I got to hit the road and put boots on the ground at a jobsite just south of our Winchester shop, right in the heart of Lake Louisa, Virginia. Talk about a breath of fresh air—swapping the shop for a quaint and scenic community nestled in Louisa’s rolling hills. This wasn’t just any project; it was a dam abandonment. A unique challenge where a construction contractor teamed up with a geotechnical engineering firm to get it done right and safely. They found that the PD411H high shear colloidal grout mixer would suit their needs the best.

About the Project

The Lake Louisa community needed this dam abandoned to create a new spillway for the water. This required filling voids and adding structural support to the dam so that the construction of the new dam spillway could be completed safely. 

How did a Penndrill Grout Mixer Help?

The engineering firm concretely specified a high shear colloidal grout mixer for this project. Enter into the scene our PD411H. This unit is smaller than our typical PD1011H. This makes it slightly more maneuverable around the jobsite. The smaller frame also optimizes mixing for smaller batching capabilities. The high shearing action from our colloidal mill fully suspends the powder in water, eliminating clumps and inconsistencies. The mill used on our grout mixer boosts shearing strengths in grout recipes. The PD411H grout mixer is able to mix and pump grout simultaneously, allowing for continuous and consistent grout output to the dam. 

Empowering the team with grout mixer training

A highlight of this visit was providing hands-on training for the equipment operators. This contractor rented our mixer for this project, and their team was eager to maximize its potential. We walked them through the setup, operation, and maintenance of the unit, ensuring they were confident in using it effectively. We were able to troubleshoot on the fly. The training empowered the operators to keep the project on track. Seeing their enthusiasm and quick mastery of the equipment was incredibly rewarding.

Bringing it all together

This dam abandonment project shows the importance of tailored equipment and skilled operators in complex construction tasks. The collaboration between our team, the customer, and the engineers ensured that the job was executed with precisely and safely. It’s moments like these—where our equipment and expertise make a tangible impact—that make our work so fulfilling.

We’re proud to support projects like this one, and we look forward to sharing more stories from the field. If you’re tackling a challenging project and need reliable equipment or training, check out our rental fleet; we always ready to support your project!