Meet “SuperSealer” Andrew Boer

When he’s not using pi to help his kids with their homework, our October SuperSealer is using it to affect change for the North American Sewer Collection Network. He explains how lateral lining technology with a comprehensive approach can significantly and permanently reduce damages in the pipe infrastructure, and how he thrives on being part of international culture.

Who are you?

My name is Andrew Boer, and I’m the North American Business Development Manager at Trelleborg’s Pipe Seals operation.

When did you start this position, and what are your key duties?

I started with Trelleborg in the first quarter of this year (2019). My core focus is growing our sewer rehabilitation market share by sharing our knowledge base with municipalities and consulting engineers.

What do you like best about working here?

It is my first role at Trelleborg, and I love every minute of it. In particular, the bridge between US and international cultures has allowed me to focus on what’s important, both professionally and personally. My international colleagues are only a Skype call away.

What are the key challenges you face in your job?

Our ongoing challenge is adapting to evolving industry trends. In particular, there is typically more lateral piping (by footage) in a sewer collection system than in sewer mains themselves. The industry trend, however, has been to rehabilitate only the large mainlines. We’re aiming to turn the tide on rehabilitation schedules. We want to show that rehabilitating our sewer mains, laterals, and manholes at the same time, via a comprehensive approach, provides astronomical results. Cities, once plagued with having to expand their treatment plant capacity, have reduced flows BY HALF. The comprehensive approach leaves them with a renewed collection system and a treatment plant that doesn’t have to work as hard as it once did.

We’re showing the United States and Canada that isn’t difficult. Lateral lining technology has grown exponentially over the past decade due to modern technological advancements. We can now access portions of our infrastructure from the streets that we once had to obtain from a homeowner’s basement. Our Main to House (MtH) equipment lets us rehabilitate a sewer lateral 500 feet away and 115 feet up the lateral all by pulling two manhole lids, and finish within three hours! We can’t get the message about this unique technology out fast enough.

How do you think the business in your area is going to evolve in the future? How are you preparing for this?

Curing Methods are the next frontier for all CIPP manufacturers. Light curing has shown to be growing. Our Research & Development team is always testing new materials to create more efficient and reliable processes.

We actively focus on growth, and the day will come where another production facility is required. Rest assured: we’re prepared to pull the trigger when the time comes.

What do you do in your free time?

My wife and I have five kids (16,14,6,5,4). We use the phrase “two batches” with teenagers on one side and elementary age. We’re starting Kindergarten on one end and teaching another to drive. Homework in the evening is exciting as we work on writing complete sentences for the young ones and physics/algebra for the older ones. My kids say I’m a geek since I still use my old high school graphing calculator, but, in my line of work, I use π (pi) every day!

When I’m not in the trenches of Trelleborg, you can usually find me working on personal remodeling projects at home. We bought a foreclosure two years ago, and we’ve got it about 95% where we want it now. Construction is my passion, in all shapes and forms.