Trenchless Works | Issue 228 | August 2025

The voice of the trenchless community

MORE THAN MACHINES

Ditch Witch UK & Ireland: Built on legacy, driven by the future

Works

PUBLISHER

Paul Harwood pharwood@westrade.co.uk

EDITOR

Austen Lees editorial@trenchless-works.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Leigh Abbott labbott@westrade.co.uk

SALES DIRECTOR

Trevor Dorrell tdorrell@westrade.co.uk

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Ioan Lucian Sculeac lucian@westrade.co.uk

CHINESE AGENT

Lexi Di lexi.di@bestexpo.cn

COPYRIGHT

Trenchless Works is published 12 times a year by Westrade Group Ltd I Carotino House| Bury Lane I Rickmansworth I WD3 1ED I UK

Contributions: Contributions are invited and articles should be emailed to editorial@trenchless-works.com. No responsibility can be taken for drawings, photographs or written contributions during delivery, transmission or when with the magazine. In the absence of an agreement, the copyright of all contributions, regardless of format, belongs to the publisher. The publishers accept no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the views of the publishers. The publishers accept no responsibility for actions taken on the basis of any information contained within this magazine. The publishers cannot accept liability for any loss arising from the late appearance or non-publication of any advertisement for any reason whatsoever. ISSN 2049-3401

Editor’s Welcome

Austen Lees

As this August issue is published the importance of resilient underground infrastructure has never been clearer. From Heathrow’s costly power outage to the UK government’s landmark decision to overhaul the water sector and abolish Ofwat, the message is loud and urgent: asset management, renewal, and innovation can no longer be deferred.

In this edition, Tom Sangster makes the case for why the trenchless sector should lobby hard for the full implementation of the Cunliffe Review, reforms that could shape investment and regulation for decades to come. We also explore the UK’s £104 billion AMP8 investment framework, which underscores the vital role of No-Dig in delivering resilient water and wastewater networks.

Closer to home, our cover feature More Than Machines takes you inside Ditch Witch UK & Ireland, where family values, training, and sustained investment are setting new standards for customer support and HDD success. In pipeline rehabilitation, we highlight RELINE’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, from hybrid-powered curing systems to global training initiatives, showing how

trenchless continues to lead in technology and environmental responsibility.

Internationally, you’ll find case studies spanning Cairo’s metro expansion, fibre backbone crossings in Szczecin, the Athlone Main Drainage scheme, and a remarkable Himalayan tunnelling breakthrough. Each illustrates trenchless as the only viable solution to modern infrastructure challenges.

Looking ahead, preparations are building for Trenchless Middle East 2025 in Jeddah, followed by Trenchless Morocco 2026, both critical platforms for showcasing expertise and shaping fastgrowing markets.

As ever, the common thread through these pages is collaboration, innovation, and resilience. Our industry has the solutions to meet infrastructure challenges head on, the question is whether regulators, utilities, and governments have the resolve to act quickly enough?

I hope you enjoy this issue and, as always, welcome your feedback and contributions.

Austen

To

ARTICLE

Editor’s Welcome

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

The perils of failure to maintain infrastructure assets – and a way out

NEWS

Vortex steps up global leadership to scale trenchless infrastructure platform

Bauer takes on deep foundation challenge at Cairo Metro Line 4

Barhale completes critical Fortis Green trunk main upgrade to boost resilience

Ipsum steps into control and automation with latest acquisition

UK Government confirms abolition of Ofwat in landmark water sector overhaul

UKWIR launches AI Tool to transform water research access

HDD

More than machines

No alternative to No-Dig in Szczecin

7 Vermeer tips for successful pilot drilling every time

PIPELINE REHABILITATION

RELINE: Innovation, sustainability, and a focus on the future Can a multi-segmental liner really be as strong as a single piece?

TUNNEL BORING

Major progress as Athlone main drainage tunnelling works now complete Breakthrough in the Himalayas: Second Herrenknecht TBM completes drive near Rishikesh

EVENTS

Trenchless Morocco 2026: Capitalising on North Africa’s growing market

FOCUS ON TRENCHLESS TRAINING

Business and Academia – a win win collaboration

UKSTT SOCIETY NEWS

A message from the Chair

UKSTT New to Trenchless Industry Network (NtTIN) - Investigation & assessment

UKSTT Technical & Education subcommittee report

Membership services subcommittee report

ISTT SOCIETY NEWS

A message from the Chair

ISTT supports Trenchless Middle East 2025

New strategic partnership

RSV and GSTT merge to form German Association for Trenchless Technologies (GATT)

NASTT SOCIETY NEWS

Spotlight on International Innovation: NASTT 2025 No-Dig North & ISTT International No-Dig head to Vancouver

EVENTS AND MEETINGS

The perils of failure to maintain infrastructure assets – and a way out

In this month’s edition, Tom Sangster discusses why the trenchless sector should lobby hard for a full implementation of the recommendations in the Cunliffe Review.

Sangster, Managing Director, Downley Consultants

On 21st March 2025, London Heathrow, Europe’s busiest and the world’s fourth busiest airport, lost electricity supply and was shut down. More than 1,350 flights to and from all over the world were diverted or cancelled, and more than 290,000 passengers impacted. Why? A fire at a 250kV electricity sub-station which supplies the airport.

The investigation into this event has found that the cause of the fault, moisture ingress, was discovered in 2018 and classified as an imminent fault, and that apparatus needed to be replaced. It wasn’t. The grid operator also failed to identify that no action had been taken and in 2022 decided to defer basic maintenance. A fundamental failure to understand risk and to act on the basis of consequence of failure has resulted in a cost of hundreds of millions of pounds.

Just this month, the UK government has stated that the country is 10 years from introducing water rationing because the storage and supply infrastructure is no longer adequate to ensure constant availability of water. The UK’s planning system makes major infrastructure projects, such as new reservoirs, almost impossible. Thames Water, the country’s largest water & sewerage utility, has had its plans for a new £2.2 billion reservoir at Abingdon thwarted since 2006. It is very necessary, but at the current rate of water system losses through leakage in the UK, it would be drained empty from full in 56 days.

These both illustrate the risks and consequences of failing to plan and maintain infrastructure assets adequately. Active asset management in any utility sector, be it gas, electricity, water, sewerage, storm water or telecommunications, is essential to support daily life of people, industry, and commerce throughout the world. Yet too little is being done. Thames Water’s £2.2 billion, if spent in

the meantime on fixing leaks, may have reduced the criticality of the need for the reservoir.

The UK loses 19% of its water through system leaks; 2.7 million m³ per day. The utilities are quick to point out that 25% of the leaks are on the customer side of meters. But this leaves 75% in the public system. The amount of leakage is reducing as action is taken, but, as with the Heathrow sub-station, it is too little, too late. To avoid water rationing in 10 years’ time, either more water must be captured and stored, or less must leak away, or both.

The performance of the wastewater assets in particular became a political hot potato in the UK in 2024, and an election topic. It led indirectly to the Cunliffe Review published in July. This makes a total of 88 recommendations for radical reform of the sector, its strategic direction, planning, governance, regulation, and company structures, ownership and management. They are much more than the “lipstick on a pig” claim made by noisy

Tom

single-issue campaigners who are determined to be unsatisfied otherwise, they become irrelevant.

Cunliffe’s recommendations read like a blueprint for a more effective and efficient sector that all of us in the trenchless industry have dreamt of for many years. They are, on the whole, sensible and positive, and address many of the shortcomings that have so frustrated all in the sector for many years. But their scale is such that they will take time to implement and to show results. I expect that AMP8 will continue as currently planned and that any major changes will take place from 2030.

Recommendation 16 has caught all the headlines: The UK government should establish a new integrated regulator in England. This should combine the functions of Ofwat, DWI, and water functions from the Environment Agency and Natural England.

Recommendation 19 is also a key change: The regulator should ensure funding is directed appropriately to

renew assets by clearly defining and ring-fencing base capital expenditure (capital maintenance), base operational expenditure, and enhancement capital expenditure allowances. This is important because it abandons the “totex” approach introduced in 2014 that effectively incentivised water companies to underspend on asset renewal.

Asset condition, resilience, and expected life are emphasised in the Review and are addressed by several other recommendations. There is a clear undercurrent in these recommendations that asset condition has been neglected, and that flawed regulation has contributed to this. Recommendation 68 is key: The regulator’s oversight of infrastructure resilience and asset health should be strengthened, under its supervisory approach. This should include the appointment of a Chief Engineer on the board of the regulator in England and Wales.

Other welcome recommendations propose expanding Regulation 31 testing

services for drinking water products; strengthening the requirements on companies to map and assess the health of their assets, and that regulators should ensure metrics for asset health are sufficiently forwardlooking; updating of the planning processes in England to support the timely delivery of water industry infrastructure; and that water companies should share best practice on supplier contracts and procurement strategies to help improve water company relationships with the supply chain in England and Wales.

The Heathrow shutdown was an expensive, embarrassing, and very public exposure of the UK’s pitiful lack of infrastructure investment. Does the water sector want to repeat this and to welcome arrivals at the UK’s gateway to the world with water rationing - none to drink and none to flush? The Cunliffe Review charts reforms that would avoid this. Does the Government have the courage to act on and implement all 88 recommendations? It is in our industry’s interests to lobby it to do so.

Jeddah Hilton, Jeddah, Kingdom of 11-12 November 2025

The 14th event in this outstanding series in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

EAST 2025

WHY ATTEND?

