WJTA–IMCA 2017 Conference/Expo a Success

Published January 2018

Editor’s Note: In the December 2017 issue of Cleaner Times, a pictorial review of the WJTA–IMCA 2017 Conference/Expo was published. Below is a summation of who attended, educational topics offered, and plans for next year.

The WaterJet Technology Association–Industrial & Municipal Cleaning Association (WJTA–IMCA) welcomed 943 attendees representing 33 countries to the 2017 WJTA–IMCA Conference and Expo held October 25–27 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA. The Conference/Expo is a unique event worldwide, and attendees traveled quite a distance to participate.

Eighty-nine exhibiting companies displayed waterjet and industrial cleaning supplies, equipment, systems and services, industrial vacuum trucks and hydro-excavators, and related services. The 2017 exhibit hall featured a number of new vendors, including international companies showcasing their equipment and services.

The pre-Conference Workshop, Waterjet Technology: Basics and Beyond, was held on Wednesday, October 25. Topics included the past, present, and future of waterjet technology; fundamentals; equipment; UHP and abrasive cutting, cleaning, field cutting, surface preparation, sewer cleaning, and robotic applications; and safety.

The educational Boot Camp sessions covered a range of topics: operating and troubleshooting verified grounds, surface preparation, waterblasting safety devices and use, updates to vacuum truck standards and DOT regulations, how industrial collaboration improves hydroblasting training and safety, understanding the power of vacuum, and an update on the status of the WJTA–IMCA hydroblasting certification.

End users discussed lessons learned from hydroblasting incidents and near misses during a panel discussion on Thursday, October 26. Panelists included James W. Ashmead, E.I. DuPont; Hans Borgt, The Dow Chemical Company; and Jeff Nyberg, HydroChemPSC. The panel discussion was moderated by Dana D. Moore, E.I. DuPont.

Live demonstrations included waterjet surface preparation, industrial vacuuming and air conveyance, robotically controlled and manual shotgunning systems, heat exchanger and tube cleaning, tank cleaning, advanced controls and automation, new pumps, sewer/pipe inspection and rehab, additional waterjet applications, and more. 

Some of the world’s leading engineers and researchers shared the latest technological developments during conference paper presentations. Topics covered manufacturing technology; cavitation, pulsed and CO₂ jets; waterblasting; and downhole and rock cutting. 

Terydon Inc. of Navarre, OH, received the 2017 Safety Award in recognition of the company’s leadership and tireless efforts in creating and providing an innovative means of safety for the high-pressure waterjet industry.

  “Advancements of the Manu-facturing Technology with High-Pressure Liquid CO₂ Jets,” authored by Patrick John and Eckart Uhlmann, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany, received the 2017 Best Paper Award. 

In addition to the show’s pronounced international participation, a highlight of this year’s Conference/Expo was the involvement from the end users—the facility/asset owners and customers of waterjet/industrial cleaning services. A major goal of WJTA–IMCA is to bring together manufacturers, contractors, and end users for the betterment of the industry. 

Another highlight was the focus on safety and efficiency from the manufacturers and contractors participating. Hands-on displays and live demos of robotics and automation, as well as improved manual hydroblasting equipment, afforded contractors and facility representatives the opportunity to see firsthand how the industry is evolving. 

Thank you to the sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees. The 2017 Conference and Expo was a great success, with a great deal of excitement for the 2018 Expo.

WJTA–IMCA 2018—November 1–2

WJTA–IMCA will return to the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, November 1–2, for the 2018 Expo. New Orleans provides exciting options for entertaining and networking and raises the profile of the show internationally and around the United States. New Orleans provides an exciting, world-class destination while remaining in close proximity to the gulf coast industrial base. 

WJTA–IMCA Announces Officers, Board of Directors

Bill Gaff, vice president of sales and marketing for Vacuum Truck Rentals LLC and Vacuum Truck Sales and Service, both headquartered in Richland, MS, has been elected the 2017–2019 chairman of the board of the WaterJet Technology Association—Industrial & Municipal Cleaning Association (WJTA–IMCA). Also elected for the 2017–2019 term are President Bill McClister, vice president of industrial cleaning technology for Veolia North America in Baytown, TX; Vice President Kerry Siggins, chief executive officer of StoneAge Inc. in Durango, CO; Secretary Gary Noto, vice chairman of HydroChemPSC in Deer Park, TX; and Treasurer George A. Savanick, Ph.D.,  a consultant in South St. Paul, MN.Newly elected board members are Jimmy Peck, the general manager of Industrial Cleaning Group, MPW Industrial Services in Hebron, OH; and Alan E. Smith, a contractor safety specialist with BASF in Geismar, LA. 

Continuing to serve remaining terms on the board of directors are Pat DeBusk, vice president of USA DeBusk in Houston, TX; Luis Garcia, president of the Gulf Coast Region for Northern Safety & Industrial in La Porte, TX; Bill Krupowicz, vice president and general manager for Jetstream of Houston LLP in Houston, TX; and Dana D. Moore, a global workplace safety leader for E.I. du Pont in Orange, TX. For more information, contact the WJTA-IMCA.

The WaterJet Technology Association–Industrial & Municipal Cleaning Asso-ciation (WJTA-IMCA) is a professional association providing service, education, and representation to members, including contractors, manufacturers, researchers, and educators in the waterjetting, industrial cleaning, and industrial vacuum equipment industries. A major aim of the association is to educate members, their employees, and all users of the technology regarding safety and best practices. WJTA–IMCA developed the Industry Best Practices for the Use of High Pressure Waterjetting Equipment and the Recommended Practices for the Use of Industrial Vacuum Equipment manuals and videos to help people ensure a safe and productive work environment for workers and site visitors. The WJTA–IMCA Medical Card offers guidance for physicians and emergency medical personnel treating waterjet injuries. The WJTA–IMCA keeps members abreast of the latest developments in products, equipment, applications, industry news, and on-the-job safety in a variety of ways: the Jet News newsletter, a regularly updated website, and conferences and expos. The conferences and expos showcase the latest products, tools, and equipment through live demonstrations and exhibits. Educational “boot camp” sessions on a variety of work-related topics are provided for contractors and end users. Leading engineers and researchers share new developments in technology and applications during research paper presentations.