $100,000, the package of products and services includes a Ditch Witch SK650 compact tool carrier. Download press release (PDF)

Ditch Witch Equipment Helps Contractor Power Minnesota

Minnesota utility contractor R&G Waldhalm Contractors utilizes a fleet of Ditch Witch equipment to install underground power cable for power companies and electric cooperatives in east-central Minnesota.

Ditch Witch Zahn R300 Expands North Carolina Company's Capabilities

Landscape Irrigation Systems, Inc. (LIS) has been serving North Carolina's Piedmont Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point, North Carolina) for nearly 20 years, providing expert commercial and residential landscape design and construction, installing and maintaining underground irrigation systems, and building "hardscape" patios and walkways.

White Paper: Methods For Installing Fiber-Optic Cable

A white paper written by Jason Proctor, heavy equipment product manager for the Ditch Witch organization, examines the various construction methods for installing underground fiber-optic cable for broadband telecommunications networks.

Behind The Walk-Behind Rental Experience

Through economic ups and downs, changes in markets, and technological advances, compact trenchers have remained an important profit center for the rental industry for half a century.

Silt Fence Installation Methods

There are numerous ways to install silt fence, but which is the best? Static plowing and trenching have been the traditional methods of choice, but a method using a Ditch Witch^® vibratory plow makes a strong case for being number one.

Columbus Discovers Ditch Witch

Columbus Communications, Inc., builds communications systems and infrastructure on islands throughout the Caribbean, relying on a wide range of Ditch Witch^® equipment to securely install services in this hurricane-prone region.

Ditch Witch 410sx Helps Maine Business Grow

Coastal Irrigation & Lighting, Inc. (CIL) became the first company in the Acadia National Park area to offer services in the design and installation of underground irrigation and landscape lighting. Rather than attempt to dig trench to install pipe and cable in the rocky soil by hand, the company acquired a small, used vibratory plow: the Ditch Witch 410sx.

OnGrade Webinar Now Available

A recent trenchless technology webinar discusses the benefits of installing gravity-flow sewer systems using horizontal directional drilling.

Keeping Underground Equipment Off The Underground Market

It is far easier to prevent theft of construction and agricultural equipment than to recover it after it is stolen. There are many preventive measures to keep your equipment safe.

New Market Heating Up For Directional Drilling

For many years, geothermal system installations were typically reserved for new homes and buildings. Horizontal directional drilling now makes it possible to cost-effectively retrofit existing structures with geothermal systems.

Take Care Of Your Pipe

The Ditch Witch organization manufactures the most durable drill pipe in the underground construction industry. But even the most dependable pipe depends on you to use it properly.

With Ditch Witch Drills, Boca Enterprises Ready For Anything

Kentucky underground construction company Boca Enterprises is not afraid to take on the most challenging utility projects, thanks to its expertise with Ditch Witch horizontal directional drills.

Tier 4 Standards Begin In 2011

The EPA's Tier 4 engine emission standards for off-road, diesel-powered equipment of 175 to 750 hp go into effect on Jan. 1, 2011. What does this mean for equipment manufacturers, dealers and customers?

Best Practices For Damage Prevention

No one can dispute the importance of preventing damage to underground utilities. Accidental utility strikes disrupt essential services, require costly and time-consuming repairs and can cause serious injuries.

Choosing The Right Digging Chain Increases Your Productivity

No matter what your task, having the right tool for the job is critical for success. It's no different with digging chain. Ditch Witch^® digging chain comes in a variety of configurations that will cut through almost any kind of ground you encounter.

Ditch Witch SK650 And Zahn Featured On Yard Crashers

The Ditch Witch^® organization was pleased to loan an SK650 mini skid steer and a Zahn^® R300 for a recent Yard Crashers episode on DIY Network. The show outlined how a young couple transformed their weed-choked backyard into a Caribbean Cabana. Besides the weeds, they also had no privacy and no shade in their yard. The Ditch Witch equipment was instrumental in the transformation due to its compact size, ease of use, and versatility with attachments.

Ditch Witch Lined Drill Pipe Cuts Costs And Cleanup

The Ditch Witch^®-exclusive patented Fluid Miser^® II lining reduces drilling fluid usage, saving you time and money.

Simco Enterprises

The city of Groves, Texas, had a big problem on its hands. A 665-foot section of underground truss pipe (plastic pipe with a concrete-filled, hollow wall) was in need of replacement.

Multipurpose Zahn Impresses Irrigation Specialists

In the ten years since the business was started, Corbett, Inc., has established a reputation as one of the best residential and commercial irrigation contractors in Massachusetts.

Ten Reasons To Run Genuine Ditch Witch Downhole Tools On Your Next Bore

Ditch Witch^® downhole tools are engineered to be the most flexible in the industry. We believe this comes from their patented technology, their 50-year history of providing underground construction solutions, and the fact that Ditch Witch downhole tools are manufactured specifically for the drills with the same name on them.