• Sewerage and utility investment: Discover how trenchless is impacting dense urban centres, mega-project zones, infrastructure rehabilitation and environmentally sensitive areas in KSA

OPEN

• Infrastructure Trends: Uncover market intelligence from case studies and insights shared by industry experts and trenchless thought leaders at the two-day conference

• JBP Training Sessions: Learn from the world’s leading trenchless training organisation hosting a two-day training programme

• Live exhibition showcase: Explore cutting-edge products and services from top exhibitors, providing solutions to your underground infrastructure challenges

• Networking Reception: Meet and network with innovators, future partners and thought leaders

• See trenchless technology in action: Watch live demonstrations of state-of-the-art equipment and discover how they can install, repair, or replace underground infrastructure with minimal surface disruption

• Receive a free 3-month ATTME membership

REGISTER NOW FREE TO ATTEND

NO-DIG ROADSHOW SERIES 2025

With the UKSTT Annual Awards Ceremony

2 October 2025

Tortworth Court, Bristol www.nodigroadshows.co.uk

TRENCHLESS MIDDLE EAST 2025

11-12 November 2025

Jeddah Hilton, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia www.trenchlessmiddleeast.com

TRENCHLESS MOROCCO 2026

11-12 February 2026

Rabat Marriott Hotel, Rabat, Morocco www.trenchlessmorocco.com

TRENCHLESS ASIA 2026

10 -11 June 2026

Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre Bangkok, Thailand www.trenchlessasia.com

NO-DIG LIVE 2026

29 September – 1 October 2026

NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire www.nodiglive.co.uk

TRENCHLESS MIDDLE EAST 2026

www.trenchlessmiddleeast.com

NO-DIG ROADSHOW SERIES 2026

www.nodigroadshows.co.uk

Vortex steps up global leadership to scale trenchless infrastructure platform

While AI and climate tech dominate headlines, another technology is quietly reshaping the world’s cities: trenchless water and sewer rehabilitation. Worth billions and critical to urban resilience, the sector is tackling a $1.2 trillion problem, deteriorating underground infrastructure with robotics, coatings, and No-Dig installation methods that cut costs, time, and disruption.

Houston-based The Vortex Companies is emerging as a leader, combining manufacturing and services in a vertically integrated platform. Its latest leadership moves Chuck Parsons to SVP of Strategy and Operations, Ryan Helmuth to Regional VP at Sancon Technologies, and Dan Watson to SVP and Managing Director of Vortex International marking a push to align operations and scale globally.

“Over the past five years, we’ve taken a deliberate and strategic approach to our UK and European expansion,” said Ryan Graham, COO. “We now have the platform to deliver a broad portfolio of solutions tailored to the region’s infrastructure challenges.”

Vortex’s platform spans UV curing systems, CIPP liners, robotic rehab systems, and specialty coatings all installed through its own divisions and partners. Since 2015, the company has made 15 acquisitions and now operates across 29 locations worldwide.

The promotion of Dan Watson, a 20-year trenchless veteran and

“

What drew me to trenchless is the constant opportunity to apply innovation to real-world challenges. With the right people, proven technologies, and a shared vision, we’re redefining how critical infrastructure is renewed globally.

former MD of McAllister Group, underscores Vortex’s ambitions in Europe. Since 2019, the company has acquired firms including FleerTech GmbH (Germany), ETECAS UV Technology (Germany), Lining Division Ltd., and McAllister Group (UK/Ireland).

“What drew me to trenchless is the constant opportunity to apply innovation to realworld challenges,” said Watson. “With the right people, proven technologies, and a shared vision, we’re redefining how critical infrastructure is renewed globally.”

As cities face rising costs, water scarcity, and climate pressures, Vortex’s integrated approach offers a replicable model for fast, sustainable network renewal. These promotions are more than internal milestones they signal a company ready to scale, integrate, and lead in the quiet revolution happening beneath our streets.

Chuck Parsons

Dan Watson

Ryan Helmuth

Bauer takes on deep foundation challenge at Cairo Metro Line 4

Work is progressing on one of the most complex underground construction projects currently underway in North Africa, with BAUER EGYPT S.A.E. delivering specialist foundation engineering for the new Giza Station on Cairo Metro Line 4.

Commissioned by Orascom Construction, Bauer began operations in November 2024 with completion scheduled for December 2025. The new station will cover around 5,500m² and extend to a depth of 81m, making it one of the deepest metro stations in the region.

The foundation package comprises 209 diaphragm wall panels and 20 barrettes, equating to 49,000m² of diaphragm walls and 7,400m² of barrettes. Some walls reach depths of 81m with thicknesses of 1.5m, while barrettes are designed to carry loads up to 3,600 tonnes. A BAUER MC 96 duty-cycle crane is among the specialist equipment supporting excavation and installation, with construction running in double shifts six days a week.

By May 2025, 84 diaphragm wall panels had been completed despite space constraints and the need to coordinate with other contractors on adjacent tunnelling works.

A notable first for Egypt is the deployment of vertically stacked tunnel boring machines (TBMs), operating one above the other, an innovative approach requiring meticulous planning and precision.

Once complete, Giza Station will connect into one of Cairo’s busiest transport corridors, marking a milestone in the city’s urban mobility expansion and highlighting the growing role of advanced foundation and tunnelling methods in delivering major underground infrastructure.

the future.

14th and 15th October 2025

Gewerbepark Birkenhain 11,

Running order of the day´s events´

Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th October 2025

9:00 AM

Start of workshops at various stations (workshop topics and content will be announced soon)

12:15 PM to 1:00 PM

Lunch break

from 5:00 PM

BBQ

We will be running the same programme on both days´

Please register yourself and your team by latest 19th September 2025.

To register contact: storz@quick-lock.de

Please include the following information: company name, your name, contact email address and phone number, day of participation, number of participants

Barhale completes critical Fortis Green trunk main upgrade to boost resilience

Barhale, in collaboration with Thames Water, has successfully completed the major upgrade of a vital trunk main at Fortis Green in North London.

The £16.8M project strengthens network resilience and protects customer supplies for more than 35,000 properties in North London.

“Population growth and climate change are putting increased pressure on water infrastructure. While Fortis Green was primarily a project to address a critical asset reaching the end of its natural life, it also presented an opportunity to upgrade part of the network and strengthen its resilience.

It has been delivered under Thames Water’s AMP7 Trunk Main programme, which targets critical assets across the capital where failure could cause severe disruption.

Barhale worked closely with Thames Water to replace 2.4 kilometres of aging 24” steel trunk main using a combination of micro-tunnelling and open cut trenching techniques.

Extensive collaboration throughout the project lifecycle led to a significant revision to the reference solution, moving the existing pipeline away from the A406 North Circular Road –and roughly 16M annual vehicle movements – to eliminate potential traffic delays and reduce disruption for residents during construction.

Mark Taylor, Thames Water’s Director of Delivery from London Infrastructure emphasised the criticality of building resilience into the network.

“Population growth and climate change are putting

increased pressure on water infrastructure,” he said. “While Fortis Green was primarily a project to address a critical asset reaching the end of its natural life, it also presented an opportunity to upgrade part of the network and strengthen its resilience.”

Shane Gorman, Barhale’s Water Director (Southern Region) highlighted the importance of the project’s successful delivery.

“Thanks to our extensive modelling and changes to the reference design we have been able to improve the capacity and the dynamic flow performance of the pipeline,” he said. “The reengineering of the solution also enabled Barhale to achieve a 14.9% reduction in cost over the reference solution and significant carbon savings of 10,800tCO2e. This project is a strong example of how strategic engineering and early collaboration can deliver sustainable, high-value outcomes.”

Barhale - Fortis Green water main upgrade at Arnos Park, North London (Aerial)

Ipsum steps into control and automation with latest acquisition

Specialist engineering services provider Ipsum Group has acquired network integration, control and automation specialists Core Control Solutions Ltd, strengthening its expertise across the UK’s Power, Water and Infrastructure sectors.

The move expands Ipsum’s capabilities into critical automation systems that support the safe and efficient operation of renewable energy, transport, and utilities infrastructure. Core Controls brings experience in delivering and maintaining advanced control systems for projects ranging from tunnels and airports to community energy networks.

Andrew Cowan, CEO at Ipsum, said: “Our latest acquisition reinforces our commitment to resilient Power and Water infrastructure for UK communities and businesses.

“Our latest acquisition reinforces our commitment to resilient Power and Water infrastructure for UK communities and businesses. By combining Ipsum’s existing strengths with Core Controls’ expertise, we can deliver more seamless, endto-end solutions and extend our reach into new sectors

By combining Ipsum’s existing strengths with Core Controls’ expertise, we can deliver more seamless, end-to-end solutions and extend our reach into new sectors.”

Mark Brown, Director at Core Controls, added: “Joining Ipsum is an exciting new chapter. It allows us to deliver even greater value to clients, strengthen our service offering, and open up opportunities for growth across the Power and Water sectors.”

Core Controls is at the forefront of designing and integrating energy management systems, including battery storage for the National Grid and cloudbased solutions for National

Highways. The partnership aligns with the UK’s Net Zero ambitions, while supporting smart infrastructure and local community energy schemes.

Ipsum continues to apply a data-driven approach and advanced methodologies, including trenchless and NoDig technologies, to deliver greener, faster, and more costefficient services.

Advisers included Dains Accountants and M&S Solicitors for Core Controls, with Squire Patton Boggs and Grant Thornton acting for Ipsum.

PEARPOINT systems are designed to excel in harsh environments, delivering unmatched reliability and adaptability for sewer inspection professionals.

From rugged terrains to urban settings, PEARPOINT’S innovative designs ensure seamless performance, minimizing downtime and maximizing efficiency.

With modular components that are easy to swap or upgrade, our equipment evolves with your needs, making it the ultimate partner in the field. When the job gets tough, PEARPOINT gets tougher.

UK Government confirms abolition of Ofwat in landmark water sector overhaul

The UK government has confirmed that Ofwat, the water industry regulator for England and Wales, is to be abolished in what ministers describe as the biggest shake-up of the sector since privatisation.

The move follows the Independent Water Commission’s report, which called for sweeping reform to restore public confidence, strengthen environmental standards and ensure longterm investment in water infrastructure. Under new legislation, Ofwat’s functions will be merged with those of the Environment Agency, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, and Natural England to create a single, integrated water regulator. In Wales, responsibilities will transfer to Natural Resources Wales.

