SAK

What SAK does

SAK, LLC is a privately held, O'Fallon, Missouri-based specialty contractor that delivers pipeline rehabilitation, large-diameter tunneling, and underground infrastructure services to municipal, energy, and industrial clients across the United States. The company operates as a family of three operating brands — SAK Construction (CIPP and trenchless rehabilitation), AFFHOLDER (tunneling, shaft excavation, shotcrete, sliplining), and Pipenology (CIPP liner manufacturing) — and has completed more than 2,000 projects representing 14M+ linear feet of liner installed. Its technical capabilities span CIPP (cured-in-place pipe), SPR (spirally wound PVC), SippSteel robotic pressure-pipe lining (exclusive national installer), QLS GeoKrete geopolymer structural lining, and tunnel boring operations using 121-inch and 84-inch TBMs for work ranging from 48-inch diameter to 32-foot arch-shaped tunnels.

SAK generates revenue through competitive project bidding on public infrastructure contracts, with individual project values ranging from roughly $3 million to $91.5 million (e.g., the $91.5M LADWP River Supply Conduit joint venture, the $40M Austin Downtown Wastewater Tunnel). Its customer base is dominated by municipal water and sewer agencies (City of Austin, DC Water, LADWP, MSD St. Louis, City of Phoenix, City of Fresno, City of Las Vegas, and others), supplemented by energy and industrial clients, with go-to-market distribution through direct enterprise bidding, joint ventures with strategic partners (Quest Civil Constructors, W.A. Rasic Construction), and three government cooperative purchasing organizations (Choice Facility Partners, The Cooperative Purchasing Network, BuyBoard). The company was founded in 2006 by industry veterans Jerry Shaw, Bob Affholder (deceased July 2024), and Tom Kalishman, who previously built Insituform Mid-America into the largest Insituform licensee in North America.

Name

SAK

Legal name

SAK, LLC

Website

https://sakcompanies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SAK, LLC is a privately held, O'Fallon, Missouri-based specialty contractor providing pipeline rehabilitation, large-diameter tunneling, and underground infrastructure solutions to municipal, energy, and industrial clients across 25+ U.S. states through its SAK Construction, AFFHOLDER, and Pipenology subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Underground Infrastructure and Pipeline Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (23711), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (237110)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAFAGAL

Rehabilitation, Lining & Renewal (Pipe Relining, Trenchless Rehab, Asset Renewal)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Construction & Civil Engineering/Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Construction

SECONDARYHSAOABAH

Trenchless Sewer Repair (Pipe Lining/CIPP)

Home & Personal Services/Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC Services/Drain & Sewer Cleaning, Inspection & Repair

SECONDARYEUANALAF

Rehabilitation & Renewal (CIPP, Lining, Coatings, Structural Repairs)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Water & Wastewater Utilities/Utility Asset Management & Capital Programs (Pipes, Plants, Pumps)

Keywords

• Pipeline rehabilitation services
• Trenchless pipe repair
• Underground infrastructure construction
• Cured-in-place pipe lining
• Large-diameter tunneling

Headquarters

HQ city

O'Fallon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pipeline Rehabilitation Services: Project-based contracts for CIPP rehabilitation, infrastructure repair, and sewer/water main rehabilitation for municipal clients. Revenue earned through competitive bidding on public infrastructure projects.
2. Tunneling and Underground Construction: Large-diameter tunneling services for wastewater, water transmission, and infrastructure projects. Includes shaft excavation, shotcrete, and sliplining services through AFFHOLDER subsidiary.
3. Liner Products (Pipenology): Sale of CIPP liner products manufactured by Pipenology subsidiary for pipeline rehabilitation projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SAK, LLC is a national pipeline rehabilitation and tunneling services contractor that maintains and restores aging water and sanitary infrastructure for municipal, energy, and industrial markets. The company family includes SAK Construction (CIPP trenchless rehabilitation), AFFHOLDER (large-diameter tunneling, shaft excavation, shotcrete, sliplining), and Pipenology (CIPP liner manufacturing), collectively delivering turnkey underground infrastructure solutions from assessment through installation.

