May 2006: Trenchless International News
North American No-Dig Show VisitsNashville
More than 1,500 attendees descended upon the GaylordOpryland Resort & Convention Center March 26-31 for the annual No-Dig Show,sponsored by the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT), whichcelebrated its 15th anniversary at the show.
This year’s conference topped its 2005 attendance level,cashing in on the many educational seminars, the more than 170 exhibitor boothsand family fun. The conference kicked off with two pre-conference seminars aboutnew construction and rehabilitation on March 26, providing newcomers with anintroduction to the trenchless industry.
New this year was an introduction to the UndergroundInfrastructure Training and Competence Center (UNITRACC), a Web-basededucational display unique to No-Dig. The program was developed with supportfrom German government funds in 2001 and now contains more than 3,000 pages ofcontent. UNITRACC received the European e-learning award in 2004 and aNo-Dig award in 2005.
As always, a slew of seminars served to educate attendees on the finer pointsof trenchless technologies. Such courses included horizontal directionaldrilling (HDD) best practices, designing and installing high-densitypolyethylene (HDPE) piping systems and NASSCO Pipeline Assessment CertificationProgram (PACP) training, among others. New to the lineup was a course ondeveloping an effective lateral rehabilitation and replacement program.
Making another appearance at No-Dig was the popular mock trial. This year’stheme was “It’s Not What You Believe; It’s What We Can Prove.” The entertainingand educational trial was part of the conference Legal Track.
The City of Nashville itself got into the act of all the No-Dig regalia byproclaiming March 29 “Nashville Utility Day.” On the last day of the conference,area students and public works personnel were allowed to enter the No-Digexhibition at no charge. An appearance by professional bull riders (andbrothers) Cory and Evan Rasch from the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and a RebaMcIntyre impersonator also spiced up the day.
To start the conference right, the Kick-Off Breakfast March 27 provided food,entertainment from prop comic Robert Strong and the first of several awardpresentations, including the prestigious Trenchless Technology Person of theYear Award, which was officially awarded to Can-Clay president and former NASTTchairman Mark Bruce.
Later that evening, NASTT held its fifth annual Educational Fund Auction andReception, which raised more than $46,000 to fund student chapters, targetresearch, training modules and other student activities.
The excitement culminated March 28 during the annual Gala Awards Dinner,sponsored by AOC Resins. Awards included the official presentation of the 2005Trenchless Technology Projects of the Year, the NASTT Industry AchievementAwards and the Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which went to Tom Iseley.
One of the most important aspects of the No-Dig Show is the presentation ofthe technical papers, which are presented by leading trenchless professionalsand are peer-reviewed. More than 95 papers were presented throughout the courseof 2006 No-Dig. No-Dig 2007 is scheduled April 15-20 at the Town & Country Resort in SanDiego. To request more information about the No-Dig Show, visitwww.nastt.org/nodig.html.
TRENCHLESS ASIA 2006 ProvesSuccessful in Shanghai
TRENCHLESS ASIA 2006 was clearly established as the region’s largest and mostimportant meeting for trenchless technology professionals at its secondinternational event held in Shanghai, March 7-9.
Following the success of the first appearance in Shanghai in 2004, TRENCHLESSASIA 2006 provided a timely focus for the industry to display an impressiverange of equipment and services used in the installation, repair andrefurbishment of urban utility pipelines.
The expanded exhibition space was a tribute to the increasing use of thetechnology in China, as exhibitors from nearly 100 companies and 12 countriesgathered together to present a truly representative display. Many participantsincreased their investment significantly by shipping in heavy equipment — muchof which was to be seen for the first time in China. New horizontal directionaldrilling rigs were shown by Balama Vermeer, Case Kobelco, Ditch Witch, Drillto,Shanghai WinMarket, Sany, Xu Gong and many more. The U.S.-based Vermeer companynotably took the opportunity to launch the first of a range of equipment nowbeing built in China.
Visitor numbers were also increased by 56 percent over the 2004 show and wererecorded from no less than 14 countries. In addition to the array of indoordisplays, the added benefit of being able to see working demonstrations ofequipment on the adjacent outdoor exhibition area was a popular feature.
TRENCHLESS ASIA 2006 was officially opened by Mr. Hong Hao, deputy secretarygeneral of the municipal government of Shanghai. Dr. Dec Downey, vice-chairmanof the International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT) provided a welcomemessage and high ranking dignitaries from Shanghai’s municipal gas, water,telecoms and highway departments were in attendance, along with seniorrepresentatives of the Australasian, German, Guangdong and Hong Kong Societiesfor Trenchless Technology.
The three-day exhibition was complemented by an international conferencefeaturing presentations on a range of trenchless techniques and case studies.The technical presentations were held on the first two days of the event,followed by a site visit program featuring horizontal directional drilling andre-lining projects in full swing.
The TRENCHLESS series of events are organized by U.K.-based Westrade GroupLtd. At the close of the event, managing director, Richard West, commented, “Itis very satisfying to see the growth of this event following our inauguralappearance in mainland China two years ago. We have forged excellentpartnerships with the China Shanghai Society for Trenchless Technology (CSSTT)and Shanghai Technology Convention & Exhibition Company (STCEC) and thiscollaboration has resulted in an excellent presentation of the industry from allover the world.” The organisers have announced that TRENCHLESS ASIA will returnto Shanghai in 2008.
