ECA Deepens Its Commitment to Drill Rig Safety and Training

Equipment Corporation of America (ECA) has taken their leadership role in drill rig operator training to a new level with the establishment of the ECA Training Center in Jacksonville, Florida. The facility will offer a host of training types and exams related to its BAUER and KLEMM lines of equipment. The company has even adopted the slogan, “The Cornerstone of Your Training Foundation,” to draw attention to its increased focus on training.

Drill Rig Operator Certification Becomes Official

It was December 2018 when the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) and the International Association for Foundation Drilling (ADSC) announced the introduction of a certification program for drill rig operators. There was no formal training prior to this so the associations formed a joint task force in February 2017 to take a proactive stance. In fact, ECA’s BAUER Trainer Joe Kinworthy was an active member. The outcome was the establishment of written and practical examinations for Foundation Drill Rig (FDR) and Anchor/Micropile Drill Rig (AMP).

A Deeper Commitment to Training

ECA’s expansion into training predated NCCCO Certification, according to ECA’s Corporate Director of Parts and Service Dave Schell. “The idea behind our training program kicked off a couple years ago,” he recalled. “We saw the need to elevate our technicians to the next level, and on the customer side, there wasn't any specific training readily available in the U.S. We saw the opportunity to fill that gap.”

2017 was a pivotal year because ECA had been named by BAUER Maschinen as a BAUER Regional Training Center. It was then that serious discussions began about taking a more prominent role in foundation equipment training. The initial focus was placed on developing technical and operator’s training for BAUER machinery.

The Founding of the ECA Training Center

In 2018 ECA knew that it wanted to make a more serious commitment to practical training after having success with numerous classroom training sessions. There was a perfect one-acre parcel adjacent to ECA Jacksonville in Green Cove Springs, Florida that was being used for storage. After a series of negotiations with the owner, ECA leased the land, and invested in sitework, fencing, and signage. The ECA Training Center was official.

“The goal from day one was to have a dedicated location separate of our current facilities where we could operate a machine, drill a hole, and have live exercises,” Schell recalled. “The training center has been key to fulfilling our customers’ training needs.”

The ECA Training Center is dedicated to practical use, NCCCO examinations, and live demonstrations, it also has a dedicated spot for classroom training. On any given day, trainers can be found assembling and disassembling rigs and executing specific drilling operations for a crowd of trainees.

Jacksonville was the obvious choice even though ECA has eight other locations in the U.S. and Canada because its moderate climate will allow customers to receive training year-round, according to ECA’s BAUER Certified Trainer Joe Kinworthy. “And who doesn't want to come to Florida?” he quipped.

Despite the substantial investment in the ECA Training Center, the company continues to take the training to the offices and jobsites of its customers from Florida to the most remote corners of Canada. The location is usually determined by the type of training. For example, the jobsite is the perfect setting when an operator is being trained on a new drilling application or a new rig is being commissioned.

Three Training Categories

ECA is focused on three categories of training at this point, all of which focus on BAUER and KLEMM equipment. All of these programs are available upon request.

Technical Training provides a basic knowledge of the principles of electrical and hydraulic systems for equipment technicians. This certified program includes both classroom (theoretical) and hands-on (practical) instruction.

“A lot of our customers have their own technicians,” said ECA’s Technician, KLEMM specialist, and Trainer Burt Kerns. “The smarter they are about how the rigs operate and function, the more efficient they are. And the end result is more uptime and productivity on the jobsite.”

Operator Training is a certified program that focuses on safety and efficiency. Training Programs include BAUER BG Drill Rigs, RG Pilling Rigs, MC Duty-Cycle Cranes, and KLEMM Drill Rigs. Each Program includes 4 ½ days of theoretical (classroom) training. There is also in-depth discussion on how to execute different drilling methods with the proper equipment and tools. Trainees that successfully complete the program and pass the exam receive a BAUER Training Center Certificate.

The NCCCO Exam is intended to improve safety for all foundation drill rig and anchor/micropile rig operators. This certification program was designed by experts from all aspects of the industry and is not specific to one manufacturer of drill rigs. Operators, owners, users, trainers, safety supervisors, and manufacturers collectively representing thousands of hours of experience developed this program with the primary goal of improving the safety of all whose work brings them into contact with foundation and anchor/micropile drill rigs. This is an official certification for those that successfully complete the NCCCO official Practical Exam. ECA provides training to prepare for the written exam and is also recognized by NCCCO as both a Training Facility and Exam Site.

Several trade associations and private companies have begun to offer foundation drilling-related training, but Kerns insists that ECA’s program is different because it is built around the company’s foundation equipment. “The training that those organizations are putting out is a general overview,” he said. “What we're doing is very specific to KLEMM and BAUER and the way those machines function, the technology, and the ability to troubleshoot and understand their electrical and hydraulic circuits.”

ECA has observed a larger than usual amount of safety-related technical advances in BAUER and KLEMM equipment in the last five years. Its goal is to continue working with the manufacturers to develop a comprehensive curriculum and keep its customers up to date with the latest technology and safety advancements.

