Australia

Australia, Company news, Featured, From the magazine, News

Sydney’s forgotten ghost tunnels all powered up with guided boring breakthrough

As part of the biggest upgrade to Sydney’s busiest railway station in decades, Directhitt Trenchless were contracted to supply and install four DN 630 HDPE liners and PVC electrical conduits to provide 33KV power to the new underground Metro station.

The boreholes constructed by Directhitt, connected the 27 m deep metro station box level B2 to an existing ghost tunnel, which was built in the 1920s as part of the Eastern Suburbs Railway line for Bondi and the Illawarra. However, it was never completed. Platforms 26 and 27 have sat unused since and will now house 17 new communications and power rooms to support the new Sydney Metro at Central Station.

The 90 m long microtunnells were constructed using an Akkerman Guided Boring Rig, which used a Pilot Tube and Laser Guidance System to accurately drill the pilot hole to line and grade in Class II Hawkesbury Sandstone.

The confined site prevented the use of a typical HDD rig set up, so Directhitt chose to use a Guided Boring rig with a compact 3 m jacking frame.

The Akkerman dual-wall pilot tube design allows the pilot tubes to be installed with pinpoint accuracy while reducing pressures necessary for the long installations.

The annular space between the inner and outer tube was used to pump drilling fluid lubricants to the Tri-Hawk drill bit.

The inner tube is treated for corrosion resistance and sealed for a clear site path to the target located directly behind the steering head and 165 mm drill bit. Once the pilot hole was completed the boreholes were then enlarged to 710 mm before the HDPE liners were fusion butt welded and installed into the boreholes, using the jacking frame. Given the confined site, the DN 630 HDPE liners were welded and pushed into the boreholes one section at a time.

Directhitt then installed the DN 280 PVC Electrical ducts into the HDPE liners and grouted the PVC duct annulas with a low thermal resistivity cementitious grout before final testing and commissioning of the conduits was completed.

The project presented many challenges for Directhitt to overcome, with COVID-19 shutdowns, border closures and managing crews in working bubbles to maintain a COVID-free workplace. Together, with the site access restrictions presenting constant challenges for the crew, Directhitt stepped up to the challenge and completed the project successfully.

The addition of the pilot tube system to Directhitt’s trenchless capabilities allows for the provision of varied and hybrid trenchless solutions utilising the best of grade control and accuracy from the Akkerman system with trusted hole opening technology and drilling fluid management from the HDD industry.

For more information visit Directhitt Trenchless’ website. 

PEF Commercial Finance
 Australia, Company news, Featured, From the magazine, News

Finding financing deals quickly and efficiently

Established in 1993 by James (Jamie) Hannah, PEF Commercial Finance delivers professional business finance brokering services to small, medium, and large businesses all over Australia.

Principal Jamie Hannah returned from America in 1993 following a stint working for Caterpillar Finance, part of the Cat® company group.

It was here Jamie discovered a gap in the market and formed PEF Commercial Finance (previously known as Plant and Equipment Finance) and began brokering finance for all types of earth moving equipment.

“Our experience in serving such a wide and diverse range of businesses means that we have the ability to arrange and deliver the best business loan deals to our clients, new and returning,” he says.

“We deal with the largest and most reliable financiers, lenders, banks, and credit providers. We understand and implement the process on a daily basis through which we have regular dealings with decision makers.”

Jamie says PEF’s main focus is to provide hassle free business finance solutions to clients and secure approvals quickly and conveniently.

Appreciating the importance of getting the deal secure for the client in a timely fashion, the first step the company takes is understanding and identifying the client’s needs.

By getting to know its clients’ business financial circumstances, PEF is able to secure the best finance deal that matches the client’s needs.

“We work with you, the client, to identify the best business finance solutions suited for your requirements and business circumstances. We then do the work to find and secure business loans and finance approvals as quickly as possible,” Jamie says.