Vacuum Excavator Maintenance

Although the Ditch Witch^® organization offers many different types of vacuum excavators, there is one thing they all have in common: routine maintenance. Make that daily maintenance. Just as with any piece of equipment, the better you treat it, the better it will treat you. Kind of like the Golden Rule with a twist.

Electrician Reenergizes Old C99

In the spring of 2009, Bill Hodge bought out an electrician who was going out of business. An old Ditch Witch^® C99 trencher was thrown in as a bonus. At the time, though, it wasn't perceived as a bonus.

Connection Established Between Success And Ditch Witch Equipment

Georgia underground construction specialist Southeast Connections, LLC, is one of the busiest utility contractors in the southeastern United States. Established in 1996 to do telecommunications work, the company began business with 14 employees and four pieces of equipment: two backhoes and two early Ditch Witch^® Jet Trac^® directional drills.

Old-Fashioned Service, New Technology Keep Radell Construction Going Strong

In business for more than 40 years, the owners of Kansas utility contractor Jim Radell Construction Inc. understand very well that the economy runs in cycles—sometimes very good, other times difficult.

Keeping Your Business Hot Through Winter

No matter where you live, two important things can help you keep your Ditch Witch^® equipment—and your business—in tip-top condition year-round.

Ditch Witch Organization Restores C99 for Company Museum

Ditch Witch Australia's Stewart Brown and Cliff Lyle presented Kennards, the largest small equipment rental company in Australia, with a restored C99 trencher for the company's museum. Kennards, a family-owned company, has been in business for more than 60 years.

Ditch Witch Equipment Helps ECI Telecom Diversify

Established in 1996, utility contracting company ECI Telecom (ECI) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, spent its first years of operation primarily serving multi-system operator (MSO) cable television companies. This was during the peak of the telecommunications construction boom.

IPBA Pipe Bursting Guidelines

Before you begin any pipe replacement job, be sure you've read and understood Guideline Specification for the Replacement of Mainline Sewer Pipes By Pipe Bursting, a very thorough and helpful set of guidelines from the International Pipe Bursting Association (IPBA).

Trenchless Technology Center's Pipe Bursting Guidelines

Prepared by the Trenchless Technology Center for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Guidelines for Pipe Bursting is a technical report designed to help everyone involved in pipeline renewal/rehabilitation projects understand the capabilities of different types of pipe bursting systems. Case studies help illustrate the many important considerations of a typical pipe bursting jobsite.

Zahn R300 Not Your Typical Multi-Task Machine

Brian Perwak of irrigation company Corbett, Inc., was skeptical of using a multi-task machine to perform the specialized tasks of a typical irrigation project. His experience with the Zahn R300 changed his mind.

Something In The Wind

The new Ditch Witch HT300 has the horsepower and rock-digging capability ideal for use in wind farm construction. The HT300's exclusive flywheel gearbox delivers maximum power to the trenching attachment on demand while minimizing shock to the hydraulic system.

JT8020 Helps With Tricky River Installation

Ditch Witch Mid-Atlantic of Millstone Township, New Jersey, supplied the JT8020 directional drill, forerunner of the JT100, and the expertise to help a New Jersey utility construction company install conduit under the Hackensack River. The JT8020 "worked flawlessly" in spite of some serious environmental and logistical obstacles.

RT10 And RT12 Featured In Rental Equipment Register

The super-compact, super-productive Ditch Witch RT10 and RT12 offer a choice of high-flotation tires or oscillating tracks, exceptional ground speed, and other features that make them ideal trenchers for the small contractor and rental market.

Expose Utilities The Safe Way—With Hydro Excavation

Each year there are approximately 680,000 incidents of damage to U.S. utility infrastructure. You can avoid contributing to this statistic by exposing underground utilities with hydro excavation, a non-destructive process that uses pressurized water and a vacuum system.

Ditch Witch Directional Drill Helps Sioux Falls Go Green, Save Green

The City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, established the Leading Green Initiative to create a more sustainable community overall. One project aimed at meeting this goal—the conversion of landfill-generated methane gas into fuel—was completed with the help of a Ditch Witch JT8020, forerunner of the JT100. Directional drilling shaved weeks off construction time and saved thousands of dollars.

Stretching The Life Of Your Horizontal Directional Drilling System

In this Compact Equipment online magazine article, the Ditch Witch organization's Richard Levings outlines the best strategy for keeping your horizontal directional drilling equipment in peak condition.

Utility Company Discovers SK650's Versatility, Efficiency

Residents and businesses in Bay City, Texas, are served by one of the most progressive natural gas service providers in the country.

Webinar Comparing Rock-Drilling Methods: Watch It Free Now

"Effectively Drilling in Rock and Diverse Soil Conditions" is the title of a very informative webinar that you can now watch anytime. Hosted by the Ditch Witch organization's Richard Levings, the one-hour webinar neatly analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the four main methods of directional drilling.

