Industry News, trenchless products
GSSI, the world’s leading manufacturer of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, announces the addition of a new drill hole feature to the StructureScan™ Mini XT – the newest generation of GSSI’s popular all-in-one concrete inspection GPR system. The drill hole feature is a 3D data processing detection algorithm. The algorithm evaluates a user chosen cylindrical area that represents a potential or planned coring location. Scanning for all potential targets within the cylindrical area, the drill hole feature looks for targets that may interfere with a proposed coring location.
Available only within the StructureScan Mini XT user interface, the drill hole indicator is designed for concrete coring applications. In complicated slab situations, the drill hole feature can help users determine the safest location for coring concrete. However, this feature is not a substitute for careful analysis by a trained operator, and GSSI does not recommend that the user depend solely on this algorithm for drill hole interpretation.
Operators should receive special training prior to using this new aid. During training, customers can select areas that they believe are safe for coring while the feature is turned off, and turn the feature on to double check and confirm the initial mark outs.
The new drill hole feature will work with all StructureScan Mini XT’s already in the field, and only requires a software update of the system. New units will come with this user interface pre-installed.
About GSSI
Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. is the world leader in the development, manufacture, and sale of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, primarily for the concrete inspection, utility mapping and locating, road and bridge deck evaluation, geophysics, and archaeology markets. Our equipment is used all over the world to explore the subsurface of the earth and to inspect infrastructure systems non-destructively. GSSI created the first commercial GPR system nearly 50 years ago and continues to provide the widest range and highest quality GPR equipment available today.
Industry News, trenchless products
Vac-Tron Equipment has released their new CS 1270 trailer vac. This new Compact Industrial Vac Series comes standard with a 1200-gallon debris tank and 580 or 1,000 cfm. It is also available with a hydraulic operated opening and locking rear door, wet/dry filtration cyclone, 30’ x 3” suction hose and tool, and 27 HP or 37 HP Kohler gas engine. Options include 24 HP Kohler diesel engine and reverse pressure.
It is ideal for drill slurry cleanup as well as other projects that call for slurry removal. With the optional reverse pressure, you can collect the slurry, transport, and offload it into another container or simply open the rear door and dump the material quickly.
For more information about the CS 1270 GT or SGT model, contact Vac-Tron Equipment at 888-822-8766 to request a free demo.
trenchless products
Additional Forged, One-Piece Pipe for Ditch Witch and Vermeer Now Available
(Hutchinson, Kansas) – StraightLine HDD announced the addition of multiple pipe sizes to its growing offering of in-stock drill pipe. The product expansion more than doubles the number of available Vermeer-compatible pipe and adds three common Ditch Witch-compatible pipe sizes.
Strengthening its in-stock pipe product range is designed to stay ahead of the growing trend of contractors favoring pipe suppliers offering delivery speed. In addition, all StraightLine pipe sizes and types feature forged, one-piece construction and is backed by a pro-rated warranty.
About StraightLine HDD
Since 1984, StraightLine has produced “Professional Drilling Solutions” to the trenchless industry. It’s full line of down-hole tools, wear parts and accessories are known for their innovative and rugged design. In 2015, StraightLine HDD merged operations with Source: HDD, Inc., a leading provider of used HDD rigs and support equipment. Together, the merger created a company offering total HDD solutions—from rig to bit. Call 620-802-0200 or visit us at www.straightlinehdd.com for details.
Industry News, trenchless products
Landmark Conveyor revs up Akron OCIT Muck Removal
On October 18, 2017, a Robbins 9.26 m (30.4 ft) diameter Crossover machine started up at the Akron Ohio Canal Interceptor Tunnel (OCIT) in Ohio, USA—but the startup wasn’t the only milestone. Running behind the Crossover TBM is the 100th Robbins Continuous Conveyor system supplied for muck removal. The side-mounted conveyor is a design standard, but the landmark is a significant one: “With this system we have provided more conveyors than any other TBM conveyor supplier,” said Dean Workman, Robbins Director of Conveyors, Cutters, & SBUs. Counting conveyor systems the company has on order but has not yet delivered, that number is now well above 100, Workman added.
The Akron OCIT conveyor system consists of the belt plus a main drive, splice stand, storage unit, and advancing tailpiece, operating through several curves requiring patented self-adjusting curve idlers that correct themselves based on varying belt tension and belt load. The system discharges onto a customer-supplied overland conveyor, which delivers the muck to a large storage yard near the portal site. The belt was designed to handle variable geology, from soft soils to partial face rock and finally full-face shale rock.
The 100th conveyor system has been refurbished and customized for the job in a process that Robbins has been perfecting for decades: “We design our conveyor systems to last for five to ten years, but many last for decades longer. We have systems utilizing components that have been in operation for 30 years. We haven’t reached a limit for many of our systems—for example we had a specialized conveyor system built more than a decade ago for the Parramatta Rail Link in Sydney, Australia. Those components were refurbished for a job in Atlanta, Georgia, and now they are being used at the Dig Indy tunnels in Indianapolis, Indiana. These are long and challenging tunnel drives and the components are up to it.” While the Akron OCIT conveyor is just beginning to haul muck, it is sure to be a benefit throughout the project’s varying ground conditions.
