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TRENCHLESS Works The voice of the trenchless community

PROVING THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVANTAGE

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Official Magazine & Media Partner:

How RELINE is using verified environmental data to shape the next phase of pipeline rehabilitation

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Editor’s Welcome Austen Lees

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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 Julie Harris julie@julieharriscreative.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.

September’s issue looks at a question facing every part of the trenchless sector: how do we turn growing demand for underground infrastructure work into better, more measurable outcomes? Our cover feature examines how RELINE is using verified environmental data to measure the impact of pipeline rehabilitation and make that evidence useful in procurement. It is a timely discussion as clients look more closely at the carbon and material costs of the work they commission. Elsewhere, Dan Watson talks to us about bringing Vortex’s international businesses together, while our industry comment considers the investment driving growth in the UK trenchless market and the capacity needed to deliver it. We also look at how contractors choose between curing methods for CIPP rehabilitation, alongside the latest developments in moling and HDD. In “Under Pressure, Underground,” we examine the investment driving growth in the UK trenchless market and ask whether the industry has the capacity, skills and technology to deliver the work ahead. And with No-Dig Live almost upon us, I look forward to seeing many of you at Stoneleigh. It is an opportunity to see the technology in action and continue the conversations running through this issue. Austen Editor

ISSN 2049-3401

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SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 3

CONTENTS

06 PAGE 3

ARTICLE Editor’s Welcome INDUSTRY INSIGHT

12 32

Welcome to the Vortex INDUSTRY COMMENT

Under Pressure, Underground NEWS

Yorkshire Water begins £1m mains renewal scheme

Thames Water passes 100 km milestone in AMP8 mains renewal programme

M Group reaches milestone in sustainable water meter recycling programme

Vermeer and Interlune expand lunar excavation partnership PIPELINE REHABILITATION

From avoided emissions to provable ones

CIPP systems: Choosing the right curing method MOLING

Making the last mile connection with moling HDD

JGL expands HDD capability with new rig and fluid cleaning system EVENTS

To submit editorial for the next issue of Trenchless Works, please email copy and images to: editorial@trenchless-works.com by the 12th of the month. Submissions arriving after this date cannot be guaranteed inclusion in that month’s issue. For Trenchless Works sponsorship and advertising rates please email: tdorrell@westrade.co.uk

4 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

JBP Open 2026 brings the international trenchless community together in Valencia

FOCUS ON TRAINING ISTT NEWS

ISTT announces support for Trenchless Middle East 2026

ISTT webinar to examine trenchless and open-trench sewer installation

ISTT Chair addresses Czech trenchless conference in Mikulov

Training courses announced ahead of International No-Dig Auckland 2026

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INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Welcome to the Vortex As Managing Director of Vortex International, Dan Watson is leading the international division of one of the trenchless sector’s fastest-growing businesses. Speaking to Trenchless Works editor Austen Lees, he explains how Vortex is bringing together products, technologies and contracting services across Europe and beyond, and why greater collaboration will shape the future of infrastructure rehabilitation.

ew companies have expanded as rapidly in the trenchless rehabilitation sector over recent years as Vortex Companies. Through a combination of strategic acquisitions and organic growth, the business has grown into a global organisation employing more than 1,800 people across more than 60 locations worldwide. Nowhere is that commitment more evident than in the UK, where Vortex is investing heavily in people, established businesses and strategic partnerships to expand its ability to serve a market where demand for trenchless rehabilitation is currently outpacing the industry’s capacity to deliver. As its international operations have continued to expand, the business has reached the point where dedicated leadership is required to bring these resources together and support the next phase of growth. That responsibility now sits with Dan Watson. As Managing Director of Vortex International, he leads a division of 450 employees, with responsibility for operations across Europe and other markets outside the US and Canada. His role is to bring together an expanding portfolio of products, technologies and specialist contracting businesses into one integrated organisation capable of delivering complete rehabilitation solutions. “Dan has what we call the Vortex DNA, the experience, grit and drive to take our international business to the next level,” says Mike Vellano, CEO and founder of Vortex Companies. “What we’ve asked him to do is no small task. He’s building an exceptional team of industry experts while bringing our businesses closer together and 6 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

identifying the strategic alliances and complementary acquisitions that will accelerate our growth. Most importantly, he understands where we’re going and what it takes to get there.” For Watson, however, the company’s growth is about far more than increasing its geographic footprint. “It’s about much more than simply owning several successful businesses,” he explains. “The real opportunity comes from bringing those businesses together in a way that benefits customers and helps drive innovation across our industry.” Watson’s appointment reflects Vortex’s growing international ambitions. Before joining McAllister, he spent several years working in the Middle East and built his early career around horizontal directional drilling and microtunnelling. During more than two decades with McAllister, he helped establish the company’s London operation, growing it from a four-person team into a £25 million business and one of the company’s most successful regions. People could be forgiven for assuming his career has been predominantly UK-focused, but Watson says international experience has always played a significant part.

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

“I have long links with Germany, which has always been a centre for innovation in our industry, while my earlier experience in the Middle East also gave me a broader perspective. What has changed is the scale of the responsibility.” He laughs when describing the pace of his current role. “We have a saying here – ‘Welcome to the Vortex. You’re in the vortex.’” It’s an expression that neatly captures both the company’s rapid growth and the pace of change within the business. With an ever-expanding product portfolio, growing contracting operations and new international opportunities emerging all the time, Watson makes the point that adaptability has become one of the most important parts of the role. “You can become very comfortable when you’ve been in one position for a long time,” he says. “Here you’re constantly learning. Every acquisition brings new expertise, every new product broadens your understanding of the market and every new region presents different opportunities and challenges.”

