Whether you think about it a lot or not, our wastewater system is crumbling and we spend billions, nationwide, each year treating groundwater that has entered our collection systems. This problem is too costly to ignore, but can be hard to address with the tight budgets many rural sewer districts are on.

On June 24, 2022, the EPA announced up to $18 million in available federal grant funding via a request for applications to provide training and technical assistance to serve small, rural, and tribal community wastewater systems. This funding will improve public health and environmental protection by helping to ensure that wastewater in these communities is safe and treated before being responsibly returned to the environment.

While the federal government is providing the grants, Alchemy-Spetec can train municipalities and their contractors on how to easily address the low-hanging fruit of water infiltration found in manholes and lift stations. Not only can we help you identify trouble areas in your collection systems but we also provide high-quality grouts coupled with the industry's top technical support.

August is just about booked out and there are only a couple of spots left for September for our manhole leak seal demonstrations. If you are unsure of how you would like to move forward, contact us to set up an online meeting to discuss your specific challenges and/or needs.

Want more information on leak seal products and equipment?

Leveraging technology is essential for contractors to stay competitive and grow in the modern era. As the Inside Sales Manager for Alchemy-Spetec, I have the daunting task of maintaining our ever-increasing lead, customer, and project database. There is no room for hesitation in today’s competitive landscape, and we need easily accessible, precise information at a moment’s notice. Organizing your day-to-day tasks with a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system can give you a powerful, painless, and rapid advantage over the competition.

Centralize Data & Information

We all at some point have likely had to contend with endless emails, spreadsheets, and documents siloing or isolating important data and information about our leads and customers. With a CRM, you can integrate your data into one single source of information. You can use it to manage customer data and leads as they enter your pipeline through various channels and integrate them into a linear sales process.

Increase Productivity & Results

Enable your entire sales and marketing team to get more done. Leads can be tracked through a linear sales process with access to information displaying critical data points for whatever the user needs. Having a centralized database reduces your paperwork and helps you limit the headache of digging through old emails. With a clear view of your leads and customers to access at any time, you will be able to focus on execution instead of endless email chains and spreadsheets.

Clear Reporting and Greater Visibility

With CRM dashboards and reporting features, your team and management will be able to make key decisions to improve and scale the business. You'll be able to quickly identify inefficiencies and take swift action to address them. Real-time reporting allows you to quickly assess what is going on and how the health of the business is looking without having to rely on exporting and aggregating data on a spreadsheet over and over. I can’t stress enough the importance of being able to quickly and efficiently generate sales forecasts and analyze the profitability of your various service offerings.

Contact Us for CRM Tips and Guidance

Please contact me (David Park - Inside Sales Manager) at dpark@alchemy-spetec.com if you have any questions or need technical guidance on choosing or using a CRM.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

If you run a contracting business, you're probably handling hundreds of tasks on a daily basis with a limited and overworked team. Not only is it overwhelming, but key action items like lead follow-up or estimate requests fall through the cracks leading to more time wasted backtracking them later. Luckily, automation software like Zapier can execute many of your repetitive tasks and enable your business to become more efficient and organized. This advantage is crucial in order for your team to do what matters most and scale your business to the next level.

At Alchemy-Spetec, we leverage automation tools in every possible scenario to support our team to be more effective and efficient. We are excited to share some of the core features we have implemented that can be used to help your business grow as well. As always, we pride ourselves on supporting our customers so please feel free to contact me (David Park - Inside Sales Manager) at dpark@alchemy-spetec.com if you have any questions or need technical guidance on growing your business through automation.

Three Simple Ways Automation Can Scale Your Business

Your most valuable resource is not your product or your customer list, but the team of people who make your company a success. Your team’s most valuable resource is their time and attention, and tedious repetitive tasks have a habit of showing up in everyone’s daily routine. The software and digital tools we use to run our businesses come with data and information overload. We noticed at Alchemy-Spetec that simply aligning and keeping data updated between platforms was requiring a great deal of manual effort. Thanks to automation tools like Zapier, we have been able to implement three simple automation strategies.

