Trenchless Australasia

March 2007

From the Chairman’s Desk

Although the Brisbane ‘Down Under’ No Dig (the International Society for Trenchless Technology’s 24th International Conference and Exhibition in 2006) was conducted several months ago, the memories of one of the more successful No Digs linger on.

Secretary’s Corner

The 24th International No-Dig has now been run and I must say, what an absolute success it was. Firstly let me begin by saying a special thank you to the sponsors, Vermeer, CPT (Rib Loc), Brisbane Water, Brisbane City Council, Connell Wagner, Kembla Watertech, GHD, the Water Corporation of Western Australia, Infraserv and AJ Lucas, as well as the special sponsors, the Australian Water Association and the Water Services Association of Australia. Their generous support as well as their commitment and belief in the trenchless industry is both recognised and appreciated.

Sydney seminar: not to be missed

Preparations are well advanced and registrations are growing for the next ASTT seminar. Scheduled to take place at the Sydney Marriott on Friday, March 9 the seminar coincides with the Australian Water Association conference earlier the same week, giving water industry professionals the chance to get two events out of the one trip.

New Victorian Council for ASTT

The Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology (ASTT) has a new councillor for Victoria in Chris Frangos.

Trenchless Technology Vocational qualification project

Niranjan Swarup, Executive Director, IndSTT

The Indian Society for Trenchless Technology (IndSTT) has proposed a set of standards for the operation of HDD equipment, in order to ensure the integrity of machine handling and job execution.

Trelleborg acquires Epros

Trelleborg Building Systems has signed an agreement to acquire Epros GmbH and Epros International Ltd.

Robbins opens new manufacturing facility in Shanghai

Robbins opened a new manufacturing facility next to its offices in Shanghai, China in late 2006. The workshop joins other Robbins manufacturing facilities in the United States in Ohio, Washington and West Virginia.

Trenchless fraternity gathers in Brisbane

The International Society for Trenchless Technology’s annual No Dig Conference and Exhibition made its way Down Under with more than 1,000 delegates, exhibitors, speakers and visitors gathering in Brisbane.

Gala dinner and awards a global affair

One of the highlights of every International No Dig Conference is the annual dinner and gala awards night, affording members of the international trenchless community the opportunity to network and socialise in a relaxed setting.

Challenging projects completed with Grundodrill 13X

S&R Pace has successfully taken on a number of challenging projects of late with the help of their Grundodrill 13X.

A unique company with a unique capability

Over the years Sydney based Infrastructure Constructions has undertaken some challenging projects involving the building or relocation of several major communication networks, utilising Trenchless Technology to get the job done.

Trenchless assisting Tasmanian natural gas roll-out

In 2003 the Tasmanian Government announced it would construct a natural gas pipeline network across the state for commercial and residential users, and Trenchless Technology has had a part to play in building this network.

Tackling pollution in New Zealand

Kumar Wisumperuma and Bert Vercruyssen, North Shore City Council, New Zealand

The combination of an increasing population density, ageing sewer networks and significant year-round rainfall has led to increasing levels of water pollution in New Zealand’s Auckland region. Of the four cities that comprise greater Auckland, North Shore City has tackled this problem most aggressively.

Sewer main rehabilitation in Lake Macquarie

Kembla Watertech recently undertook the rehabilitation of a sewer main in environmentally sensitive Lake Macquarie.

Interflow wins national construction excellence award

For the second time in three years, Interflow has received a ‘Case National Construction Excellence Award’ for a Trenchless Technology project and to make the occasion even more special, the Award was made on the precise day of the 70th anniversary of the company’s founding.

Expanda spirals into Singapore

The Public Utilities Board in Singapore (PUB) launched a new program for the rehabilitation of public sewers and private drainlines in 2006 and the Expanda™ relining technology has played a part in these works.

Lifting Trenchless projects to new heights

Kembla Watertech recently undertook a project rehabilitation project in such environmentally sensitive conditions that a helicopter was called in to complete the job and ensure the preservation of the natural surrounding environment.

Water pipeline installation by cable ploughing

Cable ploughing is a Trenchless Technology which is steadily growing in use in Australia, and is effectively used by many companies around the world.

Pipeline inspection technique

Thorough surveys are essential for all pipeline infrastructure to avoid unforeseen problems, and there is a considerable range of techniques and methods for inspection and condition reporting that assist in catching major surprises before they happen.

Automated inspection devices for large combined sewers

H. Althoff, N. Elkmann, E. Gruen, and J. Stemplewski

The Emscher sewer system, an open surface wastewater system in Germany, is currently being reconstructed, involving the construction of a new underground sewer. Automated inspection devices being developed by Emschergenossenschaft and the Fraunhofer Institute will make it possible to forecast the future rate of deterioration of the tunnel structure and its function.