The reforms, which include 88 recommendations, aim to simplify oversight, improve accountability and provide greater certainty for both customers and investors. They include proposals for new regional water authorities, stronger enforcement powers to tackle pollution, and safeguards on ownership changes in the sector.

For the underground infrastructure and trenchless technology community, the implications are significant. A consolidated regulator could deliver a more coordinated approach to investment in critical assets such as pipelines, sewers and tunnels, with streamlined approvals and stronger alignment between environmental targets and engineering solutions. The government has already flagged a £104 billion investment programme over the next five years, much of which will rely on trenchless methods to replace ageing networks, reduce leakage and improve resilience.

While Ofwat will continue to operate during a transition period, its chief executive, David Black, will step down in August 2025, marking the start of the handover to the new regulatory body.

For trenchless professionals, this marks a pivotal moment: a restructured regulatory framework could shape how projects are designed, delivered and funded for decades to come.

Why this matters for us?

• Investment flows: Ofwat’s direction influences how much funding water companies can dedicate to upgrading underground infrastructure.

• Resilience & renewal: With climate pressures and ageing networks, trenchless and No-Dig solutions are increasingly vital.

• Innovation window: Regulatory change often opens opportunities for suppliers, contractors, and consultants in our sector.

REGULATION DRIVES RENEWAL, AND TRENCHLESS IS AT THE HEART OF RESILIENT NETWORKS

UKWIR launches AI Tool to transform water research access

UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) has unveiled a bespoke artificial intelligence (AI) search tool that promises to give the water sector faster, easier access to its extensive research library.

Developed with Webree and trained exclusively on UKWIR’s body of reports, the new onsite tool offers two main functions: Conversational “contextual search” with direct page references and generative summaries that compile findings from multiple reports.

All results are linked back to original source documents, ensuring transparency and traceability.

The launch follows recommendations from the Independent Water Commission’s final report, which

called for greater collaboration and evidence-based decisionmaking across the industry. UKWIR believes this could be a world-first for water research, with findings to be shared globally through the Water Research Coalition.

For trenchless practitioners, the development could be highly significant. Faster access to decades of sector research will support evidenceled planning and delivery of projects, particularly in areas such as asset management, rehabilitation strategies and long-term investment planning. It also marks another step forward in the water sector’s ongoing digital transformation, following UKWIR’s redesigned website earlier this year.

Safe to the tap: The importance of hygiene certification

Hygiene certification is a key safeguard in drinking water supply, ensuring pipes and rehabilitation products do not release harmful substances, promote microbial growth, or affect taste, smell or appearance.

For Rädlinger Primus Line, the process starts with highgrade virgin raw materials and continues through monitored production. Both its liners and connectors undergo full product testing for hygiene certification in multiple countries, including NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 in the USA, BS 6920 in Hong Kong, and KTWBWGL in Germany.

Testing covers formulation disclosure, migration, microbiology, and other physiochemical properties with certification taking from four weeks to over a year depending on regulations. Certificates are typically valid for two to five years before recertification.

With 16 drinking water certificates worldwide, the company says these standards ensure customers receive exactly the product tested and approved for safe drinking water transport.

MORE THAN MACHINES

Behind the drills and tooling is a story of family, training, and investment that’s setting a new benchmark for trenchless success in the UK and Ireland.

By Austen Lees, Editor, Trenchless Works

Walking into the headquarters of Ditch Witch in Swansea, you can’t help but be impressed by the scale and quality of their UK and Ireland operation. Chris and Mike’s attention to detail is etched all over the 10,000 square foot main building, which incorporates a showroom, state-of-the-art training centre, boardroom, and offices. If that’s not enough, this hugely impressive facility also include s a purpose-built demonstration area, a 5,000 square foot HDD tooling building, a workshop with fully equipped welding and fabrication area, and a parts and service counter.

Supporting the company’s HQ is a 10,000 square foot facility in the Midlands, which also boasts a workshop, warehousing, parts and service counter, and training facilities. Ideally placed just a mile from the M1, the site plays a key role in the company’s ability to provide rapid parts and support to customers across the country. >

Ditch Witch AT120

“

This place is like one big family. We are so fortunate to have such a committed team; they spend a lot of time here, and we want to provide them with the best possible environment

-Mike Harris

Ditch Witch UK and Ireland continue to expand their footprint with an increased presence across the island of Ireland. This ensures contractors in both the North and Republic can now access dedicated sales, service, and parts support locally.

Chris and Mike’s willingness to invest in sites that enable them to provide exacting service levels and, at the same time, create an outstanding working environment for their employees, has played a big part in the sustained growth of the business, which has captured a substantial proportion of the UK HDD market.

This sense of responsibility is reflected by Mike, who says, “This place is like one big family. We are so fortunate to have such a committed team; they spend a lot of time here, and we want to provide them with the best possible environment.”

Family is and always has been a pillar of the Ditch Witch business. The company was founded by Mike and Chris grandad, Dave Holloway, in the early 1980s. Dave was a committed innovator, having designed a number of groundbreaking products, including the ‘Beacon Buddy’. Both men rightly continue to hold him in the highest regard. From talking to either, there

is little doubt that his memory is perfectly preserved in their desire to continue to innovate and solve problems for their customers.

These values and work ethic see Ditch Witch UK and Ireland amongst the top 5 Ditch Witch international dealers.

The desire to innovate and help customers solve their problems is a passion that still runs deep in the Ditch Witch business and extends far beyond the technical development of the equipment, which is so key to maintaining the company’s market-leading position.

Talking to Mike and Chris, it’s clear they recognise that the ability to provide customers with a reliable, easy-to-operate machine, with the right technical specification for the job, is only part of their role. They are also fully committed to ensuring their customers can optimise the capability of their equipment’s efficiency on the job site, helping to reduce costs and eliminate costly delays.

This desire to educate customers and ensure they have the right solution is evident well before a machine is even sold. Forming part of the Swansea facility’s

expansive demonstration area is a purpose-built road, built to the Standards for Highways specification. This has been used for numerous customer demonstration and training exercises, including a recent event attended by over 100 representatives from the fibre industry, who got to see how Ditch Witch’s drills, ploughs and trenchers can minimise the impact and increase the speed of fibre delivery to households in the UK and Ireland.

The value the team place on training is something that really strikes you from the time you come on site. >

Ditch Witch UK & Ireland Training

Supporting the outside demonstration area is a stateof-the-art training room with an HDD simulator, which we were lucky enough to be able to try and which provides an incredibly life-like experience for operators without the challenges and operational impact of learning something for the first time on site. Chris and Mike explain that ‘training on site is great, but the reality is that you end up focusing on that particular job’. By bringing customers to their training facility, they can help them understand the full capability of the machine across a range of job types and ground conditions (customers can now benefit even further from the expertise of drilling fluid expert Dave Bell, who has now returned to the company where it all began for him just 33 years ago!).

Continued investment in both the Swansea and Midlands sites has also ensured that customers requiring any parts, tools, or consumables can be serviced

as soon as possible. There is currently several million £ worth of parts in stock, the majority of which can be shipped to customers or engineers the next day. The company’s team of field engineers is also continuing to increase, located across the UK and Ireland. This availability of parts and resources plays a vital role in helping to minimise downtime and costly delays on site.

As the conversation shifts to the company’s plans for the future, both Mike and Chris agree that the real opportunity lies in extending beyond the provision of equipment for a dedicated task and in the ability to ‘own the job site’. This will see the development of increasingly ‘smart machines’ and intelligent utility mapping equipment. These detailed images of the job site and increased levels of automation will enable machines to work around any underground utilities and optimise their performance for

the specific conditions and work being undertaken.

As we discuss specific markets, Mike and Chris are quick to recognise the work that is needed across all the UK and Ireland’s underground utilities networks. In terms of the water industry, Ofwat’s final determination of AMP8 at £104 billion will see approximately £12 billion earmarked for ‘Protecting our water and wastewater system’ which includes cutting leakage and replacing water mains. With increased awareness of the social, environmental, and financial benefits of trenchless solutions in replacing aging and deteriorated water and wastewater pipelines, the demand for efficient, proven equipment looks like it can only increase.

We also discuss the opportunity created by the renewable energy market and the need for landfall cabling for offshore wind farms. This work requires larger maxi

“ The real opportunity is to own the job site, developing smart machines and intelligent mapping that optimise performance and avoid costly delays

-Chris Holloway

rigs to bring cables to shore, then smaller rigs to bring it to the substation. This growth has seen the company put into service seven AT120’s over the last 18 months.

Whilst work in the fibre market has been slightly ‘stop start’, Mike and Chris also recognise the potential that programmes such as R100 in Scotland continue to create opportunities, with one of the private networks having already running 14 drills.

There are also plans to support a number of contractors with training, both on site and at the facility in Swansea, to help them ensure they procure the right equipment solution and are able to optimise its operation.

As we talk more broadly about how the sector can increase the use of trenchless technologies, training and education are once again a key theme, particularly in relation to the need for more and better trained HDD operators to meet demand. It is clear that Ditch Witch are committed to leading on ensuring that the HDD sector has the skills and resources it needs for the future. As part of the conversation, we discuss the need for better engagement with the education sector and the potential for a relevant ‘ticket’ which recognises certain levels of knowledge and ability to further improve confidence.

Mike and Chris also make the point that the continued education of contractors is also vital and that they continue to see companies that already have trenchless capability defaulting to open-cut and other techniques simply due to a lack of awareness.

It was fascinating to be able to spend a day with the Ditch Witch team and learn more about their UK and Ireland operation and plans for the future. Their willingness to look ahead and invest will, I believe, see them ideally placed to capitalise on future investment in our underground networks. I look forward to catching up with them again soon.

