Field Journal: Managing Dust and Dry Conditions
By mid-summer, the mud is gone—but the dust rolls in. Dry ground creates a new set of challenges that can quietly impact safety, equipment performance and install quality.
Field Journal: Keeping Cool Under Pressure
Heat doesn’t just raise temperatures. It can also raise tempers. Deadlines tighten. Clients call. Equipment breaks. In the middle of summer pressure, professionalism matters most.
From Clay to Corrugated
A century of innovation has transformed the drainage industry but some fundamentals remain as important today as they were in 1923.
The Truth About Plastic Pipe
In today’s environment, few materials face as much scrutiny as plastic. From legislative chambers to social media feeds, a steady stream of messaging has shaped public perception, often casting plastics in a negative light. For the plastic pipe industry, that broader narrative has become impossible to ignore.
Fort Payne Alabama
When Fratco began searching for the right location to serve the growing southeastern United States market, the company evaluated countless factors—logistics, workforce, infrastructure and long-term growth potential. What ultimately stood out in Fort Payne, Alabama, was something harder to measure: a community built
on resilience.
Moving Into the Fast Lane
In one capacity or another, corrugated plastic pipe has been used under Interstate highways for more than 30 years. For much of that time, engineers considered it a niche alternative to the more conventional concrete and steel, recognizing plastic’s low-cost advantages, but only spec’ing it in when conditions weren’t too demanding.
Meet Buddy Goolesby
When Fratco decided to expand into Fort Payne, Alabama, the company needed someone who could do more than manage a plant. They needed someone who could build a team from the ground up. For Buddy Goolesby, that kind of challenge felt right at home.
Blueprint for Success: Built to Endure
Summer is often the busiest season of the year. Projects stack up. Days start early and end late. Everyone is working to make the most of the season while conditions allow. Benjamin Franklin’s observation about energy and persistence is a good reminder that success isn’t usually the result of one big effort. More often, it’s the result of doing the right things consistently over time.