Information Board

U-TECK attends ISE EXPO 2018

U-TECK will be attending the ISE EXPO 2018 in Denver Colorado August 14th – 16th.  This show is geared toward telecom/ICT professionals looking to stay current with the latest network technologies and infrastructure solutions in a rapidly changing industry.

Come on out and visit Russ Mason at booth 238 to see demonstrations of our products. We hope to see you there!

U-TECK featured in ISE Magazine

U-TECK was featured in the May issue of ISE Magazine.  The Handi-Hoist™ was featured in the “Product Spotlight” section.

For more information on this product, click here. To place your order call 1-800-542-7011 or email info@uteck.com.

Texas Communications Expo 2018

U-TECK will be attending the Texas Communications Expo 2018 in Belton Texas this year.  Stop by and say hello.  Russ Mason will be there to offer you a look at what U-TECK offers. The 2018 Texas Expo is held annually and provides vendors an opportunity to present their products and services to operating companies engaged in the business of providing telecom. services to end users.  So come on out and enjoy!

U-TECK is GREEN certified!!

U-TECK is now a certified “GREEN” business.  We are dedicated to saving the planet and preserving the environment!

U-TECK Receives ISO 9001:2015 Certification!

As of March 7th, 2018, U-TECK is now ISO 9001:2015 Certified!

The newly revised version of ISO 9001:2015 is the first major revision of the standard since 2000, and it has been written with today’s business challenges in mind.

Although we had previously been ISO 9001:2008 certified, this new certification gives our customers and vendors added assurance of our long standing commitment to quality.

If you have any questions about U-TECK’s ISO 9001:2015 certification, please contact our ISO Quality Manager Nan Jackson.

U-TECK Offers Weed Control Around Telecom Pedestals That Lasts For Years

We have all been there, trying to find a telecom pedestal among a jungle of weeds and spending too much time and money keeping these pedestals clear of invasive weed growth. The old solutions of routinely trimming and spraying herbicides can be problems in themselves. U-TECK has perfected an innovative alternative for vegetation growth around pedestals with our WeedEnder Ped-Mat. This product has been used by the telecom industry, with excellent results, for 15 years.

Used at telecommunications pedestals, and cross-connect cabinets, the WeedEnder Ped-Mat’s dense fibers are made with 100% recycled plastic drink bottles. These fibers deprive weeds of sunlight while allowing water and nutrients to easily pass through to maintain the root system around the mat. This minimizes erosion while controlling vegetation growth around the pedestal without herbicides or labor intensive mowing and trimming.

Not to be confused with landscape fabrics, the ¼ inch matting is rugged and strong, held in place with a specially designed 316 stainless steel staking system created especially for use with WeedEnder Vegetation Control Products. This material is so durable trucks can be driven over it without any damage. But as tough as it is, WeedEnder offers unusual versatility by allowing it to be rolled up in the event of line repairs or additions then rolled back into position without any decrease in performance.

PRESS RELEASE – U-TECK has Expanded its WeedEnder Production to Include 8ft. Wide Rolls

Fayetteville, N.C. – Feb. 23, 2016 – U-TECK, a developer of specialized products for the telecommunications, utility, municipal and transportation industries, announces that its WeedEnder® Rolls are now available in widths up to 8ft. The new 8ft. width is much more cost effective for projects that have larger installation areas where seaming WeedEnder® rolls together is a necessity. This larger width reduces the seams required for the project and consequently cuts labor cost and installation time.

Made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled materials, WeedEnder® is an engineered vegetation control fiber matting that stops weed growth at every installation site without herbicides. With its fabric’s patented construction, WeedEnder® allows water and nutrients to pass through the material, keeping the surrounding vegetation’s root system alive, while reducing storm water run-off and slowing erosion.

Russ Mason III, U-TECK’s Vice President of Sales, said, “Many installation contractors across the country have begun to express an interest in a wider width WeedEnder® roll so that they can complete their projects faster. We acknowledged this need with a product upgrade that will exceed our customers’ expectations.”

U-TECK’s WeedEnder® material is available through the company and its approved distributors. For more information or to locate a sales representative, visit weedender.com, or call 1-800-542-7011.

Are you using your ladder safely?

When used properly, ladders can make your work a whole lot easier. But, the law of gravity can be a harsh reality for anyone who has spent time on a ladder. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that about 165,000 people each year visit the emergency room as a result of ladder accidents. It is also estimated that about 300 people die each year from ladder related accidents.

Rarely is the ladder to blame in these instances. If you plan on making that climb up the ladder make sure you follow a few safety precautions:

• Position the ladder’s legs on a firm, level, solid surface
• Straight or extension ladders should be angled appropriately
• Open a step ladder completely before you climb
• Use the right ladder for the job
• Inspect ladder rungs for dirt and debris build-up
• Don’t lean too far or overreach
• Don’t use a ladder as a bridge or scaffold
• Don’t use a damaged or unsafe ladder
• Position your ladder in an area with an open overhead clearance

U-TECK offers ladder safety products that help reduce ladder injuries. Our Universal Ladder Wedge is used when a ladder must be used on uneven ground and one leg is not level, creating an unsafe climbing condition. The Ladder Wedge is placed under the unlevel foot to make the ladder steady. It is also needed if the ground is too soft to prevent the soil from moving, which can cause the ladder to shift when the user is climbing. You may view the Universal Ladder Wedge here.

