TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY
THE ROLKON WAY Durban City Centre Aqueduct
With trenchless construction, a pipe, duct or cable can be installed underground without disturbing service structures such as roads, pavements, driveways, buildings or ecologically sensitive areas. IMIESA speaks to Rocky Herrmann, MD of Rolkon Trenchless Construction, about his company’s unique offering for the underground infrastructure industry.
What sets Rolkon apart from the competition? RH It is our operating philosophy – leave no site unresolved – that emphasises our solutions-oriented, can-do approach to underground infrastructure, planning and innovation. Our entire team has adopted this ethos and they have a strong respect for the profession, our work and our clients. I also believe in a team that is invested in their own growth and one that is empowered to be proficient in this profession. I am also proud of Rolkon’s Level 2 BBBEE certification. This is more than a piece of paper; it reflects our efforts to improve and upskill people, as well as provide opportunities for growth. Occupational health, safety and the environment are key focus areas for us. All of our work is done with due care and diligence. Our employees are trained, fitted
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IMIESA September 2022
Rocky Herrmann, MD, Rolkon Trenchless Construction
with the correct PPE and given the right safety equipment. Furthermore, we value partnerships with our service providers and suppliers (like Bloc Contractors, KZN BCF, Rho-Tec and TrailorSol), as they assist us in providing our clients with safe, reliable, efficient and quality solutions.
What kind of trenchless technologies does Rolkon use? Rolkon is a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) expert in the 110 mm to 1 000 mm pipe range. HDD is a steerable trenchless method of installing underground pipelines and utilities in a prescribed path bore (straight or cur ved) by using a sur facelaunched drilling rig. It completes jobs with a high degree of precision. HDD is used to install underground pipelines for gas, sewer, water and stormwater, fibreoptic sleeving and electrical sleeving. We own five machines – a D6, two D9s, a D20 and a
D36 – as well as moling machines, groundpenetrating radars and magnetic scanners, along with support equipment like a truck, trailer, water carts and tooling.
Are there any common misconceptions that you encounter regarding trenchless technologies? Quite a few municipalities and engineers have successfully adopted this technology, but other municipalities and engineers have little understanding of it. I think it’s important to educate and remind everyone of what is possible with trenchless technologies. Furthermore, trenchless construction is often viewed as a costly option and the pricing of these projects can be problematic. Cost savings across the entire trenchless construction project must be calculated. Some of the benefits of trenchless technologies include: