Having a Blast: Lt. Gov. Bolling Visits HI-TEST

ARVONIA-- When Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and Randy Marcus, Chief of Staff for the Governor’s Jobs Creation Office, visited HI-TEST little did they know they were in for a real blast. But, they were and rightly so because HI-TEST is in the business of having blasts for shock testing purposes.

Shortly after arriving at the Arvonia-based company, the Lieutenant Governor was on way with Bill Yancey, HI-TEST president and founder, to one of two test basins in an area that was formerly an active slate quarry.
Several alarms signaled the impending blast before the countdown started. Yancey explained that the whistles alert those in the area that a blast was imminent.

Then, with a bit of a rumble, water billowed upward, filling the quarry with spray. Waves rocked the testing platform and its tent-like structure. Almost as quickly as it erupted, the water started settling. A bystander pointed to two white ducks that seemingly came from nowhere to ride the waves.

According to employees standing at the test site, Af and Lac, looking akin to the infamous ALFAC duck, head for the shore when they hear the whittle blow. Immediately after the blast, the duo always paddles back out to enjoy the surf.

Offering a brief introduction to shock testing, Yancey stated, “Water is a pretty efficient transmitter of shock. It’s hydraulic, it’s non-compressible.” He explained that the blast travels efficiently through the water but dissipates quickly.

He shared that one reason the site was initially chosen as a testing facility was because blasting was a long-standing industrial practice used by area companies producing slate, Solite, and kyanite.

Learning About HI-TEST

Back in the office, Bolling explained that his mission was two-fold. He wanted to learn about HI-TEST and he wanted to see if his office could help in the creation of more jobs.

He shared it was information about HI-TEST seeking and receiving federal funding that brought the company to his attention. Bolling admitted that until that time, he didn’t know anything about the company.

Referencing that federal funding, Yancey explained the company is slated to receive $2 million through the FY10 Defense Appropriations Bill. The funds are being used for UNDEX Modeling and Simulation for the Ohio Cass replacement Composite Non-Pressure Hull Fairing.

In January, The Herald reported on the announcement of those funds. At that time, Yancey explained the project would include research, testing, and analysis involved in designing replacement of the Ohio Class Submarine. He said HI-TEST would be working in conjunction with the National Naval Sea Systems Command and teaming with other companies as the project proceeds.

“We don’t have the money in hand yet,” Yancey told the Lieutenant Governor.

Providing an overview of the company, Neil Stout, corporate counsel for HI-TEST, explained that the testing facility is located on a site that includes over 200 acres.

“In addition, we have almost a thousand acres across the road,” he pointed to a map of the area. The additional acreage includes approximately one mile of railroad frontage and an airport.

Stout explained that Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock founded the site in 1967, to support the development of a new class of aircraft carriers. The first of those carriers was the John F. Kennedy.

Yancey added that at the time, the Navy said the Kennedy would be a ship survivable of man adverse conditions including underwater explosions or near misses. Subsequently, the Navy wanted to test all of the ship’s components for shock, vibration and noise.

According the Yancey, the Navy said it would handle the research and development but they wanted Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock to do the production and certification.

At that time, they was only one private company doing testing, said Yancey. However, that facility tested in a river. Subsequently, there were concerns about possible fish kills and/or environmental situations.

“So Newport News built a facility here, which was just one building and two floating shock platforms and that was it,” said Yancey. “Then they sold that facility to HI-TEST in 1975, and we’re had it ever since.”

Bolling asked Yancey, a native of Buckingham, if he worked on that initial project for Newport News. “Yes sir,” responded Yancey.

Continuing with the company’s history, Yancey said they also bought a test facility in Seattle, Washington. However, in the late 1970’s, a slowdown in the economy took its toll and forced the company to consolidate everything at the Arvonia site.

The Networking Begins

After hearing the history, Bolling shifted into his economic development/create jobs mode.

Seated around the conference table, the men engaged in a productive exchange about the company’s move to diversify while, as Bolling called it, insulating the business from cuts such as it faced in the late 70’s when defense spending slowed.

Bolling asked about the pursuit of private business sector applications. Traditionally, the company has dealt with government projects.

“The explosives testing that we do is very important but it’s not the only component of shock and vibration testing,” explained Stout, noting that such tests were initially for survivability. He said they were now looking into more of the compatibility issues such as EMI, electromagnetic interference, and noise.

Stout added, “One of the things we’re done recently is added an analysis division and we are kind of the go-to people for composites.”

“What are your projections if things go according to plans? Do you think you can continue to grow?” asked Bolling. “Help more people find jobs?”

“Absolutely,” replied Stout. “We are zoned industrial all the way around us.”

He offered, “We are only an hour and 15 minutes from Richmond… We’re two hours from D.C.; and, we’ve got an airport here.”

When Bolling asked about the clarity and visibility of the water, Yancey stated, “It’s clear. Turbidity is very low—except after we stir the water up.” Substantiating the clarity, he added, “We have done a number of projects that required underwater video.”