FAST FACTS & FUTURE FOCUS

Locations

• Swansea HQ: 10,000 sq ft showroom, training centre, demo road, HDD tooling building, workshop, and parts and service counter.

• Midlands Facility: 10,000 sq ft site with workshop, warehousing, training and parts hub, just a mile from the M1.

• Ireland: Growing footprint with dedicated sales, service and parts support across the island.

Team & culture

• Founded in the early 1980s by innovator Dave Holloway (designer of the ‘Beacon Buddy’).

• Now run by grandsons Chris Holloway & Mike Harris.

• “This place is like one big family… we want to provide the best possible environment.” –Mike Harris

Training & technology

• Purpose-built demo road to Standards for Highways spec.

• State-of-the-art training room with HDD simulator.

• Industry drilling fluid expert Dave Bell back with the team after 33 years.

Service & support

• Several million pounds of parts in stock for next-day shipping.

• Expanding team of field engineers across the UK & Ireland.

Looking Ahead

• Development of ‘smart machines’ and intelligent mapping to optimise job sites.

Contact us: www.ditchwitch.co.uk info@ditchwitch.co.uk + 44 (0) 1792 895906

Ditch Witch JT32

AT120

Loaded with 120,000 lbs (533.8 kN) of pullback/thrust and 15,500 ft·lbs (21015 N·m) of rotational only opens you up to new types of jobs but moves through long bores and large diameter installs All Terrain technology and a 280-hp (209 kW) Stage V Cummins® engine reduce environmental impact power. 3,000 ft·lbs (4067 N·m) of inner rotational torque—a 50% increase over its predecessor— additional power to drill through the toughest terrain around.

THE BEST SELLING ROCK THE

DRILL

IN AND

UK IRELAND.

rotational torque, the AT120 not installs with eye-popping power. impact without losing any predecessor— allows the AT120

No alternative to No-Dig in Szczecin

Three long river crossings for fibre optic backbone using HDD Trenchless technology proved indispensable for the 2024 fibre optic expansion in Szczecin, Poland, where three demanding river crossings were essential to connect districts across the Oder to the new distribution network. Using a GRUNDODRILL 28Nplus from TRACTO and the expertise of contractor Hydropex, the culverts were completed in record time under highly challenging conditions.

Szczecin, a Hanseatic port city with nearly 400,000 residents, is shaped by its rivers and canals, which divide its dense urban fabric. For general contractor Up-Telekom Sp. z.o.o., constructing an 11.3 km fibre optic trunk cable meant tackling three major water crossings: 231 m under the West Oder, 210 m beneath the Parnicki Canal, and 426 m across the Regalica River – Hydropex’s longest HDD bore to date.

Technical and environmental challenges

Founded in 1989, Hydropex has just seven years’ trenchless experience but faced conditions that would test even the most

seasoned contractors. Local geology included sand, clay, peat and moraine soils, while work had to be carried out in tightly constrained urban and harbour environments, sometimes alongside live shipping traffic.

Each bore required careful tracking and problem-solving. For the West Oder crossing, monitoring from a motorboat proved difficult due to steel quay reinforcements, but the team successfully steered through a 40 cm-wide corridor at 14 m depth. The Parnicki Canal crossing faced repeated signal losses, eventually resolved after several days of adjustments. The Regalica crossing demanded extensive preparation, with pipes buttwelded and laid out in limited space, and shipping temporarily halted to minimise interference. Despite its record 426m length, the pilot bore was completed in just two days.

Reliable equipment, efficient process

The GRUNDODRILL 28Nplus proved critical to success. Its 280 kN output, automated rod handling, and low fuel consumption enabled efficient

and precise drilling while reducing operator fatigue. Noise levels were also kept low, helping crews maintain communication on site. In all three cases, HDPE casing pipes (200mm) were installed to house the fibre optic trunk cables, with Hydropex completing each undercrossing in around two weeks using teams of six to nine people.

Trenchless as the only option

Given the urban density, riverbank structures, and environmental sensitivities, open-cut methods were not feasible. HDD delivered a fast, minimally invasive, and costeffective solution, enabling Szczecin’s fibre optic backbone to be expanded without major disruption.

For Hydropex, the project was both a milestone and a learning opportunity. “There was virtually no alternative to trenchless technology here,” noted the team, who now plan to invest in additional rigs to take on larger projects.

TRACTO Drill28N Stettin Crew

7 Vermeer tips for successful pilot drilling every time

Pilot drilling is the foundation of any horizontal directional drilling (HDD) project. Done well, it sets an accurate path for the bore, minimises underground risks, and ensures a smooth pullback. Errors at this stage, however, can lead to costly delays, damaged utilities, and rework.

Drawing on decades of trenchless expertise, Vermeer has developed proven methods and tooling solutions to help contractors achieve greater accuracy and efficiency. Whether you’re working with a compact utility drill or a maxi rig, these seven Vermeer-led practices will support more consistent results on site.

Plan the bore path in detail

Vermeer specialists emphasise the importance of a thorough survey. Map utilities, assess risks, and establish entry and exit points at suitable angles. This planning reduces steering challenges later and supports a controlled pullback.

Match tooling to ground conditions

Selecting the right drill head is vital. Vermeer offers tooling specifically designed for a wide range of geologies, from soft soils to mixed and rocky ground. The right choice boosts steering response, durability, and productivity.

Maintain clear communication

Accurate steering depends on strong collaboration between the operator and locator. Vermeer guidance stresses consistent communication

protocols, whether hand signals, radios, or digital systems, to keep the bore on track.

Optimise drilling fluid management

Drilling fluid stabilises the borehole, cools tooling, and removes cuttings. Vermeer recommends adapting viscosity and flow rates to match soil conditions and monitoring pump pressures closely to avoid frac-outs.

Keep a steady pace

Operators using Vermeer HDD rigs are trained to avoid pushing too quickly. A steady approach improves accuracy, reduces wear, and allows adjustments based on real-time locator feedback.

Respond to changing ground conditions

Unexpected changes in soil are common. Vermeer advises

monitoring steering response, fluid returns, and pullback resistance, then adjusting fluid mix, tooling, or drilling strategy as needed.

Record bore data

Modern Vermeer rigs and locator systems make it easier to log pitch, depth, and steering inputs. Analysing this information provides valuable insight for both quality assurance and future project planning.

Vermeer’s bottom line - success in HDD pilot drilling comes from preparation, adaptability, and attention to detail. By following these practices and leveraging Vermeer tooling and rig technology, HDD crews can minimise downtime, avoid costly errors, and consistently deliver projects to specification.

STILL IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN

RELINE: Innovation, sustainability, and a focus on the future

By Austen Lees, Editor, Trenchless Works

Since 2009, RELINE has been synonymous with topquality products and services, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and trust. Our Editor, Austen Lees, met with Firmino Barbosa, Head of Application Technology and Global Academy, and Duncan McCormick, Area Sales Manager UK and Scandinavia, to find out more about what makes this trenchless giant tick.

Since its foundation in 2009 and receiving the first national and international approvals for its Alphaliner 500 in 2010, RELINE has grown into one of the world’s leading trenchless pipeline rehabilitation companies. Today, the company operates from 4 locations with more than 200 employees supporting over 180 customers across 55 countries. To date, more than 9,000,000m of Alphaliner have been produced by RELINE and successfully installed by pipe rehabilitation companies around the world. >

Talking to Firmino and Duncan, it is clear that continued product innovation is a cornerstone of the company’s rapid growth. In 2015, the company expanded its production plant in Rohrbach, Germany, increasing its manufacturing capacity and enabling it to produce a larger diameter Alphaliner 1800 for use in large profile renovations. Further expansion and improvements to the plant in 2021 have given RELINE the ability to produce liner up to 2000mm in diameter. In doing so, they now have the largest portfolio in GRP liner systems in the world, with products ranging from 140mm to 2000mm. Further lining innovations have included the introduction of pressure liners in 2022 and the Alphaliner MH for manhole rehabilitation the following year.

Firmino makes the point that this product innovation is

not limited to liners, with the company’s R&D teams equally focused on developing powerful UV systems for homogenous and fast curing. In fact, the RELINE RE4000 is still the only product on the market, utilising 4000W lamps for curing. This array, in common with all RELINE products, provides customers with even better monitoring of curing diameters and installation parameters for quality control.

It was interesting to learn that RELINE remains the only company which manufactures both liner and curing equipment – providing customers with a single point of contact for their GRP liner installations. Resilience is another major factor in RELINE’s success, with its own glass fibre manufacturing facility in Rheine, Germany. Over 50 employees ensure that all in-

house glass fibre products are manufactured and supplied just-in-time hence negating the reliability on third-party suppliers. Firmino is also quick to correct a common misconception: that RELINE’s UV equipment can only cure its own products, clearly stating that it is perfectly capable of curing all GRP liner (glass-reinforced plastic liner) prepared with resin for UV curing.

It was also fascinating to hear more about RELINE’s use of widely available technology to make things easier for people working with their equipment on the job site. Another service unique to the company is the inclusion of QR codes on all liner deliveries. This provides access to a quality control document that instantly provides all the technical data for that product, such as diameter, resin, fibreglass, as well as all the job site information provided by their installation partners. By removing the opportunity for human error in terms of data input and interpretation, this simple but highly effective solution helps de-risk the project and speeds up the installation process.

Talking to Firmino and Duncan, you also can’t be left in any doubt about the company’s commitment to sustainability,

Firmino Barbosa, Head of Application Technology & Global Academy, Duncan McCormick, Area Sales Manager UK and Scandinavia

and the company was the first in the sector to be awarded an EcoVadis Bronze Medal in November 2022. This ambition relates to both their own operation and ensuring that their customers are able to meet their own environmental, social, and governance targets.

