Midwest Mole Inc

What Midwest Mole Inc does

Midwest Mole Inc is a privately held, employee-owned (ESOP) specialty contractor founded in 1982 in Greenfield, Indiana, that delivers trenchless underground construction services across the United States. The company installs and rehabilitates water, sewer, storm drainage, fiber-optic, and gas infrastructure using techniques including horizontal directional drilling, auger boring, pipe jacking, microtunneling, hand mining, sliplining, and tunnel boring machines, with in-house engineering and fabrication capabilities that allow it to customize machines for specific ground conditions.

The business operates a project-based revenue model, winning work through competitive bidding on government infrastructure contracts, railroad projects, university campus systems, and federal sites, as well as subcontracting under general contractors on complex design-build and emergency engagements. Named engagements include the Purdue University chilled water tunnels, INDOT I-65 and I-69 culvert rehabilitations, the Ohio River Interceptor emergency sewer rehab, Cave Buttes Dam rock tunneling in Arizona, CSX railroad drainage replacement, the Joliet CSO Des Plaines River tunnel, and the National Park Service Lincoln Memorial water main repair on the National Mall.

Midwest Mole employs between 51 and 100 people across headquarters in Greenfield, Indiana and a secondary operational presence in the Washington DC metro area, and operates MWM Transport, a wholly-owned heavy haul subsidiary enabling nationwide equipment mobilization. Pricing is contract-specific with no published rate cards; labor benchmarks range from $24-$35/hr for general laborers to $35-$45/hr for foremen. The company has earned multiple national industry awards including the 2019 NUCA Top Jobs Award and the 2007 Trenchless Technology Project of the Year, and maintains active membership in NUCA, AGC, NASTT, REMSA, and HCCA.

Name

Midwest Mole Inc

Legal name

Midwest Mole Inc

Website

https://midwestmole.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Midwest Mole Inc is a privately held, ESOP-owned specialty contractor providing trenchless underground construction services including boring, tunneling, directional drilling, and pipe rehabilitation for government agencies, railroads, universities, and federal clients across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trenchless Construction Services

NAICS

Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237990), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (23711), Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (23731)

SIC

Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)

akta.pro primary industry

Tunneling & Underground Geotechnics (Ground Treatment, Support, NATM/SEM Interfaces) (IMAFAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tunnels & Underground Rail Civil Construction (IMAFAFAE), Piling & Deep Foundations (Driven, Bored, CFA, Micropiles) (IMAFAOAA)

Keywords

• Trenchless tunneling services
• Horizontal directional drilling
• Underground utility construction
• Pipe rehabilitation services
• Boring and tunneling

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Trenchless Construction Services: Project-based contracting for new installation of underground utilities (water, sewer, storm drainage, fiber, gas) and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure. Revenue earned through competitive bidding on public and private construction projects. Projects range from smaller auger bores to multi-year major infrastructure projects.
2. Shop and Maintenance Services: Preventive maintenance, full overhauls, general repairs, hydraulic hose fabrication, pump and motor rebuilds, light and heavy fabrication for company equipment and external clients.
3. MWM Transport (Heavy Haul): Wholly-owned subsidiary providing equipment transportation services for the company's own projects and potentially external clients, enabling immediate mobilization nationwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Midwest Mole is a specialized trenchless construction contractor that installs and rehabilitates underground utilities (water, sewer, storm drainage, fiber, gas) for government agencies, railroads, universities, and federal clients. Services span new pipe installation via auger boring, HDD, pipe jacking, microtunneling, and TBM tunneling, plus rehabilitation through sliplining, spiral wound lining, and Danby pipe renovation. The company engineers and fabricates specialized tunneling machines in-house for unique project conditions, and operates MWM Transport as a wholly-owned heavy haul subsidiary.

