To keep up with the workload, and take on larger mains replacement and more serious upsizing, the decision was made to order an 80 tonne (176,000 lb) pullback GrundoBurst 800G machine. This machine has the flexibility to burst mains and attachments from 100 mm up to 450 mm with a range of upsizing combinations in between.

To maximise the efficiencies of the machines and the crews, the machines were set up on dedicated new trucks with versatile rear mounted cranes to handle the positioning of the machines and rods in and around the excavations. The work programs were developed and based on these machines bursting mains everyday.

During the first week of training on the new Grundoburst 800G pipe bursting machine in Jellicoe Street, Carringbah, 400 metres of 150 mm mains were replaced with 180 mm PE. Of the 400 metres, 300 metres was completed in one day. On the second project at Stevens Street, Ermington, 500 metres of the same dimension was completed. Of the total 900 metre, no dig-ups to cut off attachments were necessary, as the GrundoBurst accessory development has produced accessories that pass through nearly all types and arrangement of attachments and mains materials. The other big advantage to reduce operator fatigue is the patented ‘Quiklock’ flexible rods which simply latch together, with no screwing or unscrewing of rods, and therefore no threads to get damaged or dirty. This greatly reduces the risk of short or long term injury to employees and makes for a very content and satisfied team, achieving great production rates with reasonable effort.

Todd Moeser of Collex is very happy with the ease with which the machine seems to glide through all the variety of mains and attachments, and is looking forward to testing the machine on some upsizing work coming up in the near future. The Tracto-Technik machines supplied and supported by TT Asia Pacific of Brisbane are some of the many supplied in the recent months here in Australia and Asia with a range from 20 to 250 tonne pullback.