“We coordinate and organise the compiling and delivery of documents and other required materials and arrange the final sign-up immediately so that our clients can enjoy use of the business equipment or vehicle as soon as possible.”

Over the past two years the world has faced unprecedented times due to the impacts of COVID-19. As a result, Jamie says, a challenge the trenchless industry has faced is the direct impact of this on its supply chain.

“There are some major problems in the industry with the supply of machines and equipment,” he says. “As a result, everyone is hanging onto their ageing equipment, which in some cases, the equipment that was five years old is now seven and the cost of maintaining it is rising. My clients have been telling me that all they can do is wait.”

Looking to a time where the world isn’t impacted by COVID-19, Jamie hopes that PEF Commercial Finance becomes the finance broker of choice, the one-stop-shop, for the trenchless community.

“Our clients choose us because we work to bring them the best possible business finance deals quickly and without unnecessary complications,” he says. “We are committed to a high-level of client service and ensure a quick turnover.” 

At PEF Commercial Finance, they look forward to being your finance specialist for all your business equipment needs.

For information visit PEF Commercial Finance’s website. 

 Australia, Company news, Featured, From the magazine

kwik-ZIP gets the show on the road

The kwik-ZIP HDXT Series is an anti-corrosion, non-metallic casing spacer range for pipe-in-pipe (PIP) applications such as slip lining and cased crossings.

Suitable for heavy-weight pipe materials including steel, ductile, mild steel cement lined (MSCL), glass reinforced epoxy (GRE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), it can be used on all diameters from 300 mm and beyond through the simple addition of multiple segments.

Kwik-ZIP HDXT-43 spacers were recently used on a project for Highways England on a M42 J6 diversion in Birmingham. UK-based infrastructure services and engineering company Amey used the spacers to facilitate the slip-lining of a four-pipe bundle.

Junction 6 of the M42 connects the M42 motorway to the A45 to the east of Birmingham, where road users suffered significant delays and due to capacity constraints. The M42 J6 Diversion Project was designed to alleviate some of these delays experienced by motorists.

The 4-pipe bundle consisted of 2 x DN 180 HDPE and 2 x DN450 HDPE pipes with a run length of 135 m. Kwik-Zip spacers were selected for this project due to their ability to secure the 4-pipe bundle together; their suitability to work with any pipe profile; and their design that protects and supports the bundle during the slip-lining process. 

Kwik-ZIP’s large range of spacers caters for a wide range of carrier and casing pipe size combinations, as well as providing flexibility to deal with project alterations. Kwik-ZIP spacers have no metal parts and are made from Kwik-ZIP’s engineered thermoplastic blend that is flexible, extremely tough and has a low co-efficient of friction. 

Amey site manager on the M42 J6 Diversion Project Tim Lohoff commended kwik-ZIP for the intuitive design and ease of use of the spacers, which helped the project to come to fruition. 

“The spacer system was easily installed and was an excellent aid in slip lining the 4-pipe bundle through the tunnel, which we had installed prior to slip lining works – a truly excellent product,” says Lohoff.

For more information visit kwik-ZIP’s website. 

 Australia, Company news, Featured, From the magazine

SECA promotes emissions reductions with the eCityJet electric jetting machine

The eCityJet is a fully electric jetting machine incorporating the newest technology with an electric motor powered by a battery pack. The machine generates zero emissions, making it a future-conscious choice, and ideally suited as a van-pack for use in city centres where strict emissions requirements apply.

The eCityJet has all the features of a conventional diesel-driven van-pack machine but offers emission-free operation without compromising on performance.

The eCityJet is also virtually silent during operation. As well as a cleaner choice, electric technology is quieter than diesel operated machinery, making it ideal for urban, indoor or night-time use.

The machine weighs 690 kg when empty and is most suited for cleaning pipes with diameters of up to 350 mm. Lightweight and compact, the eCityJet is suitable for most vehicles.

