From the magazine, International, New Zealand, Oil, gas and energy, Rehabilitation, Stormwater, Wastewater, Water

The proof is in the pulling

Kobus is a pipe replacement expert known for its innovative pipe pulling techniques and equipment that is applicable across the water, gas and other service pipe sectors. Originally a UK company with a recently opened facility in Michigan, US, Kobus is now offering its Pipe Puller product range to customers in Australia and New Zealand.

Ageing water infrastructure is a challenge faced by countless cities across the world, with a rise in leakage and failing pipes creating difficulty for water companies to consistently deliver a clean, quality resource. Although leak detection is a growing field, pipe rehabilitation is a necessary solution when infrastructure begins to fail and Kobus Inc. has continued to develop its high-value methods in this area.

Why pipe pulling? 

Trenchless pipe pulling approaches aren’t new, but they do offer some major new advantages, and the technology offers utility companies innovation that is demanded, as well as reduced cost compared to other methods such as open cut excavation. Pipe pulling also minimises the risk of utility strikes as it extracts an existing pipe and then tows the new pipe in along the borehole created by the extracted pipe. 

Using the pathway of the old pipe as described creates less overall impact on the surrounding ground conditions and the technique can be adopted in very soft or rocky ground, as well as inclines, offering an alternative when moling is less effective. Additionally, by pulling the decommissioned pipe from the ground the potential for environmental waste is eliminated, while the old pipe can potentially be recycled or sold for scrap.

In an area where operations need to be as condensed as possible, such as a residential or high-density metropolitan zone, pipe can be pulled in space as small as 0.5 by 0.5 m. This further reduces costs as well as the impacts on the day-to-day lives of citizens.

The Kobus Pipe Puller

The KPP400 has been very well received in North America since it debuted, with the company now supplying the product to Australia and New Zealand based customers. 

The product is an all-in-one unit specifically designed for ease when moving around the job site. The machine can be mounted on most types of 35/45 series compact excavators including Bobcat, John Deere and CAT, and the puller generates 27,000 kg driven from the auxiliary hydraulics of the excavator. 

The KPP400 can replace lead, galvanised iron, copper or poly pipe and can tow in new copper or polyethylene pipe in a single operation. The Pipe Puller is relatively inexpensive in capital equipment terms and, while a machine such as this does require consumables on each pipe replacement, maintenance costs are kept to a minimum as the design is largely maintenance free. 

With a huge number of pipe repairs required throughout major cities along with the time, disruption and cost of traditional methods, equipment users will save significant amounts of money and effort per replacement, allowing for quicker returns on any machinery investments.

This article was featured in the December edition of Trenchless Australasia. To view the magazine on your PC, Mac, tablet, or mobile device, click here.

For more information visit the Kobus website.

If you have a project you would like featured in Trenchless Australasia contact Head of Editorial Chloe Jenkins at cjenkins@gs-press.com.au

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