Congratulations Matt Patrum! 20 years with ICE®

Matt Patrum, Production Supervisor, ICE
20 Years with ICE® 
-Matt Patrum-  


Matt Patrum has now dedicated 20 years of his professional career to International Construction Equipment® and has not only had a positive impact on the systems used in the daily assembly of the world class machines, but the people as well. Originally born in North Wilkesboro and growing up in Charlotte, his initial introduction to the construction equipment industry didn't come until later maneuvering through his passion for automotive parts.  

He started his career in the automotive industry working in parts departments in retailers like NAPA, Advance Auto Parts, and car dealerships. While he was working in the service department at a Ford Dealership reading his daily newspaper, he saw an ad for a job opening at International Construction Equipment, including the phone number that lead him to Mike Douglas, Chief Design Engineer at ICE®. After successfully acquiring the new position as Parts Manager, Matt entered unknown and scattered territory.


ICE® originally housed all its infrastructure in the single building located at 301 Warehouse Drive, which Matt explained was a tad confusing if you were not familiar with their systems.
"My job coming in was to get it organized like an actual parts department.... It's gotten a whole lot better than back in the day where literally it was just parts on the shelf- no tags no nothing, and unless you were the mechanic and knew what the item looked like, you had no hope finding it."

Over the years Matt has helped upgrade and redesign the parts department to be easily accessible to all ICE® employees involved in production. By implementing a computer system matched with labeled bins, the parts department became much more approachable. Being able to find a specific part by number coordinating with bin location, eliminated confusion and wasted time. Having the world's largest rental fleet, ICE® Matthews assembly team must stay on top of timelines to meet demand. Throughout every step of machine build Matt serves as the liaison between the engineers and mechanics to bring new equipment from design to fruition.  

Another aspect of working at ICE® that Matt enjoys, is it "makes him feel a part of something bigger".  

"One of the things that I learned early on and didn't expect, because you don't when you have a little small town like Stallings, is just how far ICE® reaches out to the rest of the world, our equipment is all over the place. And it's built here in this tiny town."  

Although ICE® has a hand in major construction projects all over the globe, Matt also appreciates the small-town moments he found at ICE®.  

"We would get out here and have just a random cookout. It wouldn't be a holiday or anything special, Christian would bring a bunch of burgers, and that was pretty cool. Coming from working in a place like NAPA for a number of years, they don't care about that stuff. So, it was nice to have something a little more personal. It is still that way now we've just gotten so big, with so many people working on this site you have to plan in advance!"  

Through the years ICE has provided a workplace camaraderie however, like most of us Matt finds comfort outside of ICE from his loving family. Mentioning his wife brought a smile to his face as he described how they met.

"I was working part time at this place called Schlotzsky's Deli, when I was working at another auto parts place in the evenings, and I met her she was the baker that made all the bread."
His son Zach (21), and daughter Lia (17) have only ever known their dad to work at ICE®.  

Matt emits a calm knowledgeable presence, one that his coworkers find confidence in. He has played a significant role in the development of ICE® over time, helping the company grow into the industry leader it is today. The time and dedication from Matt, encourages other employees of ICE® to be efficient as possible. He aids in every aspect of the build process from initial concept, to fully finished hundred-ton construction equipment.  

Matt has now served as Production Supervisor for over a year and continues to help ICE® evolve and serve at the world's #1 one-stop foundation shop.  

Media Contact-   
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA   
Director Marketing, Brand and Media Relations   
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc   
Office - 704-821-8200   
Email - marketing@iceusa.com  

Tagged as #20Years, #ServiceRecognition, ICE USA, ICEUSA, Service & Parts.

ICE® Installs New Drainage Facility Foundation


The ICE® Model 14D can move between three different pile types effectively and efficiently 
Editor: Ashley Steele 

La Quinta Island, just off the coast of Corpus Christi, Texas is getting a new water drainage control solution. DFI Houston Piling & Hydrovac (aka DFI) was awarded the contract to install pilings for a waterway and a drainage control structure. The job needed equipment that could easily drive three different pile types: H-pile, Double Sheet and Vinyl Pile. DFI knew their next step was to call on the foundation piling experts at ICE® to determine the perfect equipment for this unique project.  

