Felling Trailers photo
Atlas Foundation Company’s custom FT-20 WD high-pressure water pump trailer, built by Felling Trailers.
Atlas Foundation Company is a deep foundation and earth retention solutions provider. Founded in 1968, the company started out strictly as a pile driving company, but quickly expanded into caissons (drilled piers), micropile, earth retention and helical piers.
Atlas' micropile division had acquisitioned an overseas manufacturer to design and build a custom water pump to be used for extremely specialized deep foundation drilling applications — the only pump of its kind in the United States. For this custom application, the pump needed to be mounted to a trailer for ease of transport to and from jobs, as well as maneuverability on job sites. This trailer would need to be designed and engineered around the specifications of the water pump, along with incorporating usability and safety for the crew operating it.
Larry Boeke, Atlas Foundation's superintendent of maintenance and shop repair, had previously worked with Felling Trailers and knew it was the right manufacturer for the project. Atlas Foundation has close to a dozen Felling trailers currently in its fleet. Boeke had worked with Felling's Mike Wolff, who at the time was part of the service team, to set up the refurbishing of five trailers over a period of five to 10 years; most of these trailers are more than 20 years old.
"After decades of experience using and maintaining Felling Trailers, it was an easy choice for me to reach out to Mike. Mike had done a fantastic job with us on previous projects. I knew I only wanted to work with Felling," said Boeke.
Boeke contacted Wolff, who was now in trailer sales, and explained the scope of the project to him.
"Mike immediately put me in contact with T.J. Schwartz, Felling's OEM trailer specialist, to get the ball rolling," said Boeke. The three met together multiple times to review the requirements and specifications that would need to be incorporated into this trailer build. An FT-20 WD (wide deck) was selected as the base model for the trailer. Wolff, Schwartz and Felling's engineering team collaborated with Boeke's team at Atlas along with the overseas water pump vendor through the duration of the design process.
"It was really a team effort, and Larry was very accommodating in helping us to understand what the application was; what environment the trailer would be utilized in; and what features needed to be incorporated for operator safety and functionality for the Atlas team," said Wolff.
Throughout the design process, there were many changes; some were small, like shortening up the overall trailer length. Others were more detailed, like incorporating pull-out steps/platforms and handrails for the crew to access the deck safely.
"The selection of Grat-X decking was made in place of standard decking for crew safety. When the unit is used in cold weather environments, the crew must disconnect water lines and drain the pump at the end of each shift to prevent freezing. The Grat-X decking allows for the water to pass through to the ground below, preventing water/ice build-up, greatly reducing the likelihood of the crew slipping," said Schwartz.
Attention to the fine details was key. With the pump still in production, the teams worked from drawings and maintained continuous communication with the overseas vendor.
"We worked closely with the pump vendor to verify the water pump's overall size and weight and determine the center of gravity for proper axle placement. We had to really pay attention to the smaller details and plan for things like compartment door clearance for mounting a spare tire, clearance for personnel to access the deck from all sides, and so on," said Boeke.
With the design process completed the trailer then moved onto the production floor. Built to spec, this high-pressure water pump trailer was constructed with Grat-X (expanded metal) decking with custom mounting provisions for the skid-based water pump, 8-ft. pull-out grip strut side steps on curbside, roadside and along the rear tailboard. Rear stabilizer jacks, along with two heavy-duty storage boxes provided by Atlas Foundation Co., were mounted on the rear of the trailer. Once assembled and inspected, the finished trailer was delivered to Atlas Foundation Co., where the one-of-a-kind pump was mounted to the trailer and put into service.
"In my opinion, Felling builds the best construction equipment transport trailer on the market. They are extremely heavy-duty from front to back. I would say that my experience with Felling has always been positive. From parts and service departments to the refurbish division, to now having had the chance to work with their engineering and design team, and then finishing up with the production division. Every interaction has been positive and professional. I was impressed with how knowledgeable Mike and T.J. were throughout the entire process. I would definitely recommend anyone that hasn't given Felling a try yet to take a look and see how the team at Felling can help with a specialized project like ours," said Boeke.
About Atlas Foundation Company
Atlas Foundation is a deep foundation company dedicated to making sure building or structures start with a solid foundation. Founded in 1968 and based in Minnesota, its team of experts ensure projects start with an excellent foundation.
The company understands foundations support the buildings people work and live in; the hospitals that treat patients; and the transmission lines that provide energy. The company has the capabilities to design and build a geotechnical solution around specific site conditions.
Atlas Foundation provides drilled piers/caissons, micropile, piling, earth retention, helical anchors and ground improvement services throughout the Upper Midwest and outlying regions.
For more information, visit atlasfoundation.com
About Felling Trailers Inc.
Felling Trailers is a family-owned and operated full line trailer manufacturer located in central Minnesota. Started in 1974, Felling Trailers Inc. has grown from a small shop to a factory and office complex that today covers over 441,000 sq. ft.
Felling's pride and differentiation is its customized trailer division. Its engineers utilize the latest industry-leading design techniques, and its experienced metal craftspeople use cutting-edge technology to turn its customers' conceptual trailer needs into tangible products. Felling has provided innovative trailer solutions to the transportation industry for 50 years.
Felling Trailers' current capabilities allow it to provide a high-quality product that is distributed across North America and internationally. Felling Trailers Inc. is an ISO 9001 Certified Quality Management System Company, WBENC-Certified WBE and an Equal Opportunity Employer.
For more information, call 800/245-2809, [email protected] or visit felling.com.
You can follow them on Facebook (Felling Trailers, Inc.), Instagram and LinkedIn.
This story also appears on Truck and Trailer Guide.
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