Note From The President

In 1973, my father, Don Akkerman launched a company that today is known as Akkerman Inc. From these beginnings of producing a basic open-face manned pipejacking machine we have grown to offer three more varied and complex equipment systems. Our microtunneling, pilot tube guided boring, and earth pressure balance lines of equipment have evolved as demand and complexity necessitated.

Within this span of time, our industry has developed to include horizontal directional drilling (HDD), pipe ramming, pipe bursting and a host of rehabilitation and other products.

In the early days, few associations existed to educate our engineers, municipalities, contractors and students. Now a colossal network exists to facilitate this message. Their educational opportunities, magazines, tradeshows and online tools have created a heightened awareness surrounding trenchless methods.

It’s an amazing time to be a part of this industry. As we go forward, the world’s economy is suffering through a recession. While the trenchless industry is certainly not immune to the effects of this recession, our ability to continue to take more market share from traditional open-cut approaches will help to soften its effects. What was once referred to as a curiosity has grown into a viable and healthy industry.