Vortex Companies, a leader in trenchless infrastructure solutions, recently announced the launch of Vortex Water, a new division dedicated to transforming aging water infrastructure renewal.
With a decade of success in making sewer and industrial rehabilitation more accessible, Vortex is now bringing its bold, high-impact approach to the water market — delivering cutting-edge materials, liners, and technologies backed by unmatched technical expertise to solve the pressing challenges of deteriorating water systems.
To lead this expansion, Cedric Bergeron, an expert in trenchless water main renewal, has been appointed senior vice president of Vortex Water. Bergeron, a 20-year veteran of the industry, brings deep expertise in CIPP water main lining, trenchless installation technologies, and large-scale infrastructure solutions.
“As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary of defining moments, it is only fitting to kick off the next chapter of thinking big with this announcement,” says Mike Vellano, CEO of Vortex Companies. “This is a defining moment for Vortex Companies. We have spent the last decade reshaping the sewer rehabilitation industry, and now we are bringing that same intensity, speed, and innovation to the water market. Cedric is a game-changer. His leadership, technical knowledge, and contracting experience will allow us to scale water renewal solutions faster and more effectively than ever before.”
Every municipality is facing a crisis when it comes to its aging water infrastructure.
“Water main infrastructure failures are an escalating concern. In fact, a water main break occurs approximately every two minutes in the United States. The industry needs a trusted, high-performance partner to drive real change,” Bergeron says. “Vortex has always been about shaking up the industry and making solutions more accessible. That’s exactly what we’re going to do for water — bringing the same intensity, innovation, and customer-driven approach that made Vortex the leader in sewer rehabilitation.”
Matt Timberlake, president of United Felts, a Vortex company, says trenchless solutions for water infrastructure have gotten off to a better start in Canada than the U.S., but Vortex is going to work to try to change that.
“Right now we have a CIPP solution for water that’s proven, and established in Canada, but we’re seeing a gap in delivery through the rest of North America,” Timberlake says. “It’s an underserved market — water infrastructure. If we don’t look at different ways of approaching that infrastructure, we will fall further behind in the next 20 years. This is about stretching limited infrastructure dollars. Tackle more pipe with the same amount of money. Water systems usually run to failure. It’s not predictive. We can’t continue on that model. The solution is there, the need is there. We just have to deliver that solution to the U.S.”
“There’s a lot we’re introducing in the next three to six months in the water platform,” adds Ryan Graham, Vortex COO. “It’s the unaddressed elephant in the room and we plan to lead from the front.”
Graham also notes that Vortex has been very active recently on the mergers and acquisitions side and there are no plans to slow down in that department.
Says Timberlake, “Every acquisition adds value, key talent, geographical reach. Every acquisition has meaning about it. The magic is in how you bring them together, how they’re integrated. It’s all about improving delivery to the end-user and putting pipe in the ground.”
For more information, visit www.vortexcompanies.com.