In terms of product design, the sustainability drive is evidenced through the development of hybrid-powered curing systems, which were first introduced back in 2021. These systems run on batteries while installers are doing any preparation or small works. They then recognise when more power is needed, such as when the UV light chains are ignited, at which point they switch on the generator. During the curing process, the batteries are also recharged, enabling the system to switch back to battery once the cure is complete. These environmental and social benefits, including reduced emissions and noise (a key point as the preparation work is often undertaken early in the morning), are seeing a number of customers switching to realise them.

RELINE is also committed to practising what it ‘preaches’ when it comes to sustainability, recognising that “reducing its impact on the environment and society must start ‘at home”. Having recently employed a new Senior Sustainability Officer, Marina Schirrmann, the company continues to invest in the development of increasingly efficient manufacturing equipment, including the construction of its own resin plant and installation of solar panels across its sites. The company has also led the way in the development of Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations). It was interesting to hear Duncan

talk about the importance of ‘handprints’ to the company. Adopting the philosophy of marginal gains, these small but highly efficient improvements (maybe as small as 2-3%) are recognised as key in the drive to a more sustainable operation. It was also heartening to hear them welcome procurement models in Scandinavia, which can see around 30% of the tender scoring relating to the sustainability of the solution being offered.

As we talk more broadly about trenchless technology and the challenges we face in accelerating its implementation, Duncan says “This is an intriguing question and one that keeps me awake at night.” He quickly highlights the need for better education and awareness, citing Benjamin Franklin’s quote: “The only thing more expensive than education is no education.” We also discuss the challenges associated with an aging demographic in the sector and the vital importance of harnessing and extracting these skills and experience before people retire. RELINE has taken the education bull by the horns through its RELINEACADEMY, which is headed up by Firmino. The academy offers practical training for rehabilitation specialists, imparting product knowledge in both theory and practice.

It was fascinating to spend some time talking to Firmino and Duncan, and it will be interesting to see how their introduction of new products and partners in the pressure pipe, manhole, and wastewater sectors will increase their business. This growth in these sectors is something I look forward to discussing with them in more detail in the future.

Can a multi-segmental liner really be as strong as a single piece?

Large-diameter trenchless rehabilitation projects often run into a familiar problem: transportation. Glassreinforced plastic (GRP) liners in these sizes can be too wide or too long to fit into standard shipping containers, forcing contractors into costly, complex logistics involving multiple trucks, road closures, and escort vehicles.

Channeline, a manufacturer of bespoke GRP liners since the early 1980s, tackled this challenge with its multi-segmental liner technology, a system where liners are built in multiple sections, using a patented tongue-and-groove joint. >

A 4.9m diameter multi-segmental liner installed in Detroit, USA

Breaking a liner into segments not only solves the problem of transporting pieces too large for standard shipping containers but also improves efficiency. Multisegmental liners can be shipped in a nested configuration, allowing far more liner sections to fit into a single container. For example, a liner that might require five trucks in one piece could be delivered in just one or two when segmented, cutting transport costs and lowering carbon emissions.

In addition, the ability to move segments in standard-sized containers eliminates the need for road closures, escort vehicles, and other oversized-load measures, helping minimize disruption to the communities surrounding the project site.

So segmenting liners solves the transport issue, but it raises an immediate concern for engineers and asset owners: Does splitting a liner compromise its strength?

The joint as a strength advantage Channeline’s design philosophy turns this question on its head. Rather than seeing joints as a weakness, the company engineered them to be a point of enhanced performance.

A key part of the system is Channelbond, a structural adhesive developed by Channeline specifically for this purpose. It is resistant to 14 different chemicals and has a design life of 150 years. Channelbond ensures that when the liner segments are joined together, the connection is just as strong, and in some cases even stronger, than a single-piece liner.

Proven by testing

Independent and in-house testing confirms these claims:

• Ring stiffness test – Shows that the jointed sections match or exceed the stiffness of a singlepiece liner.

• Apparent hoop tensile strength test: Demonstrates the joint’s superior load-carrying ability.

• Long-term strain corrosion testing: Assesses performance under sustained loading and environmental stress, results show no loss in long-term structural reliability.

Rather than being a vulnerable seam, the multi-segmental joint becomes a reinforcement, ensuring that performance is not just preserved but often improved.

Practical without compromise

By enabling ‘nested’ transport inside standard containers, multisegmental liners dramatically cut shipping costs, reduce carbon emissions, and remove the need for oversized-load logistics. But most importantly, they do this without sacrificing structural integrity.

For large-diameter trenchless rehabilitation, Channeline’s multisegmental liners prove that breaking things apart doesn’t always make them weaker, sometimes, it makes them stronger.

For more information, visit www.channeline.com

Major progress as Athlone main drainage tunnelling works now complete

The Athlone Main Drainage Scheme is moving towards completion, with all tunnelling works now fully finished and reinstatement works underway across the town. Works along The Quays have also been completed, marking another milestone in the delivery of this critical project.

At Golden Island, the pumping station shaft construction works are fully complete, with mechanical and electrical installations progressing well. The control building for the pumping station is also substantially complete, with only final fit-out works remaining. The Coosan West Pumping Station is also now in operation, providing enhanced wastewater management capacity for the area. The project remains on schedule for completion this year, with flows set to be turned into the new sewer network by October.

“

The Athlone Main Drainage Scheme will significantly improve the capacity and resilience of the wastewater infrastructure, ensuring Athlone is well prepared for future growth and development, while also reducing the risk of sewer flooding, improving the water quality in the River Shannon and supporting a cleaner, healthier environment.

Cross-connection works between the existing and the new network are ongoing at various locations around the town. The Strand Carpark will now be reopened in October.

This extension will allow the project team to complete works and demobilise safely, minimising the need for future disruption in the carpark. The Athlone Main Drainage project team will also be carrying out public realm enhancements on Custume Place, which were designated under the Church Street Improvement Works. These works, which are expected to commence in October, will further revitalise the area, creating a more attractive space for the community.

Commenting on the progress, Uisce Éireann Portfolio Manager Eunan Canavan said: “We are grateful to the community for their continued patience as we reach the final stages of this transformative project. The Athlone Main Drainage Scheme will significantly improve the capacity and resilience of the wastewater infrastructure, ensuring Athlone is well prepared for future growth and development, while also reducing the risk of sewer flooding, improving the water quality in the River Shannon and

supporting a cleaner, healthier environment.”

The Athlone Main Drainage Scheme is one of Uisce Éireann’s largest projects to date, representing an investment of €114m. The project involved the construction of new pumping stations at Golden Island and Coosan West, and almost 3km of new large trunk sewers. The existing under-performing pumping stations and pipework will be decommissioned. Combined sewer overflows have been eliminated at six locations along the River Shannon and replaced by two new stormwater overflows designed to meet current licencing standards, improving water quality, and protecting the environment.

Works have taken place at a number of locations across Athlone including Golden Island, West Bank (The Quay), West Side, Abbey Road, Coosan West, The Strand, Burgess Park, Payne’s Lane, and two separate tunnelled crossings under the River Shannon. The new sewers were installed using trenchless technology, meaning that a significant proportion of the construction took place underground without the need for open-cut excavation.

Athlone Main Drainage main compound golden in Island

Breakthrough in the Himalayas: Second Herrenknecht TBM completes drive near Rishikesh

Amajor milestone has been reached on the Rishikesh–Karnaprayag rail line in the Indian Himalayas, as the second of two Herrenknecht Single Shield Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) successfully broke through in late June. The first TBM had completed its drive-in mid-April, marking the completion of both parallel tubes of a 20km-long twin-tube tunnel system.

The new railway line will cut travel times between Rishikesh and Karnaprayag from seven hours to just over two, significantly improving transport links for the millions of Hindu

“ Here we’ve

shown we can move faster with the technology used here than with conventional drill & blast

pilgrims visiting the sacred Char Dham shrines each year. Today, these journeys are often disrupted by landslides and rockfalls in the seismically active region.

Tackling Himalayan geology

Project owner Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) awarded the tunnel contract to Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), who opted for two 9.1m diameter Herrenknecht Single Shield TBMs designed for the complex Himalayan geology. The machines faced phyllite rock, which becomes unstable when exposed to water and can easily block cutterheads.

To overcome these conditions, the TBMs were equipped with torque box cylinders— allowing flexible horizontal and vertical adjustments, as well as Herrenknecht’s Integrated Seismic Prediction (ISP) system, which provides real-time geological reporting and early detection of fault zones.

Record advance rates

The advanced configuration paid off: one machine installed 23 lining rings in just 24 hours, advancing 39 meters in a single day. Spare parts were rapidly supplied from Herrenknecht’s Dehradun warehouse, ensuring continuous progress.

“Here we’ve shown we can move faster with the technology used here than with conventional drill & blast,” said L&T Project Expert Chris Cooper. Herrenknecht’s on-site manager Sumit Gaur added: “This project proves that modern TBMs can master the Himalayas.”

The success of the Rishikesh–Karnaprayag tunnel provides vital reference for future tunnelling in the young, geologically active Himalayan region, opening the way for faster, safer and more resilient infrastructure development.

Herrenknecht Himalayas Rishikesh 2

Trenchless Morocco 2026: Capitalising on North Africa’s growing market

Trenchless Works Magazine is excited to be the official media partner for Trenchless Morocco 2026, the premier event for trenchless technology professionals in North Africa. Taking place February 11-12, 2026, at the Rabat Marriott Hotel in Rabat, Morocco, this event offers an unparalleled opportunity to tap into a rapidly expanding market and shape the future of underground infrastructure development in the region.

Morocco is undergoing significant urban development and modernisation, driving a surge in demand for efficient, sustainable, and minimally disruptive infrastructure solutions. As Morocco expands, trenchless technology is becoming increasingly vital for minimising congestion, reducing environmental impact, and delivering cost-effective results. Trenchless Morocco 2026 will play a key role in promoting these solutions to a range of stakeholders including national government, municipalities, contractors, utilities providers, and consultants.

