HARMS INSTALLS DRILLED SHAFTS WITH BARGE-MOUNTED BAUER

George Harms Construction Company continued work on the replacement of the Raritan River Bridge on a frigid January day as a major winter storm barreled toward New Jersey. This determination, along with a unique decision-making strategy centered on a specific piece of equipment, are keeping this critical infrastructure project on track.

The material under the riverbed largely dictated the need for a rig the size of the BAUER BG 55. The upper layers were soft, silty clay underlain by varying depth sand layers. Beneath that was dense clay and Siltstone.

A group of key project executives from Harms and Equipment Corporation of America (ECA) gathered on the shoreline as work progressed and crews secured the barges holding the equipment.

“We can handle cold temperatures and snow but our biggest nemesis out here is the wind,” said Jason Hardell, senior vice president of operations. “That’s why we all have beards.”

This 112-year-old bridge carries an active New Jersey Transit line across the river from Perth Amboy to South Amboy. Damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the new span will incorporate structural designs and materials to bolster its defenses against severe weather.

In May 2020, Harms was awarded a contract to install 87 drilled shafts across the Raritan River in configurations from two to 10 shafts per pier. It was the first of three construction phases that will replace the bridge with a lift span. This bridge represents the largest project Harms has ever done in terms of dollar value, but not in terms of scope.

Building BG 55 Into Bid

The selection of the BG 55 was founded on a 30-plus year business relationship and friendship between ECA New York, New Jersey Regional Sales Manager Bruce Langan and Harms President Emeritus Tom Hardell.

Harms was awarded this project when the original low bidder retracted its bid. No stranger to $200-million-plus bridges, Harms wasted no time mobilizing and starting work in July 2020.

Harms worked with ECA’s Director of BAUER Product Sales and Service Gordian Ulrich to spec the BG 55 into the project during the pre-bid phase. His career started in 2007 at BAUER Maschinen’s method development department in Germany and he has been involved with various drilling applications on a global scale.

Other brands of equipment were considered, but Harms concluded that only the BG 55 could cost-effectively drill 8ft.-diameter shafts up to 240 ft.

“We went out on the limb and purchased it before we were even low,” said President and CEO Rob Harms.

The smaller BAUER BG 40 also was considered, but lacked the winch capacity Harms needed. With the massive Kelly bar, tooling, and heavy clay, the BG 55 was the only choice.

ECA had the rig shipped from BAUER Maschinen in Germany to the Port of Newark and hauled to the Harms waterfront facility in Newark, N.J. Once assembled, the BG 55 crawled onto a 200-ft.-long Flexifloat Barge and was floated to the Raritan River Bridge site. This barge would serve as its mobile working platform.

Barge stability was critical with the 118-ft.-tall BG 55 mast subjected to heavy winds during drilling. The barge is constructed of Flexifloats and the configuration is unique and specifically designed for this project and this application. Its 10-ft.-wide sections in 10- and 20-ft. lengths snap together like Legos, so Harms had the flexibility to add and remove.

Six hydraulic spuds with 24-in. diameter pipes anchored

ECA and Harms chose conventional tooling for the BG 55, including double-cut rock buckets and a cleanout bucket with BETEK bullet teeth. Harms set up the BG 55, polymer slurry tanks, and all other necessary equipment and materials on customdesigned Flexifloat barges adjacent to the existing bridge.

see HARMS page 48

60 International Blvd • Brewster, NY 10509 845/278-7766 Fax: 845/278-4431 E-mail: dan@wtractor.com

Now Serving All of Connecticut

LATE MODEL EQUIPMENT

EXCAVATORS:

1978 JOHN DEERE 690B, 7840 HOURS, CAT CONTROLS ......................................................$15,995 2012 KOBELCO SK170-9, 3690 HOURS, CAB HVAC, JRB COUPLER & THUMB, REAR CAMERA, 36” BKT ..........................................................................................................................................$98,995 2016 KOBELCO SK85, 1235 HOURS, CAB HVAC, PLUMBED, MANUAL COUPLER ................$79,995 1995 SAMSUNG SE280LC2, 9723 HOURS, 2 BUCKETS, NEWER BOTTOM, CUMMINGS ENGINE .......... ........................................................................................................................................................$30,000

BACKHOES:

2009 NEW HOLLAND B90B, 2650 HOURS, EXTENDAHOE, CAB W/HEAT....................................SOLD 2000 NEW HOLLAND LB75, CAB W/HEAT, 7700 HOURS, 4WD, FLIPOVER FORKS, UB 1000 LB HAMMER ....................................................................................................................................$33,500

TRACTORS:

2010 NEW HOLLAND TT75A, 1274 HOURS, LOADER, 4WD, 75 HP, DUAL REAR REMOTES ..SOLD

CHIPPERS:

2020 MORBARK 1215, GAS GM, PSI ENGINE, 89 HP, 12” DRUM, AUTO FEED, 94 HOURS ......SOLD

WHEEL LOADERS:

2007 KAWASAKI 70TMV, CAB, HVAC, 2208 HOURS, 3.25 YD BKT, COUPLER, FORKS, TOOL CARRIER MACHINE ................................................................................................................................SOLD NEW HOLLAND LW170B, 3YD BKT, JRB COUPLER, CAB HVAC, CAB HAS RUST/ROT. MAKE AN OFFER ......................................................................................................................................$40,000 SCREENERS:

