Business View Magazine | March 2021

28 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE MARCH 2021 www.rkiinstruments.com (800) 754-5165 Clip-On Sampling Pump Smallest 4 Gas Monitor Gas Detection For Life three or four.” The focus on hydro-excavation prepared the company for the surge of work from the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paradoxical situation has left some of the firm’s employees pleasantly puzzled. “The hydro excavation industry has gone bananas!” exclaims Todd Farrell, an underground specialist at Haaker Equipment Company. “2020 was one of the busiest and most profitable years Haaker Equipment Company has had, and that’s despite some job sites closing down and stricter health protocols.” Farrell does not see the industry slowing down, either. With significant infrastructure projects underway, 2021 could well be another record-breaking year for the company. “Business related to highways and other big infrastructure projects has taken off due to low traffic, while our residential utility upgrades business has slowed down because everyone is at home,” chimes in Woods. “So, while that business is down because that type of work is delayed, we are working on larger infrastructure projects like federal and state roads and highways.” While COVID-19 is accelerating Haaker Equipment Company’s business, technology and legislative changes also play a pivotal role in how its hydro-excavation business is growing. “Technology advances in our industry are mostly geared towards safe diggings,” avers Woods. Safe digging is a primary concern for city municipalities because most excavation work occurs where many old lines are located underground, including gas, electrical, and fiber-optic cables. Based on new regulations that cater to these considerations, safer digging has become a critical requirement for digging projects.