This new static pipe burster will allow Kembla Watertech to undertake projects including pressure and gravity pipelines up to 500 mm diameter. The unit is one of only five in Australia and the only one based in Victoria.

The main difference between the two types of pipe cracking methodologies is in the generation of bursting force. A pneumatic pipe burster derives its cracking force from the reciprocating piston inside the steel cracking head, which is driven pneumatically. The head cracks the host pipe and the winch attached to the front of the head pulls incrementally from the exit pit and guides the cracking head through the existing pipe. The winch is a guide only and so does not require as much pulling force as a static (hydraulic) burster.

The term ‘static’ is used because there are no vibrating parts. Rather, the bursting force is supplied as a direct pull back on the splitting head. After the Grundoburst 800G is positioned in the exit pit, the Quicklock bursting rods are installed through the host pipe to the launch pit. Once at the launch pit, the bladed cutting wheels, bursting head, expander and new HDPE are attached and the entire configuration is then pulled back through the host pipe. The bladed cutting wheels split the host pipe and then the bursting head and expander displace the fragmented host pipe in to the surrounding soil while the new HDPE is pulled in simultaneously.

The bursting rods can be easily removed one at a time at the exit pit during the bursting operation or, to save time, installed into the next run as the first run is being completed.

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In general, static equipment causes less disruption to adjacent services, has less operating noise, better reliability and achieves greater productivity. The roller blade offered with this system has the ability to cut through ductile iron, steel reinforced pipes and gibaults.

Kembla will be utilising this new equipment on the following projects over the coming months:

• Upsizing of 477 m of 375 mm diameter reinforced concrete to 450 mm diameter in Dandenong, Victoria;

• Upsizing of 409 m of 300 mm diameter reinforced concrete to 375 mm diameter in Mornington, Victoria;

• Size for size 225 mm diameter; and,

• Upsizing of 100 mm diameter to 150 mm diameter.

Through its network of interstate offices and associated companies this equipment will be made available for projects throughout Australia.