TPT January 2010

I ndustry N ews

A first for the UK no dig industry A TRENCHLESS solutions provider has solved a challenging dilemma while at the same time achieving a first for the UK trenchless technology market. Warrior Worldwide was contacted by a drainage contracting company who had been asked to replace a section of process pipe work at a leading soft drinks factory. “Due to the high temperatures used in production of drinks, the drainage system had been severely damaged,” said Warrior’s managing director, Tony O’Brien. “High temperatures also meant that plastic pipe could not be used in the renovation project.” As the pipeline was crucial to the production process, the drinks factory had been lining with a resin pipe and making patch repairs on a regular basis, an extremely expensive cost to the company but one they could not avoid. It was at this stage that the contracting company, who had witnessed one of their live demonstrations, approached Warrior Worldwide for a solution. “The nature of the production equipment and the confined facility at the factory meant that traditional open cut excavation was not an option; pipe bursting was the only other solution,” explained Mr O’Brien. “Rather than plastic pipe, we (Warrior) installed a new stainless steel pipe using trenchless pipe bursting methodology. This new pipe has an expected life span of 50-70 years.” The answer to the technically difficult project was Warrior’s pipe bursting equipment, the powerful WR33. The WR33 uses hydraulic rams to pull a wire cable attached to a bursting head through an underground pipe. The bursting head is slightly larger in diameter than the pipe causing the existing pipe to burst apart as it is pulled through. The new pipe to be installed is attached to the rear of the bursting head. The process pipeline was at a depth of approximately three metres, but due to the modular and compact size of the equipment the WR33 was easily installed at the base of an excavation to gain access at the head of the run. The WR33 pulled through the stainless steel pipe in one metre sections. The design of the WR33 allowed the pipe to be turned so the

sections could be welded at the same time by a separate team. The WR33 enabled the pipe to be pulled through and welded in situ,” said Mr O’Brien. “From arrival to departure, the job took 7.5 hours in total. Excavation, even if possible, would have meant the factory would have been out of action for at least a week, with damaging effects on productivity.” Other benefits for the client were minimum noise levels, reduced contamination, reduced downtime and

minimum reinstatement. Plus there was no negative impact on the environment. “The WR33 was the perfect solution to the challenging brief,” concluded O’Brien. “As far as we (Warrior) are aware, there has been no other successful attempt at pipe bursting using a replacement pipeline of stainless steel in the UK.” Warrior – UK Fax: +44 151 495 4171 Email: info@warriorworldwide.com Website: www.warriorworldwide.com

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J anuary 2010

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