Because ECA does a substantial amount of business in Canada, it was critical to comply with Canadian regulations. Its BAUER OT-B and OT-R Theoretical Drill Rig Operator’s Training conforms to the requirements of the Ontario Ministry of Training’s Standard for Foundation Drill Rig Operator Licensing as a result.

ECA has even taken its training to the next generation of operators at Fleming College in Ontario, Canada. In fact, some of the graduates of the Resources Drilling Technician Course may one day be running BAUER and KLEMM rigs in Canada or the U.S. The program qualifies students under NAFTA to work in the U.S. once they graduate. ECA has conducted two BAUER Drill Rig Operator training sessions to date.

Expert Trainers: The Foundation Cornerstone

ECA is no stranger to offering equipment training. The company has been bringing in trainers from BAUER and KLEMM’s German headquarters to conduct courses for many years. After selling out most of those sessions and receiving continued requests from customers, ECA was compelled to make training more readily available.

“We have expanded the availability of the training tenfold by doing it ourselves,” said Schell. “This is now a revolving experience rather than once or twice a year when BAUER or KLEMM had a trainer in the U.S.”

Much of the impetus behind ECA bringing training in-house traces back to two trainers: Joe Kinworthy and Burt Kerns. Kinworthy is a certified BAUER trainer and Kerns is KLEMM certified.

Kinworthy specializes in the hydraulic and electrical systems of the BAUER BG, RG, MC, and MAT product lines. He is also recognized by NCCCO as a Foundation Drill Rig and Anchor/Micropile Examiner.

Kinworthy isn’t only a seasoned BAUER training expert; before joining ECA in 2016 he spent 24 years running its equipment while working for BAUER. Kinworthy’s perspective has provided the unique ability to recognize ways to improve operator efficiency and safety.

“Safety is always the number one topic that probably is discussed the most in the class,” he said, noting that today’s owners are putting safety before low bid when evaluating contractors. “I see this training as a partnership with our customers to share the knowledge.”

But safety is not the only objective of ECA’s training. It also focuses on operational efficiency, maintenance, and technical principles. ECA understands that customer satisfaction is driven by the productivity of its operators and technicians. The company wants its customers to be safe, productive, and knowledgeable of its equipment.

Schell has a simple philosophy: “A knowledgeable customer generally is a happy customer,” he said. “We want to give them the feeling that they're in control of their machine.”

The Quest to Keep Up with Changing Equipment Technology

BAUER and KLEMM are constantly innovating, which results in never-ending equipment technology updates. ECA’s training program is designed to prevent equipment damage and improve safety for operators and technicians of all ages and skill levels.

“Drilling a hole is no longer just drilling a hole,” Kerns said, noting that assistant systems, safety protocols, remote control, and new applications have made running the equipment more challenging. “Our training ultimately helps them to figure it out, and ultimately makes them better, safer, and more productive drillers.”

Kinworthy and Kerns pride themselves on staying current. That means keeping certifications up to date, partnering with BAUER and KLEMM, studying manuals, and even operating the equipment to understand the customers’ perspective.

ECA is experiencing strong demand so far. “Some of the bigger companies understand that they need to keep their people on top of the changing machine technology,” said Kinworthy. “They also realize that it's their responsibility to keep employees properly trained.”

It’s not just contractor sending their employees to the training. ECA is seeing individuals taking operator training as a resume builder. “It shows that individuals are realizing the importance of this training and what it means for them to have that on their resume going forward,” explained Kerns.

“The idea is to keep this training program growing,” Schell said. “We’re simply going to keep one foot in front of the other and focus on what our customers need. After all, we need to stay true to our slogan: ‘More than Machines. Solutions’.”

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“Berkel & Company has put a couple of operators through the BAUER OT-B course. I firmly believe that it shortens the learning curve for a new operator. The operators gets a good understanding of safety, stability, and rig capabilities that could otherwise take years to fully understand.”

— Pat Vincent, Berkel & Company Contractors

“Keller is the world's leader in geotechnical solutions. We are at the forefront in expertise, quality, safety, product range, and customer service. Our employees are key to our success. At Keller, we focus on training to give employees of all levels the tools they need to be successful. We have fostered relationships or partnerships with vendors such as ECA for programs including technician or mechanical trainings, assistance in our Drillers Schools, and hydraulic and electrical trainings. ECA continues to serve a vital role as a partner in our continued focus on training.”

—John Willett Equipment Superintendent, Keller Foundations, LLC

“Fleming College’s Resources Drilling Technician program and ECA Canada have been building a strong relationship since the 40-year-old program introduced Foundation Drilling to the program five years ago. They have hosted our students at their shop for classes and also provided the OT-B training to our students. The training that ECA delivers is so very important to our industry. Everyone who goes to work deserves to come home at the end of the day and ECA is doing their part by ensuring that the operators they train have the knowledge they need to make that happen.”

—Charlie Morettie, Program Coordinator, Resources Drilling Technician, Fleming College

“Very informative, easy to follow curriculum. Definitely worth doing. I have recommended to others working with BAUER equipment.”

—Travis Olson, Terra Engineering & Construction Corporation