Lithium-ion batteries have the highest energy density, making them the most efficient in terms of weight and space and ideal for mobile application. The eCityJet battery is chargeable through regular mains. While use at full power is designed to last just over 1 hour, customers have reported using the machine over 2 or 3 days on 12-14 jobs on a single charge.

Enter the Hybrid Jetting & Inspection Vehicle

Since releasing the eCityJet, SECA has fitted out the jet-packer into a fully customised Hino Hybrid Truck. Hino has improved the design of its diesel electric hybrid system to maximise efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and provide owners with a low-maintenance and trouble-free driveline.

The components that support the hybrid system have been redesigned to reduce weight and take up less space and deliver greater performance.

SECA has also fitted out the hybrid truck with its Rovion crawler system. The Rovion CCTV inspection system is Australasia’s most popular CCTV pipe inspection system, for small and large pipes.

This mobile crawler is designed to reduce setup times without the use of tools. All components are individually pressurized and monitored for more reliability and faster setup. It is also scalable, with all components fully compatible with each other.

While SECA is not in the business of selling vehicles, the company does offer customised fitouts to vehicles to cover the hybrid option with the emission free jetter. This makes it a flexible and adaptable solution to operators working across a diverse range of conditions and environments.

Case study

London-based drainage firm Kwik Jet was the first UK contractor to put Rioned’s eCityJet into daily operation. The family business has been a long-term user of Rioned machines and the acquisition of a new electric van-pack jetter has helped the company to achieve sustainability objectives.

The firm has been operating in Central London for the past 30 years, with its core offering being the maintenance of drain networks for some of West London’s most prestigious property management companies.

Managing director Michael Morris said the company decided to purchase an eCityJet because of their long-term relationship with Rioned and because of their drive to debut new technology.

Morris admits that when he first heard about Rioned’s electric van-pack, he was sceptical about the capability of a batteries to handle the daily workload. However, the eCityJet surpassed his expectations.

“I must say, we are very impressed with the eCityJet’s performance so far when compared to our previous van-packs,” says Morris. “As the switch to renewable energy continues, this type of machine will become essential for use within the city centres where strict emission requirements apply.”

The Kwik Jet team reported they have also received far fewer complaints concerning noise and none regarding fumes since making the switch to the electric-motored jet.

“We aim to have an all-electric fleet by 2030 and feel the use of electric vehicles and machines is the way forward for the drainage sector,” Morris says.

For more information visit SECA’s website. 

 Australia, Company news, Featured, From the magazine

The key to long-lasting plastic pipes and fittings

The Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia (PIPA) was founded in 1999 and is the peak industry body representing manufacturers and suppliers of plastic pipes and fittings, plastic resin suppliers, fabricators, pipeline installers, rubber seal ring manufacturers along with training and certification bodies.

As a non-profit association, PIPA works to promote the appropriate and contemporary use of plastic pipes and fittings throughout Australia.  This is achieved through our four key pillars of advocate, educate, technical and sustainability.

Executive General Manager Cindy Bray says Australia’s vast landscapes require large-scale, special purpose systems to move water, wastewater, gas and to protect underground networks of power and communication cables.

“We know that potential that plastic pipeline systems provide for long life, sustainable infrastructure that supports the circular economy,” she says.

“Not only are plastic pipes smart, efficient, and sustainable but so are the trenchless installation methods used. Plastic pipes are the preferred choice to replace and upgrade other pipes throughout the world. This is due to their performance, durability, service life, simplicity of installation, energy efficiency, recyclability, and overall cost effectiveness.”

PIPA’s sustainability story

To help educate across a wide range of audiences, PIPA has developed key messages to tell its sustainability story. Not all plastics are the same and too often pipe systems are mistakenly put in the same category as single use plastics.

Plastic pipe systems deliver essential everyday services and utilities

When thinking about the network of pipelines under the ground there are many vital roles they play from delivering drinking water, gas and electricity to homes and communities.

Bray says the network of wires and cables that deliver internet and communication services are used in irrigation systems that are essential for growing food.

Plastic pipes also carry away sewerage, rainwater, and stormwater – protecting communities.

