Pipeline backfilling is one of the most important stages of pipeline construction, providing a protective layer that helps safeguard the pipeline from damage while ensuring long-term stability and performance. Producing properly sized backfill material is essential to meeting project specifications, protecting pipeline coatings, and minimizing the risk of future maintenance issues. 

For many contractors, processing suitable material directly from the excavation can also reduce hauling, lower material costs, and improve overall jobsite efficiency. On a 5-mile oil and gas pipeline project in Ohio, these priorities led the contractor to partner with Leslie Equipment Company and utilize the ALLU DH 3-17 and DH 4-17 Screening Buckets to produce specification-ready backfill on-site, keeping material moving efficiently while supporting a streamlined construction process. 

The Importance of Backfill on an Oil and Gas Pipeline 

By producing specification-compliant padding material directly on-site, contractors can improve construction efficiency, reduce the need for imported aggregates, and help ensure the pipeline is installed to the required project standards.  

With such a crucial job and high standards, it is important to use machines and attachments that will get the job done right the first time. Richard (Rick) Petty, who works in Leslie Equipment’s National Equipment Rentals Sales says, “I have worked with ALLU buckets since 2009, and ALLU has outperformed the competitor buckets every time.”  

Where ALLU Steps In 

The ALLU DH 3-17 and DH 4-17 Screening Buckets equipped with XHD 25 mm configuration are well suited for pipeline backfilling because they produce consistent, specification-ready material directly from excavated soil. By screening out oversized rocks and debris on-site, the buckets create a fine backfill material that helps protect pipeline coatings while providing uniform support around the pipe. On the Ohio jobsite, even in conditions of wet material and clay, ALLU still performed the job to meet quality expectations. 

Mounted directly to an excavator, the ALLU buckets allow contractors to screen and place material with the same machine, reducing equipment requirements and eliminating the need to transport excavated material to a separate screening plant. This efficient workflow helps keep pipeline construction moving while reducing hauling costs, fuel consumption, and dependence on imported backfill material. 

Safety and Cost-Savings in Mind 

Unlike traditional screening plants that require multiple machines, ALLU Screening Buckets screen and place padding material using the excavator already on the job. This efficient workflow helps keep pipeline projects moving while lowering operating costs and maximizing the value of existing material. Rick Petty shared, “With the ALLU padding buckets, you can get through the material pretty quick and get the pipe covered up and move on to the next part of the job.” 

Fewer support machines, truck movements, and material transfers help reduce congestion around the work area, creating a safer and more efficient jobsite for operators and ground crews. The bucket range also allows for smaller attachment usage, reducing weight on the machine and potential tipping.  

ALLU Screening Buckets are engineered to improve both safety and serviceability. Their durable, easy-to-maintain design allows routine service to be completed efficiently, helping minimize downtime while keeping operators and maintenance personnel safer throughout the project. 

Rick agrees, saying, “The serviceability of the ALLU buckets out here on a job really helps the customer with less downtime and more time padding pipe. These buckets are very efficient and can help the customer get their job completed quickly.” 

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Effective backfill separation can hugely improve project quality, save costs and improve sustainability. Pioneers of this mechanical process, with the development of their ‘Padder’ machine in 1989, Ozzies specialised machinery is now used far beyond their headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, including in Europe, South America, Australasia and the Middle East.

Yet, despite this success, the business still strives to deliver more for its customers. So when their own machinery couldn’t cover all the tasks on smaller projects, they turned to the Screening and Crushing Buckets manufacturer ALLU. As Head of Sales and Rentals at Ozzies, Travis Casper explains. “We wanted to expand our equipment offerings at Ozzies to help our customers with more solutions. ALLU’s quality products were the answer we were looking for.”

Complete accuracy on small projects

“Some of the smaller jobs didn’t make sense for our own backfill equipment,” Travis admits. “Padding buckets like ALLU’s have a great place in our market. They can place material more accurately, which is important in certain projects.” These include renewable energy, pipeline construction and maintenance, civil construction and water projects, all of which Ozzies uses ALLU machinery for.

To deliver a greener, more efficient operation on a customer site in Phoenix, Arizona, the Ozzies team combined their machinery with two ALLU products, including the DN 3-12 TS screening bucket. Fitted with 8 mm solar blades (16 mm, 25 mm, 35 mm blade thicknesses are also available), the team can separate and place 3/8″ minus material accurately and efficiently.

Travis says, “The ALLU buckets can produce this material all day long and within spec. Then it can easily place material directly into the trench. The efficiency and exact placement of material from the ALLU Transformer series buckets is unmatched.”

Maximum ease and efficiency

By combining material screening and processing capabilities in one machine, the ALLU Transformer D-Series Buckets help teams work more efficiently without having separate equipment on site. Alongside pipeline backfills, the buckets are suitable for material handling jobs such as compost aeration, landscaping and construction waste treatment.

A hydraulic attachment that can be fitted to excavators and loaders with a plug-and-play installation, the buckets screen, crush, aerate, mix, separate, feed and load materials in a one-step operation.

