The task involved relining damaged pipes from the inside, utilising the proprietary ShieldLiner™ System to create a new fibreglass inner skin, which bonded and became part of the host pipes.

ShieldLiner Managing Director John Hassen said this first public trial was a key milestone in the path to commercialisation. “Stirling is an important reference site and pilot project for the ShieldLiner System and we are confident it will lead to broader opportunities, as it has already attracted international interest,” said Mr Hassen.

“As pipe joints and cracks are completely filled and sealed this should prevent tree root intrusion which has been an ongoing problem for a number of years at the Stirling site, where the root-damaged storm water drain has contributed to localised winter flooding,” he said.

City of Stirling’s Director of Infrastructure Management, Geoff Eves, said the city had been keen to participate in the trial because it had the potential to provide a cost-effective way of extending the life of Stirling’s stormwater drainage system.

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“The cost and time involved in digging up and replacing root-damaged drains, coupled with the inconvenience to residents, are the reasons the city became involved in the trial,” said Mr Eves.

“Replacing the 70 m of pipes would have involved digging up roads, verges, driveways and footpaths to a depth of three metres over a two week period, at a cost of about $A45,000,” he said.

Mr Eves said ShieldLiner claimed the in-situ repair could extend the life of the drain by up to 50 years.

The ShieldLiner system involves inserting a precision tool that travels along the pipe being rehabilitated and delivers the new inner lining. The process is monitored and filmed as it goes, and minutely evaluated in an on-site mobile control room.

Mr Hassen said the successful trial involved the structural lining of 70 m of 300 mm diameter concrete pipe using the first commercial ShieldLiner rig in a continuous run.

“This is the culmination of an intensive 12-month program since listing on the Australian Stock Exchange in which we have been focused on construction, testing and commissioning of a commercially capable rig,” said Mr Hassen.

“We are delighted with the results achieved and with the level of sophistication in automation and data logging we have been able to build into the system. The quality of the finished product and the ability to impregnate even micro-cracks in the host pipe is very pleasing,” he said.

Mr Hassen said the trial phase had been completed within the forward cost estimates and budget outlined in the company’s prospectus, with a significant portion of the costs incurred on the development program since listing being eligible for a cash refund under research and development taxation concessions.

“We will shortly embark on our first marketing program and follow up the numerous inquiries from contracting, engineering and infrastructure groups who had previously contacted the company and expressed interest in the technology,” said Mr Hassen. A promotional CD has since been released and interested parties can obtain a copy from http://www.shieldliner.com.

The ShieldLiner System has the potential to create a new, cost effective alternative for asset owners in the multi-billion dollar global piping infrastructure industries and could represent a major breakthrough, dramatically reducing repair and rehabilitation costs and lengthening the life of pipeline assets.