2018 VIBROSCREEN SCM40C BOX SCREENER W/CONVEYOR ............................................$129,000 2021 VIBROSCREEN SCM40, NEW ..........................................................................................$79,995 2021 VIBROSCREEN SCM27, NEW ..........................................................................................$45,000 NEW VIBROSCREEN SCM75C BOX SCREEN W/CONVEYOR, TIER 3 ENGINE ......................$165,000 NEW VIBROSCREEN SCM115T TROMMEL, NO DPF, NO DEF................................................$150,000 2018 VIBROSCREEN SCM115T TROMMEL, 400 HOURS, NO DPF, NO DEF ..........................$123,500

SKID STEER LOADERS:

2012 NEW HOLLAND L223, 2549 HOURS, CAB HVAC, PILOT CONTROLS, 2 SPEED ............$37,995 2017 NEW HOLLAND L220, 217 HOURS, CAB HVAC, PILOT CONTROLS, 2 SPEED, JUST SERVICED ..................................................................................................................................................$42,995 2018 KUBOTA SSV75, 184 HOURS, CAB HVAC, PILOT CONTROLS, 2 SPEED, 1 YEAR WARRANTY LEFT..........................................................................................................................................$49,995

MISCELLANEOUS:

2014 DOOSAN DXB260 BREAKER, 8500 LBS, FOR DX350, HAMMER TOP FOR PIN GRABBER $35,000 GROUSER TRACKS FOR SKID STEER, MODEL 14740F-9, FITS TIRE SIZE 12X16.5 ....................$2,500 2014 JCB 510 TELEHANDLER, 3200 HOURS, OPEN CAB, 55.9’ REACH, 10,000 LB LIFT, SOLID TIRES ..................................................................................................................................................$57,995 2021 LANDPRIDE 50” REVERSE TILLER, 3 PT MOUNT ............................................................$2,880 KOBELCO SK170

VIBROSCREEN SCM75C

See dealer for financing details. CNH Capital America LLC standard terms and conditions apply. Subject to customer credit qualifications. CNH Capital America LLC reserves the right to cancel any program without notice.

VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.WTRACTOR.COM

KOMATSU D65EX-15 Made in the USA

Satisfaction Guaranteed!

SEAL SAVER PROTECTIVE CYLINDER COVER

The SEAL SAVER WILL:

Protect cylinders from the elements • Eliminate dings and dents from falling debris • Reduce particle contamination of hydraulic systems • Prevent pitting due to chemical washes • Extend the life of cylinder seals • Eliminate rod scoring

STOP the never ending cycle of cylinder repairs.

SEAL SAVER has proven effective in Construction, Mining, Waste Management, Quarries, Refineries, Marinas, Recycling, Wood Products Processing, Steel Mills and Hot Slag Industries. Exclusively manufactured by: Fluid Control Services, Inc. 1155 Allgood Road • Suite 15 Marietta, GA 30062 1-800-683-5189

Fax: 770-509-5832

2012 Cat CB54XW

#165-05059, 3566 hours, OROPS, Versa-Vibe, hydrostatic, 79in double drum, water system, sliding operator station

$44,500

2011 Cat M316D

#130-15109, 5,675 hrs, Cab, air, aux hyd., Wain-Roy hyd. QC, rear outriggers, front blade, 10.00x20 dual tires, digging and ditching buckets................$89,500

2012 Case 580SN

#110-10128, 2299 hours, 4WD, EROPS, Air, GP Bkt, Rear Aux, Ext-a-Hoe, Pilot Controls ..............$57,500

Farmington (Rochester), New York Fax: 585-924-7624 Email: jfinlon@americanequipmentllc.com 585-466-4902

ROGERS 60 TON 4-AXLE

GENTLE RISER 8’6” X 26’ DECK

135 Lincoln Avenue, Prospect Park, PA (Philadelphia) 19076 • John Conner - 800-220-4033 • 610-534-0700 796 Unionville Road, Prospect, PA (Butler) 16052 • Ryan Alles - 888-806-0643 • 724-636-9986 6018 Drott Drive, Syracuse, NY 13057 • Darrick Marris - 800-368-6455 • 315-345-4744

IN STOCK!

Air Lift 3rd & 4th Axles

New Rogers 55 ton, No-Foot Neck, 25' deck, Deep Well Stick Pocket Reinforced wheelcovers, 275's on Aluminum, Air lift 3rd, Air lift flip 4th Night Lights, Strobes, Black Paint.. ..............IN STOCK!

Rogers CY50GR, 50 Ton Gentle Riser, Paver Ramps, 275’s, Aluminum Wheels, Air Lift 3rd, Night Lights, Strobes, Rogers Red Paint ...... ................IN STOCK! Rogers 40 Ton No-Foot, 24' deck, 275's, Aluminum outers, Night Lights, Strobes, Rogers Red .... ................IN STOCK!

2021 Rogers 60 Ton Dropside, 27' deck, air lift 3rd, air lift flip 4th axle.Low Hours .. ......Available Now!

Rogers TAG25XXL, 25 Ton Capacity, Premium Specs, Superior Quality, 235’s Aluminum, 7-Year Warranty, Black or Red Paint, 22' and 24' deck, 8’ Air Ramps.. ................IN STOCK!

ASK ME ABOUT AIR RAMPS! Rogers 35 Ton Gentle Riser, 24' deck, adjustable width bi-fold ramps, 275's on Aluminum, Extra lights and strobes ...................... ..............IN STOCK!

Rogers 55 No-Foot, 25' deck, Deep Well pocket, Reinforced wheelcovers, 275's on Aluminum, Air lift 3rd, Air lift flip 4th, Night Lights, Strobes, Red Paint.... ..............IN STOCK!

Rogers TAG21XXL 24' + 6' tail, 235's on Aluminum, Air Ramps, Safety Lighting Pkg. with Strobes. Black or Red Paint ........IN STOCK!