Trenchless Australasia spoke with Product Manager Shaun Melville regarding the evolution of Rib Loc and the company’s products. An Australian company, Rib Loc has developed a range of technical solutions appreciated worldwide.

Rib Loc’s spiral wound system was first invented by Bill Menzel, AO OBE, in 1978 and patented in 1983. Rib Loc’s official establishment would perhaps be best defined by its listing on the Australian Stock Exchange, which occurred in 1986 explained Mr Melville.

Rib Loc has undergone several changes in this time, having developed businesses to employ its spiral wound system in different markets – such as for column formwork, and new stormwater pipe and turnkey manufacturing systems for its stormwater pipe. In recent years, these businesses have been sold in order for Rib Loc to focus on its core business – that of pipeline rehabilitation technology.

Beyond its initial activities in Australia, Rib Loc has continued to expand its rehabilitation operations elsewhere throughout the world. After the pioneering large diameter rehabilitation work performed in the Middle East, Rib Loc technologies have been used extensively throughout Asia – with recent, large scale projects in Singapore and India and developing work in Malaysia. The United States market continues to present a large opportunity for trenchless rehabilitation work, as do various countries throughout Europe. More recently, Rib Loc products have been employed within emerging markets in Africa and South America.

Rib Loc’s first pipe rehabilitation technology was Expanda, developed in 1983 for the close fit lining of small diameter pipes. Other technologies were developed in time, as the need for more innovative approaches in large diameter pipe rehabilitation became apparent. Ribsteel followed in 1996, as a large diameter, high stiffness liner. Rotaloc was developed in 2001, initially in order to line conduits not directly adjacent to access chambers. Ribline was developed in 2005, providing a more cost efficient means of large diameter rehabilitation.

As of 2009, Rib Loc now has access to Sekisui’s SPR technology for the rehabilitation of non-circular conduits.

Mr Melville said the core principle behind each of Rib Loc’s technologies is the in situ forming of a standalone structural liner through the helical winding of a factory extruded profile. Each of the systems offer slight variations on this theme, such as the expansion process used by Expanda, the welding process and fully encapsulated steel reinforcement employed by Ribline, or the fact that the Rotaloc and SPR machines travel down the pipeline, winding the liner behind them.

Mr Melville said “All pipe rehabilitation methods on the market offer different advantages in different situations.

“One of the fundamental differences with the spiral wound family of products is the ease of installation and high quality control made possible by the factory extrusion of the materials.

"The systems are cost effective and low risk, as the site installation process is a mechanical operation. This leads to advantages through eliminating variation in the quality and properties of the finished liner due to job site conditions in addition to being able to easily employ the systems in developing countries.”

Another advantage is the ability of the system to handle high ambient temperature conditions, as well as being able to operate in wet environments without the requirement for full bypass of flow – and quite often no bypass required at all, he explained. Working together

Rib Loc and Interflow have a long history of working together to develop innovative solutions to the often complex pipe rehabilitation problems found within Australia and New Zealand. The relationship of mutual respect and desire for excellence in innovation between contractor and technology developer has lead to many advances in the industry and to the ongoing success of both businesses.

Rib Loc has recently become part of the Sekisui SPR Group, a global group of companies that can offer both spiral wound products for gravity pipe rehabilitation and cured-in-place products for pressure main rehabilitation.

Becoming part of the Sekisui SPR Group has allowed Rib Loc to share its proven skills in product development, with the support of Sekisui’s strengths in material formulation and manufacturing. Additionally, Rib Loc is now able to introduce to Australia the Sekisui SPR system – a technology for the structural rehabilitation of large diameter non-circular conduits.

The industry

When asked about the changes in the industry, Mr Melville said “Obviously there’s been a great deal of development within the industry, with both a growing number of technologies available and also advances in existing products and techniques.

“Municipal water authorities have recognised the significant advantages that trenchless methods offer – through promotion by industry bodies such as the various Societies for Trenchless Technology through conferences and exhibitions.”

Mr Melville said that the most obvious new policies needed to drive growth and production of trenchless rehabilitation methods in the industry relate to “environmental and social impact”.

“Clearly trenchless technologies offer significant advantages in these areas. This may be as simple as employing sewer pipe rehabilitation to prevent contamination of groundwater or conducting water main rehabilitation to conserve potable water – all while avoiding the disruption of conventional dig up and replace techniques. These are outcomes that would be appreciated by all concerned.”

Key trends in Australia

Trends identified by Mr Melville include an increase in the amount of large diameter rehabilitation work being undertaken. “Perhaps [it is] natural given the increased acceptance of trenchless methods by municipal authorities and the fact that a great deal of small diameter work has been completed,” he said. “Additionally there is a growing push, both here in Australia and internationally, for the sealing of lateral connections – resulting from a growing number of studies that have demonstrated that no system offers a perfect seal at these locations.”

Furthermore, Mr Melville said that recently greater attention has been given to potable water mains, another area of aging underground infrastructure, “with a growing number of failures leading to water losses in a nation where water resources are at a premium”.

A trenchless future

“[We] have seen the Australian marketplace becoming far more conducive to the development and trial of innovative approaches to the problems of deteriorated underground infrastructure. Many other markets place greater restrictions within specifications on allowable techniques – which can often lead to a stifling of new development.”

Mr Melville said that as Australia’s trenchless industry matures the company believes that there will be a greater awareness as to the technical requirements of rehabilitation techniques, leading to standardisation and certain benchmark requirements established for products within the industry. The nature of the Australian market will hopefully leave it well positioned to find a balance between standardisation and innovation.

Rib Loc will continue to develop rehabilitation technologies as needs become apparent within the industry – with a drive toward material usage efficiencies and improved product structural capabilities. The continued successful expansion and growth of Rib Loc’s export markets is also planned at an accelerated rate.