Plus, as Travis explains, “Once the buckets and machines are set up with the proper delays, pressures and flows, it’s a pretty maintenance-free operation.”

The self-cleaning design minimises the likelihood of clogging and maximises capacity even with wet materials. With changeable blades and drums, the buckets can also be quickly adjusted for different tasks.

ALLU’s Variable Drum has a D-Series compatible frame and multiple ready-to-use drum sets. With individual shaft removal and a quick-locking two-bolt drum attachment system, different blade and drum types can be fitted or replaced without accessing the drive compartment. This makes maintenance and switching between screening and crushing tasks much more efficient, minimising downtime.

Similarly, ALLU’s Top Screen Rapid (TSR) blades make drum maintenance straightforward. Rather than opening the chain box and removing drums to change worn Top Screen (TS) blades, the two-piece structure of TSR blades means you can directly replace them on the shaft. Again, this cuts down on downtime significantly, reducing maintenance time by around two hours compared to standard blades.

With this mobile processing plant ready to take on customer sites, the team can deliver a project more efficiently, with a quality finish, while promoting sustainability and keeping costs low. With the ability to reuse leftover materials, less virgin product has to be purchased, transported to the jobsite or sent to a landfill. This cuts down on input costs, reduces fuel consumption and means waste materials are being recycled, which is great for Ozzie’s customers.

Boosting projects with a strong partnership

By connecting with ALLU, Ozzies have been able to take on more projects and better suit the needs of their customers. As Travis explains, “ALLU’s been a great partner for Ozzies and all our customers. They moved their headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee, which has been very helpful for us. To be centrally located and to deliver parts quickly and efficiently at a competitive price.”

Similarly, ALLU has been thrilled to see how Ozzie’s customers have benefited from using their products. As Jacqueline Day, Vice President of Marketing (North America) for ALLU, explains, “We are delighted to be working together in partnership with Ozzies, and they demonstrate an excellent use of the diversity and capability of the ALLU Buckets.”

Watch the video from Ozzies solar padding site.

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Transforming Pipeline Projects in Sweden’s Island Community

In a residential area on Öland, Sweden, a pipeline renewal project demonstrated how modern approaches to material handling can reshape traditional construction methods. NCC, working with their subcontractor Schakt & Transport, tackled a water pipeline upgrade that would typically involve significant material transport logistics and associated costs.

Rethinking Pipeline Construction

NCC, one of the leading construction and infrastructure companies in Northern Europe, partnered with local contractor Schakt & Transport for this residential pipeline project. With operations across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, NCC brings extensive experience in infrastructure development. Their commitment to sustainable construction practices made them particularly receptive to innovative solutions for this Öland project.

In conventional pipeline projects, contractors often face a significant challenge: excavated material needs to be transported away while new backfill material must be brought in. This creates a complex logistical operation involving multiple trucks, increased traffic in residential areas, and substantial material costs. Drawing on their extensive experience in infrastructure projects, NCC’s team recognized an opportunity to approach this differently.

A Tailored Two-Bucket Solution

The project utilized two ALLU screening buckets, each serving a specific purpose in the operation. The larger DS4-12 bucket handled the main pipeline trenches, processing larger volumes of material efficiently. For the more intricate work around service connections and narrower trenches, the DN3-12 provided the precision and maneuverability needed. This dual-bucket approach ensured that every aspect of the project could be handled with maximum efficiency.

From Challenge to Opportunity

Instead of treating excavated soil as waste that needed to be removed, the team repurposed it into a valuable resource. The ALLU screening buckets processed this material on-site, creating backfill that met all technical specifications. This approach eliminated the need for purchasing and transporting new aggregate, while ensuring that the backfill material maintained consistent quality throughout the project.

Beyond Cost Savings

While the immediate financial benefits were significant, the project’s impact extended far beyond the budget. The residential community benefited from reduced construction traffic, as fewer trucks needed to access the site. The environmental footprint of the project was substantially reduced, both in terms of material usage and transport emissions. The streamlined operation also meant faster project completion times, minimizing disruption to local residents.

Setting New Standards

The success of the Öland project demonstrates how innovative approaches to material handling can transform pipeline construction. By choosing the right equipment and rethinking traditional methods, contractors can achieve better results while reducing costs and environmental impact. The combination of ALLU’s versatile screening technology and thoughtful project planning proved that sustainable practices and operational efficiency can go hand in hand.

Key Project Benefits:

• Significant reduction in material and transport costs
• Minimal environmental impact through material reuse
• Enhanced project efficiency with optimized equipment selection

Looking Ahead

For contractors in pipeline construction, ALLU Transformer screening buckets provide a smarter, more cost-effective way to handle material on-site. Instead of hauling excavated soil away and paying for new backfill, they allow teams to process and reuse existing material directly in the trench, cutting costs and streamlining operations.

With the ALLU DS4-12 and DN3-12, NCC and Schakt & Transport completed the project without the need for external material deliveries, reducing truck traffic, fuel consumption, and overall project expenses. A practical solution that keeps the job moving efficiently while making the most of available resources.

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