Product overview

Midwest Mole Inc is a trenchless construction contractor offering a comprehensive portfolio of specialized tunneling and underground infrastructure services. The company's core offering is trenchless technology services including rock boring, hand mining, auger boring, horizontal directional drilling (HDD), pipe jacking, microtunneling, and various rehabilitation methods like sliplining, spiral wound lining, and cellular grouting. Additional services include design-build project delivery, CCTV pipe inspection, hydro-excavation, shaft excavation, and in-house shop/fabrication capabilities. The company also operates MWM Transport as a wholly-owned subsidiary for equipment transportation. This is a service-based business model rather than a software platform, focused on delivering specialized underground construction solutions for drainage, sewer, water, and utility infrastructure projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rock Boring & Tunneling Tunneling through solid rock using custom-designed machines engineered for specific rock conditions based on geotechnical reports, for clients needing new pipe installation through hard geological formations.
• Segmental Tunnel Lining Efficient tunnel construction method using steel ring beams or wood lagging following TBM or hand mining operations, creating stable tunnels throughout the tunneling process.
• Hand Mining Manual soil excavation method for stable ground conditions where personnel manually excavate tunnel faces using handheld tools, with protective shield support.
• Auger Boring Traditional boring technique using rotating auger within steel casing to install medium to large diameter pipes with minimal disruption.
• Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Steerable trenchless installation method using surface-mounted drill rig to install pipelines below ground with pilot rod and reaming head.
• Open Cut Excavation Traditional open trench excavation method for pipe, conduit, or cable installation with backfill and surface restoration.
• Pipe Jacking / Conventional Tunneling Single-pass trenchless construction method pushing specially designed pipe with hydraulic jacks immediately behind a tunneling machine.
• Sliplining (Reline) Trenchless rehabilitation method inserting a new pipe into an existing pipe, with grouting of annular space, using CCFRPM, HDPE, or Infrasteel materials.
• Pipe Ramming Non-steerable system using percussion hammer to ram open-ended steel pipe through soil for medium to large diameter installations.
• Pipe Bursting Pipeline replacement method pulling new pipe through while bursting existing pipe using expanding head, creating no surface disturbance.
• Guided Boring Accurate boring method incorporating pilot tube system to maintain line and grade accuracy before steel casing installation, using Akkerman or Vermeer Axis systems.
• Box Tunneling Square-shaped tunneling method for shorter runs with limited access points, feasible in cohesive ground that does not flow or subside.
• Microtunneling Remote-controlled trenchless installation using MTBM operated from surface control panel, without requiring personnel tunnel entry.
• Shaft Excavation Vertical pit or wall construction from ground surface to tunnel for access, using liner plate, soldier beam and wood lagging, or steel sheeting methods.
• Cellular Grouting Lightweight grout installation for annular space filling between carrier pipe and tunnel, used for geotechnical fills, abandoned structures, and sliplining projects.
• Spiral Wound Lining Versatile pipe restoration technique using continuous spiral liner installed inside existing structures for gravity pipeline rehabilitation.
• Design-Build Project delivery system contracting both design and construction services under single entity for increased collaboration and cost efficiency.
• Hydro-Excavation Safe excavation using pressurized water and vacuum to expose buried infrastructure without damaging existing utilities, pipes, lines, or cables.
• CCTV Pipe Inspection Closed-circuit television pipeline inspection system examining pipes from 12 to 72 inches diameter, up to approximately 800 feet in length, using PACP reporting standards.
• Shop Services In-house capabilities including preventative maintenance, full overhauls, hydraulic hose fabrication, pump/motor rebuilds, light/heavy fabrication, and equipment restoration.
• MWM Transport (Heavy Haul) In-house transportation subsidiary providing dedicated drivers and equipment for immediate emergency mobilization and national project reach.
• Railroad Construction Handles all facets of railway drainage construction, from repairing or replacing existing drainage structures to installing new stormwater systems, including drainage culvert replacement under active rail tracks without disrupting rail traffic.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved five years without a recordable accident through preventive care and safety programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Coffman-SSC Joint VenturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2020Midwest Mole served as the tunneling subcontractor for the Coffman-SSC joint venture on the Cave Buttes Dam modification project in Phoenix, Arizona. The joint venture was tasked with modifying the dam for the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, and Midwest Mole bored a 943-foot tunnel through rock using a refurbished 66-inch American Augers TBM.
• Ulliman Schutte ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2019Lead contractor in the MSD emergency procurement team for the Ohio River Interceptor rehabilitation in Louisville, KY. Ulliman Schutte Construction and Brown & Caldwell were hired by MSD to design and expedite repairs. Midwest Mole handled all associated trenchless construction work including hand mining, shaft excavation, and cellular grouting.
• Thompson PumpscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2019Provided seven 18-inch centrifugal pumps (with silent diesel and variable-speed electric power) for the temporary pumping station on the ORI project, handling approximately 40 MGD of flow diversion around the work zone. Part of the emergency response team assembled by MSD.
• Boyer Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2019Partnered on the ORI rehabilitation project, installing PVC strip liner panels using the Danby System. Worked simultaneously with Midwest Mole's tunneling operations, with both companies executing their scopes in parallel to meet the emergency timeline.
• Brown & CaldwellcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2019Engineering design partner alongside Ulliman Schutte Construction in the MSD emergency procurement team for the Louisville ORI project. Contributed to the rapid design and expedited repair plan.
• BuildWittminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia and content partner. President Jason Miller appeared on the BuildWitt 'Dirt Talk' podcast ('The Mud and the Blood'). Aaron Witt of BuildWitt produced media content documenting Midwest Mole projects and culture. BuildWitt photography appears extensively on the Midwest Mole website.
• Associated General Contractors (AGC)minorOthersIndustry trade association membership. AGC of Metropolitan DC awarded Midwest Mole a Contractor Award in 2014.
• National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA)minorOthersIndustry trade association membership. Midwest Mole won NUCA's top 2019 trenchless construction job award and top overall job award through this membership and participation.
• NASTT (North American Society for Trenchless Technology)minorOthersIndustry trade association membership supporting trenchless technology advancement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SAK Construction LLC: A large US trenchless rehabilitation and tunneling contractor specializing in sewer, water, and underground infrastructure work. Directly comparable to Midwest Mole in trenchless methods, customer types (municipal sewer districts), and project-based competitive bidding model.
• Mears Group, Inc. Underground infrastructure contractor serving utility, pipeline, and trenchless construction markets across the US. Highly comparable service portfolio (HDD, tunneling, pipe rehabilitation) and similar reliance on government and utility clients.
• Northeast Remsco Construction, Inc. Regional trenchless contractor specializing in microtunneling, pipe jacking, and underground utility construction. Directly comparable service mix and customer base (municipal water/sewer authorities) with similar project-based competitive bidding dynamics.
• Boring and Tunneling Company of America: Specialty tunneling contractor offering a range of trenchless methods including hand mining, TBM operations, and shaft excavation. Closely matches Midwest Mole's core service portfolio, customer segments (government, utilities), and competitive bidding approach.
• Akkerman Inc. Manufacturer and contractor of trenchless equipment including pilot tube, guided boring, and microtunneling systems. Overlaps with Midwest Mole on methods like guided boring and microtunneling, and supplies equipment to similar contractor customers.

