Keeping our Military Moving

Structural Associates Knows What it Takes to Drill Holes in a Precise Formation

When thinking of America’s military, some words come to mind such as powerful, precise and evolving. Constantly looking for ways to improve, the United States military works to identify operational problems to increase efficiency and, ultimately, make the country safer. One problem that needed a solution: Westover Air Reserve Base’s refueling system. Structural Associates Inc., of Syracuse, New York, was chosen to tackle this challenge.

With 40 years of experience, Structural Associates boasts a strong résumé with more than 15 successful aircraft-fueling systems built throughout the United States. Their team is skilled in

E-Z Drill 210-3 SRA

A Structural Associates Inc. employee watches closely while operating a 210-3 SRA slab rider E-Z Drill at Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts. In all, the construction firm drilled 27,000 holes as part of a project to update the base’s aircraft refueling system.

concrete work and utility development as well as earthwork, masonry and carpentry.

At Westover, Structural Associates was tasked with cutting out and removing 25-by-25-foot slabs of 14-inch-deep concrete at the airfield. This would open the area for welders to lay the new fuel distribution line. The project then called for drilling 27,000 holes into the remaining concrete around the perimeter of the freshly cut space.

From their experienced crew to the equipment they use, Jim Warner, Structural Associates’ concrete superintendent, knows what it takes to get big concrete jobs done on time.

“We knew we had to turn to E-Z Drill,” he said. “Their drills give us an unparalleled level of precision and consistency.”

Warner’s team used an E-Z Drill 210-3 SRA to drill the 27,000 holes. Then part of the team followed the E-Z Drill operator, placing dowels in each hole in preparation for refilling the 126,000-square-foot area with concrete.

The Westover Air Reserve Base’s new fuel system took two years from start to finish and, with the help from E-Z Drill, Structural Associates finished their portion of the job within a year, keeping them on time and on budget.

Have your own E-Z Drill story to share? Let us know!