1. Automate Data Entry

At Alchemy-Spetec, much of our data and information is stuck in a variety of fractured applications and online tools. We've used Zapier to link these applications and transfer data back and forth when a new lead or email arrives. If you find yourself manually entering lead or customer information over and over, it might be worth looking into an integration and automation tool. 

2. Automate Communication Internally

There are many different ways team members communicate, but it’s likely that email is still the most common means of communication in most organizations. If your email platform is Google-based, Zapier integration offers a variety of ways to utilize automation and tags to organize the clutter of your inbox. By implementing Google’s filtering system and Zapier automation, our team has been able to create multiple automation workflows that will perform repetitive tasks such as forwarding emails to another team member over and over. (If your email platform is not Google-based, Zapier may still offer automation options. Contact me for assistance if needed.) If you find yourself too busy organizing and forwarding internal communications, it might be worth looking into integration and automation tools like Zapier to do the work for you. 

3. Automate Communication Externally

Thanks to automation tools like Zapier, we have been able to configure many outward-facing emails to automatically send when a specific event occurs (such as a new lead being added to our database). Automation tools like Zapier enable us to automatically respond with customized response times and messages on a case-by-case basis. If you find yourself manually answering and replying to every lead, it might be worth looking into automation tools like Zapier to do the work for you.

Contact me (David Park - Inside Sales Manager) at dpark@alchemy-spetec.com if you think you have some tasks that can be automated. I'd be happy to assist you!

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

Many spray foam insulation installers are interested in adding slab lifting capability to their rig setup. If you're a spray foam installer considering slab lifting, we have all the info you need right here. With just four additional pieces of equipment and one set of material, you can add slab lifting to your service offerings. Let’s take a look at exactly what additional equipment and material are required to get started...

Slab Lifting Equipment

MixMaster Pro Slab Lifting Gun
The MixMaster Pro is a two-component resin injection gun manufactured specifically for lifting concrete slabs, designed to handle back-pressure. 

Titan Impact 440 (Modified) Pump with Flush Hose
The Titan Impact 440 (Modified) pump is used for flushing the MixMaster Pro gun in between foam injections. (It's also used for pumping one-component material in soil stabilization and seawall repair applications.)

3/8” MixMaster Ports
These heavy-duty ports create an airtight seal for injecting foam into drill holes. 

Dial Indicator Crane
This precision tool is used to measure the lift of the slab within 1/10” of an inch.

Polyurethane Slab Lifting Material

AP Lift 430, AP Lift 440, or AP Lift 475 (100 Gallon Unit)
Sunken concrete slabs can be lifted back into place with these two-component polymer foams designed to work in wet or dry conditions. The expansion force of these concrete leveling foams coupled with the pressure of a specialized pump generate enough controlled force to lift virtually any structure back into position with 1/8” precision.

AP Flush 125 (5 Gallon Unit)
Water-based gun flush specifically used for flushing out the MixMaster Pro impingement gun. Also used to protect concrete from resin stains.

AS Pump Flush (5 Gallon Unit)
High-performance pump flush that is friendly to the environment and does an excellent job flushing out injection pumps.

Want to talk to a spray foam to slab lift conversion expert?

Alchemy-Spetec grout labs are a great way to learn about industry-leading polyurethane leak seal products and applications. These are usually half-day events featuring...

Classroom Polyurethane Leak Seal Training

• Safety Considerations for Polyurethane Leak Seal Work
• Crack Injection Products and Application Procedures
• Curtain Grouting Products and Application Procedures

Live Polyurethane Leak Seal Demos

• Concrete Crack Injection
• Curtain Grouting
• Pump Startup and Maintenance

Contact your local distributor of polyurethane leak seal products and ask them to schedule an Alchemy-Spetec grout lab at their location. To find a distributor stocking Alchemy-Spetec products near you, click your state on this interactive map. 

Want more information on leak seal products and equipment?

One of the many joys of my job is going to all corners of North America and participating in unique projects. While I am a seasoned traveler, cement is not. Cement grout often requires heavy equipment. Shipping cement grout and related equipment can be expensive. While often not a concern for most projects, it is a driving factor for remote locations.