Broad incumbents

• Aegion Corporation (Insituform Technologies): Larger publicly-traded parent of Insituform and other trenchless technology brands offering CIPP lining, pipe rehabilitation, and energy infrastructure services. Overlaps with Midwest Mole in trenchless rehab methods but operates at much greater scale across multiple brands.

Emerging players

• The Boring Company: Tunneling infrastructure company developing TBM technology and underground transportation tunnels. Comparable core capability in tunnel boring machine design and operation, though focused primarily on transportation and passenger infrastructure rather than utility installation.
• LMK Technologies: Trenchless rehabilitation technology provider focused on CIPP and manhole rehabilitation methods used by municipal sewer customers. Partial overlap with Midwest Mole's sliplining and spiral wound lining service offerings in the pipe rehab market.

Regional players

• Performance Pipeline Systems: Pipeline construction and rehabilitation contractor serving the western US. Comparable in trenchless rehabilitation and utility installation, but operates primarily in different regional geography than Midwest Mole's Midwest/DC core.

Others

• Trenchless Technology Center (Louisiana Tech): Industry-university research center advancing trenchless technology methods used by contractors like Midwest Mole. Adjacent ecosystem participant supporting the broader trenchless construction industry through research and training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=azRkDnW3RrI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/jasonmiller8
• Facebookfacebook.com/MidwestMole

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Midwest Mole Inc