The event will feature a highquality conference program with insightful presentations from leading experts, addressing key challenges and opportunities in the Moroccan market and beyond. Conference topics will include the latest technical developments in pipe new installation, pipe rehabilitation, inspection, and cleaning, as well as the use of trenchless technology in water, sewer, gas, electricity, telecoms, and fibre optic installation.

Also exploring topical discussions will be the digitalisation of trenchless technology along with the use of drones.

Designed for both seasoned professionals and those new to the field, the conference program will enhance the knowledge and skills of industry professionals, creating a collaborative environment for sharing best practices.

In addition to the conference, Trenchless Morocco 2026 will host an exhibition showcasing the latest products and services from leading trenchless technology providers.

This offers a unique opportunity to engage with potential customers, share industry insights, and forge strategic partnerships in the region.

Supported by ISTT, FSTT GATT, IATT and UKSTT, Trenchless Morocco 2026 is the ultimate opportunity for companies to highlight capability in supporting the high-growth North African market.

Visit www.trenchlessmorocco. com for more information, registration details, and to secure your place at Trenchless Morocco 2026. We look forward to seeing you in Rabat!

Business and Academia – a win win collaboration

Frank Reilly Director JBP’s Trenchless, Training Programme

Celebrating 10 years of success!

IbSTT, the Iberian Society for Trenchless Technologies, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Postgraduate Specialist Course in Trenchless Technologies. The course won an ISTT No-Dig Project award in 2017. With this course, IbSTT has not only trained many engineers and technicians from across the Iberian Peninsula but has also had many candidates sign up from Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Chile and other countries over the ten years the course has been running.

The course is spread over 10 modules and, in summary, aims to deepen candidates’ knowledge and understanding of the application of a wide range of the most commonly used trenchless methods. What makes this course of particular interest, and in my opinion is its great strength, is that it is delivered by 33 experts who are drawn from both leading academic institutions in Spain, such as the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Universitat Politècnica de València, and companies whose bread and butter is working with trenchless methods and technologies on a daily basis. JBP are delighted to be one of the companies invited by IbSTT to help deliver this excellent course.

A new partnership in Vietnam

JBP has itself recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Natural Resources and Environment in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (HCMUNRE), to support development and delivery of trenchless-related training

courses for the university’s Centre for Continuing Education. We are currently working to replicate this partnership with a number of other higher education and university institutions across the ASEAN region. Similar to IbSTT’s course, JBP’s aim is to provide a conduit between organisations such as HCMUNRE and the sector’s experts working with trenchless technologies on a daily basis – to facilitate real knowledge transfer.

It is also interesting to note that the HCMUNRE Centre for Continuing Education is designed to offer access to industry-related training, not only for full-time students but also for those already working in industry.

Lofty goals and pragmatic motivations

The days of academia’s lofty, high-minded goals clashing with the pragmatic motivations of business and commerce are long gone. Now, any academic institution worth its salt actively invites participation of industry

and business, at many levels and in many different ways. The motivation may be to ease budget pressure, but I think there’s a growing awareness of the pool of knowledge and expertise that can be tapped into. Students seek not only to enhance their knowledge but also to interact with professionals who possess crucial practical experience, and they stand to gain from these opportunities.

Going, but perhaps not yet gone, or at least changing, are the attitudes towards the routes to be taken to get good technical training and qualification. I belong to a generation that expected and aspired to achieve a university degree-level qualification, while most other educational routes were regarded as, at the very least, less valuable. In simple terms, at either end of this spectrum were apprenticeships and degrees. Today, in the U.K., just over 100 universities are offering degree apprenticeships – combining degree-level learning with work experience, allowing individuals to earn a degree while working for an employer. This represents over 66% of all higher education institutions offering this as an

option in a selected range of subjects, including engineering. Just one example of change that I believe reflects a wider shift in how we judge and evaluate education routes and the combination of partnerships and environments that can best deliver the best training outcomes for the student, the employer and the sector as a whole.

A win-win!

It is too easy to reach for the old, often quoted and almost always misunderstood adage “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” This is actually a reworking by George Bernard Shaw of Aristotle’s original saying, “Those who can, do; those who understand, teach.” Additionally, Shaw was referring to revolutionaries in his reworking of the saying, which does not reflect negatively on teachers at all!

The takeaway here is that combining those who ‘do’ and

those who ‘understand’ (not mutually exclusive) in delivering our training for the next Trenchless generation is a win for all!

P.S. Don’t forget to have your say in the fourth of our monthly Training poll on LinkedIn!

In the next issue: CPD – the value of short courses.

JBP’s MD – Börje Persson, with representatives from HCMUNRE Vietnam, JBP’s ASEAN Region Business Development Manager Mr Kumar Ramasay, & Mr Khai Nguyen Quang from Phukhaco

A message from the Chair

As August is the time for holidays and is therefore reasonably quiet, I have had the time to review the estimated global size of the trenchless market.

It makes for an incredibly positive and exciting future. The current estimated size of the rehabilitation market globally is currently around £3.4-3.7 billion growing to £5-5.4 billion by 2032.

If you then incorporate the Trenchless Equipment market globally you are looking at a global market size more than £10 billion by early 2030!

When you look at the UK, in the water sector alone OFWAT through PR24 (AMP8) have targeted the water companies with tripling the rate of replacing water mains meaning that 8,445km of mains need to be replaced within the next five years. (0.45% of the network per annum)

So how does that affect our UKSTT members and exponents of trenchless technology?

Well, OFWAT’s Price control deliverables (PCD’s) say companies should look towards more sustainable mains renewal rates across 2025-30 with an upwards trajectory, implying continuous ramp-up throughout AMP 8.

This record investment cycle of £104 billion which focusses on leakage reduction and mains renewal as priorities will inherently favour Trenchless replacement with a particular upsurge in Pipe bursting.

The water industry alone has identified the need for an additional 50,000 people in the sector by 2030. More exciting is the setting up of 5,000 apprenticeships plus a further 2,000 people joining the new Water academy Work programme.

So great news for all in the world of trenchless and we at the UKSTT will continue to promote, educate and endeavour to attract new talent to our industry.

So, what is happening next month?

We have an ISTT Educational seminar at 2pm on 12 September covering HDD Design and installation of HighPressure pipelines subjected to large temperature fluctuations, our New to Trenchless Industry Network webinar on the 18 of September and the No-Dig Roadshow and Awards Dinner on 2 October.

A busy time for the organisers, speakers, and the council. My heartfelt thanks go out to all involved with the organising of these great events.

As always if you need more information on any of the above please contact Lynn, Linda or myself, or visit www.ukstt.org.uk

Apologies for the bias towards the Water industry this month. I will try to cover the other sectors in the future.

Kind regards Graham

Graham Howard, Chair, UKSTT

UKSTT Annual Awards Dinner 2025

Join us for the annual UKSTT Awards Dinner on the evening of Thursday 2 October in partnership with Westrade Group Ltd at the Bristol No-Dig Roadshow, De Vere Tortworth Court.

Venue:

Dress Code:

Date:

Time:

Tickets:

De Vere Tortworth Court, Tortworth, Wotton under Edge, GL12 8HH

Black Tie Preferable

Thursday 2 October 7.30pm till late

Early Bird Rate £195 + VAT

Standard Rate £230 + VAT

Early bird tickets must be booked and paid for by 31 July 2025

On arrival, guests will enjoy a champagne reception before sitting down to enjoy a fantastic 3 course meal. The event will showcase and recognise this year’s best performing and most innovative trenchless technologies.

We are pleased to announce our guest speaker will be the Reverend Kate Bottley.

For further details about our sponsorship opportunities, please contact Trevor Dorrell on tdorrell@westrade.co.uk or +44(0)1923 723 990

Further details are available - www.nodigroadshows.co.uk/ukstt-awards-2025/

Hosted by

UKSTT New to Trenchless Industry Network (NtTIN)Investigation & assessment

UKSTT successfully hosted their fourth New to Trenchless Industry Network (NtTIN) meeting on Thursday 17 July, which centred on the topic of Trenchless methods for Investigation & Assessment in the utilities sector.

The informative session was expertly led by New to Trenchless Industry Programme

Lead Silvana Alfieri & UKSTT Technical & Education Chair Iain Naismith. They commenced the meeting with a comprehensive overview of current Inspection & Assessment Trenchless technologies available in the market, whilst reinforcing the core objectives and mission of the NtTIN group. The meeting featured two distinguished guest speakers: Shaun McShane from Environmental Techniques and Jack Hutton from Good Friday Robotics. Their presentations provided fascinating insights into cutting-edge drone technology applications for condition assessment and investigation in trenchless operations, highlighting how these innovations are revolutionising the industry.

Silvana Alfieri then delivered an enlightening presentation focusing on the practical applications and technological advancements in cameras and crawlers, demonstrating their essential role in modern trenchless operations.

Following the presentations, attendees engaged in a productive question and answer

session, allowing for detailed discussion of the topics covered. The organisers also took the opportunity to highlight upcoming UKSTT events and networking opportunities for industry professionals.

The next NtTIN meeting has been scheduled for 18th September, with comprehensive details about the agenda and registration process to be distributed to members in the near future. For those unable to attend or wishing to review the content, a full recording of the meeting is now accessible through multiple channels: the official UKSTT YouTube channel, the July edition of Trenchless BUZZ, or by directly requesting the link via email at admin@ ukstt.org.uk.

The organisers extend their sincere gratitude to all attendees and particularly to the speakers for their excellent and informative presentations. As a professional development opportunity, CPD certificates are available to all meeting participants upon request.

To join the New to Industry Network and receive updates directly email admin@ukstt.org.uk.

UKSTT technical & education subcommittee report

By Chair, Iain Naismith

Cunliffe Report - all change for the water sector

As this edition was going to press, the Independent Water Commission’s Final Report was just published and the Government was moving swiftly to announce that new single regulators will be created for England and for Wales, replacing Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and some Defra roles. It may take some time and there will no doubt be many public consultations to come. The UKSTT Council will be considering what these changes might mean for the society and its members and reporting back in due course.