“In recent years the water industry has also embraced PE particularly when trenchless installation techniques like directional drilling, pipe cracking, slip and swage lining have led to increased usage in water and wastewater applications,” she says. “These allow for fewer disruptions during installation or repair of existing pipelines, allowing flexibility and cost-effective installation of pipelines without the need to excavate trenches, lowing the impact to the environment and the community.”

Engineered products designed to last

Plastic pipes are long-life products, not single-use and are made from material engineered to be robust, reliable, and recyclable. With a service life longer than 100 years, the pipes are engineered from polymer materials and the perfect choice for infrastructure applications.

Unlike many plastic packaging applications which have multiple layers, plastic pipes are made from a single material and therefore easier to recycle.

“Plastic pipes used in buried infrastructure applications, like water, will likely never be dug up even at the end of their long service life. Instead, they will likely become a host for a new plastic pipe through trenchless installation, saving huge amounts of energy, resources, significantly reducing the impact to the environment,” Bray says.

Safe for people and the planet

Plastic pipes provide the highest level of safety for carrying drinking water and are manufactured to Australian standards.

Offering clear advantages in terms of chemical resistance over other pipe options, they are not affected by soil environments that are highly corrosive to metals and concrete.

Plastic pipes are not affected by compounds that form in wastewater such as acids that rapidly degrade iron and cement-lined pipes, making them the ideal choice for long-term infrastructure.

“Using plastic pipe systems in trenchless applications minimises the environmental footprint and is the best choice for digging under creeks, rivers, and other environmental sensitive areas,” Bray says.

The smart choice, using recourses responsibility and sustainability

Most plastic pipes are still in its first lifecycle and therefore recycling rates remain low, with most buried infrastructure applications becoming host pipes, minimising the impact to the environment using trenchless installation.

Bray says life cycle analysis studies have shown plastic pipes have a significantly better environmental profile than alternative pipe materials in all categories and across its whole lifecycle. Trenchless technology installation also reducing carbon footprint, reducing energy use and the amount of pollution released in the atmosphere compared to open cut trench.

“You can see the environmental benefits of using plastic pipe systems with trenchless installation methods. By using resources responsibly through better design, we’re working smarter. We’re committed. And we’re working towards creating a healthier environment and sustainable future,” she says.

For more information visit PIPA’s website. 

 Australia, Company news, Featured, From the magazine

Rob Carr continuing to take steps to reduce carbon footprint

Emissions reduction is arguably the most significant topic for debate in the community and has been for some time. It is now apparent that all individuals and organisations have a role to play in taking responsibility and being conscious for their carbon output and making changes where they can.

Leading the way for a decade

Rob Carr is proud to be leader in the research and development of microtunnelling and other trenchless technologies in Australia and New Zealand. Back in 2012, the company supported research into how microtunnelling could be used to reduce emissions – the learnings of which were subsequently put into practice.

Through the Griffith School of Engineering, Rob Carr Project Manager Jaime Leal undertook an investigation into the emissions generated from trenchless versus conventional open cut methods. The purpose of the research was to compare the carbon footprint of microtunnelling, based on data from a number of projects carried out by the company, with projects which used conventional construction methods.

Mr Leal’s research found the emissions produced by microtunnelling was dependent on the size of the microtunnel boring machine (MTBM) and the soil conditions, while emissions from conventional construction were strictly related to the depth to invert level of the installation.

The main comparison, where both construction methodologies comprised an identical scope, included a 3.5 m deep invert level pipeline in sand, sandy clay and gravel. The microtunnelling method was established to produce only 47 per cent of the amount of CO2 emissions produced by open cut.

The thesis also found the fuel consumption of microtunnelling was dependent on geology and the tonnage required to push the MTBM thorough the ground. As a result, concluded that at a depth of 1.9 m – in clay, sand or gravel – microtunnelling became more economical and was the most advantageous technique for pipeline installation.

