Geotechnical News March 2011
59
THE GROUTLINE
numerous, very innovative contractors
(and engineering firms) who did amaz-
ing things back in the 1950’s, 60’s, and
70’s who are no longer around, but
would have thrived in today’s market
except for the fact that they were ahead
of their time. I don’t know about you,
but I’m very grateful for those guys
and humbled to see ICOG and other
industry organizations honor them as
our “Grouting Greats”. The contribu-
tions they made are still pivotal to the
technological advancements we have
today.
In the 1980’s, there were some
specialty contractors who wisely took
advantage of the early days of the in-
formation age and became global op-
erations. They are still major market
share-holders of the grouting-and-
ground improvement industry today,
and what they have contributed to the
industry is absolutely invaluable.
Now that the information and glo-
balization age has had some time to
take hold, a host of ground improve-
ment issues and opportunities have
resulted in some interesting results.
First and foremost are the educational
and information aspects which opened
up “local” engineering and contracting
communities to “global” knowledge
and information about the grouting
industry. This not only gives local en-
gineers the capability of meeting a cli-
ent’s grouting needs with a whole new
toolbox of means and methods, but also
empowers local contractors to access
the means-and-methods information
to produce excellent ground improve-
ment and grouting operations with very
competitive costs.
Second, there are manufacturers
who now produce “shelf-ready” equip-
ment that allow contractors to set up for
a project’s rigorous equipment needs in
short periods of time, and in fact, al-
lows them to do this work without hav-
ing to re-invent that equipment.
Third, is the fact that it is now al-
most impossible for any contractor
to produce some “secret” mix design
or product that is not available on the
open market. We now have excellent
suppliers who are very knowledgeable
and capable of giving technical support
to any engineer or contractor for proper
applications of a given product.
All of this has produced some very
exciting aspects to the grouting-and-
ground improvement industry. Now
it’s a matter of looking at how the
industry moves forward from here.
Over the past decade I’ve had the op-
Figure 1. Drilling and grouting in the 40’s.
Figure 2. Grouting plant in the 40’s.
Figure 3. D&G 2010.
Figure 4. Grout plant in 2010.
Figure 5. Grouting in 2010.
Figure 6. Grouting in 2010.
