What qualifies as a “boom” within an industry? You don’t have to look much further than the current state of the fiberoptics market.
Fiber Materials, Inc. (FMI) estimates that mobile bandwidth will expand by over 500 percent in the next four to five years. The expansion of fiber installations across the country are partially responsible for that growth.
Due to urban environmental restrictions and city-implemented regulations, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is the preferred method when installing fiberoptic technology. It’s no surprise, then, that the high demand for fiberoptics is having a significant impact on the HDD market as well.
A recent study by Grand View Research estimates that the HDD market is going to reach $14.95 billion in the next six years. That’s a projected 14 percent increase from 2015 to 2022. Researchers attribute much of the surge in HDD to the demand for fiber work.
Many contractors recognize the potential of this segment of the HDD industry and are adjusting accordingly. If you’re looking to capitalize on the fiber boom, industry experts from Vermeer agree you should invest in three key areas: your equipment, your employees and your technology. Here is their advice:
Invest in the right-size equipment
If you’re trying to get in the fiber game, you might run into the challenge of right-sizing your equipment. Often you’ll have drills that are too big or too small for the job at hand. This could lead to decreased productivity. The first step to capitalizing on the influx of fiber work, according to Jon Kuyers, senior global product manager at Vermeer, is investing in the right equipment.
“The fiber work is consistent right now,” he says. “People are making equipment purchases to expand into the market knowing it’s likely to be steady for the next few years.”
If you’re trying to break into the fiber work, you probably shouldn’t buy the biggest drill you can get your hands on. Midsize equipment that is powerful yet compact excels in fiber work. The Vermeer D23x30 S3 Navigator® HDD is a popular choice among contractors who regularly install fiber.
“Fiber work is usually being done in 600 to 700 (182.9 – 213.36 m) bores,” says Kuyers. “You’re better off purchasing smaller rigs that are easier to transport, lighter and more maneuverable in those situations.”
Invest in your employees
A major concern in the HDD industry as a whole is the lack of qualified drill operators compared to the amount of projects in need of manpower. The fiber boom is only increasing the demand for operators. When contractors do hire operators, finding time and resources for proper training is the next obstacle.
While on-the-job training is necessary and effective, operators and their employers can benefit from training programs dedicated to HDD drilling. Tony Bokhoven, training manager at Vermeer, explains why these training programs are worth the investment.
“On-the-job training is how things have been done for a long time,” says Bokhoven. “But it’s one of those situations where they’re trying to train someone under high-pressure circumstances, and any mistake could be quite costly.”
Bokhoven believes training programs, like Vermeer HDD Circuit™, create an additional level of assurance for operators, contractors and their customers. Offered to contractors’ employees, the sessions include both classroom and on-rig instruction, providing a comprehensive approach to training that leaves operators better prepared to handle high-stress situations.
“We recognize that not every ground condition or every situation a drill operator may face in the field will be present during the training,” says Bokhoven. “What we’re teaching them is how to fundamentally be a drilling crew member, so they start to know what to look for, what to feel for and how to properly handle situations.”
Getting your employees up to speed as quickly as possible is especially necessary in fiber work since the demand is so high. Fiber project owners and the cities involved in the installations are particularly concerned with avoiding any kind of damage to existing assets and errors that might disrupt project timelines. Demonstrating an investment in employee training might help give you an edge over the competition when bidding for projects.
Invest in your technology
Companies involved in the fiber industry obviously care about using technology to enhance productivity and efficiency. Show them you are up to date and using planning and productivity tools. The customer will appreciate your ability to provide detailed reports in a timely manner, and you’ll have a better idea of your jobsite productivity. With current telematics technology on machines, you can more easily track maintenance needs, idle time, fuel consumption and many other factors that affect efficiency on a project. Rob Arndt, a product manager at Vermeer explains why productivity software is a valuable tool for contractors.
“Our customers come to us and tell us they would like to know more about the efficiency of their machines,” says Arndt. “The Productivity Advisor tool is a feature within Vermeer Fleet Edge to assist in capturing the productivity of a machine as well as identify areas for productivity improvement.”
Maintenance monitoring is an important element of efficiency on a job. Arndt explains that contractors can benefit from a comprehensive snapshot of their telematics-equipped fleet and its maintenance needs. A feature within Fleet Edge, called MaintenanceNext, provides data to inform the contractors which machines are in need of maintenance and assists in prioritizing those machines. Staying on top of regular maintenance of machines can help optimize the productivity of your fleet which fiber project customers will appreciate.
Arndt says software like Vermeer Fleet Edge can help contractors track machine productivity in a tangible way, which might be useful when competing for bids.
“Customers want to know more information about their jobsites,” says Arndt. “Such as grouping the machines that are working at that site and adding up their engine hours, the fuel used and idle engine time for the purpose of understanding if their bid was successful and also to help them with future bid proposals.”
Fiber work is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Investing in the right equipment, the right training and the right technology might help contractors capitalize on this booming market and help grow their businesses in the process.
For more information on Vermeer equipment, HDD Circuit and Vermeer Productivity Tools, visit Vermeer.com.
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