Westrade Group Ltd was responsible for staging the world’s No-Dig Show in theU.K. in 1985. The next in their global series is NO-DIG LIVE 2006 to be held inthe United Kingdom Sept. 26-28, 2006. There are plans for a TRENCHLESS MIDDLEEAST in 2007 before TRENCHLESS ASIA returns to Shanghai in spring 2008.
More information contact Westrade Group Ltd., P.O. Box 574, Rickmansworth,Herts, WD3 7XG, United Kingdom; ph: +44 1923 778311; fax: +44 870 429 9275;e-mail: trenchless@westrade.co.uk or visit the Web site atwww.westrade.co.uk.
Subsite Locating Equipment NowAvailable in China
The Charles Machine Works Inc. (CMW), manufacturer of Ditch Witch undergroundconstruction equipment, recently appointed Peiport Scientific Ltd. of Hong Kong(www.peiport.com) to become an official dealer of its Subsite electroniclocating equipment.
In October 2005, Peiport representatives attended a week-long trainingseminar at CMW’s headquarters in Perry, Okla., to learn more about the Subsiteproduct line, which is used to locate and identify underground utilities atconstruction jobsites.
“It is essential for our dealers to be very knowledgeable about our equipmentand to receive thorough training in proper sales, service and even marketingtechniques,” says Jeremy Zemp, Subsite service training coordinator. “Ourtraining seminar is carefully designed to give dealers the confidence to answerany question or respond to any situation involving our product.”
Established in 1990, Peiport Scientific Ltd. specializes in importing anddistributing high-tech scientific and technical instruments, most of which arerelated to electronic imaging. The company is headquartered in Hong Kong and haseight sales and technical support service centers in Beijing, Shanghai,Guangzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xian, Lanzhou and Zhuhai. Sales of Subsite equipmentwill fall under Peiport’s Civil Engineering department.
The Ditch Witch organization specializes in the design and manufacture ofhigh-quality underground construction equipment. The company is a one-stopsource for trenchers, vibratory plows, pneumatic piercing tools, backhoes,electronic tracking and locating tools, horizontal directional drilling systems,drill pipe, downhole tools, vacuum excavation systems, mini excavators,excavator-tool carriers and mini skid steers.
Turkish Infrastructure Conference Setfor September
A two-day conference — called the The Turkish Infrastructure ProjectsConference — to examine the transport and environment infrastructureopportunities available for foreign companies in the lead-up to European Union(EU) accession is set for Sept. 20-21 in Le Meridien Piccadilly, London.
With negotiations under way for Turkey’s EU accession, the modernization ofTurkey’s infrastructure is presenting enormous opportunities for companiesaround the world. In particular, Turkey’s transport and environmentinfrastructures are seeing increasing amounts of private investment,public-private partnerships and EU funding.
Europa Events, conference organizer, says that the conference will examinethe scope of opportunities available to companies across Europe and around theworld to become involved with these projects.
A key feature of this event will be the preliminary findings of the EuropeanCommission-sanctioned “Transport & Infrastructure Needs Assessment” (TINA).These initial results — ahead of the full results, which will be known in thefall — will serve to set the scene of the scale of projects available forinternational infrastructure companies.
Opportunities within environmental projects (particularly waterinfrastructure) will also feature in this conference, and are endorsed by keypresentations from the European Commission, which will further assess the scaleof investment needed to regenerate Turkey’s environmental infrastructure.
With further presentations by key regulators, utility and infrastructurecompanies, lawyers and financing companies this conference therefore aims toprovide a comprehensive guide to involvement in the Turkish transport andenvironment infrastructure projects.
Confirmed speakers include:
• Dr. Colin J. Clinton, Director, Arup; ErichUnterwurzacher, Head of Unit DG Regional Policy, European Commission
•Francois Begeot, Policy Officer—DG Energy & Transport, EuropeanCommission
• Holger Schroeder, Sector Manager in Ankara, European CommissionDelegation to Turkey
• Mustafa Ozturk, Deputy Undersecretary—Ministry ofEnvironment and Forestry, Government of Turkey
• Rainer Müller, ProjectManager & Team Leader for TINA Turkey, TINA Vienna Transport Strategies
•Sevki Acuner, Senior Banker—Portfolio Manager, European Bank for Reconstruction& Development (EBRD).
For a conference brochure or more information,please send an e-mail to jon.shepherd@informa.com.
March 31 saw the highly entertaining 12th United Kingdom Society forTrenchless Technology (UKSTT) Annual Awards Dinner. The event was held for thesecond year running at the Holiday Inn, City Centre, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Over the past few years the evening, which includes celebrity presenters andentertainers, has increasingly grown in popularity, with this year attractingmore than 200 members and guests attending from across the United Kingdom. Theevent opened with a Chairman’s Reception, sponsored by U Mole Ltd. Once membersand guests had assembled in the dining room, Russell Fairhurst, current UKSTTchairman, gave a welcoming address to introduce the evening’s events.
