TULSA, Okla. — A crate of 40 McElroy’s Low Profile Rollers were won with a bid by Brotherton Pipeline Inc. at the 19th Annual DCA/RB Auction. The auction was part of the 48th Annual Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) Convention at the Sheraton Maui Resort in Lahaina, Hawaii. The convention took place in late February 2009.
McElroy donated the Low Profile Rollers as part of the DCA/RB Auction, which raises funds to develop DCA educational programs and scholarships. Bidding at the auction is open to all DCA delegates and guests attending the convention. The Distribution Contractor Association consists of general contractors specializing in utility construction of natural gas distribution systems, directional drilling, cable, air duct and fiber optic installation. The DCA is a non-profit organization and was founded in 1961.
Brotherton Pipeline Inc., based in Gold Hill, Ore., realized that the Low Profile Rollers could be of great value when installing pipe for gas distribution in the western United States.
“I saw an immediate benefit for these rollers,” said Jim Brotherton, chief executive officer and president of Brotherton Pipeline Inc. “We have been using heavy steel rollers that do not pack well. The gas company will not allow the pipe we install to touch the ground, regardless of the ground conditions.”
McElroy’s Low Profile Rollers were designed for pipe sized 4 to 20 inches in diameter. The modular units are strong and sturdy, with a sealed ball-bearing design. Shipped in a “nested” create of 40 roller assemblies, the Low Profile Rollers allow lengths of pipe to be pulled over considerable distance and will even accommodate curved pulls. When set-up at proper distances, the Low Profile Rollers keep pipe clean and off the ground, which is perfect for the specifications of some jobsites.
Brotherton plans on using the Low Profile Rollers in the future for 4- and 6-inch plastic pipe installations.
For more information or to find a distributor, visit www.mcelroy.com.
