Birmingham Utilities Startup Celebrates Major Milestone with New Office and Software Launch
Birmingham, AL – Local utilities startup Vulcan Line Tools (VLT) is celebrating its five-year anniversary with exciting developments, including a new office, a cutting-edge software launch, and a significant capital raise. Founded by Zac Young in 2019, VLT is dedicated to providing innovative solutions for customers in the electric utility and telecommunications sectors, focusing on enhancing grid safety and reliability.
New Office Space and Software Platform
On September 1, the company officially moved into its new 1,480-square-foot office located at Innovation Depot. This location will serve as the hub for VLT’s operations as they continue to expand.
In conjunction with the new office, VLT unveiled its latest software platform named Azmyth. This tool is designed specifically to help fiber internet providers efficiently map power poles across their coverage areas. By using an innovative approach that involves mounting a 360-degree camera on the back of a utility truck, VLT can capture images every 30 yards. This method allows the team to measure the height of utility poles within seconds, streamlining a process that typically takes hours and costs hundreds of dollars.
A Successful Capital Raise
Vulcan Line Tools recently completed its second round of funding, securing $3 million from investors Walt and Virginia Woltosz. Zac Young, who has known Professor Woltosz since his student days at Auburn University, expressed his appreciation for the continued support from his mentor. “I am thankful for the team we’ve built, the people we get to work with, and the continued support from Walt and Ginger,” Young remarked. He shared his excitement about witnessing years of hard work coming to fruition.
Mapping Progress and Future Plans
Since launching Azmyth in August, VLT has gathered an impressive amount of data. The team has recorded 1,500 miles of imagery and gathered information on over 25,000 distribution poles. They are capable of collecting more than 100 miles of imagery per day, allowing them to process over 2,500 poles weekly. This capability has already seen VLT mapping operations in several regions, including Cullman, the Florida Panhandle, and parts of Ohio.
Looking ahead, Young aims to expand the company’s reach into Texas, California, Montana, and Oregon by the end of the year, further capitalizing on the nation’s push for enhanced fiber internet infrastructure.
Addressing the Demand for High-Speed Internet
The launch of Azmyth comes at a time when there is a noted demand for high-speed internet access across the nation. Earlier this year, Alabama invested $148.3 million to boost high-speed internet infrastructure in 48 counties. This was followed up by an additional $42 million investment in September to expand services to 23 more counties.
With these ongoing developments, Vulcan Line Tools is positioning itself as an integral player in the future of fiber internet services, proving that local initiatives can have a significant impact on community connectivity. As the company continues to grow and innovate, residents and businesses can expect better access to reliable, high-speed internet.