“

If there’s an opportunity to develop capability organically, we’ll do that. Equally, if there’s a business with the right people, expertise and growth potential, we’ll look to bring that into the group. Dan Watson, Managing Director, Vortex International

Bringing it all together Vortex’s European growth has been built through a combination of strategic acquisitions and continued organic investment. Watson describes the company’s approach as a simple “buy it or build it” philosophy. “If there’s an opportunity to develop capability organically, we’ll do that. Equally, if there’s a business with the right people, expertise and growth potential, we’ll look to bring that into the group.” But growth, he stresses, is only the beginning. The real challenge is integrating those businesses into a single organisation where different skills, products and services complement one another rather than operating independently. SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 7

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

One of the clearest examples came during the integration of McAllister and Lining Division while simultaneously supporting the mobilisation of Southern Water’s AMP8 rehabilitation programme. “It required patience and care,” he reflects. The businesses had worked together successfully for almost two decades but bringing them together operationally while supporting a major framework required careful planning. Rather than simply absorbing one company into another, the objective was to combine complementary strengths while preserving the experience, expertise and customer relationships that had made both businesses successful. For Watson, retaining the people behind those businesses has been equally important. He points to the experience of Paul Brooker and Kevin Woolf, while Peter and Leo McAllister continue to lead the business in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and Phil Trim remains a key part of the UK operation. That experience has been further strengthened by the recent appointment of James Sargent as SVP and Managing Director of Vortex Services for the UK and ROI. “We’re only ever as good as the team around us, and what a team we have,” says Watson. “As Vortex continues to explore potential acquisitions in the UK, that experience is critical.” 8 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

Today, that process continues as Vortex works to further align its contracting businesses while retaining the reputation and specialist knowledge that each has built over many years. For Watson, successful acquisitions are measured not simply by growth, but by how effectively people, expertise and technologies are brought together. Where products meet practice One of the characteristics that differentiates Vortex is its combination of specialist contracting businesses alongside an expanding portfolio of products and technologies. At first glance, Watson admits, that model can appear unusual. “Coming from a contracting background, your instinct is that you don’t buy products from a competitor,” he says. “That was one of the first cultural conversations we had.” In reality, however, the model works if every part of the business operates on its own commercial merits. “There has to be a conscious decision that profit stays where profit belongs,” he explains. “There’s no sense compromising the products business to support the contracting business, or vice versa.” Far from creating conflict, Watson believes the relationship between products and contracting is one of Vortex’s greatest strengths. Its contracting businesses

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

provide real-world environments where products can be tested, challenged and refined before wider commercial release, giving product developers immediate feedback from live rehabilitation projects. “That practical experience is invaluable,” he says. “It allows us to develop products with the benefit of real operational experience and gives customers greater confidence that they’ve been proven in the field before they’re brought to market.” The battle against infiltration Across Northern Europe, Watson sees one issue dominating conversations with utilities and asset owners: infiltration. “In the UK we don’t really have a capacity problem,” he says. “What we have is a groundwater problem.”

“The industry already has many of the solutions we need,” he says. “The challenge is having the confidence to use them.” Looking beyond borders Alongside continued investment in established European markets, Vortex is also exploring new opportunities in Eastern Europe, including the potential for its United Blue liner technology. Elsewhere, markets including Italy and France are creating increasing opportunities for both products and technologies. One area he believes has enormous long-term potential is potable water rehabilitation. While technologies continue to evolve, Watson highlights that progress in the UK has been constrained by the limited capacity available within the approvals process, slowing the introduction of products proven in other markets.

Reducing groundwater entering wastewater networks has become one of the biggest priorities for utilities seeking to improve network performance, reduce unnecessary treatment costs and make better use of existing infrastructure. Similar challenges are evident elsewhere in Europe, particularly in Germany, where changing customer requirements and evolving technical standards are influencing the balance between different rehabilitation techniques. While UV lining continues to play a major role, Watson says epoxy-based and hot-cure systems have experienced something of a resurgence as utilities increasingly focus on long-term sealing performance and tackling infiltration at source. He believes the market has become less about favouring one technology over another and more about selecting the most appropriate solution for each application. That thinking is also driving investment in technologies designed to improve installation quality. Vortex is continuing to develop its VeriCure system for UV applications, enabling contractors to monitor the cure from not only internal temperature readings but also the temperature at the back of the liner. This allows operators to slow down curing around evident cold spots externally. By providing a clearer picture of the curing process, it helps improve quality assurance and gives clients greater confidence in the finished installation. Looking further ahead, Watson believes robotics, digital inspection and AI-assisted surveying will play an increasingly important role in rehabilitation, helping contractors make better-informed decisions while improving the quality and consistency of completed work. SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 9

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

“The issue isn’t necessarily the standards,” he says. “It’s having the capacity to test and approve products.”

opportunities for innovation while adding unnecessary cost and complexity.

He points to other European markets where approvals have been achieved much more quickly, allowing proven technologies to reach the market sooner and giving utilities greater choice and confidence when considering new rehabilitation techniques.

Increasingly, however, water companies are engaging more directly with specialist contractors. “The closer clients are to the specialists delivering the work, the greater the opportunity to introduce innovation,” he says. “It gives clients more choice, allows technical expertise to influence projects much earlier and ultimately delivers better outcomes.”

Confidence to innovate Despite the pace of technological development, Watson believes the UK risks falling behind unless the industry becomes more willing to embrace innovation. “We’ve gone from being a leading innovator to becoming a lagging innovator in some areas.”

Investing in the next generation If there is one challenge that concerns Watson more than any other, it is people. “The biggest constraint globally is people.”

He believes some of the greatest advances have occurred where excavation simply isn’t practical. River crossings, railway crossings and other complex locations have demonstrated the value of trenchless rehabilitation because there is often no realistic alternative.

Like many businesses across the sector, Vortex is investing in apprenticeships while working with organisations including the military and prison service to attract people into an industry that Watson believes has done too little to promote itself.

Those successful projects should provide the confidence to adopt proven techniques more widely across the network rather than reserving them solely for the most challenging engineering situations.