Annual awards

The Awards submission date has closed and there has been

Iain Naismith

a good number of entries. Results will be announced at the Awards Dinner at Tortworth Court following the Bristol No Dig Roadshow.

New to Trenchless Technology Network

The fourth bimonthly meetings took place in July on the topics of trenchless methods for site investigation and the condition assessment of buried assets. The September event is going to cover the ‘benefits of trenchless’. Now we are halfway through the first year of NtTIN we are looking for feedback from participants on what they want from the initiative going forward.

Masterclasses

The programme for the next Masterclass on ‘Renewal/New

Installation’ on 4th September has shaped up well – look out for more information. The programme for ‘Tackling infiltration to sewers’ on 12th November is being developed.

Trenchless Technologies on the ISTT’s new website

Another reminder if you have not already seen it, I recommend checking out the Trenchless Technologies tab on www.istt.com. For each technology there is a link to relevant papers available on the site and to corporate members that provide that technology.

National standards for sustainable drainage systems

Sustainable Drainage Systems

Although not purely trenchless related we feel this may be of interest to our members Defra has recently updated the National Standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) for the first time in a decade. The new standards will give developers clearer guidance on how to create rainwater management systems that mimic the natural environment and deliver better outcomes. To support the government’s Plan for Change, the updated standards are aligned with the National Planning Policy Framework and will complement wider planning reforms which will take place later this year.

You can view the guidance document click here

Membership services subcommittee report

By Chair, Tim Sargent

Firstly, we need to update you on the restructuring of our sub-committees that support the development, marketing and technical services we offer, to educate both our members, stakeholders and broader public in our role as a Society to promote and encourage the application of trenchless technology in the UK.

At Council it was agreed that we would best achieve our goals through creating a new subcommittee dedicated to membership, so we can focus more on retention & recruitment of new

members and offer a more refined package of benefits depending upon the category of membership. In doing so, I am pleased to have taken up the offer of becoming Chair of the new sub-committee aligned to membership, while still supporting Ian Naismith in his role as Technical and Education Chair. Both myself and Iain, have on many recent occasions, worked together, to develop our programme of technical events, so these are more appealing and become naturally inclusive of a much broader range of members and interested third parties, from a wide background.

We are passionate about ensuring that anything we organise reflects our broad membership, that includes contractors, suppliers, equipment manufacturers, designers, asset owners, and many others, as well as interested third parties such as stakeholders that include highways, the environment, and broader transport

infrastructure, covering all the sectors, water, energy, industrial, in which trenchless technology can be applied.

To this strategic aim, we are now refreshing our approach to membership, to be mindful of retaining those that have benefited from UKSTT over many years, while encouraging a new generation of membership, that is more diverse and can create new opportunities for the adoption of trenchless technologies.

We have embarked on a review of how we can improve all levels of communication with existing and future members, this includes simple steps of seeking and encouraging existing members, to have multiple representatives as part of their membership, to seek to drill into their organisations and educate the optimum number of their employees. Other communications we seek is to encourage our Patrons to be actively engaged in the Society and improve what we do from within. And in this, I was delighted to welcome Fran Thums from Wessex Water to our recent Council meeting, where their knowledge and expertise is invaluable in helping us shape how we better communicate with our membership and their respective employees.

We are also looking at how our existing membership categories can better reflect UKSTT’s strategic goals to diversify the type of members we have and therefore creating a broader audience at our technical educational events.

We have now created a new academic category to encourage membership from learned establishments, with both Sheffield and Birmingham University agreeing to join us. This will allow them to actively engage with us, provide speakers and arrange technical visits, and for their students to learn from us by attending various events. Even at this early stage, we can see opportunities to attract new people to our Society by appealing to their specific needs. These include third party stakeholders like environmental bodies and highways by association, designers through becoming “new to trenchless” and first tier contractors, to help them better understand our specialist supply chain that can help them deliver in their respective sectors.

Watch this space as we agree these membership categories and build a diverse and dynamic membership base for UKSTT, where, whatever the category of membership, individuals gain the opportunity to learn from each other and Think Trenchless First.

As I mentioned, retention is as critical to us as the recruitment of new members, so I would just like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to those who have renewed recently and welcome your ongoing support in how we refine what we do and increase engagement.

To those who have come on board recently as new members, including specialists that include Joseph Gallagher, GMC, IES Utilities, Browne, MJ Abbott, Drainify and Steinzeug Keramo I say, a big welcome. Do seek out all our technical events and areas where your expertise can bring value, the key message is, not to be afraid to ask for help and support, as you learn what we do. If you want to know more about membership, please reach us through admin@ukstt.org.uk we’d love to hear from you to engage in new ideas and initiatives that will make us a resilient Society that eliminates the need to trench in the future!

Solving underground challenges.

Figures from 2024 Event

1456

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The MOST POPULAR Trenchless Event in the intersection of EUROPE, ASIA and MIDDLE EAST

“This year, we allocated more than 1 Trillion Liras (33 Billion USD) from the central government budget to heal the earthquake wounds and build more resilient cities in the Türkiye Century.”

Cevdet

Yılmaz, Deputy President of Türkiye, 05 February 2024

SOCIETY NEWS

A message from the Chair

Dear ISTT members

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the summer season. May you and your families gather fresh energy for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

I would like to warmly remind you to begin planning your trip to International No-Dig 2025 in Vancouver. Please visit the conference website to secure your hotel accommodation and complete your registration for both the conference and exhibition. Alongside the technical program and exhibition, we will hold the International Council and Trustee meetings, present awards, and conduct important elections. There will also be opportunities to strengthen friendships and networks at the Chairman’s Dinner and Welcome Reception. This year’s elections will be especially meaningful as we select a new Chairman, one Vice Chairman, and two members of the Board of Directors. I encourage you to nominate candidates and actively participate in this process.

As you know, 2025 has been a particularly active year for trenchless technology events worldwide. I have already had the honour of attending No-Dig events in Tianjin (China), Denver (USA), and Krakow (Poland) in March and April; ITTC in Suzhou (China) and Trenchless Asia in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) in May; and ITEC 2025 in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). It is inspiring to see the growing number of bilateral and multilateral collaborations between regional societies in Europe and Asia.

These exchanges are proving essential in developing new technologies and expanding opportunities to meet the needs of diverse markets.

Through these regional events, societies are bringing together government agencies, consultants, contractors, and suppliers, while also building stronger ties with fellow affiliated societies. Looking ahead, we are preparing new events in the Middle East, India, and Asia in the coming months. I strongly encourage you to consider attending these local and regional No-Dig conferences, as they are excellent platforms for learning, collaboration, and business development.

In addition, our ISTT educational webinar series will continue to expand—please check the ISTT website regularly for announcements and registration details. I am also pleased to share that our new website is now open to the public. We welcome your suggestions for improvements so that we may continue to serve you better.

As members, you are the true owners of ISTT. I encourage you to share your ideas for our strategic plan and, if possible, to participate in ISTT committees. Your involvement is the foundation of our growth and success.

I look forward to meeting many of you in Vancouver.

With best regards,

Keh-Jian (Albert) Shou Chair, ISTT

Keh-Jian (Albert) Shou, Chairman, ISTT

ISTT News brought to members by Trenchless Works

ISTT supports Trenchless Middle East 2025

The International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT) has thrown its support for the upcoming Trenchless Middle East 2025, a premier event for the region’s trenchless technology sector.

The conference and exhibition will take place from 11-12 November 2025, at the Jeddah Hilton in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This event serves as a vital platform for showcasing the benefits of trenchless technology to the growing and dynamic Gulf area. It brings together industry leaders, innovators, and professionals to share knowledge, explore new technologies, and foster collaborations that will shape

the future of infrastructure development in this key part of the world.

The ISTT said it is proud to collaborate with Westrade Group, the event organiser, in promoting this important gathering. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to advancing trenchless methods and its role in sustainable and efficient urban development.

For more information, visit trenchlessmiddleeast.com

New strategic partnership

The International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT) and the International Water Association (IWA) are proud to announce a strategic partnership designed to drive innovation and advance sustainability in underground water infrastructure.

Combining IWA’s expansive network and influence in water management and sector transformation with ISTT’s global leadership in trenchless, No-Dig technologies, this collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of smarter, more resilient solutions for water and wastewater systems worldwide.

ISTT Executive Director, Trevor Gosatti said: “From an ISTT perspective, this new strategic partnership is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the benefits that trenchless technology innovation can provide for vital water infrastructure installation and renewals.”

“From an ISTT perspective, this new strategic partnership is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the benefits that trenchless technology innovation can provide for vital water infrastructure installation and renewals.

This partnership represents a shared commitment to advancing sustainable infrastructure solutions that support climate resilience, operational efficiency, and service equity. It aligns with IWA’s broader mission to build a water-wise world and strengthens cross-sector collaboration on some of the most urgent challenges facing the urban water cycle and ISTT’s mission to advocate the benefits of trenchless technology globally.

Under this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), specific initiatives and engagements will be coordinated through the relevant IWA & ISTT Communities and Programmes who express interest in partnering for knowledge exchange. The partnership also opens the door for joint activities, such as webinars, conferences, and thought leadership facilitated through both the ISTT and IWA.

It provides opportunities to co-develop practical guidance and innovation roadmaps that integrate trenchless solutions into the broader water sector agenda.

Through this knowledge exchange, IWA and ISTT aim to support the adoption of advanced, sustainable technologies and contribute meaningfully to global development priorities, including Sustainable Development Goal 6.

RSV and GSTT merge to form German Association for Trenchless Technologies (GATT)

After intensive strategic and organisational preparations, the members of the RSV and GSTT have voted to merge their associations. The new German Association for Trenchless Technologies (GATT), based in Berlin, will represent around 200 members and serve as the unified voice of Germany’s trenchless construction and maintenance industry.

