Industry News, trenchless people
CLEVELAND, OH. — With the departure of Matthew Izzard as Vice Chair of ISTT, the society’s Executive Sub-Committee (ESC) has elected Dr. Kimberlie Staheli as interim Vice Chair. Staheli currently serves on the ESC. The interim position will be in effect until the meeting of the International Council in Malaysia in November 2020 at which a new election will be held. Staheli joins Albert Shou, currently one of two Vice Chairs for ISTT.
Dr. Staheli stated, “I am proud and honored to be elected to the position and look forward to continuing working towards the ISTT mission of developing trenchless technology around the world.”
Kim has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a M.S. in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University and a Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. She is the president and founder of Staheli Trenchless Consultants.
Kim has served as the Chair of the NASTT Board of Directors and currently serves on the NASTT No-Dig Show Program Committee. Kim teaches NASTT’s Introduction to Trenchless Technology, New Installations Short Course and NASTT’s New Installation Methods Good Practices Course. She is also part of the International No-Dig Organizing Committee for the 2022 show in Panama, representing NASTT which the society looks forward to supporting.
Craig Vandaelle, current Chair of the Board of Directors of NASTT stated, “We are delighted that Kim has been recognized in this way and shows the commitment NASTT has in supporting the ISTT family. Her knowledge and experience as Past Chair of NASTT and the Executive Committee of ISTT will be an asset to the organization.”
Blog, Industry News, trenchless projects
Tough TBM breaks through after navigating Faults, Karst, and More
In January 2020, a Robbins 5.97 m (19.6 ft) diameter Main Beam TBM cleared its final hurdle when it broke through in Guangxi Province, China. The TBM excavated its first of two tunnels, an 11.9 km (7.4 mi) long conduit for Lot 1 of the North Line Water Irrigation Project, Letan Water Reservoir, Drought-Relief. The tunnel was marked by a gauntlet of challenges, from karst cavities to fault zones and water inflows. The workers on the jobsite, contractor Guangdong No. 2 Hydropower Bureau Co., Ltd., and the owner, Construction Management Bureau for the Letan Water Reservoir, had much to celebrate after completion of what is widely regarded as the most complex and longest tunnel on the North Line project.
Boring with the Robbins Main Beam TBM and continuous conveyor system began in summer 2015. “There was no precedent in this province for using a Main Beam TBM to excavate a tunnel longer than 10 km. We didn’t have relevant local experience to use for reference,” explained Yongjiu Jin, Deputy Manager of the Project for contractor Guangdong No. 2 Hydropower Bureau Co., Ltd. The machine did encounter a number of difficult geological obstacles as it bored through limestone rock, but was still able to achieve advance rates up to 40 m (130 ft) per day in good ground.
Much of the geology consisted of lightly weathered limestone in rock class II to III, with some sections in class IV to V rock that required the heaviest amount of ground support, ranging from rock bolts to ring beams and mesh. “Our team encountered a coal seam, gasses in the tunnel, two large water inrushes, three fault zones up to 103 m long, 11 karst cavities, and more. In order to solve the ground problems, there were more than 160 special technical research meetings held,” said Yongjiu.
Throughout tunneling, the contractor expressed thanks for Robbins Field Service staff. “Robbins personnel provided good technical support from equipment installation and commissioning through to tunnel completion. After the equipment was handed over to our company, they still helped us with equipment usage on our project, which makes us very satisfied with the Robbins after-sales service. Robbins really delivered: the after-sales phase was not the end of service, but the beginning of site service,” said Yongjiu.
While the completion of the first tunnel—the longest single-heading construction on record for water tunnels in Guangxi—is a milestone, there is more to do. The Robbins machine will be inspected and relaunched to bore a second tunnel 4.2 km (2.6 mi) in length. The ground conditions are predicted to be equally challenging, but the tunneling operation has some help from ground prediction methodology. Tunnel Reflection Tomography (TRT)—consisting of ground prediction using seismic waves—is being used to detect changing conditions ahead of the TBM. The method can predict the distribution and scale of joints and fissures, allowing the crew to plan ahead.
Located near Laibin City, the North Line project provides much needed drought relief using a network of tunnels totaling 29.4 km (18.3 mi). “This tunnel will realize the dream of drought control that people in Central Guangxi have had for many years. The breakthrough is the most important milestone event in this first phase of the North Line project,” said Yongjiu.
Image 1: Contractor Guangdong No. 2 Hydropower Bureau Co., Ltd., the project owner, and Robbins celebrate the January breakthrough of a Robbins Main Beam TBM.
Image 2: The 5.97 m (19.6 ft) Robbins TBM traversed fault zones, karst cavities, a coal seam, and more while achieving up to 40 m (130 ft) in one day.
Image 3: Robbins Field Service and Engineering staff played an important role in the project’s overall success. They advised the contractor and gave after-sales support throughout the difficult ground conditions.
Image 4: The Robbins Main Beam TBM bored through limestone rock, and installed a full range of ground support, from rock bolts to ring beams and wire mesh.
Industry News, trenchless people
New leadership leverages strengths for next level of strategic growth
HOUSTON, March 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — ClockSpring|NRI, the leading high-performance critical infrastructure solutions company, today announced that Frank Firsching has been named the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective immediately. Firsching succeeds Matt Boucher, who is stepping down after leading the transformation of ClockSpring|NRI over the last few years.
“We thank Matt for his leadership and laying the foundation for the success of ClockSpring|NRI, including the acquisition and integration of six companies and achievement of nearly 30 percent annualized organic growth over his tenure,” said Alex Washington, Managing Director, Wind Point Partners.
