A leading Victorian HDD contractor has acquired its second TRACTO GRUNDODRILL 18ACS and associated MA07 mixing system, giving it two spreads and the capacity to meet growing demand for its services from the energy sector.
Established in 1996, Total Underground Solutions (TUS) is renowned for being one of the most reliable horizontal direction drilling (HDD) contractors operating in and around Melbourne. It has worked across a range of different industries over the past 30 years, including utilities and communications; however, it has found a niche delivering trenchless construction for the energy sector, working on projects for the likes of Zinfra, Citipower, Powercor, Jemena and United Energy.
In 2023, TUS purchased its first 18ACS to complement and replace an ageing HDD rig. The company settled on the TRACTO machine because it would be capable of faster and more efficient drilling, as well as its ability to cut through the tough hard rock which is common under Victoria.
The 18ACS has been specifically engineered to perform in hard rock, combining high torque with precise steering control to maintain accuracy in the difficult geology. The machine’s power and robust build quality allow crews to complete challenging rock bores efficiently, safely and with minimal wear on the machine and its tools.
In addition to the 18ACS machine, TUS also acquired a second MA07 mixing system, meaning it now has access to two complete spreads. This gives the contractor increased flexibility across a number of factors, including running multiple drills at the same time – on the same or different projects essentially doubling output.
It also means TUS can diversify the setup of each spread to different geologies or site footprints, ensuring the machine is customised for each specific bore.
The MA07 mixing system delivers consistent, high-quality drilling fluid. The compact and robust design ensures reliable mud production on HDD job sites, while keeping setup and maintenance simple for crews.
After seeing the performance of the first machine over the past couple of years, TUS Utilities Manager Kevin Toohey said the company invested in a second 18ACS to capitalise on the growing demand for its HDD capabilities, specifically in the energy sector.
“Our drilling operations have increased over the last year and the company is in a growth period,” he said.
“We already had the TRACTO machine in our fleet, so decided to purchase another one to cater for that workload, effectively doubling out capacity.”
A lot of this growth is a result of an increase in energy projects in Victoria, including renewable energy developments, transmission and grid work, as well as data centres – which are usually collocated next to largescale battery, wind and solar farms.
“Adding this second machine to our fleet opens up new opportunities for us, allowing us to tender on bigger projects, run two crews simultaneously and expand our offering,” he said.
“There’s huge demand for our HDD services in the energy sector, specifically connecting battery storage systems and data centres to the grid. All these new sources of energy require the construction of new substations or, if an associated substation is at capacity, needs to be rebuilt or extended.
“In some cases the substation might be a few kilometres away, which is when we can utilise HDD for the tie-in.”
He said the 18ACS continues to perform as advertised in challenging conditions, giving them an edge in a competitive market.
“There’s a lot of rock in Melbourne and in the areas that we’re working, and the TRACTO machines are very good in those environmental conditions. We’re impressed the performance of the machine and believe it gives us a competitive edge in the marketplace,” he said.
“What might have taken our older drilling two weeks to complete, the 18ACS can complete in a week.”
Operation and maintenance of the machine is supported by TRACTO Australia and the company’s factory in Germany, as well as locally through a service agreement in Victoria with Mech-N-Air Construction and Access Equipment.
“TRACTO, and by extension Mech-N-Air, have provided high levels of customer service to support the operation of both drills,” said Toohey.
“Our crews on site have great access to troubleshoot any issues quickly, limiting downtime.
“TRACTO’s customer service is far greater than we expected. Generally, once a supplier has delivered a machine you don’t hear from them again and it can be difficult to get back in touch with them when you encounter issues.
“But TRACTO and Mech-N-Air have been proactive, offering training support, troubleshooting, or using their online systems. The customer is always front and centre.”
For more information, visit www.tracto.com/au