Across the UK water sector, Vortex is more than tripling the number of rehabilitation gangs it operates, underlining both the growing demand for trenchless rehabilitation and the need to develop the skilled workforce required to deliver it.

Watson also sees encouraging changes in the way rehabilitation work is procured. Historically, skilled specialist contractors often sat several contractual layers beneath the client, with work passing through multiple organisations before reaching those actually delivering rehabilitation. That, he believes, inevitably reduced 10 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

“We’re all competing for the same relatively small pool of experienced people,” he says. “Simply moving individuals from one company to another isn’t a sustainable solution.”

INDUSTRY INSIGHT Instead, Watson believes the sector needs to think more collaboratively, working together to develop skills and raise awareness of the career opportunities available across manufacturers, contractors, suppliers and utilities alike. “We need to do a better job of telling our story,” he says. “This is an industry built around advanced engineering, robotics, digital technologies and environmental improvement. There are fantastic careers here, but too few people know about them.” For Watson, the future of trenchless rehabilitation is not simply about developing the next generation of technologies. The sector already possesses many of the solutions it needs. The challenge now is giving clients the confidence to adopt proven techniques more widely, while encouraging manufacturers, contractors, consultants and asset owners to work more collaboratively. “We know this industry is only going to get bigger, and with that growth will come even greater demand for equipment, products, technical expertise and support,” Watson says. “We’re positioning ourselves to meet that demand at every level of the market, from commercial plumbing contractors to large-scale infrastructure rehabilitation specialists. The opening of MaxLiner UK is an important part of that strategy, but that’s perhaps a story for another article.” “We’ve got some brilliant solutions across this sector,” he concludes. “The more we share knowledge, build confidence and work together, the more value we’ll deliver for customers, for the environment and for the industry as a whole.”

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The more we share knowledge, build confidence and work together, the more value we’ll deliver for customers, for the environment and for the industry as a whole. Dan Watson, Managing Director, Vortex International

SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 11

INDUSTRY COMMENT

Under Pressure, Underground Why the UK trenchless market is entering a new growth cycle By Trenchless Works New research forecasts that the UK trenchless pipe rehabilitation and installation market could approach £800 million by 2034. But behind the headline lies a much bigger story: record water-sector investment, ageing networks, tougher environmental requirements and an unprecedented infrastructure delivery challenge. Trenchless Works examines what the numbers really mean for the industry.

or an industry accustomed to talking about the long-term need to renew ageing underground infrastructure, the scale of the opportunity is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. New analysis from Fortune Business Insights values the UK trenchless pipe rehabilitation and new installation market at approximately £419 million in 2025, rising to an estimated £463 million in 2026. By 2034, the research forecasts a market worth approximately £792 million, representing compound annual growth of 6.93% between 2026 and 2034. The underlying market research is published in US dollars; sterling equivalents used by Trenchless Works have been calculated using the Bank of England spot exchange rate of £1 = US$1.3509 on 11 August 2026. As 12 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

a result, the sterling market values should be regarded as approximate rather than fixed forecasts. Commercial market forecasts should always be treated with a degree of caution. A projected market value is not committed expenditure, nor does a forecast guarantee that investment will materialise in precisely the way predicted. But in this case, the direction of the forecast is supported by something considerably more tangible: the scale of investment already being directed towards water and wastewater infrastructure, alongside mounting pressure to improve the condition and performance of underground networks. Although the market forecast covers the UK as a whole, much of the confirmed investment examined in this

INDUSTRY COMMENT

“

In densely developed environments, avoiding excavation is no longer simply an engineering convenience. It can become an important component of the overall infrastructure strategy.

article relates specifically to the regulated water sectors in England and Wales. Ofwat’s PR24 final determinations provide for £104 billion of expenditure across England and Wales during the 2025–30 period, including approximately £44 billion of enhancement investment. The regulator has described the settlement as representing a substantial step-up in investment over the previous five-year period. Among the programmes included is additional funding designed to increase the rate of water-main renewal, with 8,445km of mains set to be improved over the five years. In England, the Government’s 2026 water strategy places further numbers against the infrastructure challenge. Around £11 billion is being invested in storm-overflow improvements over the current five-year period, covering

approximately 2,500 overflows, while nearly £5 billion is being invested in upgrades at wastewater treatment works to address phosphorus pollution. The same strategy notes that around 60% of water mains were built before 1981 and approximately 13% are more than a century old. None of that means £104 billion is about to flow into trenchless construction. The AMP8 programme encompasses treatment works, reservoirs, supply resilience, environmental programmes, digital systems and many other areas of investment. But beneath those headline expenditure figures lies a substantial requirement to inspect, maintain, rehabilitate, replace and expand buried infrastructure. That is where the UK trenchless story becomes much more interesting. SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 13

INDUSTRY COMMENT

“

The sector is being pulled in two directions at once: renew the infrastructure already in the ground while constructing the capacity required for the future.

Rehabilitation moves to the centre One of the most significant findings in the new market analysis is not the overall value of the sector, but its composition. Fortune Business Insights estimates that trenchless pipe rehabilitation accounted for 64.2% of the UK market in 2025, comfortably ahead of new installation and inspection. Methods including curedin-place pipe lining, pipe bursting, sliplining and robotic repair are identified among the technologies being used to extend asset life without the extent of excavation and reinstatement associated with conventional replacement.

have to be negotiated. Town and city centres cannot routinely be excavated for prolonged periods without significant economic and social consequences. Traffic management, reinstatement and disruption all add to the wider cost of an intervention. That does not make trenchless technology the automatic solution to every project. Ground conditions, pipe material, condition, diameter, geometry, access, length, programme and whole-life cost will continue to determine the most appropriate engineering response.

For asset owners, the challenge is increasingly not simply how to construct new infrastructure, but how to extract greater performance and life from networks that already run beneath some of the most congested parts of the country.

