Trenchless Community Meets in Moscow

The International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT) chapters from around the world met June 2-6 in Moscow for the annual International No-Dig Show. The Russian Society for Trenchless Technology (RSTT) worked with event organizers Sibico International Ltd. and held the No-Dig show in conjunction with a major water show that Sibico had also organized.

Early in the planning process, expectations were tempered about what the attendance would be at this first-ever No-Dig held in Russia. Amazingly, there were 140 exhibitors and the No-Dig Show participants totaled approximately 1,000. Together with the water event, there were 12,000 visitors.

The show was held at the new Crocus Center, which is a huge exhibition facility. Moscow is going through so much growth that Crocus Center is actually on the outskirts of town. Many attendees arrived at the show using the impressive Metro subway. The Metro, which dates back to the era of Joseph Stalin, is quite an experience, reaching speeds of 50 to 75 miles per hour. The ride on the Metro to the Crocus Center can be seen on a special video that is posted on TT TV at www.trenchlesstechnology.com.

The show had a strong contingent of North American-related companies, including Astec Industries, Barbco, Baroid, Cetco, Digital Control Inc., Ditch Witch, HammerHead, Herrenknecht, HOBAS, Insituform Technologies, Pure Technologies, The Robbins Co., Tracto-Technik (TT Technologies) Trenchless Technology, TRIC Tools, Vermeer Corp., Ultraliner and Universal HDD.

One of the highlights of the International No-Dig is the presentation of ISTT’s annual No-Dig Awards. This year, ISTT chairman Dec Downey presented three No-Dig awards. Herrenknecht Tunneling, Germany, received the Product Award for its Direct Pipe, which is a combination of microtunneling and HDD to get through difficult ground conditions. The Project Award went to Longbore TT Ltd., United Kingdom, for its project that involved installing the power cable from the first tidal power water turbine to be installed in the United Kingdom in an area of great environmental sensitivity. The Academic Award was presented to The Technical University, Kielce, Poland, for developing the first post-graduate course in trenchless technology ever organized worldwide.

Many first-time visitors to Moscow took the opportunity to visit the Kremlin and Moscow’s famous Red Square. The Golden Ring five-star hotel located in the heart of Moscow served as the host hotel. The Gala Dinner was unique in that it was a boat cruise on the Moscow River that went from the Crocus Center to the area of the Golden Ring Hotel. The No-Dig awards were presented during the cruise.

While at the show, Trenchless Technology International conducted numerous video interviews. The videos can be viewed on www.trenchlesstechnology.com (click on TT TV).

The 2009 International No-Dig will be hosted by the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) March 20-April 3 in Toronto, Canada.

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