DFI choose the ICE® 14D Vibratory Pile Driver/Extractor. This versatile pile driver was able to switch between the H-pile, Double Sheet and Vinyl Pile types quickly and efficiently for seamless installation. DFI was fascinated by the speed and accuracy this small but extremely mighty hammer proved to be. Even further excitement that there was extraordinarily little to no vibration back to the cab from such a powerful vibratory solution.  

The Army Corps of Engineers are involved in this project and will be there to oversee the completion which is set to finish in 2022. This new water drainage facility will aid in keeping the environment and surrounding neighborhoods flood free and in turn safer. 

ICE® offers the largest rental fleet in the United States with a wide range of silent piling hammers varying in moment from small to fiercely large. Whatever your unique job entails, be sure to reach out to the professionals at ICE® so you can procure the best fit hammer for your job. 

Media Contact-  
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA  
Director Marketing, Brand and Media Relations  
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc  
Office - 704-821-8200  
Email - marketing@iceusa.com  

Posted in Vibratory Pile Hammers. Tagged as 14D Vibratory Driver/Extractor, ICEUSA, La Quinta Island, Pile Driving.

400+ Strand Anchors on I-40

ICE provides Tecniwell that will stabilize dangerous rock formation over I-40 


In recent years interstate I-40, which runs east to west through eight states and 2,500 miles (about the width of the United States), has seen many accidents and even fatalities due to the nature around it. An enormous rockslide in October of 2009 near the NC TN border line shut down I-40 for months causing major roadway damage and pedestrian danger. The debris removal, infrastructure repairs, and underlying threat sparked plans of precautionary installations. Just a few miles from that slide engineers installed deep underground sensors that are powered by solar panels. If the sensors detect instability, the devices automatically send a warning message to the cell phones of NCDOT engineers. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is still currently putting even more safety measures into place, to ensure the safety of the 26,000 drivers who use I-40 daily.  

The current slope stabilization construction is overseen by Goettle, who prides their ability to analyze and determine effective earth retention systems. Goettle chose to implement the use of strand anchors to secure the rock and prevent sliding. Goettle purchased an ICE® distributed Tecniwell GMP822D fully automated grout plants. The Tecniwell grout plant, paired with a cement silo is capable of mixing and pumping 8 cubic meters (about the volume of a storage unit) of grout per hour. Timeliness was a major goal in this project due to the amplitude of anchors being installed. Over 400 rock anchors have been installed that provide strength and stability to the susceptible areas of rock. Inserted directly into the solid mass and expanded once inside, they transfer tension from the exterior to the interior of the structure, providing sturdy reinforcement at its core. ICE ® was able to deliver the equipment necessary to bring safety back to pedestrians of I-40.  

Media Contact-   
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA   
Director Marketing, Brand and Media Relations   
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc   
Office - 704-821-8200   
Email - marketing@iceusa.com   

Posted in Comacchio Drill Rigs. Tagged as Goettle Geotechnical, Grout Plant, ICEUSA, Strand Anchors, Tecniwell.

ICE® 416 Helps Boaters and Fish Stay Safe

Editor: Ashley Steele 

Fishing is one of North America's top-rated outdoor recreation activities. While we sometimes forget that it is the fish hatcheries that play an instrumental role in making sure fish remain a sustainable food source for people and wildlife. It is these US (United States) hatcheries that provide just enough for sport enthusiasts to throw in a line from time to time without major environmental penalties. The Welaka National Fish Hatchery in Florida is committed to raising warm water fish that are integral to the Georgia, Alabama, and Florida communities.

Barefoot Marine Construction of Jacksonville, Florida was contracted to add an artificial inlet to help boaters navigate away from the hatcheries pump house. Before the inlet, boaters were often getting pulled in the direction of the pump house causing issues for the fish when released into the St. Johns River. The pump house's main purpose has been to re-circulate water for the fish to ensure they have enough water flow to thrive.

With many years in marine construction, Barefoot Marine turned to their marine equipment professional at ICE®. Driving PZ-27 sheet 60' piles into the water's edge, the ICE® 416 Vibratory Pile Driver/Extractor performed quickly and effectively with little disturbance in the already muddy environments. The ICE® 416 exudes 100 tons of driving force, making it a stellar option for marine driving conditions with some elasticity. These sheets will provide a 4-foot channel that will deter boats from disturbing the pump house and its newly released fish.

