Work Hard. Dream Big. The Schlachter family has always believed that success means working hard and dreaming big. In 1999, those big dreams began to take form when they established their first family-owned business, S&S Directional Boring. Over the next 19 years, that one business became three with the addition of Advanced Rehabilitation Technology in 2007 and OBIC in 2018. Today, these businesses have been awarded Large Business of the Year by Bryan Area Chamber of Commerce, and have grown into a brand new 24,000 square foot facility. To help encourage others in the community to dream big, an additional 24,000 square foot space was built to serve as an incubator for new business. Read more about our history and DRIVEN philosophy.

OBIC grout stops even the toughest leaks Manhole rehabilitation projects often involve brick and concrete structures that have cracks, missing or mortar deteriorated gaskets, pipe protrusions or other pathways allowing groundwater to enter. This is a common problem that occurs in manholes across the world, but one that causes a unique problem for OBIC installers. Although OBIC products are scientifically designed to stop sewer system inflow and infiltration issues, they will not adhere to running water. Specifically designed to stop leaks in water and wastewater structures Fortunately, OBIC offers a complete line of grout materials specifically designed for stopping leaks that occur in water and wastewater structures. The most common material used by OBIC installers for stopping leaks is polyurethane chemical grout. Polyurethane chemical grouts are usually injected under pressure as a liquid resin into or in the vicinity of the leak. Once the resin contacts water, a chemical reaction occurs. Depending on the material formulation, the grout/water combination forms an expansive closed-cell foam. The foam created can be flexible and resilient (hydrophilic) or rigid (hydrophobic). More on that later. In most manhole leak scenarios, the leak can be used to pull the grout into the structure.

Manhole Rehabilitation: Brick Manholes The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are approximately 26 million manholes in the U.S. The majority of these structures are precast concrete manholes, cast in place concrete manholes and concrete block manholes, however, clay fired brick was a popular material used in the construction of manholes prior to the 1950s. A quick history lesson on precast concrete manholes In the post-World War II suburbia, young families in search of homes created a housing boom. Along with new homes, the rapid growth of communities began to make infrastructure a priority. Schools, community centers, churches, supermarkets, office buildings, industrial plants and shopping centers all required proper water and wastewater systems. In 1954, the Precast Concrete Institute was formed and precast manhole structures became the most cost-effective method for manhole construction. The high cost of labor and installation for brick manholes quickly made them a thing of the past. Not entirely obsolete, brick manholes were still installed in remote locations and industrial sewer systems where the discharge is highly corrosive. An aging infrastructure leads to manhole rehabilitation priorities For discussion purposes, let’s say that 1/3 of all manholes in the

Installer Spotlight: Midwest Infrastructure Coatings LLC OBIC is excited to introduce Midwest Infrastructure Coatings LLC as the newest member of our installer network. Based in Missouri, their service area includes Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas.A family-owned business, Midwest Infrastructure Coatings is owned and operated by Bryon Baker and his son Kolby. “We are a small, grassroots company that started from nothing more than a truck, a wheelbarrow and a bucket of tools,” said Bryon. “As we have grown, we have established a solid reputation with our customers. They know that we are committed to offering the highest level of products and services on every job.”That commitment to quality and customer service is what drew them to OBIC. “We are working on infrastructure, and it is essential that we have a long-lasting product that can withstand the harsh environment of wastewater systems,” said Bryon. “The 10-year warranty offered on OBIC products shows that they are confident in their product and reinforces our confidence as OBIC installers.” Sewer lining repair vital with aging infrastructuresAging sewer infrastructure is a problem that is affecting nations across the world, and Midwest Infrastructure Coatings’ service area is no exception. Systems put in place

Causes of Corrosion The need for polymer sewer lining coating When OBIC was founded, it was with the mission of providing a long-lasting, cost-effective barrier of protection for water and wastewater structures. Polymer coatings and lining systems have proven time and time again that they offer the best combination of price and performance for addressing sewer system inflow and infiltration issues. Our website and blog posts are filled with data and information to support this. If you are wondering why polymer sewer lining coatings are necessary in the first place, you have come to the right blog post. The following paragraphs give an overview of what causes sewer inflow and infiltration issues and why polymer coatings are needed in the first place. Most common issues that make sewer lining repairs necessary The two most common problems affecting sanitary sewer structures are groundwater infiltration and deterioration caused by corrosion. Infiltration is relatively easy to understand.  Corrosion, on the other hand, is slightly more complicated. Ultimately, there are two main culprits to corrosion. The first one is hydrogen-sulfide; the second one is microbially induced corrosion (MIC). Hydrogen-sulfide corrosion (H2S) will always be a problem Hydrogen-sulfide