But as asset owners are asked to deliver more work while controlling disruption, carbon and cost, the ability to intervene below ground while limiting the impact above it becomes increasingly valuable. A narrow comparison of construction costs can overlook road occupation, diversions, reinstatement, business interruption and community impact.

This matters because underground infrastructure cannot be considered in isolation from what sits above it. Roads still need to function. Businesses require access. Railways, utilities and other buried assets

In densely developed environments, avoiding excavation is no longer simply an engineering convenience. It can become an important component of the overall infrastructure strategy.

14 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

INDUSTRY COMMENT

£463m

Approximate value of the UK trenchless pipe rehabilitation and new installation market in 2026.

£792m

Approximate forecast UK market value by 2034.

6.93%

Forecast compound annual growth, 2026–34.

64.2%

Share of the UK market attributed to trenchless pipe rehabilitation in 2025.

61.7%

Share attributed to wastewater applications in 2025.

7.56%

Forecast CAGR for the water-main segment.

9.11%

Forecast CAGR for pipes greater than 36 inches.

£104bn

Total expenditure provided for through Ofwat's PR24 final determinations for England and Wales, 2025–30.

£44bn

Approximate enhancement investment included within the PR24 settlement.

8,445km Water mains set to be improved over the five-year period. £11bn

Investment in storm-overflow improvements in England over the current five-year period.

17%

Leakage reduction required during 2025–30.

Water, wastewater and a network under pressure Wastewater represents the largest single application identified by the market research, accounting for an estimated 61.7% of the UK trenchless market in 2025. Structural deterioration, infiltration, blockages, leakage and hydraulic pressure are affecting networks that were often constructed decades ago for very different populations and patterns of use. The public and political focus on storm overflows has added another layer of urgency. Environment Agency data published in March showed 291,492 monitored storm-overflow spill events in England during 2025, a reduction of 35% compared with 2024. Total monitored spill duration fell by 48%. The Environment Agency stressed that 2025 was unusually dry following a particularly wet 2024 and that sustained maintenance and investment would be needed to deliver lasting improvements. Storm overflows are not an isolated engineering problem. Network condition, infiltration, treatment capacity, surface-water management, development and

rainfall all interact; no single technology can resolve every part of the system. What is clear is the scale of intervention now required. The Government’s commitment to spend £11 billion on storm-overflow improvements in England during the current five-year period sits alongside almost £5 billion for wastewater-treatment upgrades. For the trenchless sector, the relevance lies not in claiming all of that expenditure as addressable market, but in recognising the extent to which ageing and constrained sewer networks are now part of a much larger infrastructure programme. Clean-water networks provide a second major driver. Ofwat’s current determinations require companies to reduce leakage by 17% between 2025 and 2030, backed by around £700 million for measures including pressure management, leak repairs and mains replacement. Water companies have also committed to halving leakage by 2050. The new trenchless-market analysis consequently identifies water mains as the second-largest application and forecasts growth in that segment at a CAGR of 7.56% through 2034. SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 15

INDUSTRY COMMENT

Reducing leakage involves considerably more than replacing pipes. Monitoring, smart metering, pressure management, detection technology and targeted repairs all form part of the response. The question is increasingly which assets need intervention first and what form it should take. That places inspection and condition assessment firmly within the same conversation as physical rehabilitation. CCTV, robotic inspection, geospatial information, mapping and increasingly sophisticated data analysis allow utilities to target spending more intelligently rather than treating renewal as a purely age-based exercise. Better information should, in theory, mean more selective intervention. And selective intervention is precisely where many trenchless techniques demonstrate their value. Bigger infrastructure, bigger challenge At the other end of the spectrum, the market forecast points towards growth in major strategic projects. Pipes below 18 inches represented the largest share of the market in 2025, reflecting the enormous extent of smaller-diameter water distribution mains, local sewers and service infrastructure across the country. But the fastest growth forecast by pipe size is in the greater-than36-inch category, with a projected CAGR of 9.11%. That segment includes major wastewater interceptors, strategic water transmission lines and stormwater infrastructure, where complex techniques such as microtunnelling and large-diameter horizontal directional drilling can play an important role. This points to two opportunities developing simultaneously: high-volume rehabilitation, inspection and targeted renewal across established networks, and fewer but larger, more technically demanding projects associated with new capacity, resilience and strategic infrastructure. Both markets place increasing demands on specialist expertise. New water-resource and resilience infrastructure will require additional pipelines, while major crossings beneath rivers, railways, roads and congested urban corridors may make conventional excavation impractical or unacceptable. The result is a sector being pulled in two directions at once: renew the infrastructure already in the ground while constructing the capacity required for the future. That creates opportunity for manufacturers, contractors, designers, survey specialists, equipment suppliers 16 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

and technology providers. It also creates a significant delivery challenge. From investment to delivery Funding an infrastructure programme and delivering it are very different things. The scale of AMP8 has moved the industry conversation towards capacity: whether utilities can commission work quickly enough, contractors can resource it, and the supply chain has sufficient people, equipment and manufacturing capability. New technologies must also move beyond demonstration and into procurement quickly enough to contribute during the current investment period. Fortune Business Insights identifies the availability of skilled labour and trained operators as a potential constraint on growth. It also points to the high capital and technical requirements associated with equipment including HDD systems, microtunnelling rigs, robotic cutters and specialist inspection technology. For the industry, therefore, the opportunity is not simply about selling more equipment or completing more metres. Growth at this scale places pressure across the supply chain. Manufacturers need production capacity and service support; contractors require experienced crews; and clients and consultants need people capable of specifying specialist techniques intelligently. Training must keep pace with technology, while new entrants need a clear route towards competence. As programmes accelerate there is an obvious

INDUSTRY COMMENT

“

The UK trenchless sector may be entering one of the strongest periods of opportunity in its history. The more important question is whether the industry has the capacity, skills and technology to deliver it.

temptation to view productivity simply in terms of volume. But rehabilitation systems and trenchless installations are expected to remain in service for decades. The commercial pressure to deliver more work cannot be allowed to come at the expense of design, installation quality, verification or workforce competence. The companies best positioned to benefit from the next phase of growth may therefore not simply be those capable of expanding fastest, but those that can demonstrate measurable improvements in productivity while maintaining technical assurance and whole-life performance.

problem in which digging everything up is neither economically nor practically sustainable. That shift carries responsibility as well as opportunity.

