L Likeawell-knowndeliverycompanywhosemottowas,“Whenapackageabsolutelypositivelyhastobethereovernight,”Thompson-ArthurPaving&Construction(a.k.a.APAC-Atlantic,Inc.)isthecompanythatprojectownersturntowhenanasphalt-pavingjobabsolutelypositivelyhastobedoneonschedule.
“Wehavesevenpavingcrewswhereourcompetitorsmayhaveone,twoorthree,”saidThompson-ArthurPresidentLarryBrickey.“WehaveofficesinGreensboro,Winston-Salem,BurlingtonandAsheboro,NorthCarolina,andinDanville,Virginia.Wehavenineasphaltplantswithina50-mileradiusofGreensboro.Wehavethebackingofalarge,strongparentcompany.Becauseofalltheseresources,combinedwiththehighlevelofexperienceofourpersonnel,we’reroutinelyabletosuccessfullycompleteourcustomers’mostdemandingprojectsontimeandonbudget.”
That’sexactlywhathappenedonarecentDOTjob—a7.5-milesectionoftheU.S.Highway311BypassnearHighPoint.
“Itwasadesign-buildjob,whichthestateisgoingtomoreandmorefrequentlytotrytoensurethatprojectsarecompletedinatimelymanner,”notedBrickey.“Thegeneralcontractorwantedusasa‘dedicatedpartner’ontheirteamforthatjobbecauseithadanaggressivetimetableandwehadplantsatbothendsofit,plusthemanpowerandresourcestowork24hoursadaytogetitdone.”
Thompson-Arthurdoessomebridgeconstructionandlightgrading,butisprimarilyanasphalt-pavingcompany.Whileitdoesresidentialandcommercialwork,thevastmajorityofitsjobsareforgovernmententities,suchasthestateofNorthCarolina.Atanyonetime,thecompanytypicallyhasdozensofactivejobsinvariousstagesofconstruction.
Getting results with Vögele pavers Tohelpitmaintainitsreputationasareliable,“get-it-done”pavingfirmthatsuccessfullycompletesfast-trackjobsinatimelymanner,Thompson-Arthurhassignificantlyupgradeditspavingfleetinrecentyears.
“We’refortunatebecauseourparentcompany,Oldcastle,hasallowedustopurchasenewequipmenteveryyear,”saidBrickey.“Asaresult,ourfleetisthenewestit’sbeeninmanyyears,whichcertainlyimprovesourreliability.”
Since2010,Thompson-ArthurhasturnedtoVögelepaversandHammrollersfromLinderIndustrialMachinery.ThecompanyhasfiveVögele5203-2rubber-tirepavers(plusatrackmachinetransferredinfromanotherdivision)and10Hammrollers(fiveHD120sandfiveHD110s),twoofwhichareoscillatory.
THOMPSON-ARTHUR PAVING & CONSTRUCTION ThisN.C.firmspecializesinfast-trackjobs
With seven crews and nine plants, Thompson-Arthur is central North Carolina’s leading asphalt-paving firm.
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Larry Brickey, President
A SALUTE TO A LINDER CUSTOMER
“Wedemo’dtheVögeleandHammequipmentextensively,andfellinlovewithit,”saidEquipmentManagerPeteGalloway.“TheVögelepaversarewell-laid-out,neat-lookingmachines.TheHammrollersarebeefyunitsthathavedoneanexcellentjob.OnethingIlikeisthattheWirtgenGroup,ofwhichVögeleandHammareapart,isalwaysseekingimprovement.They’reneversatisfiedwiththestatusquointheirequipment.”
“IpersonallylikethefeedersystemontheVögelealotandouroperatorslikethecontrolsandvisibility,”saidPavingSuperintendentRichardRizzo.“Theresultswe’regettingwiththepaversareveryimpressive.Allthecrewsbragabouthowsmooththeroadisbehindthemandalltheownerswe’veworkedforhavebeentickledtodeathwiththeridewegivethem.”
“Inadditiontothequalityoftheequipment,theotherthingwelookforisdealersupport,”saidGalloway.“IfIseeanyissues,IcallmyLinderSalesRep,ConradGraham,andhehelpsusgetwhatweneedtogetbackupandoperating,whetherit’saservicecallorevenareplacementmachine.Linder’sbeenagoodpartnerforThompson-Arthur.”
Cycle turning up? Thompson-Arthur(originallyWarrenBrothers)hasbeenaroundsince1951andhasseenmanybusinesscyclescomeandgoduringthattime.Thecompanycurrentlyemploysabout225people,downfromapeakofabout350intheearlytomid-2000s,butBrickeyisoptimisticaboutwhatliesahead.
“Thecommercialandresidentialmarketsareshowingsomesignsoflife.There’scertainlymoreresidentialworkthisspringthanwe’veseenforthelastthreeorfouryearsandthepublicsectorisstillholdingupfairlywell.AtThompson-Arthur,we’rehopefulthattheeconomycontinuestoimprove.Withourfleetandourworkforce,webelievewe’reinagoodpositiontomeetanyincreaseindemandthatmaycomedownthepike.”n
Pete Galloway, Equipment Mgr.
Richard Rizzo, Paving
Superintendent
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Thompson-Arthur has five Vögele 5203-2 pavers and 10 Hamm rollers, like the ones shown here at work near
Greensboro. “We’ve had great results with the Vögeles and Hamms,” said Paving Superintendent Richard Rizzo. “All
the crews brag about how smooth the road is behind them.”