The Welaka National Fish Hatchery has been operating since 1926, it has been growing to keep up with demand and changing times. Barefoot Marine Construction and ICE® have helped ease some of those growing pains by efficiently installing a new water inlet, so that boaters and fish alike can live in harmony. #saveourfish #forlifeandsport 

Media Contact- 
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA 
Director Marketing, Brand and Media Relations 
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc 
Office - 704-821-8200 
Email - marketing@iceusa.com 

Posted in Vibratory Pile Hammers. Tagged as 416 Vibratory Hammer, ICEUSA, Pile Driving, Save the Fish, Welaka.

Re-Energizing the Meadowlands Arena

Editor: Ashley Steele 

The Meadowlands Arena, in Rutherford, NJ, is part of a larger complex of entertainment venues, including the MetLife Stadium and the American Dream Shopping and Entertainment complex. Known formerly as the IZOD Arena, the venue has been quiet since its heyday in the early 1980's. Once the home of the New York Nets Basketball team, the indoor arena now hosts the NBC show The Equalizer, starring Queen Latifah, acting as a large soundstage.  
In 2021, New Jersey decided to plan for a new convention center in this area, either transforming or replacing the Meadowlands Arena. To keep the structure safe, the ground and building foundations surrounding it needed some reinforcements. Joseph M Sanzari was the contractor brought in to complete this task and make everything safe.  
Sanzari team choose the ICE® 22D Vibratory Pile Driver/Extractor to drive 30' sheeting piles to reinforce the aging foundation and stop any concern for sprawling. The 22D pile driver is a lightweight option with 94 tons of driving force to successfully drive pilings to the necessary grade. 
As New Jersey begins to turn the location in to a convention center mecca, the ICE® fleet will be ready to assist all contractors with the proper foundation equipment for the job.  Our ICE® facilities have been located with service, sales, and rentals in the northeast region since the beginning of vibratory driver history...   With the conversion to a mega convention hub, the Meadowlands Arena, will be buzzing with new & exciting life in no time at all. #Movingbacktonj  
Thank you, Sanzari team, for being an important part to building NJ safely! 

Media Contact-    
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA    
Director Marketing, Brand and Media Relations    
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc    
Office - 704-821-8200    
Email - marketing@iceusa.com    

Posted in Vibratory Pile Hammers. Tagged as ICE 22 Vibratory Pile Driver, ICEUSA, MovingbacktoNJ, Pile Driving.

Minneapolis Light Rail

ICE® stays steady and constant in changing construction plans 

ICE® has been onsite at the monumental Southwest Light Rail project since 2019. Although there have been delays in the timeline due to the complexity and changing of construction plans and contract modifications. The completion of the METRO Green Line Extension will include 14.5 miles of double track connecting downtown Minneapolis with five local communities through 16 new stations and structures in a corridor that will share 7.8 miles with freight railroad tracks, requiring close coordination with Twin Cities & Western Railroad and BNSF Railway during construction and later during LRT operation. The structures include, according to the metrocouncil.org website (https://metrocouncil.org/News-Events) 29 new bridges (LRT, pedestrian, freight, and roadway); 7 bridge modifications, pedestrian tunnels, 2 "cut-and-cover" LRT tunnels, and more than 100 retaining walls. With an overall budget of $2 billion, this project looks towards a completion date of 2027. 

 Lunda/McCrossan joint venture was awarded this contract in November of 2018 and got straight to work on the first phases of construction. By March of 2021, Lunda/McCrossan had driven H-Beams for retaining wall supports in areas with buildings that were sensitive to low-frequency vibrations using an ICE® 18ZR Zero Resistance Pile Driver. These experts know soil mechanics and employed an ICE® 50B Vibratory Pile Hammer, 28D Vibratory Pile Driver and two Hydraulic Impact Hammers, the ICE IP-3 and IP-5. Early success with these expert operators and ICE® equipment quickly aided in surpassing timelines.  