Environmental action plan

In 2020, Rob Carr’s parent company, Soletanche Bachy, mandated that all of its subsidiaries around the world would be required to produce an Environmental Action Plan designed to reduce emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. It was stipulated these plans had to target three key areas of improved efficiency: fuel, electricity, and water.

To meet these objectives, last year Rob Carr installed solar power generation at the company’s warehouses in Yatala, Queensland and in Welshpool, Western Australia.

In addition to office space, at Yatala the system had to be designed to cater for an onsite fabrication facility which uses a considerable amount of power. A 39 kW system is now in place, featuring 128 solar panels, with approximately 4 kW of redundant power directed back into the grid. In Welshpool, a 9 kW system made up of 24 panels was installed and in 7 months of operation has reduced emissions by 6.76 t.

To tackle fuel reduction, Rob Carr’s fleet of generators has been updated with newer and more environmentally beneficial technology, while the company is also looking at introducing transformers on site and reducing the use of light vehicles on projects. In Yatala a more than 20,000 l rainwater tank has been installed under the warehouse, while water recycling processes are also in use.

“The results of our Environmental Action Plan will be assessed at the end of this year, at which point a new plan featuring new steps will be introduced,” says Rob Carr Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Manager Mark Fee.

“These plans need to be assessed regularly to ensure we know how we’re tracking against our goals. The early indications are that we are already exceeding the expectations set out by our parent company, are on track to exceed our 2030 target, and are committed to going further than that in the future.”

For more information visit Rob Carr’s website. 

 Australia, Company news, Featured

Australian-owned trenchless product makes waves overseas

Junction 6 of the M42 connects the M42 motorway to the A45 to the east of Birmingham, and significant delays and congestion have been experienced by motorists due to capacity constraints.

The M42 J6 Diversion Project was implemented to alleviate this congestion.

The 4-pipe bundle consisted of 2 x DN 180 HDPE and 2 x DN450 HDPE pipes and kwik-Zip spacers were selected for this project due to its ability to secure the four-pipe bundle together, its ability to work with any pipe profile, and to protect and support the bundle during the slip-lining process.

Kwik-ZIP’s large range of spacers cater for a wide range of carrier and casing pipe size combinations as well as providing flexibility to deal with project alterations.

Highways England M42 J6 Diversion.
Image: kiwk-ZIP.

Amey site manager Tim Lohoff said the spacer system is an excellent product.

“The spacer system was easily installed and was an excellent aid in slip lining the four-pipe bundle through the tunnel which we had installed prior to slip lining works,” he said.

Kwik-ZIP spacers have no metal parts and are made from the company’s engineered thermoplastic blend that is flexible, extremely tough and has a low co-efficient of friction.

 Australia, Featured, News

ASTT introduces tailored membership for asset owners

Established in 1991, the Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology (ASTT) provides advocacy, leadership, support and educational opportunities for individuals and organisations involved in trenchless technology.

ASTT recently introduced a specific ‘Asset Owner’ tier of membership, providing an opportunity for utilities and municipalities to support the association’s objectives, including:

  • Advance the science and practice of trenchless technology for public benefit
  • Provide a forum in Australia and New Zealand for interchange of multi-disciplinary knowledge and skills in trenchless technology
  • Arrange or sponsor meetings, conferences and symposia on subjects consistent with the objectives of the society
  • Encourage the interchange of specialists in trenchless technology in Australia and New Zealand
  • Liaise and establish affiliations with related organisations in Australasia and overseas
  • Inform and advise the public and government on matters concerned with trenchless technology
  • Encourage education, training and research.

Membership benefits

Membership of ASTT for Asset Owners starts from AU$405+GST per annum or AU$648+GST for 24 months and entitles five individuals from your organisation with the following:

  • Annual subscription to Trenchless Australasia, ASTT’s bi-monthly print publication.
  • Subscription to the annual Australasian Trenchless Directory, including basic company listing
  • Access to past conference ISTT and ASTT technical papers
  • Discounted rates at international and national conferences and exhibitions
  • Discounted rates at ASTT’s other trenchless events
  • A communication network to keep abreast of the advancement of the science and practices of trenchless technology throughout the world.
  • Opportunity to become involved in our Special Interest Groups which are technical divisions of ASTT, representing specific trenchless sectors

For more information contact ASTT Secretary Jeff Pace at secretary@astt.com.au or visit the ASTT website.

