Trenchless Australasia sat down with OptionX Group chief executive officer Stuart Harrison to discuss his latest innovation.
Stuart Harrison, who is also the founder of Edge Underground, has played a driving role in the development of several tunnelling and boring technologies, including the AXIS laser-guided boring system and AdaptX, a modular drilling system.
Riteline is the latest in Harrison’s long list of contributions to the microtunnelling industry.
While it’s development and appraisal has been a challenging process, with over 100,000 units active in the field so far, the product was an instant hit.
Riteline centralisers are casing spacers designed for the trenchless industry. The product’s intelligent design features are helping to make pipe installation as smooth as possible.
“Riteline centralisers offer several unique benefits,” Harrison said.
“They are designed to be incrementally adjusted, allowing on-site height modifications as needed.
“We offer a flex and rigid series, with the flex series having the unique ability to flex around deformities in the bore, keeping the pipe centred.
“Additionally, Riteline centralisers are easy to install, saving time and labour costs.”
Harrison said development of Riteline began with identifying key issues in current installations in the market.
“Working with Edge Underground, I saw a need for improved accuracy and efficiency in trenchless projects,” Harrison said.
“Traditional casing spacer and centraliser systems often fell short in these areas, prompting me to create a solution that would set new standards in the industry.”
To set this new standard, Riteline centralisers underwent years of development both in the factory and in the field.
“We designed, tested, and refined Riteline at Edge Underground, ensuring it met the highest standards of performance and reliability,” he said. “This involved extensive field tests and feedback from industry professionals to perfect the design.
“The product has undergone many iterations to reach its current form, which we believe outperforms anything else.
“Riteline has been almost 10 years in the making.”
Taking Riteline to market has been a different experience to large equipment manufacturing that Harrison is accustomed to with AXIS and AdaptX.
Being a consumable product for pipeline projects, Harrison knew the best way to elevate Riteline was through a Water Services of Australia Association (WSAA) appraisal.
However, this is no simple feat, with WSAA appraisals demanding a product meet a series of challenging requirements and quality assurances.
“WSAA’s rigorous appraisal process was an essential step in finding our place in the market,” Harrison said.
“Riteline underwent extensive testing, confirming its reliability and effectiveness.
“This endorsement has been vital in gaining traction across Australia and has bolstered our credibility for launching in both the US and UK markets, where we now have distributors.”
Riteline is also in the process of being added to approved product lists across a range of water provider jurisdictions.
This is a lengthy process, with each authority having different requirements, but Harrison is confident that Riteline will continue to deliver.
Indeed, the product has been delivering stellar results in the industry since launch.
“Riteline has been received exceptionally well; it was a finalist in the Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology, New Technology award for 2023, where AdaptX won the category,” Harrison said.
“We’ve showcased Riteline at several expos, including in the USA at IFCEE [International Association of Foundation Drilling] this year, and at No-Dig Down Under in Brisbane, where it garnered significant interest and orders.
“It was a surprise hit at Drillfest, which primarily focusses on the vertical drilling industry. While Riteline was developed for the horizontal drilling industry, with input from our microtunnelling teams at Edge Underground, its precise adjustability and ease of application have proven valuable in both horizontal and vertical drilling sectors.”
Never one to rest on his laurel’s, Harrison said the entire OptionX Group aims to continue pushing the boundaries of technology and capabilities across the drilling, tunnelling and boring industry.
“Expanding Riteline’s reach globally and continuously improving our products are our top priorities,” he said.
OptionX Group is exhibiting at No-Dig Down Under 2025, where it will showcase Riteline, Edge Underground, Bournedrill, PerforatorX and AdaptX.
For more information, visit OptionX Group.
This article featured in the August edition of Trenchless Australasia.
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