![]() Each has left their indelible marks on HDD through engineering, manufacturing or contracting. Besides Cherrington - who is still active and innovating the industry he created at age 84 - names such as John Mercer, Richard Melsheimer, Gary Vermeer, Ed Malzahn, Pete Tynes, Frank Canon, John Hair, Ron Haldeman, and Hugh O’Donnell, come to mind, along with many, many others. The last 50 years has accumulated so many industry pioneers who have left their mark. Globally it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry, not just in rig sales but in the amount of work that contractors do and the amount of money that HDD saves owners who are installing the networks.” “It’s the largest percentage of any underground installation method. “The adoption of HDD is widespread in a number of industries and being used for things we never dreamed of when we began,” says Richard Levings, longtime industry professional and product manager at Ditch Witch and American Augers. Once unique to see a directional drill working in your neighborhood, they are now routinely seen drilling in neighborhoods everywhere, leaving behind minimal social, environmental and restorative impacts. HDD is used to install natural gas, water, wastewater, electric, telecommunication and fiber-optic lines every day across North America and around the world. HDD encompasses more than just underground infrastructure, including manufacturing, contracting, engineering, and educational sectors, as well. ![]() Once unknown or met with skepticism, HDD today is a multi-billion-dollar, global industry - that continues to grow with each year. RELATED: A Brief History of Directional Drilling – The Birth and Development of the HDD Market The ride has had starts and stops and we are on a steady and strong path in 2021, with HDD widely accepted as a first option for infrastructure installation. Looking back on this innovative and game-changing construction application, it has been a fun and wild ride. Looking back on this milestone anniversary, he simply says, “Time flies when you’re having fun!” In fact, he didn’t think much of his accomplishment at the time. Martin Cherrington - commonly referenced as the Father of HDD - crossed the Pajaro River in northern California in 1971 using HDD without much fanfare. Hard to believe there was a time that such an integral component of the arsenal of trenchless tools was unheard of or not commonly used. Horizontal directional drilling - better known as HDD - is now 50 years old.
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