View the latest trenchless technology tenders
 Australia, Boring, Company news, Featured, HDD, News, Pipe jacking, Tenders, Tunnelling

View the latest trenchless technology tenders

UGL Regional Linx – Underboring Services
Issued by: UGL Regional Linx Pty Ltd
Closing Date: 30 June 022
Location: New South Wales
Description: Provision of underboring / horizontal directional drilling services including the supply of conduit / pipe.

Seymour Wastewater Management Facility (WMF) Third Party Irrigation Stage 1 Pipeline
Issued by: Goulburn Valley Water
Closing Date: 29 March 2022
Location: Victoria
Description: This stage one works is for the Irrigation pipeline and its submains. The rising main is a DN450 PN12.5 Irrigation Pipeline with under bores (or open cut of one) of Native Vegetation (x1 or 2), a Creek (x1) under bore and Open Cut over two adjacent Gas Pipelines. Includes supply and install of submains of various smaller sizes going into the landowners on farm works. Includes wider drainage and access track upgrades.

Sydney Gateway, Stages 1 & 3 – Steel Fabrication – Stainless Steel
Issued by: John Holland Pty Ltd & Seymour Whyte Construction Pty Ltd
Closing Date: 31 March 2022
Location: New South Wales
Description: Supply and fabrication of stainless-steel pipe, scuppers, drainage troughs and others. 

Wotton Reserve Sewer Connection (Mainline Works Only)
Issued by: City of Bayswater
Closing Date: 31/03/2022
Location: Western Australia
Description: There are a small number of the City’s facilities that are still connected to in-ground septic systems, and as part of the City’s capital works program, those are being progressively connected to the main sewer system. Wotton Reserve is a popular active reserve and funds were allocated in the 2022/23 capital works budget for sewer connection of the clubrooms on the reserve to the main line on Embleton Avenue. The Water Corporation approvals have been obtained and the project is now cleared to proceed as soon as possible in accordance with the enclosed drawing packages. Quotations are now sought from suitably experienced and qualified drainage contractors to perform the main line connection works, and the objective will be to complete the works by the end of the current financial year 2021/22.

Albany Waterfront Marina (Toll Place) Services Extension
Issued by: Department of Transport
Closing Date: 25 March 2022
Location: Western Australia
Description: This RFT and associated documents relates to Works at Albany Waterfront Marina (Toll Place) to: Connect and extend services (water, gas, sewer and electrical).

West Wyalong Pump Station and Reservoir Construction
Issued by: Goldenfields Water County Council
Closing Date: 07 April 2022
Location: Victoria
Description: Goldenfields Water invites tenders from suitably qualified contractors to construct and commission 1 x 24.7m high 12.5m diameter concrete standpipe reservoir, 1 x transfer pump station, all pipe and electrical work associated, piping consisting of approximately 600m of DN300 PVCO and DN300 DICL, located on the outskirt of West Wyalong NSW.

Each fortnight, the Trenchless Australasia e-newsletter includes a list of tenders relevant to no-dig contractors, suppliers and manufacturers.  

The information is provided by Australian Tenders, which is renowned for being an Australia-wide locally owned and operated tender notification service.  

Australian Tenders is also offering readers of Trenchless Australasia three months free on their subscription plans.  

Email support@australiantenders.com.au for more information.  

For more tender information visit the Australian Tenders website. 

 

McRobert
 Australia, Company news, Featured, From the magazine, News, Northern Territory, Projects, Rehabilitation, Relining, Utility location

McRobert completes access chamber refurbishments in the Northern Territory

McRobert Contracting Services is an Australian-owned and operated industry leader in the refurbishment of underground assets and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipeline technology. Operating since 1988, this Perth-based company has more than 30 years and nine patents behind it.

