“I traveled all over the world and was involved in fascinating projects in the Middle East, Africa, the Far East, and Europe,” she said. “I started on job sites as a construction engineer, then transitioned into bids and tenders and served as Chief Civil Engineer of a mega-project before moving into senior management roles with a more commercial aspect.”
Prior to joining Plasson, Jancik served as Director of Operations for Central and Eastern Europe for the TAHAL Group, headquartered in Israel. She earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in 2004 and will be completing an MBA in International Business from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, later this year.
Born in Israel, Jancik moved to the U.S. at the age of 8. She returned to Israel at the age of 18 to serve in the Israeli Air Force, then lived, studied, and worked in Israel until 2018, when she moved to Texas and joined Plasson USA.
A subsidiary of Plasson Ltd. – a global manufacturer of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) products – Plasson USA manufactures a full line of HDPE fluid network systems and fittings. Although HDPE has been used in a broad range of sectors throughout the world for decades, the product experienced more limited implementation in the U.S., until recently gaining traction in markets such as stormwater/wastewater, agriculture, and highway construction.
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In her interview with Texas Contractor, Jancik shares the lessons she learned throughout her global career and how HDPE innovations can improve Texas’ aging infrastructure.
Why did you choose a career in engineering?
I wanted a practical profession that would always be in demand. Civil engineering attracted me because I’m a “bottom up and top down” type of person. I appreciated studying the math and physics of infrastructure, along with the global power of water and energy.
Why did you decide to earn your MBA?
I’ve always wanted to continue my education, but with a full-time, traveling job and three beautiful daughters, it was hard to find the right time. COVID-19 made me pull the trigger. With all the uncertainties in the world, we shouldn’t delay things we want to do.
What lessons have you learned in your professional life?
Every one of my managers had a very different professional philosophy, so I was able to cherry-pick lessons from each one to build my own style of management and decision making. The general lesson I learned is that business everywhere is made up of people who want to be respected and listened to in order to build cooperation and mutual trust.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Even as a manager, you don’t have to know everything. Don’t make decisions on the spur of the moment or based on half-truths. Investigate, collect different points of view, and contemplate all the alternatives.
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What professional achievement makes you proudest?
I consider achievements in my career to be the company’s and my team’s achievements, never just mine. I’m proud of winning the largest to-date infrastructure highway project in Israel, managing civil works for the largest desalination plant in the world (built in Israel in 2010), and (with a previous employer) expanding business into two new Eastern European countries where the company had no previous activities.
What makes Plasson USA unique?
Our research and development department is one of the largest in the industry and constantly redesigns and improves products to create new solutions. That vast knowledge allows Plasson to be innovative and creative and maintain high-quality products.
What makes your products unique?
Spirolite is the only 100 percent pressure grade resin HDPE pipe in large diameters manufactured in the U.S. Spirolite can replace and outlast corrugated metal (CMP), concrete (RCP), and fiberglass (FRP). The system is designed according to specific project needs so it’s the most economical design.
In addition, Plasson has manufactured high-end HDPE fittings for over 60 years. We have dozens of patents and manufacture one-of-a-kind fittings like our adjustable elbows, servicing mostly the gas industry.
How have your products been used in Texas?
The City of McKinney, Texas, recently started construction of a very large sanitary sewer project, using more than 10,000 linear feet of Spirolite, which was chosen over PVC, and more than 100 of Plasson’s large HDPE manholes instead of conventional concrete manholes. City engineers needed a leak-free system due to the sensitive environment of the project location, and only a 100 percent HDPE solution can guarantee zero infiltration and exfiltration.
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In Harris County, when Tropical Storm Imelda seriously damaged a bridge in 2019, they replaced two CMP lines with three 72-inch, 210-foot-long Spirolite units with tapered ends to better fit the natural environment. No other pipe can be cut that way without weakening its structure. Harris County continues to replace damaged CMP culverts with Spirolite and is now implementing HDPE manholes as well.
Plasson USA is also working with the Texas Department of Transportation to approve Spirolite for relining old pipelines and culverts, which will save money and reduce traffic closures.
How can HDPE products help the state’s future infrastructure projects?
Texas has a lot of prematurely aging infrastructure. The Spirolite system has a lifespan of over 100 years and greatly reduces future operational costs. This year’s severe winter storm proved the need for HDPE pipelines that won’t freeze or fail under extreme temperature changes. Spirolite is the only large-diameter HDPE pipe that can function under those conditions.
What new products are being developed?
Because Plasson USA is a great believer in education and innovation, we spend a lot of time working with construction engineers to provide custom-made products when needed. We also work on expanding our product line to fulfill new industry needs. For instance, we recently acquired new, 108-inch mandrels in order to accommodate the growing market to reline failed culverts. We also added automatic extrusion robots to our fleet in several sizes for easier, more accurate onsite welding.
