The choice of a polyurethane material provider for your geotechnical contracting business is a critical decision with far-reaching consequences. In addition to top quality concrete and soil repair material, a premier provider will offer reliable high-performance equipment, rock-solid tech support, extensive training resources and even marketing assistance.
Polyurethane Materials
All polyurethane materials are not created equally. Make sure you ask around the industry to see which materials are the most reliable.
Characteristics of High-Quality Materials
- 100% virgin (do not contain recycled polyurethane).
- Easy on your reactor (does not create high-pressure that wears out your equipment).
- Unlikely to catch fire (yes, some sub-par materials out there will char or catch fire while setting up).
- Capable of bonding to concrete.
- Strong and durable after they set up.
- Approved for contact with potable (drinking) water after curing.
Rigs and Equipment
The quality of your geotech rig is not something you want to compromise on. A premier provider will offer state of the art rigs set ups, customized to fit your exact needs. You’ll want multiple door options (side door, choice of barn door vs ramp door), multiple power outlets and slide-out equipment options. These features allow for maximum flexibility in all types of job situations. In addition, a well-insulated rig allows for operation in a wide variety of climates.
Your pumps, air compressors and slab lifting guns need to be reliable as well.
Characteristics of High-Quality Equipment
- Easy to use (not overly complicated).
- Easy to maintain (easy to clean, not a lot of complicated parts to replace all the time).
- Reliable, reputable brands.
Tech Support and Training Resources
A major differentiator separating serious material manufacturers from the rest is the availability of on-the-job technical support and service. A premier provider will offer field service to assist customers on challenging jobs. Phone support should readily available as well, with support techs ready to answer questions when you need the answers. You will also want to look for comprehensive training resources on material installation, equipment use and maintenance, and estimating/billing jobs. A good combination of online videos and articles, training literature and live events is the sign of a manufacturer dedicated to educating their customers.
Marketing Assistance
Look for a provider offering robust marketing assistance. Geotech contractors have many marketing needs, including website content (illustrations, photos, descriptive text), videos, vehicle sign design, advice on lead capture, etc. A manufacturer willing to go the extra mile in this department can help give you an edge of the competition in your market.
Do Your Own Research, Make Your Own Choices
Did we just describe Alchemy-Spetec in the paragraphs above? Of course we did. This is the Alchemy-Spetec blog after all. That being said, we encourage you to do your own research and contemplate your own needs in a material provider. Ask around in the industry. Seek out users of different brands and find out all you can about their experiences. If you think we missed anything in this article, let us know. We’d be happy to hear from you.