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Although S&S
Utilities and Excavation in Grand Prairie, TX, has been in
operation for more than 50 years, it’s relatively new
to the excavation business. Two years ago S&S created
an excavation division and hired Shawn Smithey as vice president.
As the division grows, an important part of Smithey’s
job is adding new equipment, such as stabilizers, to the S&S
fleet.
"We don’t
own any stabilizers right now," reports Smithey. "I’d
like to own two of them. Currently we have to rent them with
each project, and it’s hard for us to be as competitive
as we’d like on large projects since we don’t own
them."
Recently Smithey
has been renting a number of manufacturers’ stabilizer
models to get a feel for what each has to offer before making
a purchase decision. "I am attempting to try them all
out before I buy," he says. For a project that began
in mid-March–the new Irving High School Academy site
in Irving, TX–he rented two Bomag MPH100 Recycler/Soil
Stabilizers from Progressive Tractor Corporation in Dallas.
North Texas Contracting
of Keller, TX, was the project’s general contractor.
"During phase one of the project, 160,000 cubic yards
of earth was moved," explains Robert Farrow, North Texas
Contracting’s project manager. "We also did infrastructure
work–utilities, water, storm, sanitary sewer, telecommunications
conduit, and site paving. We performed all the work except
for the excavation and lime stabilization."
"Our
part of the job covered 36,000 square yards. That’s
a good-size job for us," remarks Smithey. "We had
to stabilize the existing soil, get the material back on grade,
and get it ready for graders. We also were responsible for
making sure all the density and moisture tests and requirements
were taken care of.
"Basically,
we cut, filled, and rough-graded the site to plus and minus
10. The lime was put out in slurry off-site from a batch plant.
Then, with the MPH100s, we processed and manipulated the lime
into the existing sandy, claylike material to make it a more
suitable subgrade for paving," Smithey continues. "We
were putting in 8% lime at a depth of 6 inches."
The output of the
MPH100s impressed Smithey. "We did 660 tons of lime in
three 10-hour days with two machines. Typically you can expect
to put out around 100-125 tons of lime per day with two machines,
and we did 220-250 tons a day. That’s really working.
We only had to make two passes–one in some areas–with
the MPH100s. In most cases with other stabilizers, we have
to make two to three passes. That alone sells the machine."
Farrow and North
Texas Contracting were pleased with the S&S crew’s
production. "The time line was great. He hit it faster
than I thought he could," Farrow says. "The whole
stabilization process went very well."
Smithey was also
impressed with the overall design of the MPH100, including
its rear-slung rotor design. "I like the way it’s
set up, with the wheels in front and the rotor in back. I
think the maneuverability is better with that design."
He found visibility for the operator superior to that of competing
models. "It’s very important to be able to see where
the edge of the mixing teeth are to make sure you’re
overlapping.
"Anytime you
can put out 650-700 tons of lime in three days, you’ve
got a good machine. It’s a considerable savings over
putting out 150 tons a day with two competitive machines.
I’ve got another job in about three weeks, and I’m
renting the Bomags again."
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