Today, ICE® is back on site in Minneapolis with our 50B Vibratory Hammer to remove top sheets of the preliminary retaining walls along the roadways. The largest infrastructure in state history has now expanded its budget to $2.75 billion (about $9 per person in the US) and is more than halfway complete.   

This team of contractors have installed 95 miles of piles and poured more than 200,000 cubic yards of concrete to complete 11 of 16 stations, 25 of 29 bridges and 7 of 8 tunnels. A total 114 of 131 retaining walls have been completed by this extraordinary team. Additionally, 95% of 946 private utilities and 75% of 1,300 public utilities have been re-routed or upgraded and tracks have been laid.   

The METRO Green Line extension is really moving forward because of innovators within Lunda/ McCrossan partnership. Once this job is completed, ICE® is excited to be a part of railroad history. #railroad #buildingrail #utilityupgrade #lundamccrossan  

Media Contact-  
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA  
Director Marketing, Brand and Media Relations  
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc  
Office - 704-821-8200  
Email - marketing@iceusa.com 

Posted in Hydraulic Impact Hammers, Vibratory Pile Hammers. Tagged as ICE 50B Vibratory Driver/Extractor, ICEUSA, IP3 Hammer, IP5 Hydraulic Hammer, Light Rail, Pile Driving, Rail work, Railroad.

Mega Drill for the Alabama Mega Site Project

Editor: Ashley Steele 

The South Alabama Mega Site Project is a $12.5 million dollar plan to expand commerce in Baldwin County, Alabama. This region is the 11th fastest growing metro area in the United States. The 3009 acres (about half the area of JFK Airport) site will allow for growth by way of railroad and Port of Mobile expansions. $5.5 million of the project alone is being utilized on the railroad portion of the project.

The railroad in Bay Minette will receive an on-site rail spur to connect it to the CSX mainline. These mainlines will run 32 miles to the Port of Mobile and throughout the Midwest. OCCI Inc. was awarded a sub-contract for foundation work performed on this huge project. The team at OCCI realized they were going to need the proper drilling foundation equipment to complete this task efficiently.  

ICE® supplied a 115-50 Rotary Head Drill with 100 feet of 30" centralized auger flighting. This mega drill is up to the challenge that this huge site project demands. The drilled holes will be filled with pipes, grout, and rebar cages to fortify the foundation for the railroad expansion. The ICE® 115-50 Rotary Head Drill can easily support large auger-cast flighting to make larger jobs seem simplified. 

OCCI Inc. and its onsite crews are doing a fantastic job on this Mega Site. We at ICE® are thankful to be a part of the creation and growth potential that this project has instore for Baldwin County!  
Excellence at its best, OCCI, Inc! 

Media Contact-    
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA    
Director Marketing, Brand and Media Relations    
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc    
Office - 704-821-8200    
Email - marketing@iceusa.com  

Posted in Drill Mast. Tagged as Drilling Foundations, ICE 115-50 Rotary Head Drill, ICEUSA, Rail work, Railroad.

Railroad Bridges are Delicate Repairs

Comacchio MC8DHT 
Editor: Ashley Steele 

One in every five bridges of the over5,800 in South Dakota are considered "structurally deficient". The Wasta Rail Bridge in Wasta, South Dakota is no stranger to repair as this unique bridge was relocated by frugal railroad companies dating back to the 1920s.

This unique structure was fused with additional truss bridges from the local area, giving it an exceedingly rare design. History alone has mandated repairing and not replacing the structure a necessity. The repair of this historical railroad bridge was awarded to E80 Plus Constructors, LLC. Their job was to salvage this steel truss structure that accommodates a one-track train line for transportation of goods by establishing a structurally sound and new foundation. 

E80 team worked with the railroad team at ICE® who equipped them with a Comacchio MC8D-HT Drill Rig. This versatile hydraulic drill rig enabled the E80 experts to finesse their micro-piles in precise locations while using the same MC8D's major kick to handle all ground improvements. The MC8D was powerful enough to easily drive their 12" micro-pile pipes into the shifting slate soil to over 30 feet.  

This rig has repeatedly proved to be instrumental in placing the foundation piling needed to repair this historical railroad bridge and many others before while enabling the skillful operators to keep infrastructure moving throughout this region and others. 