A market moving into the mainstream

The market indicators are undoubtedly positive. The investment environment is substantial. And the underlying infrastructure need is difficult to dispute. The UK trenchless sector may therefore be entering one of the strongest periods of opportunity in its history.

The most important implication of the forecast is not whether the UK market reaches precisely £792 million in 2034. Exchange rates, programmes, political priorities and procurement strategies will change. What matters is the combination of forces behind the projection: ageing assets, historically high investment, tougher leakage targets and intense scrutiny of environmental performance. Networks must become more resilient to population growth and climate pressures while owners minimise disruption and demonstrate value. Those conditions are unlikely to disappear at the end of one AMP cycle. They also move trenchless engineering further away from being viewed simply as a collection of specialist construction techniques and towards something more fundamental: a means of solving an infrastructure

If trenchless technology is to occupy a larger role in infrastructure delivery, the industry will increasingly be expected to demonstrate its claims. Asset owners will want evidence around design life, whole-life cost, carbon, productivity and performance. Emerging technologies will need credible pathways from innovation to repeatable delivery. Skills and standards will need to develop alongside equipment.

The more important question now is whether the industry has the capacity, skills and technology to deliver it.

Fortune Business Insights, U.K. Trenchless Pipe Rehabilitation and New Installation Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, updated 31 August 2026. Bank of England, Daily Spot Exchange Rates Against Sterling, 11 August 2026. Sterling equivalents calculated at £1 = US$1.3509. Ofwat, PR24 Final Determinations, December 2024. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, A New Vision for Water, February 2026. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Water Demand Environment Act Target Delivery Plan, July 2026. Environment Agency, 2025 Storm Overflow Monitoring Data, published March 2026. SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 17

NEWS

YORKSHIRE WATER BEGINS £1M MAINS RENEWAL SCHEME

orkshire Water has begun a £1 million project to replace 2.8 km of ageing water mains in Sessay and Hutton Sessay, near Thirsk in North Yorkshire.

Delivery partner United Infrastructure is carrying out the work at the junction of Islebeck Lane and Sandy Lane, along Low Lane and within nearby private fields. The project is scheduled for completion in autumn 2026. The existing mains will be replaced with durable, flexible plastic pipes to improve the reliability of local drinking water supplies, reduce leakage and lower the risk of bursts and interruptions. “This project will enable us to better deliver quality and reliable service to our customers, and we’ll do our very best to keep disruption to a minimum whilst we complete the work,” said Nichola Fairbairn, Project Manager at Yorkshire Water. “It’s one of many mains replacement schemes we’re currently delivering across North Yorkshire, with others underway in Yedingham, North Cowton and East Cowton.” 18 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

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This project will enable us to better| deliver quality and reliable service to our customers, and we’ll do our very best to keep disruption to a minimum whilst we complete the work.” Nichola Fairbairn, Project Manager, Yorkshire Water Further schemes have already been completed in Grassington, Bedale, Settle, Sutton, Hauxwell to Hunton, and Thirn to Thornton. Yorkshire Water is investing £406 million (US$548 million) to upgrade its clean water network by 2030. The programme will replace 1,000 km of pipework, with more than 275 km completed to date. The mains renewal programme forms part of the utility’s wider £8.3 billion investment in infrastructure, customer service and environmental improvements.

NEWS

Thames Water passes 100 km milestone in AMP8 mains renewal programme

Thames Water has renewed more than 100 km of clean water mains since the beginning of AMP8, marking a significant milestone in its largest network upgrade for 150 years.

he utility plans to replace 550 km of ageing water mains between 2025 and 2030 as part of a record £20 billion (US$27 billion) investment programme targeting leakage, pollution and drinking water quality. Much of the renewal work is being delivered through pipe relining, reducing the need for excavation and limiting disruption to surrounding communities and road users. The programme is expected to reduce bursts and water losses while improving the long-term resilience of the network. The renewed mains are expected to have an operational life of up to 100 years, helping Thames Water reduce the amount of water abstracted from rivers and groundwater sources. The 100 km milestone was reached during a £24 million mains renewal scheme in Hampstead, north London. The wider 18 km project is installing durable plastic pipe designed to withstand changing environmental conditions and increasing demand.

work will deliver real benefits for customers – reducing bursts, cutting water loss and helping to lessen disruption from ongoing repairs and maintenance,” said Mark Taylor, Director of Delivery, London Infrastructure at Thames Water. “We’ve been targeting the areas that need upgrading the most first and will continue to invest in further mains replacement projects over the next few years. In total, we are going to replace 550 km during this AMP.” Thames Water operates more than 140,000 km of water and wastewater pipes across its network – enough to circle the globe more than three times. Tim Horton, Major Projects and Programmes Director at Thames Water, added: “We are delivering a significant programme of major capital projects as part of our AMP8 investment period. Improving our water and wastewater network is essential for the delivery of our services, and the work will bring significant benefits to both our customers and the environment.”

