Finally – a Polyurethane Gun Specifically Designed for Concrete Lifting by Concrete Lifting Specialists
Brian Cvetezar
Paul DelFino
Ever since polyurethane was first used to lift and level concrete decades ago, practitioners have been using equipment designed for spraying poly – not for injecting it under concrete. That has been the case until this month.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GUN
Anyone who has worked in the industry will testify, that assuming you are using the correct foam, the trick to productivity in polyurethane concrete lifting is control of the lift with the gun. Most often polyurethane concrete lifters have been using one of two great GRACO products for injecting polyurethane under concrete; the GX7 or the Fusion Gun.
THE GX7 – The GX7 is a great spray foam tool. However since it is not applying an air purged system, it is like a “One and Done – Single Shot Revolver” for concrete lifting. If you do not get the exact lift you want you will find yourself continually re-drilling holes as you attempt to feather and finesse a slab where you want it.
THE FUSION GUN – The Graco Fusion gun deploys an air purge system with continuous flow of air in the injection hole allowing for repetitively and ongoing injecting of material under concrete to control a lift. However, the FUSION gun is a much more complex tool with a multitude of parts and 0 Rings. Maintenance is expensive and it is prone to backup and clogging under the back pressures often experienced in concrete lifting. Some have described working with a Fusion Gun that is not equipped with an HMI front end as – “going into battle with a weapon sure to jam just when you need it.” In 2012, HMI introduced a specially engineered front end for the fusion gun to improve its reliability, but opportunity for improvement still existed.
THREE YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
Very often the solution to a problem is to just start from scratch. HMI began the journey of developing a polyurethane injection gun which would approach perfection for concrete lifting and leveling three years ago. Design criteria included:
- An air purge system where the operator controlled the air as well as the flow of polyurethane
- Dials at the point of injection so an operator could monitor all aspects of the performance to include pressure
- Simplicity which meant limited parts
- Greatly reduced cost of maintenance
- Ergonomic comfort and ease of fastening to concrete injection ports
- Ease of disassembly and cleaning (again less parts)
- A GUN THAT IS TOUGH TO BACKUP, IMPROVES CONTROL AND IS DEPENDABLE
PROBLEM SOLVED – GUN CONTROL – INTRODUCING THE ELITE ONE SYSTEM
Earlier this month HMI introduced the ELITE ONE system to the market. After 3 years of development and testing concrete lifters finally have a tool and accessories that were designed specifically for what they do. The chart below demonstrates the features and benefits.
Seeing is believing so go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYnUywAoW6Q
To Learn more about the ELITEONE Go To https://hmicompany.com/concrete-raising/polyurethane-concrete-raising/accessories/eliteone/
Brian Cvetezar is an owner of HMI and RaiseRite Concrete Lifting. He is acknowledged as an industry expert having managed tens of thousands of projects worldwide involving the lifting and leveling of millions of square feet of concrete. His responsibilities at HMI include product development and specialty foam formulation. Within HMI, Brain is affectionately known to be “The Father of the Elite One!
Paul DelFino is a principal of the consulting firm Opportunity Inc. For nearly two decades he has assisted entrepreneurs in growing their businesses, responding to economic downturns and merger and acquisition activity. He has consulted with HMI and RaiseRite for over a decade. His publications include “Avoiding Skewed Entrepreneurial Strategies” available from all on line booksellers.