With so many bridges in South Dakota in need of repairs, the correct equipment for the job will be integral to safe and efficient foundation work. With the vast power of the ICE® fleet, including our fleet of Comacchio Drilling Rigs, ICE® can support supplying the right tools including customized tools for any job. We hope to keep South Dakota history while making their bridges safe!  Ride on! 

Thank you to the E80 team for entrusting your equipment needs to ICE! 

Media Contact-   
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA   
Director Marketing, Brand and Media Relations   
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc   
Office - 704-821-8200   
Email - marketing@iceusa.com   

Posted in Comacchio Drill Rigs. Tagged as Comacchio, Comacchio MC8DHT, Drilling, Drilling Foundations, ICEUSA, Rail work, Railroad.

ICE® 7E Side Gripping the Future

Editor: Ashley Steele 

Heavy rains and drastic weather patterns are always wreaking havoc on the wastewater infrastructure in the northeast and especially in Maryland. The WSSC Water department is working to get approval for a massive overhaul of the water and wastewater lines. Within the 11,000 miles of pipe, over 45% is 50- years or older. The combination of aging of the pipes and environmental impacts is cause enough to replace this water and sewer infrastructure. 

The Schnabel Foundation Company is currently working on one such project in Fort Washington, MD. A sewage line that has already been displaced slightly by a mudslide is their first task. To keep the pipe from moving any further, Schnabel drove thirty-eight 35' H-Beam piles to reinforce the position of this line. The ground condition could not be configured into a safe working platform and therefore was not suitable for a crane hung solution.  

Schnabel equipment experts turned to ICE® for an excavator mounted unit. An ICE® 7E Side Grip Excavator-Mounted Pile Driver was delivered already attached to a CAT 329 Excavator. The excavator-mounted unit was a smart addition as the excavator tracking was the right amount of stabilization necessary to safely handle the work. ICE ex-models are a smart alternative when ground conditions cannot support normal crane set-ups.  

Schnabel's expert operators in combination with the already assembled Ex-unit enhanced the job to get to completion before any more environmental factors displace the pipe. ICE® is proud to provide leading industry innovation when contractors and operators are as skilled and versatile as this team proved to be. Thank you to Schnabel for entrusting us with the timely solution to your install team. 

Media Contact-    
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA    
Director Marketing, Brand and Media Relations    
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc    
Office - 704-821-8200    
Email - marketing@iceusa.com 
  

Posted in Excavator Mounted Pile Drivers. Tagged as Excavator Mounted 7E, Ex-Mounted Vibratory Pile Hammer, ICEUSA, Pile Driving, Safe Working Platforms.

Luck of the Irish on I-95

Silent Vibratory foundation installs for new directional signage
I-95 is
one of North America's most dangerous highways.  Even with measures taken in Fort Lauderdale to ease some of the dangers, it is a tough place to be a contractor. Conti Corporations has an outstanding safety record. They know the best way to overcome roadway and environmental dangers is with added safety measures. This professional contractor has been hired to install new directional road signage alongside the treacherous I-95. Against weather conditions and traffic patterns, construction faced multiple challenges that demanded precise and prompt execution. Conti Corporation had to take all elements into consideration, while making calculated and safe decisions with equipment that guaranteed results. 
 
Conti Corporation chose the ICE
® 25ZV Zero Resonance Vibratory Hammer for its accuracy to strategically drive pipe piles in constrained roadside areas. The ICE® 25ZV with a driving force of 156 tons, drove 15'x 78" pipe piles in marked areas for the foundations of the new directional signage. In certain areas, the ICE® 25ZV was working within 3 inches of combi-walls and preexisting structures during construction. The partnership between top trained Conti operators and the innovative USA technology of the ICE® 25ZV proved the perfect match, leaving all existing structures undisturbed. We are proud to be a part of Conti's successful installation of the directional signage throughout I-95, as it aims to guide drivers to their destinations safely. Saving lives one step at a time! 
Media Contact- 
 
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA  
Director Marketing, Brand and Media Relations  
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc  
Office - 704-821-8200  
Email - marketing@iceusa.com  

Posted in Vibratory Pile Hammers. Tagged as 25ZV Vibratory Pile Driver, ICEUSA, Pile Driving, Zero-Resonance Hammer.