Dennis Wierzbicki, Ditch Witch president, in front of an HDD Advisor display, the company’s web-based tool being showcased at ICUEE.“The utility markets inside the United States are extremely strong, and we’ve seen our sales up by double digits,” said Dennis Wierzbicki, who took the helm of the Ditch Witch brand nine months ago.
The primary drivers: home and utility construction.
“We see both being very strong though 2016,” Wierzbicki added. “We’re excited about the market going forward.”
Wierzbicki made his remarks during a soggy start of the International Construction & Utility Equipment Exposition, taking place September 29 – October 1 here in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ditch Witch says its trenchless segment continues to grow. While the flat oil and gas market has negatively affected the larger drill market, drills at 30,000 pounds thrust/pullback and below are booming, primarily because of the fiber-to-home telecom push.
With fiber-to-home still in its infancy as telecoms seek to increase their bandwidth, the company believes the entire build out will take 10 years, good news for both Ditch Witch and its customers. It also means some contractors are going into unfamiliar locations, giving Ditch Witch the opportunity to help them understand local soil conditions and get the right equipment.
During the show, Ditch Witch is unveiling a line of utility tractors, three vacuum excavators, and is announcing its entry into the air excavation market with its new FXT Air vacuum excavator models.
Show organizer Association of Equipment Manufacturers says the show will be the largest ICUEE to date, with a record 900-plus exhibitors and 27 acres of exhibits.