To open the main proceedings Russell introduced, TV personality, author,broadcaster and naturalist Chris Packham. Packham, now in his third year withthe event, introduced the assembly to a small arachnid friend in the form aChilean Rose Colored Tarantula called Enzo. Having warmed up the evening andgained everyone’s attention with his spider, he then went on to introduce thenominees for the evening’s seven prestigious awards, covering Rehabilitation,New installations, Tunneling and Product Innovation, as well a Young EngineerAward.
The Awards evening is designed to recognize the outstanding contributionsmade by U.K.-based organizations and individuals for the promotion, use anddevelopment of trenchless technology during the course of 2005.
The category Winners for the 2006 UKSTT Awards were:
• Young Engineer: Luke Mosley of Mosley Moling Ltd. — receiving a£2,000bursary for furthering studies and knowledge of trenchless technology worldwide—sponsored by UKSTT.
• Innovation: May Gurney Utility Services for “HolyGrail for Asbestos Cement Mains?” — sponsored by Develop.
• New Installation(Large): Amec Ltd. for “Shannon River Crossing” — sponsored by T A Drilling& Astec Underground.
• New Installation (Small) : Longbore TT Ltd. for“Glyncastle Minewater Remediation Scheme” — sponsored by Bodycote PDL &Severn Trent Water.
• Renovation (Large): Clancy Docwra Ltd for “TrenchlessTechnology in East London (Finsbury 21)”— sponsored by South West Water.
•Renovation (Small): May Gurney Utility Services for “Royal Bird Watchers GetFast Cure” — sponsored by Thames Water & Northumbrian Water TechnicalCenter.
• Tunneling: DCT Civil Engineering Ltd. for “M60 Junction 16 TunnelCrossing for Robin Hood Pumping Main” — sponsored by South West Water Ltd.
Toround off the evening’s entertainment, the organizers had secured the presenceof the well-known radio and TV writer and comedian Barry Cryer, who entertainedthe crowd with jokes, anecdotes and songs. He was accompanied on the piano byColin Sell.
Cempipe Arrives in NorthAmerica
Cempipe B.V. of the Netherlands has announced the formation of CempipeAmericas, which will bring Cempipe’s patented technology for trenchlessstructural rehabilitation of water mains to the U.S. and Canadianmarkets.
Cempipe made the announcement at the recent No-Dig conference thatwas held in March in Nashville, Tenn.
Cempipe Americas will be headquartered in Golden, Colo., with E.J. Olbrightas its president and Harry Baum, who has more than 26 years of experience withpipe installation and trenchless pipe rehabilitation, serving as executive vicepresident. The company will employ a series of selected regional licensees toinstall the product for local water utilities.
“Due to our aging water infrastructure, there has been a real need in theU.S. and Canadian markets for this type of product,” said Olbright. “Withthousands of miles of aging and degrading water utilities around the country,Cempipe offers water utilities a minimally intrusive and very cost-effective wayto add improved water service quality and restored flow capacities to theirinfrastructure.”
Invented by longtime trenchless pipe pioneer Peter Wood in the UnitedKingdom, Cempipe uses a precise cleaning and evaluation process to assess thesuitability of the water main for relining. Once the pipe is prepared, a linertube is pulled through the pipe and a special mix of cement grout is injectedinto the space between the tube and the pipe wall and it is pressurized.
When the relining process is complete, the rehabilitated pipe will beleak-free and ready for pressurized potable water delivery.
The process and materials are completely safe for drinking water, ascertified to Drinking Water Institute 56.4.403 and NSF 61 standards. The productis currently available for water lines 3 to 12 in. in diameter.
Multiquip recently announced the opening of its new office and manufacturingfacility in Shanghai, China.
MQ-Shanghai carries Multiquip’s complete line of lighting solutions, trowels,pumps, mixers, saws and other concrete and masonry-working products. It alsomarkets STOW Construction Equipment’s concrete and masonry products plus sawsand diamond blades from Multiquip’s Sanders Saws division to contractors andbuilders across China and throughout Asia.
“The new facility allows Multiquip to become an important player in China’sbooming construction industry,” said Roger Euliss, Multiquip president. “We’recommitted to providing construction professionals throughout China with theexpertise and quality products that have been a mainstay in North America formore than three decades.”
While MQ-Shanghai serves primarily as a distribution center, light assemblyof many products is also conducted in conjunction with local Multiquip businesspartners. The facility is under the direction of Xiwen Shi, Multiquip’s BusinessManager — Asia.
Multiquip’s new Shanghai office is part of the company’s continuing globalgrowth. Since the early 1990s, Multiquip has expanded worldwide with dealers nowselling products in more than 60 countries. Offices are also located inManchester, England; Quebec, Canada, Guadalajara, Mexico and Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.
Multiquip Inc. is a leading supplier of compaction equipment, welders,generators, concrete and masonry cutting, placing and finishing products,dewatering pumps, and other construction equipment. World headquarters arelocated in Carson, Calif.
