The WaterJet Technology Association (WJTA) welcomed nearly 900 participants from 34 countries to the 2009 American WJTA Conference and Expo, Aug. 18-20 at the Marriott Westchase Hotel in Houston, Texas.
Sixty-two companies displayed waterjet supplies, equipment, systems, and services; industrial cleaning equipment; and vacuum trucks and hydroexcavators. “The waterjet and industrial cleaning industries, like many others, have been adversely affected by the tough economic times, but attendance was high,” says association manager Ken Carroll. “We are grateful for the strong turnout and for everyone’s participation.”
Learning opportunities
The pre-Conference workshops, WaterJet Technology: Basics and Beyond and Recommended Practices for the Use of Industrial Vacuum Equipment, were held on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Basics and Beyond covered the fundamentals of waterjets – history, equipment, applications, and safety, followed by sessions on hydroexcavation, cleaning, surface preparation, and precision waterjet cutting.
The Recommended Practices workshop included a hands-on review of vacuum trucks, a “science lab” review of the power of vacuums and how vacuum loaders work, controlling diesel engine runaway, getting peak production and performance out of an air mover, and electrical and static electricity issues.
At the WJTA Boot Camp, back by popular demand, contractors heard industry experts discuss electrical safety, DOT regulations for trucks and trailers, proper inlet pump suction conditions, safety in waterjetting, high-pressure waterblasting applications and safety, abrasive waterjet cutting applications, hose fittings and pressure testing, choosing a contractor, hydroexcavation, and the OSHA combustible dust national emphasis program.
Live demonstrations included waterjet cutting; paint removal; tank cleaning; robotically controlled waterjet systems; cleaning of narrow tubes, different-size tubes, and tube bundles; industrial vacuuming; variations in waterjet capabilities using different nozzle types, pumps and other accessories; and the effectiveness of safety gear in protecting the body from swipes with high-pressure waterjet equipment. Outdoor static displays featured air machines, liquid vacuum trucks, and hydroexcavators.
Award winners
The WJTA awards presentation was held on Wednesday evening, Aug. 19. John Wolgamott of StoneAge Inc., received the WJTA Pioneer Award for his significant contributions to the advancement, development, and application of waterjet technology.
Also recognized for special achievements were:
• Technology Award, Seiji Shimizu, Ph.D., Nihon University, Fukushima, Japan.
• Safety Award, Philip Stein, Vactor Manufacturing Inc. (retired), Fayetteville, Texas; and Gary Toothe, FS Solutions, Sumter, S.C.
• Service Award, Bill McClister, Veolia Environmental Services, Baytown, Texas; and Pat DeBusk, DeBusk Industrial Services Co., La Porte, Texas.
“Pulsation Of Abrasive WaterJet,” a paper by Shimizu, Tatsurou Ishikawa, Akinori Saito and Guoyi Peng, of Nihon University, was selected from more than 30 papers to receive the Best Paper Award.
The 2009 conference saw increased participation at all levels. A photo album is available at www.wjta.org.
New interest group
At a meeting during the conference, the WJTA board of directors approved the formation of the Industrial & Municipal Cleaning Association (IMCA), a division of WJTA. The IMCA is a special-interest group for WJTA members who have an active interest in industrial and municipal cleaning.
The purpose of the IMCA is to provide a more focused forum for WJTA members who are involved in industrial cleaning to communicate with each other, share ideas and knowledge, and foster closer collaborations.
WJTA and IMCA will host the inaugural WJTA – IMCA Expo, Aug. 17-19, 2010, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
The event will include an expanded exhibit hall and boot camp sessions for those in the waterjet and industrial vacuuming industries, including applications in precision waterjet cutting, industrial cleaning, and other applications in the manufacturing, mining, construction, and process industries.
Exhibit displays will include equipment, products and services relating to precision waterjet cutting, industrial cleaning, waterblasting, hydrodemolition, surface preparation, and industrial vacuum equipment and trucks.