U-TECK also offers the Rung Runner Ladder Caddy. The Rung Runner is the easiest way to carry and transport heavy extension ladders. This product has a unique design that enables it to cradle extension ladders on their side, reducing the ladder weight by as much as 90%. And the rugged wheels are durable enough for every kind of job site. Rolling your ladder is the easiest and most stable way to move your it from your vehicle to your worksite. You may view the Rung Runner Ladder Caddy here.

With proper use, ladders are a great tool to reach elevated areas. However, they can become a danger when misused. Take a few extra moments to follow these simple recommendations and you will maximize your safety!

To view U-TECK’s Ladder Safety Tools, please visit our website or contact U-TECK’s customer service for more information at (800) 542-7011.

Micro Trenching is Efficient and Cost Effective With U-TECK’s Micro Trenching Tools

U-TECK’s Micro Trenching Tamper Tool and Clip and Insertion Tool in use.

Tearing up existing roads to install new broadband networks can be an expensive hassle. Fiber network installers are aiming to get the job done faster, cheaper, and with minimal disruptions to local residents.

Micro trenching is gaining momentum as an efficient means of connecting locations to fiber networks. This involves cutting at least a 1″ wide and up to 12″ deep trench into existing pavement or concrete with diamond tipped saw blades. Microduct is then installed within the shallow trench and fiber is pushed through to the property. Once the fiber is in place, the trench is then back-filled and resurfaced to complete the installation.

One challenge faced when placing fiber into these trenches is making sure the fiber is laying securely at the bottom of the entire trench in order to avoid potential future damage by road re-surfacing or other maintenance activities on the surface above.

U-TECK has designed quick and easy tools that will ensure that the fiber is tucked neatly at the bottom of the trench and out of harms way. Our Micro-Trenching Tamper Tool fits easily into the slot-cut, and with its curved end design, fits securely to the fiber cable without pinching or cutting to hold the duct in place.

With the microduct held in place with the tamper tool, a U-TECK Micro-Trench Clip and Insertion Tool is used to place trench clips into the narrow gap of the trench which firmly holds the duct in place. These spring clips expand and press against the sidewalls of the trench and hold the duct in place so that backfilling procedures can then take place.

As fiber installations accelerate, the combination of micro trenching and U-TECK’s Micro-Trenching Tools provide a cost and time effective way of installing new networks. By working with these tools, carriers and installers can ensure that micro trenching increases their network size, while minimizing disruption and cost.

To view U-TECK’s Micro-Trenching Tools, please visit our website or contact U-TECK’s customer service for more information at (800) 542-7011.

Micro Trenching Tamper Tool

Micro-Trench Clip and Insertion Tool

Backboards are the Backbone of Telecom and Datacom Rooms

U-TECK’s Fire Retardant Backboard Product page

The fire retardant, wood backboards used in many telcom and datacom rooms to mount ONTs (optical network terminals), NIDs (network interface devices), power supply, and other equipment are used for a very good reason. These backboards provide a protective barrier between the wall and the installed equipment by diffusing the heat (generated by the equipment) and greatly reducing fire hazards. Many states’ building codes require a fire retardant backboard with each installation. Local code dictates, so always check with the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) usually the fire marshal or building inspector when doing an installation.

There are two options available for fire retardant backboards; treated plywood and standard plywood painted with fire retardant paint. The disadvantages to using treated plywood is that it is not readily available in all lumber yards. Also, the fire retardant stamp on the plywood must be in full view for inspection. Unfortunately, many times the stamp is on the back or “rough” side. There are work arounds that can be done in these cases but permission must be received from the AHJ and be well documented.

An alternative to using treated plywood is applying fire retardant, intumescent paint to non-rated, standard plywood. This paint needs to meet federal, state, and local building and fire codes as well as, be applied by a certified technician. The fire-retardant paint coating needs to be a specific mil thick to pass the ASTM E-84/UL 723 “Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials.” This test measures the relative rate at which flame spreads over a given surface and the degree of smoke development and toxicity.

When painting your own backboard with fire retardant paint, a supply certificate must be obtained from the paint manufacturer. The certificate is then submitted to your insurance company, Fire and Building Control Authority, and client records. If the certificate is not obtained, in the event of a fire, you may be held liable.

A much easier and cost effective option to painting your own backboard is purchasing from a supplier that manufactures readymade backboards coated with fire retardant paint. Each backboard includes a label that authenticates that they are certified ASTM E-84/UL 723 Class A compliant and safe to use.

U-TECK offers a full-line of painted, fire retardant backboards for contractor use. Every backboard is coated with fire retardant, intumescent paint, which insulates the wall surface from the heat by swelling up and expanding when exposed to flame, producing a heat resistant charred surface. Every backboard that U-TECK produces includes a label that authenticates that they are certified Class A compliant and safe to use. In addition to being products of the highest quality, U-TECK’s backboards are made from urea-formaldehyde free plywood from renewable plantation forests and are certified as compliant with the sustainable forest management standard.

U-TECK offers Exterior Backboards for outdoor use as well. These backboards are used on cell towers, multiple family dwellings, etc. Made from 3/4″ impact resistant plastic, the Exterior Backboards are strong and moisture proof. Available in any size configuration, this backboard will never rot, split or crack, yet can be drilled and painted like wood.

To view U-TECK’s full-array of standard industry sized backboards, as well as a large selection of our specialty sizes, please visit our website or contact U-TECK’s customer service for more information at (800) 542-7011.