Australia, From the magazine, HDD, New South Wales, Utility location, Western Australia

VSA strides ahead with Vermeer

As an innovative trenchless technology contractor, Versatile Services Australia endeavours to use industry-leading tools and equipment – which is why the company works with industry pioneer Vermeer.

Versatile Services Australia (VSA) Director Aaron Forbes says the company started in early 2018 with the aim of filling a need for a modern underground utility specialist focused on smaller and more technically challenging projects.

“Two years later, we have a staff of 12 and have expanded beyond our Perth base into the Sydney market, with NBN installation and maintenance being an important part of our work.”

Trenchless technology contractor VSA says it will continue to expand its range of Vermeer equipment.

A long-term relationship

When asked what the relationship with Vermeer Australia means to VSA, Mr Forbes says Vermeer has all the right sales and support values to work with Australian contractors, whether large or small. This capability has been further extended with Vermeer becoming fully owned by RDO Australia Group, one of the largest specialist equipment dealer organisations in the world.

Mr Forbes himself has been in the industry for 20 years, starting as an offsider before moving upwards through being a plant operator, site manager, construction manager and finally becoming director of the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) company VSA.

“I was trained on a Vermeer 7x11A and 16×20 15 years ago, and I’ve worked with Vermeer ever since as I had great experiences with the company early on,” says Mr Forbes.

“As I moved into management roles, I got to appreciate more about the team that supports Vermeer equipment, so it’s a combination of the equipment itself and the company that supports it.”

VSA operators are happy with how easily the Vermeer D40x55DR can handle challenging conditions.

“Consistently outstanding”

Mr Forbes says VSA uses its reliable Vermeer D24x40 for ongoing work but needed a bigger machine for a Sydney project that comprised hard work and limestone – choosing a D40x55DR to tackle the job.

“The results have been consistently outstanding,” says Mr Forbes.

“We often rack out the drill in solid rock without complications, racking out up to 250 m a day, many a times in complete rock conditions. Our operators love how easily it handles difficult conditions, particularly the D40x55DR’s automated system has made life getting through the sandstone on the Sydney job a breeze – its reliability and strength in the inner rod system is incomparable to any other drill manufacture.”

More to come

VSA is currently focusing on tightening its internal gears so the company can expand outward in terms of both increasing manpower and machinery. In particular, Mr Forbes says, VSA plans on expanding its network of Vermeer drills and other machinery on an ongoing basis.

“With the high volume of work we are seeing begin to appear in WA, our next step for this goal would be to attain some more heavy duty Vermeer drills to match our Sydney capacity,” he says.

“We’ve enjoyed good support from Vermeer, whether in Perth or in Sydney. As someone who has worked in all ranks within the drilling industry, I can confidently recommend Vermeer to any and all users.”

This article was featured in the September 2020 edition of Trenchless Australasia. To view the magazine on your PC, Mac, tablet or mobile device, click here.

For more information visit the Vermeer Australia website.

If you have news you would like featured in Trenchless Australasia contact Assistant Editor Sophie Venz at svenz@gs-press.com.au

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