“Reaching 100 km is a great milestone in the biggest upgrade to our infrastructure in 150 years, and this SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 19

NEWS

M Group reaches milestone in sustainable water meter recycling programme

More than 200,000 end-of-life water meters have now been processed through a sustainable recycling route developed by M Group, marking a major milestone in a programme that could ultimately support the disposal of up to four million meters during AMP8.

he programme was developed following the mobilisation of M Group’s AMP8 (2025-2030) smart meter programme for Yorkshire Water and Netmore, which will see around 1.4 million meters replaced over five years. • More than 200,000 meters have already been processed through the new recycling route • The solution was developed following 12 months of engagement with more than 40 recycling and disposal companies • M Group expects up to four million meters to require sustainable disposal across its UK metering programmes during AMP8 • The process supports M Group’s zero-landfill ambition by recovering plastics, metals and other valuable materials End-of-life water meters can be difficult to dispose of because they contain a complex mix of materials, including encapsulated lithium batteries. Teams from across M Group’s Water and Transport businesses worked together to identify a safe, compliant and sustainable solution – with M Group’s expertise across a broad range of sectors proving invaluable on a project of this scale. Following a year-long review involving more than 40 organisations, M Group selected Yorkshire-based specialist Areera to process the meters. The process enables component materials to be recovered and reused, including plastics and ferrous and non-ferrous metals, while also creating opportunities to recover small quantities of precious and finite materials from printed circuit boards. 20 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

Liam Saddler, Smart Network Delivery Director at M Group, said: “Reaching 200,000 meters is a significant milestone and demonstrates that we now have a sustainable solution capable of supporting much larger volumes during AMP8. “The challenge was to find an approach that was safe, compliant and practical while also delivering better environmental outcomes. By bringing expertise together from across M Group and working closely with our supply chain, we have created a solution that can now be scaled across our metering programmes.” The programme is being developed to handle increasing volumes, with automation, robotics and AI all being explored to improve processing capacity and data capture. Craig Thompson of Areera said: “Water meters present a particular recycling challenge because of the mix of materials and encapsulated batteries involved. “Working with M Group, we have developed an approach that moves away from traditional e-waste disposal and focuses on recovering as much value as possible from each meter. We are proud that a solution with the potential to support programmes across the UK has been developed here in Yorkshire.” Across M Group’s UK metering programmes, between three and four million meters are expected to require sustainable disposal during AMP8.

NEWS

A full-scale prototype of the Interlune lunar excavator developed in partnership with Vermeer in 2025. The equipment is pictured undergoing testing with auxiliary components.

he agreement builds on an earlier joint development programme that produced a fullscale prototype of Interlune’s lunar excavator, unveiled in May 2025.

“By working with Vermeer, we are moving from developing prototypes to repeatable, scalable systems that will help build the Moon base and enable the harvesting of lunar resources.”

The companies will combine Vermeer’s experience in designing and manufacturing heavy-duty industrial equipment with Interlune’s expertise in space systems, lunar environments and autonomous robotics.

Vermeer President and CEO Jason Andringa, who also sits on Interlune’s advisory board, said the collaboration would allow the manufacturer to apply its earthmoving and civil engineering experience in an entirely new environment.

Their work will focus on equipment and civil engineering concepts required to prepare the lunar surface, support permanent infrastructure and enable the extraction of natural resources. “Reliable, autonomous mobility and heavy-duty excavation are the backbones of any permanent settlement on the Moon,” said Rob Meyerson, co-founder and CEO of Interlune. 22 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

“For nearly 80 years, Vermeer has built a legacy by solving complex civil engineering challenges on Earth, and we are now ready to apply that expertise to the most demanding jobsite in history: the Moon,” he said. Mission-ready equipment targeted for 2028 Interlune and Vermeer plan to develop, test and deliver a mission-ready lunar site-preparation tool by 2028.

NEWS

Vermeer and Interlune expand lunar excavation partnership Vermeer Corporation and space infrastructure company Interlune have expanded their strategic partnership to develop excavation and site-preparation equipment for use on the Moon.

“

For nearly 80 years, Vermeer has built a legacy by solving complex civil engineering challenges on Earth, and we are now ready to apply that expertise to the most demanding jobsite in history: the Moon.” Jason Andringa, President and CEO, Vermeer

The equipment will be integrated with a lunar rover and initially demonstrated on Earth. It will then be tested on the Moon to assess its ability to prepare and stabilise the surface for sustained operations. The companies said the programme could contribute to the development of equipment standards for future construction and resource-extraction activities on the Moon and, eventually, Mars.

Interlune and Vermeer representatives discuss subscale prototypes of lunar soil-processing technology at Interlune’s Seattle headquarters in July 2026. From left: Rob Meyerson, Interlune; Andy Strobel, Vermeer; Gary Lai, Interlune; Jacob Keeley, Vermeer; and Jason Andringa, Vermeer.

Founded in 2021, Interlune is developing autonomous industrial systems capable of operating in extreme environments. Its longer-term plans include harvesting lunar resources such as helium-3, hydrogen, oxygen, metals and water.

SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 23

ONE SYSTEM. ONE HEAD. DN70 TO DN 600. Discover the future of relining technology with UV XAIR - a game-changer in performance, aesthetics, and ease of use. “The ability to cure pipe sizes from DN70 right through to DN600 using a single UV head offers significant operational flexibility, while the portable design and intuitive controls make it easier for crews to work efficiently on site. “

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PIPELINE REHABILITATION

From avoided emissions to provable ones The next phase of sustainable pipeline rehabilitation Marina Schirrmann, Senior Sustainability Officer at RelineEurope, on turning verified environmental data into a genuine competitive advantage – and why the next leap in sustainable pipeline rehabilitation depends less on new technology than on how procurement rewards it.

Trenchless rehabilitation already avoids much of the environmental burden of open-cut construction. Has that changed how RELINE approaches sustainability? It has changed where we look. A few years ago, sustainability at RELINE was largely an operational topic – energy, fleet, waste. Today it runs through product development and procurement as much as operations. For a municipality trying to cut the CO₂ emissions of pipeline rehabilitation, the logic really works in two steps. Step one: wherever it’s technically feasible, choose trenchless over open-cut. That alone saves somewhere between 50 and 80 per cent of the CO₂, simply because trenchless installation needs no excavation, soil removal or haulage.

