Fugro’s Osterberg Cell (O-cell) bidirectional
tests were combined with SONICaliperTM inspections
to provide accurate foundation load performance
measurements on sacrificial test piles on each side of
the river. To confirm the structural integrity of the production
foundations, Fugro also performed shaft concrete quality
evaluations using thermal integrity profiling and cross-hole sonic
logging technology. Together, these technologies assured the
foundation design requirements were being met, supporting
the demanding project schedule completion date of 2024.
“The Gordie Howe International Bridge project is an
ambitious infrastructure project, impressive in its design
and significant in its long-term value to the Canadian–U.S.
border,” said Ray Wood, director of land site characterisation
and consulting for Fugro in the U.S. “Our work with the
foundation engineering team provided the critical geo-data
needed to help ensure the safe and efficient transport of people
and goods across North America’s busiest border crossing for
generations to come.”
JD Fields & Company, Inc. to break ground on
domestic spiralweld mill
JD Fields & Company, Inc., a leading U.S. steel products distributor
for oil & gas pipeline and civil infrastructure, is continuing its
path to expand into steel manufacturing, announcing plans
for a spiralweld mill in Sinton, Texas. The state-of-the-art facility
represents an exclusive material partnership between Houstonbased
JD Fields and the integrated Turkish manufacturing
company HDM Tubes Ltd., one of the top pipe piling producers
in the world.
Since 2012, JDF and HDM have had a partnership to
successfully supply contractors and owners spiralwelded pipe
for marine piling and deep foundation applications throughout
North America, Canada and the Caribbean. The two companies
formed their latest joint venture to bring the premier spiralweld
manufacturing capabilities to North America while creating up
to 50 quality manufacturing jobs in the region. The JDF/HDM
Spiralweld mill will become a highly efficient and sought-after
source for heavy civil and marine pile foundation projects when
completed in late 2021.
“HDM has been a perfect manufacturing partner for us over
the past several years,” said Jay Fields, president and COO of JD
Fields & Company. “This was a prime opportunity for both of our
companies to branch out together to create something unique
right here in the United States.”
The JD Fields HDM SpiralWeld mill represents HDM’s
first venture in the U.S., giving both companies the ability
to manufacture wall thicknesses currently unavailable in the
marketplace from other domestic manufacturers. The Sinton
location will primarily serve North American markets delivering
high quality, low-cost steel piling via truck, rail and barge to US
DOT, Buy American, private and commercial projects.
For more information about this new venture, turn to page 86 of this
issue of PileDriver.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Photo credit JD Fields & Company and HDM Tubes Ltd.
126 | ISSUE 2 2021 www.piledrivers.org