SK500 Blazing Trails In Virginia

In addition to "pulaskis" and "come-alongs," the Virginia senior volunteer group known as the Midweek Crew depends on a Ditch Witch SK500 to help create trails around Roanoke Valley.

Ditch Witch Equipment Helps Turn Hobby Into Career

For residents of Munfordville and Rowletts and those living in the country around these two small Kentucky towns, the Quality Landscaping and Garden Center is the place to go for flowers, shrubs, trees, garden tools, and most any landscape and gardening need.

Ditch Witch Sponsored Team Places 2nd In National Competition

A team of high school students from Perry, Oklahoma, took second place in the 2009 national AEM Construction Challenge competition.

Dakota Central Telecommunications Has Pioneer Spirit

With the help of Ditch Witch equipment and a proactive business philosophy, a North Dakota telecom company has transformed communities around the state from the party-line system to the digital age.

S&R Pace Relies On All Terrain Technology

Most of the work of HDD specialist S&R Pace Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia, is as a subcontractor for Infrastructure Construction, Sydney, which serves the primary electrical service provider in the Sydney area. Sydney, the state capital of New South Wales, is Australia's most populous city.

Zahn R300 Makes Short Work Of Sprinkler Installation

Commercial landscaping contractors and distributors around North Texas got to witness the extraordinary efficiency of the Ditch Witch Zahn® R300 trencher as it installed an environmentally friendly BluLok sprinkler system.

Illinois Gas Company Discovers The Excavator-Tool Carrier

Serving most of Northern Illinois (except Chicago), Nicor Gas is one of the nation's largest gas-distribution companies, supplying natural gas to more than two million customers in 643 communities.

Worthy Nominee For Rental Store MVP

Given a vacuum excavator's wide range of capabilities, many people are surprised—including Greg Adkins of the Ditch Witch organization—that it is not one of the most popular rental store items. But it's only a matter of time.

Small and Versatile Equipment Still Need Big Attention for the Best Results

There are many reasons for properly maintaining your compact utility loader: safety being one, and protection of your investment another. An article recently published in Compact Equipment magazine gives you all the details.

FX30 To The Rescue

On Feb. 10, parts of Oklahoma City were damaged by an unusual wintertime tornado. A Ditch Witch FX30 vacuum excavator played a big part in the cleanup effort.

The ABCs Of Utility Damage Prevention

When it comes to trenching, drilling and excavating in the vicinity of buried utilities, there is no such thing as being overly cautious. This article breaks down the essentials of damage prevention.

Zahn Models Proving Their True Value

True Value® stores were among the first to offer Zahn equipment for rent or purchase. Read what True Value managers and customers across the country are saying about these revolutionary machines.

JT3020 All Terrain Featured In Construction Equipment and Machinery

This article appears in a March 2009 edition of Construction Equipment and Machinery, an online news source targeting Ukraine and other developing countries in Eastern Europe. In this region of the world, it is vital to build new infrastructure and replace that which has deteriorated. The Ditch Witch JT3020 All Terrain is an ideal machine for these tasks.

SK650 Put To Work For Good Cause

Equipped with an SK650 mini skid steer, employees of Ditch Witch of Arizona helped other members of the Arizona Landscape Contractors' Association beautify the backyard of the Florence Crittenton Transition Home.

O&O Costs: Chain type trenchers

A trencher only has to do one thing, do it well and do it often. So contractors who want to find out how much to charge for their trenching services should have no trouble zeroing in on an accurate number.

HDD Nothing New To Styrud Ingenjörsfirma AB

Trenchless construction has changed the way the world's utility infrastructure is constructed and rehabilitated. While trenchless methods are perceived as a "new" development, a small number of trenchless pioneers have been using them for decades.

A Scientific Look At All Terrain Systems

A December 2008 white paper examines some of the major advancements in horizontal directional drilling (HDD) over the years.

Dig Deeper Into Your Digging Systems, Part II

What to look for in digging system components.

Bore-Tek Overcomes Challenges and Obstacles

In May 2000, three South Carolinians decided it was time to stop working for others and apply their experience and knowledge to their own directional drilling business.

HT300 Featured on CELOG

The HT300 is gaining attention on jobsites around the world and also in the virtual world. The HT300 is the subject of a recent post on CELOG, the Constructionequipment.net blog managed by industry best experts who have worked in the U.S., Europe, and South America.

Magazine Chooses Zahn R300

Modern Contractor Solutions magazine listed the Zahn R300 among its favorite 50 products that will be exhibited at World of Concrete in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 2-6, 2009, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Meet Selge Construction

In the 47 years the company has been in business, Selge Construction, Niles, Michigan, has built a reputation as one of the most respected utility contractors in the Southwest Michigan-South Bend, Indiana, area.