Once trenchless is already in place, the question becomes: where can we make further reductions? That’s where the focus changes. Looked at on its own, a liner’s installation – the curing process on site – accounts for less than 10 per cent of its total life-cycle emissions. Well over 90 per cent comes from the liner itself: the resin, glass fibre and films. So the next step isn’t primarily about installation. It’s about reducing the footprint of the materials going into the ground. That question is what has pulled sustainability at RELINE increasingly into R&D and Procurement, not just Finance and Compliance.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: UV-cured CIPP rehabilitation, felt liner rehabilitation and concrete pipe rehabilitation CO₂-EMISSIONS OF PIPELINE REHABILITATION WITH UV-CURED CIPP LINER, FELT LINER AND CONCRETE PIPE 20000 16772 CONCRETE PIPE

KG CO2

16000

12000

8000

4000

9561

11863 FELT LINER

5060

7230 UV-CURED CIPP LINER

5328 1950 1215 DN 400

3194 DN 800

DN 1200

*for 50 m installation, including manufacturing and installation **Source: Fraunhofer Institute for environmental, safety, and energy technology (UMSICHT)

26 RELINE TRENCHLESS | der SEPTEMBER 2026 – Marina Schirrmann UV TECHNOLOGY | WORKS Nachhaltigkeit bei Sanierung der Wasserinfrastruktur

PIPELINE REHABILITATION

What does that mean for day-to-day decisions? It shows up as concrete questions, not policy statements. Which raw material carries the biggest carbon load? Which suppliers can give us real emissions data rather than industry averages? What do municipalities and installers actually need to compare two trenchless products credibly on environmental impact? Sustainability, used properly, is a filter for better decisions – on materials, on suppliers, on where R&D time goes. What have been your most significant recent initiatives? Sustainability sits organisationally under our CFO, which is part of why some of our biggest recent moves are as much financial and operational as they are environmental. Three things stand out. First, we committed to the international Science Based Targets initiative back in 2022 – the first company in the UV-curing liner industry to do so – with a target to cut our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42 per cent by 2030. We’ve since moved faster than planned and already cut more than 70 per cent. Second, we’ve built a genuinely solid internal foundation for sustainability management: data transparency across all material topics and a management system that continuously defines measures and KPIs and drives ongoing improvement. None of that is hidden – it’s fully published in our externally audited Sustainability Report, prepared to the European VSME standard.

80%

of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to infrastructure Source: UN Environment Programme

Up to 77%

lower greenhouse gas emissions from UV-cured CIPP rehabilitation

compared with new open-cut construction, depending on pipe diameter and installation conditions.

Source: Ecological comparison of wastewater pipe rehabilitation with glass fibre liners compared to replacement with new concrete pipes in Germany.

30%

minimum weighting

for climate and environmental criteria in Norwegian public tenders, in force since 1 January 2024. Source: Norwegian procurement regulations

RELINE’s SBTi-Target and actual CO2 reduction in Scope 1 and 2

SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 27

PIPELINE REHABILITATION We’ve also carried out full Life Cycle Assessments to understand exactly where we, our suppliers and our customers can act most effectively to drive down CO₂, with the results made public through our externally verified EPDs. Third, and by some distance the largest ESG investment we’ve made in recent years, was a new resin-mixing and impregnation facility, built in 2024 and 2025. State-ofthe-art processes and far more precise material dosing have let us cut material consumption — and with it, our CO₂ output. That project was very much our CFO’s, so I’d rather let him make the point himself:

Marina Schirrmann with RELINE’s Sustainability Report

“Our new impregnation facility is the clearest example of what we mean when we say that sustainability and value creation go hand in hand. Tighter material dosing reduced waste, CO₂ and cost simultaneously – and that improvement is now permanent, compounding capital invested in the right place.” Patrick Heimpold, CFO, RelineEurope. Are customers actually asking for this, and has sustainability work ever paid off commercially, beyond compliance? It’s moving, not there yet. I wouldn’t claim environmental data already decides most tenders – cost, technical fit and track record still dominate. However, in some countries and municipalities, an EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) is already a precondition just to enter a tender. Where that’s the case, an externally verified EPD is a genuinely useful sales tool – that’s value creation, not just cost.

28 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

PIPELINE REHABILITATION

Norway is perhaps the clearest example of where this could be heading. Since 1 January 2024, its public procurement regulation has required that, wherever climate and environmental impact are used as an award criterion, they must be weighted at a minimum of 30 per cent. That changes the equation. Environmental performance is no longer simply a nice-to-have: it becomes a significant part of the tender evaluation. Companies stop competing on price alone and start competing on demonstrable environmental performance too. Sustainability shifts from a voluntary extra to a measurable competitive factor. How do tools such as SBTi, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) support your strategy, and how is this shaping product development itself? RELINE’s sustainability strategy rests on three pillars: Environment, Innovation and Partnerships. Together, they drive how sustainability gets built into our products, our processes and our business decisions. Our SBTi commitment shapes that strategy concretely. We’re working towards climate-neutral operations in Scope 1 and 2 by 2027, supported by measures including renewable heating, a full switch to green electricity and an electric vehicle policy.