Save Energy and Money Energy Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Facilities Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, water and wastewater treatment facilities are humming with the sound of pumps and motors working to provide the community with clean water. Wastewater plants and drinking water systems can account for up to one-third of a municipality’s total energy bill (EPA 2009). These facilities represent a significant portion of controllable energy usage and offer opportunities for cost-effective investments in energy-efficient technologies. Energy efficiency measures in water and wastewater facilities can deal with the installation of energy-efficient equipment and also the adoption of improved processes. Pumping requires much of the energy used for treating and delivering drinking water and for transporting wastewater to and through the treatment plant. Installing a new, more efficient pumping system and adding new controls and sensors that improve automation can produce energy savings by approximately 20 percent. Energy is embedded not only in the water and wastewater treatment plants but throughout the pipe systems as well. For example, leaking pipes for drinking water require more energy in order to deliver water to the end-user. Likewise, manholes and sewer pipes that are leaking groundwater into

Polymer Misconceptions The Facts About Polymers and Wastewater Structure Rehabilitation At OBIC, we don’t hesitate to share the benefits of polymer lining systems for wastewater structure rehabilitation. As a matter of fact, you might say that we have made it our mission. Over the years, we have seen the good, bad and ugly of everything from manhole rehab projects to sewer lining repair, and we can say without a doubt that manholes, lift stations, treatment plant facilities and stormwater structures have all benefitted by coating or rehabilitating with a polymer lining system. These systems are installed with minimal service interruptions and can increase the life of the structure by 50+ years, making polymer lining systems an ideal solution when your priority is saving time and money. A few additional benefits that may interest you include: Prevention of corrosion to the structure Protection from chemical attacks the structure Resistance to abrasion Quick curing that results in a faster return to service 10-year warranty included 50-year design life Clearing up a few misconceptions With that list of proven benefits, what’s not to like about polymer lining systems? Unfortunately, there are a few misconceptions out there that cause some in

Union Terminal Fountain: More Than Meets The Eye When people come to visit a his-toric landmark, it’s all about the visual experience. They want to see what things looked like “back then,” to get a feel for life in its original historic period. When Cincinnati’s historic Union Terminal water fountain required a critical waterproofing membrane solution for the long-term preservation of its unique raw terrazzo cladding, a new polyurea coating from OBIC Products was chosen to ensure the structure would remain intact and per-form beautifully for generations to come.Preserving an Art Deco TreasureCincinnati’s Union Terminal, one of the last great American train stations, was built in the Art Deco style so prevalent in the 1920s and ‘30s. Since its opening in 1933, the National Historic Landmark has had a long and storied history, from welcoming soldiers home from World War II to becoming the home of three museums, an OMNIMAX® Theater and the Cincinnati History Library and Archives.Read the Whitepaper >

OBIC Sewer Lining repair offers faster ROI If corrosion and infiltration issues are affecting your wastewater system, you have likely spent many hours combing through budgets and researching options. Fortunately, advancements in spray-applied polyurea lining systems mean that there are effective and affordable options for even the most daunting sewer repair projects. OBIC sewer lining repair systems are proven effective and have a faster return on investment than other options on the market. To illustrate the benefits of OBIC, we compiled an example of the impact one manhole rehabilitation can have on a small to medium-sized municipality. OBIC manhole rehab case study A municipality has one leaking manhole with groundwater infiltration. The manhole is 9’ deep and is leaking 2 gallons of groundwater per minute. Although that may not seem like a lot, the impact quickly multiplies. 2 gallons/minute x 1,440 minutes/day x 365 days/year = 1,051,200 gallons per year The average cost to treat 1,000 gallons of wastewater is $1.75. With groundwater leaking into the wastewater system, that is a lot of money going down the drain. 1,051,200 gallons/year ÷ 1,000 x $1.75 = $1,839.60 If the municipality were to leave the leaking manhole unaddressed, they

Manhole Rehabilitation in Menallen Township Menallen Township, located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, is rich in history. Formed in 1783, the township is home to a National Historic Landmark, the Searights Tollhouse. Remnants of a once booming coal industry can also be found throughout the landscape of the township.  While these nostalgic reminders of history add to the township’s tourism, there was one historical structure that was only causing problems. Beneath the surface of Menallen Township was an aging sewer system in desperate need of repair. According to Sam McVicker of K2 Engineering Inc. and Menallen Township Sewage Authority Engineer, stormwater infiltration was causing treatment plant overloads. As the problem continued to worsen, McVicker began the search for an affordable and effective manhole rehabilitation solution for the township. After thorough research, McVicker chose to pursue a spray-applied lining system for the manhole rehab project. “The main focus of the project was time and cost savings,” said McVicker. He chose Advanced Rehabilitation Technology, an OBIC certified installer to lead the manhole repair efforts. “The benefits of a spray-applied lining system for manhole rehabilitation are numerous,” said Rusty Hesselschwardt, business development at ART. “OBIC lining systems have been proven to