Read more

 Australia, Company news, Featured, From the magazine, News, Pipelines, Projects, Rehabilitation

Future-proofing CIPP liners and pipe rehabilitation solutions

Country Manager Kevin Woolf tells Trenchless Australasia that IMPREG recognised early on that trenchless pipe rehabilitation using cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liners is the technology of the future. 

Further developing this avenue, the company’s CIPP liner systems are developed using innovative high-tech processes, and set new standards.

“Our success proves us right. IMPREG CIPP liner systems for UV curing are used all over the world,” he says. “We are a reliable solution partner at all times, and commit ourselves to the highest future-proofed quality and to environmentally conscious conduct.”

Woolf says the IMPREG liner GL16 was developed in 2016 for all common pipes from DN 150 up to DN 2000.

As a result of good material characteristics and new fibreglass design, IMPREG was able to develop a more finely nuanced gradations of wall thickness.

IMPREG
Image: IMPREG

Not only does this benefit the company’s customers financially, but the IMPREG liner GL16 makes it easier to deal with large dimensions.

“Through the IMPREG liner GL16, the company has consistently extended its position as a technology leader in the market segment from DN 1200 upwards,” Woolf says.

“The unique construction of the IMPREG liner allows a certain level of compensation for dimensional variations in the pipe. We can produce defined dimensional changes in our factory.

“In the Australian Pacific region our range js GL16 which is made up of 0.8 mm fibre glass layers and inner foil, outer fleece and a yellow UV protection sleeve from DN150 to DN2000 with wall thickness ranging from 3 mm to14.6 mm.”

Woolf highlights that the high-tech CIPP liners from IMPREG are simply inserted into the pipes via the manholes, and cured using UV light. The rehabilitated pipe can then be returned to operation immediately after curing, with the company able to rehabilitate up to three pipes in a single day.

With a warehouse located in Brisbane, standard liners in Australia and New Zealand are available to be shipped across the nation, with the liners ready to go for: DN150, DN225, DN300, DN375, DN450, DN525, and DN600.

Woolf says the main aim for IMPREG this year is to continue supporting its customer both onsite and technically.

“Our biggest goal for 2022 is to continue our after market care,” he says. “The customers’ success is our success, meaning our after care is just as important as our product quality.”

As part of the company’s after market care in Australia, Woolf is able to help with structural designs, review CCTV on job sites and provide onsite technical support.

“New customers will also have the opportunity to attend a training session and find out how we already implement the trenchless pipe rehabilitation of the future,” he says. “Our application engineers are onsite for your first project, and support you with advice and assistance during the installation of the IMPREG liner.”

With no need to bring a project to a stop, IMPREG is also able to rapidly and effectively rehabilitate pipes which carry aggressive or higher-temperature waste waters.

“IMPREG CIPP liners are future-oriented, high-tech products which provide all options for the rapid, effective, and economical rehabilitation of pipes of very differing diameters,”says Woolf. “With our liners, we at IMPREG set new standards that will lead us into the future.”

For more information visit the IMPREG website. 

metro tunnel
 Australia, Company news, Featured, Installation, News, Projects

Tracks laid for Metro Tunnel

Metro Tunnel crews are preparing to lay track through the completed tunnels, moving the project one step closer to enabling more than half a million extra passengers every week on the rail network. 

The first of almost 40km of rail has been delivered on freight trains to the Metro Tunnel’s western entrance in the past week as works gear up to install rail systems and tracks through the project’s twin 9km tunnels.

The tracks are made up of 165 m lengths of steel rail that will be progressively clipped to concrete panels and welded to form a continuous rail line along the lengths of the tunnels. 

According to City of Melbourne, installing the track will take up to a year, beginning with crews laying 4000 high-performance precast concrete panels through the twin tunnels.

