The North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Abbott Award for Innovation. Presented annually, this prestigious award recognizes state-of-the-art products and services that are making a meaningful impact on the advancement of the trenchless technology industry.
Entries are evaluated by a panel of judges based on their ability to:
- Introduce groundbreaking advancements for the industry or specific segments;
- Demonstrate new possibilities, solve existing challenges, and push beyond traditional design or application boundaries; and
- Reflect comprehensive redesign or significant technical refinement.
Winners were announced during the 2026 NASTT No-Dig Show in Palm Springs. NASTT congratulates this year’s Abbott Award honorees, each recognized for their innovation and contributions to the trenchless industry.
FOOTAGE TOOLS
C2400 Squeeze Boss
footagetools.com
Submitted by Jim LaChapelle, Marketing Manager
The C2400 Squeeze Boss delivers unrivaled force and durability for large-diameter HDPE squeeze-off applications. The C2400 is designed for 18″ to 24″ HDPE pipe (SDRs from 7 to 21) and can deliver 791 tons of force for precision pipeline control. Built on our large-diameter squeeze-off tool platform, it can endure the most demanding field conditions, ensuring superior performance in HDPE pipeline operations.
Engineered for superior handling, the C2400 is crafted from precision-machined, aircraft-grade aluminum with chrome-plated steel side shafts for durability and strength. Its enhanced lock-in/swing-out bottom bar design allows for quick and hassle-free installation, while lock-down bolts maintain secure squeeze integrity even after hydraulic disconnection.
THOMPSON PIPE GROUP
Weldable Curve Joint (WCJ)
thompsonpipegroup.com
Submitted by Carl Pitzer, Director, Trenchless Markets
The WCJ is a next-generation joint system that redefines how concrete pressure pipes can be used in trenchless construction. For more than a century, AWWA C300 concrete pressure pipe, first manufactured in 1919, remained largely unchanged and was primarily suited for open cut installations. When used in pipe jacking, these traditional unrestrained open-cut joint configurations generally limited alignment flexibility, restricting installations to straight drives.
The WCJ overcomes the limitations of traditional C300 joints by introducing a fully restrained, weldable joint that enables single-pass microtunneling, true multi-curve alignments, and longer drive lengths for pressure applications. Unlike two-pass trenchless systems, where welding and restraint are achieved at an internal carrier pipe after it is carried into a casing, the WCJ delivers restraint and weldability directly at the pressure pipe joint within the jacked pipeline.
By increasing pipe-to-pipe bearing area and providing continuous structural connectivity throughout the pipeline, the WCJ supports higher allowable jacking loads, enhanced resistance to external groundwater pressure, and improved constructability. Manufactured exclusively by Thompson Pipe Group, the WCJ expands the application space of concrete pressure pipe and enables trenchless solutions that were previously impractical using conventional joint systems.
Product overview videos from the winners and all 2026 award entrants are available on the NASTT YouTube Channel. Explore the innovations shaping the future of trenchless technology and see these award-winning solutions in action.