GeoCon Engineering & Materials Testing, Inc. is a geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing firm located in Robertsdale, Alabama. GeoCon was formed based on a desire to provide cost effective, reliable, and personalized geotechnical engineering and testing services.
We spoke to Chris Rea at GeoCon about his experience with Vertek. Read on to learn why GeoCon relies on Vertek’s S4 CPT Sounding System for their geotechnical investigations.
What Vertek products do you use and what do you use them for?
We currently use the Vertek S4 platform on a skid steer. We use the rig on various types of projects, ranging from simple two boring house jobs on the beach to larger commercial jobs with several borings. One of our largest demands for our company is homes on pile supported foundations. When we drilled these homes several years back with the conventional SPT/Mud Rotary method, our typical day would generally consist of two or possibly three house jobs a day. With our S4, we generally average around five house jobs a day and have had one day with several projects close together where we were able to get eight projects done in one day. On larger projects, depending on the scope, can get twenty to twenty-five 20-30 ft. range borings done in a day. Recently we completed a job with 100 ft. borings and 50 ft. borings and were able to get 1000 ft. in a day.
Where do you do most of your work?
We are located in Robertsdale, AL and our work area consist of the majority of the Southeast. I have been as far south as Venice, FL, as far North as Clarksville, TN, east to Jacksonville, FL and west to Lake Charles, LA. Our Primary area of work however is within a 150 – 200 mile radius of our office.
What made you choose Vertek?
We chose Vertek around six to seven years ago. One of the biggest leading factors was the continuous data readings from start to finish. This type of information in half or less of the time is huge for our clients and has helped us to save them money with the loss of not having a reading in five-foot SPT intervals. A five-foot longer pile if it isn’t needed cost a substantial amount of money. Vertek is the leader of the pack for the software and is the only company that I know of that makes a rig on a skid steer quick mount platform, which opens the opportunity to utilize the skid steer of mowing onto a job if needed and CPT all on the same day. For what we do it’s perfect.
What has your experience been interacting with Vertek service/support?
The Vertek service and support has been great. I really can’t say (knock on wood) over the last 6-7 years I have had to call on them much, other than when I need replacement parts or cone calibration. However, when needed, they have been on the spot and very helpful.
Are you ready to discuss how the S4 can help you get jobs done faster and with more accuracy? Contact us today!
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