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Geotechnical News March 2011
THE GROUTLINE
portunity of working with both small
and large engineering firms, contrac-
tors, manufacturers, and suppliers. It’s
been interesting to observe the differ-
ent approaches to an industry that has
branched out to the point that we now
have become susceptible to what I have
heard referred to as “High-Tech Black
Magic”. The application of “grouting”
has become entangled with so many
ground improvement and structural re-
pair techniques that it is now possible
to confuse clients with many options,
experience levels and case histories.
It’s almost impossible to determine
who to believe for a project’s best ap-
plication, based on its technical and
sometimes just plain “basic” needs.
This can lead to a sales-pitch dream
where it’s all about who can do the best
sales presentation rather than what the
client really needs or wants.
It is one of my goals to make sure
this industry never forgets that there
are a lot of very innovative and focused
“local” contractors who may not have
all the capabilities of our major play-
ers, but need to be given opportunities
of providing specific grouting applica-
tions for reasons of keeping commu-
nity and economic resources close to
home. I could get on that soap box, but
for now will keep that for a future ar-
ticle. In the mean time, I hope there is
no engineering firm, contractor, manu-
facturer or supplier who feels they are
I want to thank the “Grout Line” for
giving us a venue for promoting a fo-
cus where we govern ourselves by an
integrity that promotes the industry as a
whole. I, for one, believe our history is
a testament to the fact that we are doing
a good job of that.
Now that the papers for the 2012
Grouting Conference are finished and
presented, I hope you will have time
to prepare something for the Grout
Line. I await your contribution. Write
to: Paolo Gazzarrini, fax 604-913 0106
or
, paologaz@
shaw.ca
or
Or
tweet me @groutline.
Ciao!