There are 300 different panel shapes to account for the varying curvature and elevation of the tunnels as they wind from Kensington to South Yarra up to 30 m underground.

All rail will be installed by mid-2023 when trains will begin their first test runs through the tunnel. 

The Metro Tunnel is expected online by 2025. 

For more information visit the Big Build Victoria website. 

adept civil
 Australia, Boring, Company news, Featured, From the magazine, Installation

Girl power: Adept Civil Group up and coming leader in the trenchless world

What is commonly seen as a male-dominated industry, Maddison Corrie is not phased, taking the opportunity to pave the way for other women interested in the trenchless sector.

Corrie recalls when she finished school that she always wanted to do something in the trenchless field.

“I never wanted an office job. After school I got out in the field and a job came about in traffic control on the Gold Coast,” she says. “Once I finished that job, I then moved to Melbourne doing traffic control and that is when I was working alongside a gas client who offered me a job which then led to the job with Adept down the track.”

In the four years Corrie has been with Adept Civil Group she has progressed from learning to operate machines to running the day-to-day operations of the machine.

Business development manager Quentin Powell says once he has done a handover on site, the project then becomes Corrie’s.

“Maddison is now responsible for running the maintenance of the machines, running crews, and looking after the clients on site,” he says.

“This industry has a very heavy male presence, but the way she has had to deal with the different clients and use her own skills and intuition has resulted in the best outcomes for not only the client but the Adept business too.

“Her growth and communication with everyone has been a pleasure to watch. And we are only at the start of her journey too.”

Continuing to prove her skills and expertise in the industry, Corrie has recently been involved with the Albion Station upgrade in Melbourne’s western suburbs for Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM).

At the end of November 2021, Adept Civil Group was awarded a contract by the Hitch Group to support the upgrade.

Albion Station is extending platforms to fit bigger, more modern trains and installing wheelchair boarding pads to improve accessibility.

Power upgrades are also taking place in and adjacent to the rail corridor near Albion Station as part of works to boost electrical capacity along the Sunbury Line.

As part of the upgrades, an electrical substation on Talmage Street is being built to provide essential power for bigger, more modern trains to run along the line. This will improve the capacity, reliability and frequency of services for passengers.

Corrie says the job was very tricky, with Adept having to work on the railway lines where the trains were and having to overcome challenging and tough ground conditions.

“Adept Civil Group was successful in being awarded this project due to our outstanding safety record and previous success with delivery of major rail crossing by micro-tunnelling method,” she says.

Adept Civil
Maddison Corrie, Adept Civil

“Some of the hardest ground conditions that you will ever encounter, have been encountered with basalt rock in excess of 250MPA. Our approach and mindset is: slow and steady will win this race. Our client Metro Trains Melbourne has been incredibly impressed by our whole teams’ approach to this project.”

As part of the contract, Corrie says the company also had to modify its drill from 355 diameter to 400 diameter in order to complete the 2 x 36m bores in solid basalt installing a 376mm GRP sleeve. Each sleeve holds 4 x 150mm power conduits.

Powell says in order to achieve this, Adept had to adapt the drill itself and make a few modifications to the rods in order for it to centralise in the bore.

“It was a fairly involved process. However, going forward this modification will benefit us in the future, opening up a wider range of jobs. Instead of being limited to that smaller diameter, it opens up a whole new prospect,” he says.

Describing the project as amazing, Corrie says the next phase will allow the company to adapt the knowledge they learnt from the first part and implement into their future work.

As Corrie nears completing another project under her belt, her advice to other women wanting to get into the trenchless industry is “just don’t give up”.

“It is hard starting out, but just know you will make it one day,” she says. “It is 2022, so women can do what men do. We might not be able to do certain things at the same capacity but that doesn’t me we can’t do it. Just keep trying and you will make it.”

For more information visit the Adept Civil website. 

This article appeared in the February 2022 issue of Trenchless Australasia. Click here to view the digital edition of the magazine.