Trenchless operators in New South Wales have shown a strong sense of community, sharing product knowledge, technology, and expertise to ensure success and development in no-dig projects and asset management.
Openness and innovation
Trenchless industry operators across New South Wales have shown the true value of sharing innovations in the industry by opening its doors to anyone who might be interested.
In December, KOR Equipment Solutions held a networking and demonstration day at its Mt Druitt facility in Sydney. The event came following the company’s open day held in Mulgrave earlier in 2022.
The event brought together industry operators, with KOR putting its capabilities on full display. Attendees were able to see showcases of the company’s Cappellotto and Schwarze units, as well as KEG nozzles, TST protective gear and products from Vanguard.
Both events proved the value of networking and collaboration to the industry.
In November 2022, leading industry supplier SECA also opened its doors.
The company’s open day attracted operators from across Australia, some from as far as the Northern Territory, who descended on SECA’s Sydney warehouse.
Over the course of the day, the company held information sessions covering the latest advancements in CCTV inspection camera, Chemical-free pipe repair solutions with Quick-lock products, and how the latest software updates for cutting edge asset management program WinCan work to eliminate the risk of human error in field operations.
Other suppliers from Kaiser, Asset Training and Switzerland’s ENZ were invited to join in, offering customers first-rate product knowledge and advice and showcasing the quality of products that SECA offers.
People pushing through
Award-winning company Interflow was engaged by Sydney Water to rehabilitate central and northern rising mains using DN500 Primus Line solution in Marrickville.
Primus Line was installed from the sewer pumping station to the discharge points near Illawarra Road.
The company’s team pulled together to overcome a series of challenges for the project.
Both of the existing rising mains required extensive cleaning and grinding works, while the crew were only able to access the line from a limited number of viable access points. To add to the difficulties, the alignment also included a series of both vertical and horizontal bends.
The Primus Line was winched through the alignment before being inflated and then installed with end connectors. Finally, the line was pressure tested before repeating the process at the next section.
In executing the project successfully, Interflow has added at least 50 years to the service life of both rising mains.
Tech beneath the streets
Collaboration between major utility company Sydney Water and the University of Technology Sydney has resulted in new artificial intelligence (AI) technology to detect potential water main leaks and breaks, avoiding costly pipe failures.
Sydney Water’s new technology utilises acoustic sensors that can be located in water mains across the city. The cutting-edge detection equipment transmits signals to computers systems that run an AI program which is able to translate acoustic information into information about the condition of the infrastructure.
The effectiveness of the new technology has been studied over four years, and researchers have confirmed that it can predict the likelihood of a water main failure with 80 per cent accuracy at a range of 200 m.
The world-first AI water leak protection initiative has been rolled out in collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney and has saved an estimated 10,000 megalitres of water over a 30-month trial period.
The collaboration with technology developers vastly improves Sydney Water’s ability to detect faults early, which greatly reduces the risk of catastrophic infrastructure failures and safeguards the city’s drinking water.
Tech from abroad
German-based IMS Robotics has partnered with KRE Engineering and UVR Hire to enter the Australian and New Zealand trenchless markets.
IMS, a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of sewer rehabilitation technology, has established an affiliate company, IMS Robotics Australia, with its head office in Sydney.
KRE Director Keith Edmundson said the company is excited by the partnership and the opportunities it represents for the trenchless industry.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to represent the product portfolio of IMS Robotics and look forward to rendering the same level of services to the market, as we used to do for other brands, and of course, our own robotic cutting equipment,” he said.
The partnership looks to accelerate the market for main line cutting robots and UV curing technology in Australia and New Zealand and has acknowledged KRE’s existing presence in Australia as a specialist in the development and distribution of main line cutting robots.
IMS Head of sales and executive board member Konstantin Wolf said the new affiliate company will promote the group’s full product portfolio. He says that, besides the main line cutting and UV curing technology, IMS Robotics Australia also promote the brands and products of other IMS Robotics Group companies.
“We are certain that we can add more value to the trenchless industry down under, and look forward to the next steps,” he said.
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This article appeared in the February edition of Trenchless Australasia. Access the digital copy of the magazine here.