Frank Firsching brings close to 30 years of experience starting, leading and building businesses serving the oil & gas, water & wastewater, and power utility industries, with an emphasis on pipeline rehabilitation technologies over the past 15 years. Most recently, he served as the President of the $600 million Infrastructure Solutions business unit of Aegion Corporation. He was a founding partner in Underground Solutions, Inc. which was sold to Aegion in 2016. Frank spent 13 years with USFilter where he was President of the $1.0 billion Water & Wastewater Systems Group from 2001 – 2006. Frank has a B.S. Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Virginia, an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and is the immediate past chair of the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT).
“As we look to scale the platform, Frank’s deep understanding of the technical, regulatory and commercial landscape will provide strong leadership as we continue to meet the evolving needs of infrastructure asset owners,” noted ClockSpring|NRI Board Chair, Guy Broadbent.
“ClockSpring|NRI is shaping the future of critical infrastructure renewal by delivering solutions built around high performance composite materials, specialty valves and geopolymer offerings designed to extend infrastructure asset lives while minimizing downtime, maximizing cost-effectiveness and adhering to the strictest industry safety standards,” said new CEO Frank Firsching. “I look forward to supporting the continued growth of the business and delivering value for our customers and business partners.”
About ClockSpring|NRI
ClockSpring|NRI is shaping the future of critical infrastructure through innovative composites, valves, and concrete solutions. With global headquarters in Houston, TX, the company manufactures high-performance critical infrastructure construction and repair products and provides associated engineering support and training services. ClockSpring|NRI solutions are delivered via the CSNRI, GeoTree and Advanced Valve Technologies brands and are used to construct, maintain, strengthen, protect, and rehabilitate oil, gas, and water pipelines, natural gas distribution lines, high-consequence industrial pipework, tanks, storm and sanitation assets, and civil structures. ClockSpring|NRI products are easy to install, cost-effective to deploy, and durable for decades. www.cs-nri.com
Media Contact
Judy Murray
713-419-1552
Media@CS-NRI.com
Industry News, trenchless projects
Barbco, Inc. Co-Owner and CEO, Anthony R. Barbera was granted U.S. Patent #10465460 for the Barbco FlexBor tooling and technology on November 5, 2019. This is a proud moment in this East Canton, Ohio manufacturer’s storied 30-year history of driving the trenchless technology, horizontal boring, and underground manufacturing industries forward with world class capital equipment and cutting-edge technology. The FlexBor is an extremely cost-effective, environmentally safe trenchless method and tooling. The FlexBor is designed to virtually eliminate “frac-outs” / ”inadvertent returns” that are often associated with horizontal directional drilling and the use of bentonite.
The Patent Abstract reads: “A cutting assembly and method for drilling an underground borehole. The cutting assembly includes front and rear cutting heads of different diameters mounted on a shaft. An air passage defined through the cutting assembly may be placed in fluid communication with a pressurized remote air source and with a bore of a casing extending rearwardly from the cutting assembly. Pressurized air flows through the air passage and entrains cuttings produced by the front and rear cutting heads. A housing extends rearwardly from the larger diameter rear cutting head and an auger provided within the housing aids in directing cuttings into the casing. The auger rotates independently of the rest of the cutting assembly and may be configured to further reduce the size of the cuttings. A collar on the housing seals the borehole cut by the rear cutting assembly and aids in preventing frac-out.”
For more information on Barbco’s products and services, visit their website.
Blog, Industry News, trenchless people
Cleveland, Ohio – The North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) celebrates 30 years of industry advocacy and education in 2020. NASTT is an engineering society of individuals, public organizations and private companies with strong beliefs in the practical, social and environmental benefits of trenchless technology.
Founded in 1990, NASTT represents nearly 2,400 members throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico who all promote better and more responsible ways to manage underground infrastructure. NASTT’s mission is to advance trenchless technology and to promote its benefits for the public and the natural environment by increasing awareness and knowledge through technical information dissemination, research and development, education and training.
As NASTT continues to grow and take on new challenges, it is important for the not-for-profit Society to serve and support their diverse industry partners. NASTT proudly represents municipalities and public utilities, consultants and engineers, manufacturers and suppliers, trenchless contractors and academia. NASTT reaches out to all these groups and shares with the community the latest industry trenchless advancements and their continuing education opportunities. For 30 years, the all-volunteer members of NASTT have presented non-commercial information seminars and training about these “green alternative” engineering methods to North American communities.
The annual NASTT No-Dig Show is the Society’s flagship educational and networking event. This conference and trade show offers 160 quality, non-commercial technical papers; an exhibition hall with more than 200 trenchless companies displaying their products and services; a series of specialized trenchless training courses, plus many entertaining networking events and special industry related awards. The NASTT No-Dig Show is the largest trenchless technology conference in the world averaging over 2,000 industry professionals.
In 2019 the Canadian Regional Chapters of NASTT hosted the inaugural No-Dig North conference. Nearly 600 attendees from across Canada met in Calgary, AB to learn from each other, network and discuss all things trenchless. This show will be an annual event with the 2020 No-Dig North being held October 19-21 in Vancouver, BC.
In celebration of its 30th Anniversary, NASTT will look back at the history of the Society with a series of Flashback Friday (#fbf) social media posts along with various activities throughout 2020. You are invited to join in a celebratory toast during the NASTT 2020 No-Dig Show Opening Ceremony Ribbon Cutting in Denver, Colorado on Monday, April 6 at the Colorado Convention Center.
CLEVELAND, OH. — With the departure of Matthew Izzard as Vice Chair of ISTT, the society’s Executive Sub-Committee (ESC) has elected Dr. Kimberlie Staheli as interim Vice Chair. Staheli currently serves on the ESC. The interim position will be in effect until the meeting of the International Council in Malaysia in November 2020 at which a new election will be held. Staheli joins Albert Shou, currently one of two Vice Chairs for ISTT.