The conveyor in Akron is also part of a long history for Robbins conveyors—the first of which (not counted in the list of 100) was the first ever continuous conveyor system used behind a TBM. That prototype, developed by founder James S. Robbins in 1963, was successfully used behind the 11.2 m (36.7 ft) diameter Main Beam TBM at the Mangla Dam project in what was then known as West Pakistan. While conveyors would not be adopted as a standard method of muck removal for many years afterward, the project laid the groundwork for future success.
Today’s conveyor systems are capable of spanning dozens of kilometers and hauling 1,800 metric tons (2,000 US tons) an hour or more. It’s a legacy that Workman sees will continue to grow: “This is my 20th year with Robbins and I remember when we started our conveyor list. It is amazing to look at all of the jobs and things we’ve done. It’s amazing to see what these systems can do.”
Image: The Robbins Crossover (XRE) TBM and its continuous conveyor system began excavation in Akron, Ohio, USA on October 18, 2017.
Desiree Willis
Technical Writer
Email: willisd@robbinstbm.com
Direct: 253.872.4490
The Robbins Company
29100 Hall Street
Solon, OH 44139 USA
trenchless products
AURORA, Ill. – TT Technologies’ redesigned Grundopit pit-launched mini directional drill is well suited for difficult fiber-to-the-home and utility service line installations in tight working conditions. The unit is compact, 54 inches long, 43 inches wide and 57 inches tall. The Grundopit delivers 13,489 lbs. of thrust and pull back and 553 ft. lbs. of torque with bore length up to 150 feet. The Grundopit is an ideal entry-level system for utilities, cable industries or as a supplement to larger units.
The new unit features a patented instant plug-in lock that holds the drill stem in place. The instant plug-in lock system allows new drill stems to be added easily by engaging the new drill stem at the rotational motor. This means that drill stems are only screwed into the lead stem and not the rotational motor, cutting the time it takes to add a stem in half.
Components include a two-part bore rig, patented drill stem plug in, 30 drill stems, bore head with angled steering surface, backreamer and swivel coupling, hose package and power pack.
Industry News, trenchless products
GSSI, the world’s leading manufacturer of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, announces the availability of a new accessory for the industry standard StructureScan Mini XT. The Palm XT is a miniaturized GPR antenna that is designed to greatly enhance the capabilities of the StructureScan™ Mini XT all-in-one GPR concrete inspection system. The handheld Palm XT antenna turns a basic StructureScan Mini XT into an advanced system by giving users unparalleled access in tightly spaced areas and enabling overhead scanning. Designed to withstand challenging construction sites, the Palm XT is an excellent choice for contractors who need to perform concrete scanning and utility locating services.
The 2300 MHz Palm XT antenna offers superior depth penetration and resolution. It features full keypad control via the antenna top that allows for remote control of the user interface. The antenna has seamless software integration and provides users with three data collection modes; standard, cross polarization, and side car. Standard mode requires no special set up, and is ready for plug-and-play operation. Cross polarization mode highlights non-metallic objects, such as PVC, and deemphasizes metallic objects like rebar and wire mesh. Side car mode transitions the survey wheel to the side of the antenna and allows it to fit into smaller spaces.
Rugged, compact, and flexible, StructureScan Mini XT is ideal for locating rebar, conduits, post-tension cables, and voids. The Mini XT can help identify structural elements, including pan deck and concrete cover, and can also provide real time determination of concrete slab thickness. StructureScan Mini XT is the perfect blend of price and performance, and is backed by a two-year warranty. Additional accessories for the StructureScan Mini XT include an extension handle with control button options, and the LineTrac XT. The LineTrac XT adds the ability to detect AC power and induced RF energy present in conduits.
For more information on the Palm XT antenna, visit www.geophysical.com.
About GSSI
Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. is the world leader in the development, manufacture, and sale of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, primarily for the concrete inspection, utility mapping and locating, road and bridge deck evaluation, geophysics, and archaeology markets. Our equipment is used all over the world to explore the subsurface of the earth and to inspect infrastructure systems non-destructively. GSSI created the first commercial GPR system over 45 years ago and continues to provide the widest range and highest quality GPR equipment available today.
GSSI, the world’s leading manufacturer of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, announces the addition of a new drill hole feature to the StructureScan™ Mini XT – the newest generation of GSSI’s popular all-in-one concrete inspection GPR system. The drill hole feature is a 3D data processing detection algorithm. The algorithm evaluates a user chosen cylindrical area that represents a potential or planned coring location. Scanning for all potential targets within the cylindrical area, the drill hole feature looks for targets that may interfere with a proposed coring location.
