Blog
OBIC Announces Internal Promotions for 2024
OBIC Announces Internal Promotions for 2024 OBIC is pleased to announced that Michael (Mike) Hoffmaster has been promoted to Vice President of Business Development, and Trey Hesselschwardt has been promoted to Director of Corporate Training. Dustin Schlachter, CEO and Chief Visionary Officer of OBIC, said, "Mike has helped to expand our market and network of certified installers and has spent nearly four decades in the construction industry." Serving previously as Director of Business Development, Mike's industry connections and knowledge in the trenchless industry are invaluable. "It has been exciting to be part of the OBIC team and experience
What is Microbially Induced Corrosion (MIC) of Concrete?
What is Microbially Induced Corrosion (MIC) of Concrete? In a previous blog, “What are the Main Causes of Manhole Deterioration”, we highlighted various problem areas existing in manhole structures, and we mentioned Microbially induced corrosion (MIC) in passing. So, what is MIC and where does it come from? Microbially induced corrosion (MIC) can be defined as the process by which live microorganisms cause changes in the physical properties of a structural material. You may have also heard it referred to as microbially influenced corrosion, biocorrosion, or just microbial corrosion. In the case of concrete, a common material
Celebrate National Trivia Day With Some Sewer System Trivia!
Celebrate National Trivia Day With Some Sewer System Trivia! Trivia nights are a wintertime staple activity throughout the country. National Trivia Day is January 4th, and in honor of this day, we wanted to do an online "trivia night" blog that features - what else? - sewer system trivia!Let's test your sewer system knowledge!Q: What city in Texas has 6,000 miles of sanitary sewer piping and 120,000 manholes?A: HoustonQ: What city in Alabama has 566 miles of sanitary sewer piping and 11,629 manholes? A: TuscaloosaQ: According to USEPA estimates, how many billions of gallons of wastewater are treated
Installer Spotlight Video: Advanced Lining
Installer Spotlight Video: Advanced Lining This month, we're proud to highlight Advanced Lining, an OBIC-certified installer with a vast service territory spanning Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and western North Dakota! Watch this new spotlight video to hear from Seth Huggins, co-founder, and Tyler Garner, operations manager of Advanced Lining, as they provide faces to the company name and explain why they chose OBIC over other companies in the industry. "OBIC products allow us to offer affordable solutions to our customers that are efficient, long-lasting and worry-free," said Seth. "In addition to offering a superior product line, OBIC
Installer Spotlight Video: Midwest Infrastructure Coatings
Installer Spotlight Video: Midwest Infrastructure Coatings This month, we're proud to highlight Midwest Infrastructure Coatings, an OBIC-certified installer with a service territory of Missouri, Arkansas, and Kansas! Watch this new spotlight video to hear from Bryon Baker and Kolby Baker, co-owners of Midwest Infrastructure Coatings, as they provide faces to the company name and explain why they chose OBIC over other companies in the industry. "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
Experts in the Field are a Part of OBIC’s Commitment to Highly Trained, High-Quality People
Experts in the Field are a Part of OBIC's Commitment to Highly Trained, High-Quality People Trey Hesselschwardt is the Chief Training Officer with OBIC and has been with the company since its founding. What does a Chief Training Officer do? First, he helps new applicators come on board with equipment training and OBIC's process methodology. Second, he answers questions via phone calls on a daily basis. Third, he travels around the world to visit installers in-person, walks through situations they've never experienced before, and navigates through that with the best OBIC product choices. He makes 2 or
Installer Spotlight Video: CTR Coatings
Installer Spotlight Video: CTR Coatings This month, we're proud to highlight CTR Coatings, an OBIC-certified installer with a service territory of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas! Watch this new video to hear from Troy Reed, Vice President; Shane Reed, Operations Director; and Andrew Reed, Operations Manager, as they provide faces to the company name and give details of their offerings and differentiators. They provide insight into what's important to today's municipalities - and after working on 16,000 manholes in 120 cities - they should know! Watch video now! Interested in becoming an OBIC-certified installer? As an
How to Stop a Leak in a Manhole – The OBIC Way
How to Stop a Leak in a Manhole - The OBIC Way "Good morning, welcome to the first day of your OBIC Applicator Training. This morning we are going to learn about our manhole leak stopping procedure." OBIC-certified applicators around the world are fully trained and prepared through our Certified Installer Program that involves classroom time and on-site training. One of the most important skills an OBIC applicator will learn during the program is how to stop structure leaks. As we have discussed in previous blogs, groundwater infiltration from collection system cracks, hole, joint failures, mortar joints
Join OBIC in Celebrating World Trenchless Day on September 28!
Join OBIC in Celebrating World Trenchless Day on September 28! Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of September, World Trenchless Day serves as a global celebration that shines a spotlight on the many benefits of trenchless technology in underground infrastructure. Here are just some of trenchless technology's benefits: 1. Safety Trenchless methodology is a substantial advantage versus open-cut construction methods. Although OSHA regulations assure trench protection and fall arrest systems, the absence of excavation eliminates those issues altogether. Another safety item that benefits from trenchless methods is the potential for traffic accidents, especially accidents from workers performing their
What’s the Best Way to Prep a Wastewater Structure for Rehabilitation?
What's the Best Way to Prep a Wastewater Structure for Rehabilitation? Proper surface preparation is the absolute key to any successful coating/lining project. Depending upon the substrate surface, as much as 40% of the project cost can be the surface prep. Because of this, many contractors will cut corners on the preparation portion resulting in potential long-term failure. When it comes to wastewater infrastructure work, you should be looking at the long game, which is why OBIC goes above and beyond to extend the life of your structure for up to 50 years with a faster return