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August 13, 2018 (https://blog.melfredborzall.com/2018/07/13/a-legend-in-hdd-turns-80/#comment-111)
Posted 07.13.18
A Legend in HDD Turns 80
When someone talks about the HDD segment of the trenchless technology industry, it’s impossible to not mention the name Dick
Melsheimer. He’s been innovating great ideas to advance trenchless technology since he started working for his father at Melfred
Welding & Manufacturing many years ago.
Today is Dick’s 80th birthday and we’d like to share a little more about the man who set our company on our trajectory of success and
who we consider to be a legend.
Early in his career, Dick developed and introduced a method of pulling utility
product pipe or cable directly behind a backreamer for a quicker, less disruptive installation of utilities. For gas distribution
installations, Dick developed a walk-behind, hydraulic powered boring machine: The DynaMole. The DynaMole could install 1200’ of
gas distribution pipe in a single day – a huge feat for the time.
When he sees a contractor tearing up a road to install a utility, he stops to ask the
crew, engineers and inspectors about their process and makes sure they are aware of
the TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGES OF HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL
DRILLING
He does the same at our plant. Machine Shop Manager Jon Lindgren says, “Dick is a great role model for all of us to follow. He’s never
second-rate in anything he does. After all these years, he’s still out here, working with the guys in the shop and coming up with
ideas for new HDD tools.”
In doing so, he ensured that the playing field stayed open and level for future drillers
—and saved the industry millions of dollars.
A hands-on boss
Dick leads by example. He works side-by-side with employees, distributors and
contractors to get a firsthand sense of their HDD TOOLS AND PROCESS
NEEDS (HTTPS://BLOG.MELFREDBORZALL.COM/2018/03/07/3-
QUESTIONS-WE-ASK-HDD-DRILLER/).
Longtime Melfred Borzall Accounting Manager Sandi Matthews recalls, “We once
had a two-foot tall stack of pending customer invoices from our plant move that
needed to be mailed out immediately. Dick sat down with me to help stuff
envelopes. He was the first boss and owner of a company who actually felt it was
important to go where you were needed to help out, no matter what your title was.”
Dick will never ask someone to do a job that he hasn’t already done himself. He proves that we can all work together to make
Melfred Borzall a better company.
Dick also brings a sense of fun and joy to the workplace, joking with employees and
never taking himself too seriously. At the annual company picnic, he’s the first to
register for games like the 3-legged race, wet sponge toss and the always-
anticipated balsawood airplane building and flying competition. (He hasn’t yet prevailed over our talented team of engineers, but he
hasn’t stopped trying!)
Whether you call him “Dick” or “Dad” or “Granddad,” his vision, dedication and
follow-through has created a company that we’re all proud to be a part of. From
everyone here at Melfred Borzall: Happy Birthday to you!
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August 13, 2018 (https://blog.melfredborzall.com/2018/07/13/a-legend-in-hdd-turns-80/#comment-111)
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