No Dig Down Under

S&Z offers a variety of trenchless installation methods including horizontal directional drilling (HDD), tunnel boring (TB) and auger boring (AB).

General Manager Jim Pound tells Trenchless Australasia that the company is a trusted and valued partner to industry leaders throughout the water, sewer, power, telecommunications, and gas segments, providing trenchless services throughout southern Australia.

“Our company has skilled installers using the latest equipment,” he says. “Our aim is to exceed customer expectations and provide solutions for difficult projects where open trench construction is not an option.

Through S&Z Australia’s commitment and dedication, Pound says the company has become an industry leader and a trusted specialist subcontractor.

Traditionally known as a directional drilling company, S&Z Australia has recently made the move to tunnel boring.

Starting with a small drill, the company has grown, purchasing the larger drills and rock drills, working mainly in the water, sewer, gas, power, and telecommunication sectors.

However, when S&Z started working in the sewer industry, Pound says there was an opportunity to move into the tunnel boring market due to directional drills not being as precise as tunnel boring machines in achieving grade.

“We like to think we are at the beginning of our growth cycle. I have only been part of the company for two and a half years and the company owners keep investing back into it,” he says. “Both of the directors are hands on working with the teams out in the field and working on the machines. This gives our crew a really good culture as our directors are out on site and helping ensure all the work is being done safely, accurately and economically.”

“We are only a small business with three Horizontal Directional Drills (HDDs) and two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), but we have a large variety of clients and work on a range of different infrastructure projects from rail improvement projects, new water & sewer mains, to being part of Snowy 2 the “largest energy project in Australia” that will underpin Australia’s transition to a renewable energy future.

“We really want to focus on being trenchless specialists in both directional drilling and tunnel boring.”

With the move to tunnel boring comes a new drill, which was purchased from Bohrtec and delivered in January 2022.

When selecting the machine Pound says the company not only looked at the quality of equipment but the versatility and the suitability in all different ground conditions.

“The tunnel boring market is always growing because there is more call for trenchless technology and directional drills have their limit,” he says. “We feel there is an opportunity in the market as there is a growing demand for tunnel boring machines.”

As a result of the tunnel boring machine, S&Z Australia hope its work will expand across Australia as the new machine will allow it to drill up to 800 mm diameter of sewer and storm water pipe, or other pipes and conduits where setback for a HDD machine is not achievable.

Pound says when installing pipe on a flat grade a tunnel boring machine with a laser is needed to help keep it on grade and on the correct alignment.

“There aren’t many Bohrtec machines in Australia and we believe it will be an excellent option for any ground conditions we will encounter here in Victoria or anywhere in Australia,” he says. 

With a commitment to minimising the impact of its activities on the surrounding environment through adherence to its Environmental Management System, S&Z’s philosophy toward environmental management is one of education, communication, continual improvement, and whole company involvement.

By embracing these principles, the company aims to minimise pollution created during any works process and continually monitor its impact on the environment through ongoing reports, audits, and inspections.

“S&Z endeavour to constantly improve our installation methods and efficiencies. We pride ourselves on innovation that provides benefits to the client and the environment,” says Pound.  “The rise of trenchless technology has significantly grown in recent years, and we really want to be the experts in it and offer numerous installation methods to provide quality solutions to our clients, their customers and the community.”

January 2002 Dennis Bentink created ISC Services and has since worked closely with a wide range of councils and water authorities across Australia.

Providing inflow and infiltration (I/I) assessment, conducting inspections at hundreds of maintenance holes, pump stations and sewage treatment plant inlet structures, Dennis has helped customers minimise asset degradation and reduce operational and whole of life asset costs.

Dennis tells Trenchless Australasia that when he started the business in 2002 it was a mobile laboratory and consulting firm with the focus on odour and corrosion testing of sewerage networks and treatment plants.

“Rather than taking a sample back to a lab for testing, I brought the lab to the maintenance holes in the street, pump stations & treatment plants, doing discrete samples and continuous monitoring there for odour and corrosion using both liquid and gas phase testing,” he says. “Customers were then provided our independent report with two or three options to address the odour & corrosion issue and they could go directly to the market to source the appropriate solution.

