Customized Wet-Out Rigs Drive Efficiency, Profitability

Colorado’s C&L Water Solutions decided an in-house approach was best for building trucks to carry the company’s valuable pipe lining equipment.
Customized Wet-Out Rigs Drive Efficiency, Profitability
A C&L crew keeps an eye on the progress of a ProKASRO UV light train as it cures a liner. (Photo by Carl Scofield)

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The three trucks that carry pipe lining equipment and supplies are the unsung heroes at C&L Water Solutions in Littleton, Colorado.

The custom-designed and self-fabricated rigs, which consist of Freightliner trucks outfitted with 28-foot box bodies, carry the two most essential components of the company’s pipe lining operation: fiberglass ultraviolet CIPP liners made by Saertex GmbH Co., and UV light trains made by ProKASRO Mechatronik GmbH used to cure the liners.

“When we got into the (pipe lining) business, there were only one or two options for companies that built wet-out trucks, so we decided to build them ourselves,” says Chris Larson, vice president of operations. “We learned a lot along the way and our design has evolved since then.

“We customized the trucks to meet our own needs for maximum efficiency,” he adds. “They help us minimize equipment downtime, which is where a lot of companies in this industry either gain or lose ground, because the equipment is high-tech and susceptible to damage. And breakdowns don’t exactly instill confidence in us from our customers.”

In addition to carrying the pipe lining and curing equipment, the trucks — which sit at the upstream position during pipe lining operations — also house everything from electric generators to safety equipment to hand tools. While Larson declined to provide details for competitive reasons, he says the interior is designed for maximum productivity.

“The placement of equipment in the truck is very simple and positioned for efficiency,” he says. “It’s very systematic when we pull up on a job site. Our guys can get to work right away without a lot of movement.

“As such, it’s more than just an equipment carrier; it directly produces more annual revenue than any other piece of equipment we own.”

In addition, the company saved anywhere from $200,000 to $300,000 by building the unit instead of purchasing one, which helps it be more cost-competitive on bids, Larson says. It also features a very simple and straightforward electrical system.

“The simpler the design, the more effective it is,” Larson says. “It’s also easier to diagnose when problems arise. Any electrician could take a quick look at this rig and know exactly what’s going on.”

For more information about C&L Water Solutions, read this full company profile featured in the February 2017 issue of Cleaner magazine.



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