I have been involved with numerous projects in which cement grout would be an acceptable repair and more cost-effective than chemical grout - until the project location gets factored in. Dams are found in many remote locations. The very remote ones are often built using a temporary road that can handle heavy construction traffic. Fast forward some years and these roads no longer can support cement trucks or other heavy vehicles.

Chemical grouting equipment can easily be loaded into a pickup truck or even on the back of an ATV. While the material cost of polyurethane chemical grout is more than cementitious grout, getting polyurethane materials and equipment to a remote site can be a lot less expensive.

Lightweight polyurethane is much easier to mobilize with a small to non-existent footprint. This means it is less disruptive to sensitive sites. (Seawalls are a good example where chemical grouting can be done without tearing up the home owner’s yard with heavy cementitious grouting equipment.)

There are many factors to consider for every grouting job. It helps to have the Grout Geek and Alchemy-Spetec in your corner to help design the right plan for your project.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

Alchemy-Spetec offers unparalleled field support through our nationwide team of Regional Managers and Technical Service Directors. No matter what part of the industry you are in, we know you could very well be busy and understaffed with unprecedented crew member turnover. There’s never been a time where experience in the field has been more needed. Spreading your leadership staff all over the field is expensive and draining. And you never quite know what you’ll get with unproven local talent. Alchemy-Spetec's top-shelf support squad will help your crews get the job done safely and properly.

With more than 100 years of combined technical experience, our team understands the trust and reputation you must maintain with your clients and design teams. Whether we’re facilitating on-site training, setting up a new trailer rig, troubleshooting complex issues, providing break-fix support, or playing any other mission-critical role, we are here to ensure your project is a success. Best of all, when you work with Alchemy-Spetec, you get Alchemy-Spetec. We do not outsource work to independent agents; our experts perform or personally supervise everything.

Meet Your Technical Services Team

Our focus on support is evident by employing the industry’s most experienced and qualified experts to be part of our Technical Services department. All Alchemy-Spetec customers nationwide have direct access to each team member. We are proud to introduce them below:

Charlie "The Grout Geek" Lerman
Director of Technical Services – Leak Seal Division
Charlie Lerman has been providing technical support and training for polyurethane grouts for over fifteen years and has been involved with the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) for a decade. He is also a veteran of the United States Navy’s submarine and recruiting services. Charlie is known in the industry by his nickname “The Grout Geek.”

Andy Powell
Division Manager - Geotech
Andy Powell’s vast experience encompasses product application, equipment selection, job estimating, field service, project consulting, and customer training for the entire Geotech line. Before joining Alchemy-Spetec, Andy served as a Sales Manager and Field Technician for HP Industries, a supplier/contractor for the concrete pipe and precast manufacturing industry.

Colt Hullander
Director of Technical Services – Geotech Division
Colt Hullander has spent a decade on the contractor side of the industry as a project manager and installer. Colt brings many years of invaluable field experience with expertise in a wide range of equipment, products, and techniques. His field experience and technical acumen offers geotech customers an industry-leading support and consulting resource.

Jacob Bryant
Geotech Services Technician
Jacob has worked in various forms of construction for the last 8
years. He spent several years working as a technician applying
chemical grouts, servicing and maintaining equipment, training
new hires, and managing rigs/warehouse stock. He has worked across the United States with a wide variety of polymers and soil types.

Ken Braunlich
National Program Manager - Seawall Repair Network
Over the years Ken has personally evaluated and prepared repair
plans for well over 1,000 seawalls and waterfront protection barriers
in South Florida. His experience includes seawall evaluation, repair/
preservation methodology, project cost analysis, and field service for
training on the Seawall Repair Network product lines.

Meet Our Regional Managers

Alchemy-Spetec’s team of Regional Managers is strategically spread out across the country. Rarely sitting in their offices, these hands-on experts are always on the road or in the field supporting our customers. We are proud to introduce them below:

Erik Prinzing
Midwest Regional Manager
Erik Prinzing is a driven professional with over 20 years of experience in the construction sector. Over the years Erik has become well-rounded in construction practices, with experiences ranging from working in the field as a contractor to assisting customers as a regional manager in the water, vapor, and air barrier industry.