He added, “We have instrumentation facilitated that exceeds anything anywhere around as far as acceleration, noise, vibration…”

After listening to more of the ideas HI-TEST is exploring to expand current operations and open the door to new opportunities, Bolling share his willingness to assist in connecting them with the right people about any ideas they have.

“Anything in my function, the primary duties that the Governor has tasked me with is heading up our economic development and job creation efforts, so anything that we can do to help this business of other businesses or properties let us know,” offered Bolling. “All you have to do is ask.”

Stout responded, “We’d certainly welcome the opportunity.”

Bolling added, “When we say we’re from the government and we are here to help you, we don’t want that to be the punch line from a Jay Leno joke. We really mean it.”

He stressed, “So any ideas that you have on other used that help generate some economic development for the County, let us know.”

Encouraging regional economic development initiatives especially in rural areas, Bolling talked about the need for counties to work together to market themselves. He offered, “We are more than willing to engage in those conversations.”

The Lieutenant Governor talked about numerous resources available for economic development though the Tobacco Commission.

“Within the footprint of the Tobacco Commission, you have access to huge incentive funds that no other region of the state has,” explained Bolling.

“They have been great partners. They invested about $200 million in the broadband trunk line expansion project, which is critical to being able to get businesses to come here,” he stated.

“They’ve put $100 million into the Virginia Energy Initiative to help development five energy centers across the Tobacco Commission footprint focusing on everything from coal to biomass, nuclear, wind and everything in-between.”

Continuing with examples of initiatives funded through the Tobacco Commission, Bolling stated, “They have been a wonderful partner in working with us to promote economic development within the region.” He added, “And Senator Ruff as vice chairman of the Commission is in a great position to be able to help target some of those programs for this part of the region—and he does.”

As the dialogue continued, Stout said that one of the non-defense related things they were looking to do was testing equipment that goes into nuclear power plants, such as the components of water cooling systems.

“Nobody knows that we have a vibration table that is large enough to do that work,” he shared.

Bolling advised that the state’s energy center on nuclear would be in Bedford because of the Lynchburg tie-in with Babcock & Wilcox and other significant manufacturing facilities. He stated, “We can certainly help put you in touch with some of those folks, if that would be helpful, and we can make sure that they know what you are doing.” He added, “It’s very possible that they do not know about your capabilities.”

Stout explained, “That has been one of the problems that we have had because we are defense-oriented and we maintain a low-profile.”

Sharing that a HI-TEST consultant working in conjunction with the Navy developed a shock hardening scale, Stout stated, “And, we’ve got the test.” He added, “We’d like to talk to the manufacturer about things like that.”

Again, Bolling offered his assistance. “If you have specific companies, let us know who they are and we will help make the connection.” He surmised, “That is a good way to get Virginia companies helping Virginia companies. Doing things in Virginia—that makes a lot of sense.”

Stout responded, “That’s one thing I do want to make sure I stress. We are a Virginia company. This is a family-owned company.” Looking toward Yancey, Stout shared, “the reason I work here is because he is my father-in-law. I’ve got two small boys and I would like to be able to see them working here one day.”

He continued, “This Company is here and it is here to stay.” Stout shared, “The vast majority of the people who work here live in Buckingham County.”

Bolling asked about the skill-set and background of the employees. Yancey responded that the company has approximately 45 employees including four professional engineers.

According to Yancey, the company’s profile is one-third administrative, one-third technical, and one-third craft. He noted that they were heavy in the administrative area because of government contracts.

Yancey said they sought employees with advanced degrees, except those in the manufacturing areas such as welding. He noted, “We have to do our own internal training because we are one-of-a-kind.”

Sharing that it was helpful to learn more about HI-TEST, Bolling stated, “It helps us because the next time we are out there talking to somebody who is doing some stuff that requires this kind of testing we can say we have talked to these guys.”

He offered, “We really appreciate this opportunity to learn more about this company.”

In turn, Stout expressed the company’s appreciation for the interest and for the visit, which he noted Bolling initiated.

The Lieutenant Governor responded, “We are glad to do it. We are trying to create jobs—one job at a time. The more we can learn about what people are doing, the more it helps us in that effort.”

Before leaving, Bolling told The Herald, “We we talk about job creation; our focus is on bringing new business and industry into the state. And that means going all around the country and all around the world trying to bring people to Virginia.”

He stressed, “But it also means working with existing businesses to help them prosper and grow and expand. That’s the piece of this that often gets overlooked. The focus is on bringing new business in and sometimes you forget about helping the existing businesses grow.”

As part of their economic development initiative, Bolling said he and governor McDonnell have divided-up the top 75 employers in the state and are in the process of meeting one-on-one with the CEO’s of those companies. Their intent, he explained, is to see how businesses are doing and how the administration can help them grow.

“The second thing is that as we are out in different parts of the state we are trying to find interesting businesses that are doing things that we may not have known they are doing and learn more about them so we can help tell their story,” stated Bolling, referencing his visit to HI-TEST. “And it really does help.”
With that help and the company’s proven track record, the future for HI-TEST should be booming.