The new board is chaired jointly by Dr. Susanne LeddigBahls and Benedikt Stentrup, alongside board members Andreas Haacker, Volker Neubert, Dr. Marc Peters, and Thorsten Schulte: The new GATT will use its combined strength and expertise to tackle the pressing challenges of maintaining and laying new supply and disposal networks,” emphasised Benedikt Stentrup.

Purpose and scope

GATT brings together contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, engineering firms,

“

This merger strengthens our international network and ensures that national expertise contributes to global standards. Above all, it is about responsibility, maintaining and building the supply and disposal infrastructure on which future generations depend

service providers, local authorities, and network operators across the trenchless sector. The association’s work covers all areas of application, from water and wastewater to gas, district heating, electricity, telecommunications, and hydrogen.

Its mission is to promote, develop, and communicate trenchless technologies from a scientific, technical, and economic perspective at regional, national, and international levels. Central focus areas include supporting the implementation of climate targets and promoting the sustainability of infrastructure projects.

To achieve this, GATT will:

• Publish practical recommendations that shape regulations nationally and internationally

• Provide multimedia information services for network operators, businesses, and homeowners

• Create opportunities for networking at conferences, trade fairs, and events

• Promote training and education for specialists, managers, and young talent

Next steps

Following the members’ resolutions, formal steps will now include entry in the register of associations, merging of membership administration and finances, development of a new website, and integration of systems and contracts: “The most important thing for us is to continue working together on the association’s goals,” said Dr. Leddig-Bahls. “This merger strengthens our international network and ensures that national expertise contributes to global standards. Above all, it is about responsibility, and maintaining and building the supply and disposal infrastructure on which future generations depend.”

GATT board members

AFFILIATED SOCIETIES

ISTT Affiliated Societies around the world

Austrian Association for Trenchless Technology (AATT)

c/o TU Wien Resselgasse 5, 1040 Wien, Austria

Phone: +43 664 5184084

Email: office@grabenlos.at Web: www.grabenlos.at

Brazilian Association for Trenchless Technology (ABRATT)

Alameda Santos, 1773 – Jardim Paulista Sao Paulo 01419-002 Brazil

Phone: +55 11 983893450

Email: hrosas@abratt.org.br Web: www.abratt.org.br

Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology (ASTT) PO Box 2242, MALAGA LPO, WA, 6944 Phone: +61 419 918 449

Email: secretary@astt.com.au Web: www.astt.com.au

Bulgarian Association for Trenchless Technology (BATT)

Kaprinka Lake Village Kazanlak 6100, Bulgaria

Phone: +359 2 4901381

Email: info@batt-bg.org Web: www.batt-bg.org

Danish Society for Trenchless Technology – NoDig Infra (DKSTT) Odinsvej 29 Silkeborg Denmark

Phone: +45 50894489

Email: tina@juul-consult.dk Web: www.nodiginfra.dk/nodig-infra/ startside

Iberian Society for Trenchless Technology (IBSTT) C/ Josefa Valcarcel, 8 – 3a PTLA 28027, Madrid, Spain Phone: +34 913 202 884

Email: ibstt@ibstt.org Web: www.ibstt.org

Japan Society for Trenchless Technology (JSTT)

3rd Floor, Reed-C Bldg., 2-11-18, Tomioka, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0047 Japan

Phone: +81 3 5639 9970

Email: office@jstt.jp Web: www.jstt.jp

Latin American Society for Trenchless Technology (LAMSTT) Medellín Highway (Calle 80) KM3.5 via Bogotá-Siberia south side, Bogotá Terrestrial Cargo Terminal, Office C-12, Cota – Cundinamarca, Colombia

Phone: +57 1 8764675

Email: cistt.arlex.toro@lamstt.org Web: www.lamstt.org

Malaysia Association for Trenchless Technologies (MATT)

No 44, Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur 50490 Malaysia

Email: trenchless@matt.org.my Web: www.matt.org.my

Polish Foundation for Trenchless Technology (PFTT)

Ul. Warkocz 14, 25 - 253 Kielce, Poland

Phone: +48 41 34 24 450

Email: parkaa@tu.kielce.pl Web: www.pftt.pl

Trenchless Romania Club

Roma Street, No. 16, Ap.2, District 1 Bucharest Romania

Phone: + 40724 550 830

Email: maria.nae@trenchlessromania.ro Web: www.trenchlessromaniaclub.ro

North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) 22722 29th Drive SE, STE 100, Bothell, WA 98021

Phone: +1 888 993 9935

Email: info@nastt.org Web: www.nastt.org

The Russian Society Trenchless Technology Association (RSTT) Severny proezd 12, Balashikha Moscow region, Russian Federation Phone: +7 (495) 521 78 82

Email: gnb.06@mail.ru Web: www.s-gnb.ru

Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology (SASTT) 1053 Hyde Avenue, Eldoraigne ext 1, Centurion Gauteng, South Africa Phone: +27 (0) 82 551 7458

Email: director@sastt.org.za Web: www.sastt.org.za

Singapore Society for Trenchless Technology (SgSTT)

84 Toh Guan Road East, Singapore Water Exchange , +(65) 97124054, Singapore Phone: +(65) 97124054 Email: admin@sgstt.org Web: www.sgstt.org/

Turkish Society for Infrastructure and Trenchless Technology (TSITT) Gayrettepe Mah. Huzur Sok. No:1A Besiktas 34349 Istanbul, Turkey

Phone: +90 212 603 11 01

Email: info@akated.com Web: www.akated.com

Ukraine Association for Modern Trenchless Technology (UAMTT) 83A Srednyaya Str., Odessa 65005 Ukraine

Phone: +380 50 3953280

Email: trenchless.as@novatec.ua Web: www.no-dig.odessa.ua

Netherlands Society for Trenchless Technology (NSTT)

Postbus 79, 3769 ZH Soesterberg, Netherlands

Phone: +31 346 723450

Email: info@nstt.nl Web: www.nstt.nl

Scandinavian Society for Trenchless Technology (SSTT)

Gezelius väg 12, 134 31 Gustavsberg Sweden Phone: +46(0) 70 438 01 54 Email: Kontakt@sstt.se Web: www.sstt.se

United Kingdom Society for Trenchless Technology (UKSTT) Camden House, Warwick Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1TH, UK

Phone: +44 (0)192 651 3773

Email: admin@ukstt.org.uk Web: www.ukstt.org.uk

Spotlight on International Innovation: NASTT 2025 No-Dig North & ISTT International No-Dig head to Vancouver

Vancouver, BC – October 27–29, 2025

Trenchless technology takes center stage this fall as the 2025 No-Dig North conference makes its highly anticipated return, this time with an international twist. Set against the scenic backdrop of Vancouver, British Columbia, this year’s gathering will double as the ISTT International NoDig conference, uniting global trenchless professionals under one roof.

A landmark event for the global trenchless community

For the first time, the International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT) has partnered with No-Dig North to co-host its flagship event in Canada. This unique collaboration invites engineers, municipal officials, contractors, and technology providers from around the world to share insights, advance the field, and explore opportunities to

address critical infrastructure challenges through non-invasive methods.

Where innovation meets application

At its core, No-Dig North is a hub for innovation. The conference will spotlight cutting-edge techniques in underground construction that

reduce surface disruption, cut emissions, and offer sustainable alternatives to traditional opencut excavation. Attendees can expect a dynamic mix of good practices courses, technical sessions and exposure to the latest and greatest products and services in the exhibit hall.

The go-to event for networking and discovery

Beyond the sessions, the exhibit hall will be buzzing with activity. Dozens of manufacturers, service providers, and innovators will be on hand to showcase the latest in trenchless equipment, services, and digital technologies. Whether you’re seeking new tools, project partners, or ideas to bring back to your organization, this is where connections are made, and deals take shape.

A greener approach to infrastructure

Throughout the conference, sustainability will take a leading role. Trenchless methods are increasingly recognized as more

No-Dig North tech session

eco-friendly options for modern infrastructure; preserving green spaces, minimizing community disruption, and aligning with climate-conscious development goals. No-Dig North will shine a light on how these approaches are transforming urban and rural infrastructure projects alike.

Why you should be there

Whether you’re an engineer, municipal planner, environmental consultant, or contractor, this is the premier event to stay at the forefront of trenchless advancements. It’s a chance to deepen your knowledge, expand your network, and play a part in shaping the future of infrastructure, both in Canada and beyond.

Conventions conferences networking

EVENTS AND MEETINGS 2025

October 2 No-Dig Roadshow and UKSTT Awards: Bristol, Tortworth Court www.nodigroadshows.co.uk

October 27-29 International No-Dig 2025 Vancouver Convention Center Email: info@istt.com

October 27-29 NASTT 2025 No-Dig North & ISTT International No-Dig – Vancouver, BC Vancouver Convention Centre nastt.org/no-dig-north

November 5- 6 No-Dig Turkey 2025 Conference and Exhibition: WOW Convention Center Email: ytorun@akated.com www.nodigturkey.com

November 11-12 Trenchless Middle East 2025 Jeddah Hilton, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia www.trenchlessmiddleeast.com

February 11-12 Trenchless Morocco 2026 Marriott Hotel, Rabat

April 22 - 24, 2026 ITTC 2026 The 29th China International Trenchless Technology Conference and Exhibition   The National Convention and Exhibition Center, Tianjin, China Email: ITTC@cstt.com https://en.cstt.org.cn/

Trenchless Middle East 2026 Dubai 2026

June 10-11 Trenchless Asia 2026

Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre Bangkok, Thailand www.trenchlessasia.com

September 29 - October 1 No-Dig Live 2026 NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire www.nodiglive.co.uk

No-Dig Roadshow Series 2026 www.nodigroadshows.co.uk

If you have an event, course or meeting scheduled and would like to add it to this listing please forward details to: editorial@trenchless-works.com