Product overview

SAK, LLC is a family of industry-leading construction companies (SAK Construction, AFFHOLDER, and Pipenology) delivering pipeline rehabilitation and underground infrastructure solutions. The portfolio includes: SAK Construction for CIPP pipeline rehabilitation and tunneling services; AFFHOLDER for large-diameter tunneling, shaft excavation, shotcrete, and sliplining; and Pipenology for CIPP liner manufacturing. Core services include CIPP rehabilitation, large diameter tunneling (up to 32-foot), Aqua-Pipe drinking water solutions, SPR spirally wound pipe renewal, SippSteel robotic pressure pipe lining, and QLS geopolymer lining systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SAK Construction (Pipeline Rehabilitation Services) National pipeline rehabilitation services contractor delivering CIPP and other trenchless technologies for water and sanitary infrastructure maintenance and restoration for municipal, energy, and industrial markets.
• AFFHOLDER (Large-Diameter Tunneling and Underground Construction) Large-diameter tunneling, shaft excavation, shotcrete, and sliplining services for expanding, rebuilding, and maintaining America's water infrastructure, with tunneling capabilities from 48-inch diameter up to 32-foot arch-shaped tunnels.
• Pipenology (CIPP Liner Manufacturing) CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) liner manufacturer that has supplied product for the most complex projects with millions of linear feet successfully installed across the nation.
• CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe) Rehabilitation Trenchless 'no dig' technology that rehabilitates damaged sewer pipes quickly and cost-effectively with minimal disruption to the surrounding community and environment.
• Large-Diameter Tunneling Tunneling services for new pipeline installations ranging from 48-inch diameter up to 32-foot arch-shaped tunnels, using 121-inch and 84-inch diameter tunnel boring machines.
• Aqua-Pipe Drinking Water Main Rehabilitation Drinking water main rehabilitation technology for pipes from 6 inches to 16 inches in diameter. SAK is an exclusive licensee for Aqua-Pipe in an 11-state region.
• SPR (Spiral Wound PVC Pipe Renewal) PVC-based spirally wound pipe renewal technology with steel reinforcement integral within the profile, using Sekisui process technology and profile wraps locked together with grouted annular space to form a strong composite pipe.
• SippSteel Robotic Pressure Pipe Lining Robotically installed composite pressure pipelining system using computer-vision, LIDAR ultrasound, RF, Wi-Fi, gyroscope and accelerometer technologies. SAK holds exclusive national installation rights for the technology.
• QLS GeoKrete Geopolymer Lining System Structural rehabilitation system for large diameter pipe, culvert, tunnels and non-round infrastructure using GeoKrete geopolymer mortar. SAK is a QLS licensee of Vortex Companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Completed over 2,000 projects with 14M+ linear feet of liner installed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Vortex Companies (QLS - Quadex Lining System)coreTechnology or Integration · 24 October 2018SAK became a licensee for the QLS system featuring GeoKrete geopolymer, designed for structural rehabilitation of large diameter pipe, culvert, tunnels and non-round infrastructure.
• SippTech (SIPP Technologies LLC)coreTechnology or Integration · 16 January 2018SAK is the exclusive national installation contractor for SippTech's SippSteel robotic lining technology. This multidimensional, robotically installed composite pressure pipelining system uses computer-vision, LIDAR ultrasound, and other sensors to navigate and apply composite lining inside pipes.
• W.A. Rasic Construction Co. Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2015Joint venture partnership for the $91.5 million River Supply Conduit Improvement Upper Reach project for LADWP in North Hollywood, California.
• Parsons EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 16 August 2011Engineering firm partnered with SAK/Quest joint venture for design of the Austin Downtown Wastewater Tunnel project.
• Quest Civil Constructors Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Joint venture partnership for the $40 million Downtown Wastewater Tunnel project for the City of Austin. SAK and Quest partnered with Parsons Engineering to deliver the project.
• Chester Engineers (Arcadis)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign engineer for the DC Water Potomac Interceptor project.
• Doetsch EnvironmentalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSubcontractor for cleaning and closed circuit TV inspection services on the Potomac Interceptor project.
• Municipal Hydro ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSubcontractor for bypass pumping operations on the DC Water project.
• Choice Facility PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperative purchasing organization based in Houston serving government entities nationwide; SAK is a contract partner.
• The Cooperative Purchasing NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperative purchasing organization based in Houston serving government entities nationwide; SAK is a contract partner.
• BuyBoardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperative purchasing organization based in Austin serving government entities nationwide; SAK is a contract partner.
• LogistecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Logistec for infrastructure projects, announced May 2020.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Garney Construction: Garney Construction is a large privately held water and wastewater pipeline contractor operating nationwide, comparable to SAK through its municipal water/sewer focus and large-diameter pipeline installation capabilities, though it does not specialize in trenchless rehabilitation.
• Veolia North America: Veolia North America operates water and wastewater utilities and provides infrastructure services to municipal clients, overlapping with SAK's customer base and increasingly active in trenchless rehabilitation contracting.
• Aegion Corporation: Aegion Corporation is the parent company of Insituform Technologies and other infrastructure services businesses, representing a broader incumbent in the pipeline rehabilitation space whose services directly overlap with SAK's core offering through its subsidiaries.
• Granite Construction: Granite Construction is a large publicly traded heavy civil contractor with a significant water and wastewater infrastructure construction division, serving as a broader incumbent peer for SAK's large-diameter tunneling and pipeline construction projects.

Direct peers

• Lanzo Trenchless Technologies: Lanzo Trenchless Technologies is a specialty contractor performing CIPP pipe lining and trenchless rehabilitation for sewer and water systems in Florida and the eastern US, with similar capabilities and customer profile to SAK's rehabilitation business.
• Vortex Companies: Vortex Companies is a trenchless technology provider and contractor offering QLS GeoKrete geopolymer systems and other rehabilitation solutions, directly overlapping with SAK's rehabilitation services and serving as both a licensor and potential competitor.
• Murphy Pipeline Contractors: Murphy Pipeline Contractors is a specialty CIPP and trenchless rehabilitation contractor serving municipal water and wastewater utilities across the US, making it a closely comparable niche peer to SAK in pipeline rehabilitation methods and customer base.
• Michels Corporation: Michels Pipeline is a large privately held utility construction contractor performing trenchless rehabilitation, tunneling, and pipeline construction across North America, with overlapping service offerings in municipal water/sewer infrastructure that directly compete with SAK.
• Insituform Technologies (Aegion): Insituform Technologies, now part of Aegion Corporation, is the largest CIPP pipeline rehabilitation contractor in North America and the most direct competitor to SAK's core CIPP and trenchless rehabilitation services for municipal water and sewer systems.

Others

• SEKISUI Chemical (SPR licensee): SEKISUI Chemical is the licensor of the SPR (Spiral Wound PVC Pipe Renewal) process that SAK uses, making it an adjacent technology partner whose broader trenchless and pipe products influence the competitive landscape for rehabilitation methods.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

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 SAK