Joel Bryant
Western Regional Manager
With over 10 years of experience, Joel has a broad understanding of general practices in the construction and services industries. He has spent recent years focused on ground improvement by the use of chemical grouting with structural polymers and possesses both technical and marketing expertise.

Patrick Zito
Northeast Regional Manager
Patrick began his career in 1990 as an equipment operator and mason with a municipality. He then started up his own asphalt/concrete repair company, which he operated for 10 years. Since 2005 or so, he has worked in heavy equipment sales, the steel industry, asphalt products, and more.

Steve Taylor
Southeast Regional Manager
Steve Taylor’s professional on-site experience includes slab lifting, soil stabilization, void filling, crack injection, curtain grouting, and seawall repair. Before joining Alchemy-Spetec, Steve was General Manager at the geotech contracting firm Ground Consolidation Services. At GCS he supervised crew members and managed customer relations for all of metro Atlanta. He has worked in the construction industry for many years.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

On March 29th - 31st, Contractors from around the world traveled to Alchemy-Spetec HQ in Tucker, GA for a thorough education in Slab Lifting, Soil Stabilization, the Deep Lift® process, equipment, and applications. They received hands-on training from a technical staff with decades of on-the-job experience.

This three-day geotech bootcamp featured presentations and demos on the following subjects:

• Geotech Product Line Overview
• Geotech Applications & Case Studies
• PolyBadger® Demo & Training
• Estimating & Quoting Jobs
• PMC Pump Demo & Training
• Leak Seal Issues on Geotech Jobs
• Ground Penetrating Radar Demo & Training
• Slab Lift Rig Demo & Training
• Competing Geotech Techniques
• PolyShark® / Soil Stabilization Demo & Training (On-Site)
• Deep Lift® Demo & Training (On-Site)

All of us here at Alchemy-Spetec would like to thank everyone who participated! and extend an invitation to those who missed this event to sign up below for notifications on future training programs.

Alchemy-Spetec's Spring 2022 training event is officially SOLD OUT!  If you're still interested in training, we'll be conducting another event in the Fall of 2022.  Click the button below and fill out the form.  We'll keep you updated on the next event and all other training opportunities!

Don't miss this opportunity for a thorough education in Slab Lifting, Soil Stabilization, the Alchemy-Spetec Deep Lift® process, equipment, and applications. You’ll get hands-on training from a technical staff with decades of on-the-job experience.

Alchemy-Spetec two-day geotech training events typically consist of the following...

• Geotech Product Line Overview
• Geotech Applications & Case Studies
• PolyBadger® Demo & Training
• Estimating & Quoting Jobs
• PMC Pump Demo & Training
• Leak Seal Issues on Geotech Jobs
• Ground Penetrating Radar Demo & Training
• Slab Lift Rig Demo & Training
• Competing Geotech Techniques
• PolyShark® / Soil Stabilization Demo & Training (On-Site)
• Deep Lift® Demo & Training (On-Site)

Want to be alerted when Fall 2022 training registration is available?

Enjoy the Advantages and Avoid the Pitfalls

In his blog post, Starting a Slab Lifting Business, Alchemy-Spetec's Geotech Division Manager Andy Powell outlines the advantages and pitfalls of pursuing this line of work...

You can make a lot of money in the slab lifting business. There are many markets to take advantage of, including residential, commercial-industrial, and transportation.

But it would be irresponsible to paint a completely rosy picture of the business and neglect to warn you of the pitfalls. Risk is an underlying factor in any new endeavor, and slab lifting is no different. Threats of failure can arise from problems with your equipment, your lifting material, and your technical knowledge.

Click here to read more...

Enter the Market with a Competitive Edge

In the blog post, Develop Your Competitive Edge, we describe in detail the following advantages that Alchemy-Spetec provides to you...

• Thorough Training & Education Resources
• The Industry's Best Technical Support
• The Industry's Best Marketing Support
• Quality and Selection of Lifting Materials
• Wide Variety of Reliable Equipment & Accessories

Click here to read more...

Call 404-618-0438 today to talk to a specialist about starting up your slab lifting business.

Want more information on Geotech products and equipment?