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.
Industry News, trenchless people, trenchless products
Vac-Tron Equipment is excited to introduce Empire CAT as their new Arizona dealer. Vac-Tron partnered with Empire because they share the same common core values and beliefs. “This was a perfect fit and we are honored to have Empire CAT representing our product line.” Brian Showley, VP Vac-Tron Equipment.
“We wanted to partner with a company that shared similar strategies within the markets we serve. Vac-Tron is an industry leader in vacuum excavation and their equipment lends itself to the same clientele that we serve with our excavation lines from Caterpillar. Empire CAT is always looking for ways to offer our customers safer and more efficient products and our partnership with Vac-Tron brings a new level of safety to the jobsite.” Michael Rodoni, Rental Manager for Empire CAT
Empire Southwest, LLC is a third-generation family-owned Caterpillar dealership. Founded in 1950 by Jack Whiteman, Empire sells, rents, and services heavy equipment, tractors, and power generation equipment to contractors throughout Arizona.
Empire is:
- Committed to meeting the needs and supporting the success of clients throughout the mining, agriculture, and construction industries.
- Proud of our business culture, which was built on the Corporate Values of Safety, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, Excellence, Stewardship, and Astonishment.
- Dedicated to the success of our clients and the communities we serve.
- Committed to building and maintaining solid business partnerships.
For more information on Empire CAT, please visit www.empire-cat.com.
For more information on Vac-Tron Equipment or to schedule a FREE demo, please visit www.vactron.com or call 1-888-VAC-TRON.
Industry News, trenchless products, trenchless projects
First of Two Mixed Ground Machines will begin boring this autumn
Singapore industrial photographer service
The first of two Slurry TBMs, a rebuilt 6.65 m (21.8 ft) diameter machine, passed its factory acceptance on September 4, 2017 in Singapore. The machine, fitted with a Robbins cutterhead and outer shields, is destined for the Mumbai Metro Line 3 under contract UGC03 for the Dogus-Soma JV (DSJV), and will begin excavation in late 2017. The factory acceptance for a second 6.65 m (21.8 ft) diameter Slurry TBM will be conducted by the end of 2017.
The on-time delivery of the first machine is just the beginning of partnership that will span years. “There are few companies in the international arena that are as professional as Robbins. Robbins has been very helpful to DSJV since the inception of the project and will be our partners until the end of the contract. Robbins’ presence in India including field service crews will be a great help for us in future,” said Mr. DV Raju, Senior Vice President for SOMA.
Singapore industrial photographer service
The two machines will excavate parallel 3.5 km (2.2 mi) long tunnels between Mumbai Central and Worli station sites, passing through three intermediate cut and cover stations on the way. Ground conditions consist of fresh to weathered basalt and breccia up to 100 MPa UCS with water pressures up to 3 bar.
The JV selected Slurry machines for their contract due to the challenging ground conditions expected. “I have worked with Slurry TBMs on similar geology globally. Slurry TBMs have real power and will suit the hard rock geology of our Mumbai Metro contract 3. The water table and variable geology, especially basalt of higher hardness, can be easily tackled by Slurry TBMs,” said Mr. Tamay Sayin, Project Manager for DSJV. The cutterheads of the machines are fitted with wear protection, wear detection bits, and Robbins 17-inch disc cutters for the conditions. Grizzly bars will limit the size of boulders that can enter the cutterhead to 250 mm (9.8 in). The slurry systems includes rock crushers as well as abrasion-resistant plating in high-wear areas.
Singapore industrial photographer service
The two TBMs are the first of a total of four machines being provided by Robbins for the Mumbai Metro Line 3. Another two 6.65 m (21.8 ft) diameter Crossover XRE machines will bore parallel 2.8 km (1.7 mi) tunnels on a separate contract in 2018. “Mumbai Metro is one of the most prestigious metro works in the country, and Robbins’ involvement in providing suitable machines and associated services is an honor,” said Kapil Bhati, Managing Director for Robbins India.
The 33.5 km (20.8 mi) long Line 3 of Mumbai Metro being constructed by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) will consist of 26 underground stations and one at-grade station that will reduce heavy traffic and rail congestion between Bandra and Churchgate areas of the city. A total of 17 TBMs are being procured to bore various sections of the tunnels, which will be excavated at average depths of 15 to 25 m below the city. The entire line is expected to be operational by 2021.
Image 1: Officials from Robbins, owner MMRC, contractor Dogus-Soma JV, and consultant Maple celebrate the successful factory acceptance testing of a Slurry TBM bound for the Mumbai Metro on September 4, 2017.
Image 2: (From left to right) Mr. DV Raju, Senior Vice President-SOMA, Mr. Kapil Bhati, Managing Director-Robbins India, and Mr. Tamay Sayin, Project Manager-DSJV mark the occasion of the first Robbins TBM to be sent to India’s Mumbai Metro Line 3 project.
Image 3: The Slurry machine is the first of four Robbins TBMs that will be supplied to Mumbai Metro, including two Crossover XRE machines to be supplied to another contract in 2018.
Additional Forged, One-Piece Pipe for Ditch Witch and Vermeer Now Available