“While carrying out the testing at MH’s and pump stations, we would often provide additional support by notifying our customers of other operational issues observed such as inflow/ infiltration, damaged or poorly constructed MH’s and buried lids.” This lead to requests for support to solve these additional operational issues and, following on from some detailed research into options, the customers were happy to purchase the solutions from ISC Services.

This helped shape the business to what it is today – selling solution-based products.

In 2016 ISC Services commenced offering a range of specialised products and systems to allow customers to reduce I/I as well as improving safety and efficiency for personnel involved in repairing and raising maintenance holes, pump stations, pits and pipes.

Dennis says that the systems offered are high-quality, well established and proven in the US and Canada from leading manufacturers including Sealing Systems Inc., Cretex Specialty Products and HydraTech, with independent testing and long-term case studies available.

“With our proven range of simple-to-use infiltration control solutions, ISC Services has already helped many customers to prevent the development of infiltration problems in new precast concrete structures as well as to repair existing assets and reduce I/I, helping to take pressure off maintenance crews and sewerage assets with cost effective solutions,” he says.

Many of our customers want innovative and sustainable solutions which will improve safety and reduce the operational and maintenance pressures on their assets. They realise that here is no sense in doing things the same way, hence ISC Services’ approach of “Solving old problems in New, more efficient ways”.

“These solutions provide an excellent return on investment, allowing customers to regain capacity and control of their networks during rain events, reduce overflows and delay unnecessary capital works that are often planned to help cope with unwanted water.”

As part of the business’ move from consulting to product supply, Dennis says a key to the drive for the selection of products was looking at what problems customers were having and finding innovative solutions that could provide a quick and cost effective, permanent fix for the customer.

One of the most notable innovations that is proving very popular, is the Pro-Ring grade adjustment ring that allows councils and contractors to safely and cost effectively raise low and buried covers & frames, stopping I/I and improving access. Pro-Ring weighs 1/20th that of concrete yet passes load testing to Class D trafficable (AS3996:2019) making it much safer and easier to handle and install and needing much less equipment to transport and move than concrete. In addition, they create a water tight & gas tight seal and will not corrode due to hydrogen sulphide gas. “Contractors regularly comment that they are impressed with how light weight and safe Pro-Ring is, making it easier for them to complete jobs quickly”.

To further enhance its range of offerings, ISC Services has teamed up with Metz, a Melbourne-based company that specialise in manufacturing protective coatings and tiles for very aggressive environments.

“While the Metz coatings have a well-established record in industrial environments, we are in the process of getting one of its products tested and approved to be used for Sydney Water, which is expected to be completed by April,” Dennis says. “Considering the aggressive environments Metz products are already used in, we are confident that they will perform well. A demonstration on a maintenance hole already suffering significant corrosion was done in 2016 with the Metz 33EN and this has proved to provide excellent continued protection”.

Building on the company’s experience and success, it was recently awarded to be on the panel of providers for Tweed Shire Council for Protective Coatings for Water and Wastewater. “Tweed Shire Council have been proactive in working to reduce I/I & have been utilising our innovative solutions including Pro-Ring & Flex Seal Utility Sealant. This is yet another great opportunity to continue to support their operations and maintenance programs with the quality Metz coatings.”

Specialising in inflow and infiltration, Dennis understands every sewerage network is different, but knows sewer manholes generate a disproportionate amount of I/I.

He says the key is assessing and identifying major contributors as an important tool to help water authorities effectively take action to mitigate problems.

While there are a number of causes of I/I, ISC Services sees failed joints in both new and old assets as well as low and buried maintenance holes as the most common causes.

“This can be in maintenance holes (particularly the chimney or neck where there are often multiple joints close together and near the surface) as well as pump stations, pits and pipes,” Dennis says.

“The simplest approach is to look at how sewage flow changes during and immediately after rain events. If sewage flow increases (either at the treatment plant or at pump stations) then rainwater and/or ground water is entering the network.

“There are options for councils and water authorities to get specialist contractors to do preliminary investigations through to detailed studies. By working with ISC Services, as we are experienced in I/I, it will allow customers to determine what their I/I assessment and management goals are, which we can then tailor a staged plan and program to suit your specific circumstances and budget.”

With a commitment to continue to identify new and innovative technologies to solve problems, Dennis is continues to expand his market and product range where customers can come to “ISC Services as a toolbox of solutions and products, Solving old problems in New, more efficient ways.”

For more information visit: https://iscservices.com.au/