As our CFO likes to put it: “Committing to Science Based Targets in 2022 – first in our industry – forced us to build the measurement infrastructure that now gives us a structural advantage: we can quantify what our products save, per product, per installation. In tenders where that data is required, we show up with verified numbers. Most of our competitors still show up with claims.” Patrick Heimpold, CFO, RelineEurope. The transparency we’ve built through our LCA work underpins decisions across all three pillars. It has given us a much clearer understanding of where the greatest opportunities for further reductions lie. That’s why we’ve anchored concrete targets for CO₂-reduced products directly in our sustainability strategy, and why our innovation and procurement teams are working on more sustainable material solutions for UV-cured CIPP rehabilitation. RELINE also currently holds externally verified EPDs across its Alphaliner product range – one of very few manufacturers in this segment to do so. What role do suppliers play in getting there? A decisive one – we can’t reduce Scope 3 alone. Purchased goods and services are the single largest line in our footprint. SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 29

PIPELINE REHABILITATION

Through strategic partnerships with our key suppliers, we’re working to develop CO₂-reduced products and lower-impact material solutions together, rather than simply setting requirements and auditing against them. Looking five years out, what has to change across the industry? The construction industry is facing mounting pressure to transform. According to the UN Environment Programme, roughly 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to infrastructure. Climate targets, resource constraints and ageing networks are all pulling in the same direction, toward new solutions. The instinct is to say the industry no longer needs to ask whether trenchless is more sustainable than digging up the road — that’s largely settled. But I’d push back on treating that as one global answer, because the reality differs sharply by market, and the honest answer has to reflect that. In most of the world, open-cut rehabilitation still dominates and trenchless remains the exception. There, the priority is simply making the ecological, economic and social advantages of trenchless technology better known – reductions of up to 77 per cent compared with open-cut methods, depending on pipe diameter and installation conditions, represent a genuinely large amount of avoidable CO₂ globally. In markets where trenchless is already the preferred rehabilitation route – Germany, France, the UK and 30 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

the Nordics – the next step is different: comparing environmental performance within trenchless solutions. For that to happen, sustainability needs to become part of the tender requirement, and environmental criteria can only become a meaningful part of procurement if they’re objectively measurable. That’s precisely where Environmental Product Declarations gain strategic weight. They provide the objective, verified data on which sustainability can be assessed transparently and, ultimately, factored more widely into procurement. The next phase of sustainable trenchless rehabilitation will therefore increasingly be decided not on the construction site, but much earlier – in the planning, specification and tendering process. The technologies for lower-carbon rehabilitation already exist, and some low-carbon materials are already available. What’s still missing is a market that consistently recognises them, compares them and rewards them. What counts now is building concrete sustainability requirements into tender specifications, so that climatefriendly solutions actually get a fair chance to compete. Done well, that kind of market pressure is exactly what pushes R&D towards the next real breakthrough – the first viable CO₂-reduced liner alternatives. Given that more than 90 per cent of our industry’s emissions sit in product materials, that step alone could bring UV-cured CIPP rehabilitation close to climate neutral.

PIPELINE REHABILITATION

CIPP systems: Choosing the right curing method A €1.2 million sewer rehabilitation project in Germany demonstrates how UV-curing and hot-water-curing systems can complement each other, and why project conditions should guide technology selection. By Dipl.-Ing. Jörg Brunecker, Managing Director, Swietelsky-Faber GmbH

combined sewer rehabilitation project carried out by Swietelsky-Faber GmbH in Germany illustrates the value of a technology-neutral approach. The €1.2 million scheme used both a UV-curing cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) system and a hot-water-curing system, with each selected to meet particular installation requirements. For a section incorporating a diameter transition from DN 840 to DN 1000, complex pipe geometry and difficult site conditions favoured a synthetic fibre liner cured with hot water. Elsewhere, the project used a UV-curing glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) liner. The two systems served different needs within the same scheme. This is an important consideration as infrastructure owners face increasing technical, economic and workforce pressures. From a contractor’s perspective, the technology installed is ultimately determined by what the client specifies and tenders.

32 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

Objective assessment at the planning stage is therefore essential, with technical performance, cost and sustainability taking precedence over product preferences. A framework for selection CIPP lining is a leading technology for pipeline rehabilitation, but selecting a suitable system requires more than a general preference for one curing method. The client’s performance requirements and the detailed conditions of each project must guide the decision. ISO 11295 classifies rehabilitation technologies for underground pipeline systems and provides a framework for considering the available options. International standards also help establish the performance criteria against which individual systems can be assessed. The German project demonstrates how this approach translates into practical choices on site.

PIPELINE REHABILITATION

A roll-off truck with an integrated conveyor belt for installing UV-curing glass fibre liners.

International standards provide a basis for selecting suitable rehabilitation systems.

“

Mechanical performance is only one part of the assessment. Quality assurance and quality control, monitoring of installation parameters and verification of product characteristics are also essential to longterm performance. Jörg Brunecker, Managing Director, Swietelsky-Faber GmbH

SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 33

PIPELINE REHABILITATION Test reports for CIPP liner installations according to ISO/TS 23818-2.

UV-curing GRP liners: Structural performance The UV-curing CIPP system used on the project is based on a thermoset composite incorporating glass fibres, a resin system and a defined reinforcement structure. Factory manufacture and impregnation establish the product’s specified properties in its “M” state, the manufactured condition. Controlled UV curing then transforms the liner into its “I” state: the installed and cured condition, with the required final material properties. Mechanical performance is only one part of the assessment. Quality assurance and quality control, monitoring of installation parameters and verification of product characteristics are also essential to long-term performance. Checks include composite thickness, wall structure, initial ring stiffness, short-term flexural modulus and the long-term characteristics relevant to service life. The ISO 23818 series provides a framework for assessing conformity during manufacture and installation. Manufacturers may also have their production processes independently audited or certified. Together, these measures support verification of the liner’s performance from factory production through to its installed condition. Hot-water curing: Flexibility for complex geometry For the section with a nominal diameter transition from DN 840 to DN 1000, Swietelsky-Faber installed a synthetic fibre liner weighing approximately 6.2 tonnes, with a wall thickness of 21 mm. 34 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

The change in cross-section, complex pipe geometry and other installation constraints made this a suitable alternative to the UV-curing system. Hot-water curing can involve greater demands on energy, time, personnel and materials. However, the flexibility of the liner and the installation process can provide decisive advantages where site conditions are challenging. The established Insituform process uses inversion to install the lining tube. This provides a controllable installation method that is gentle on the material and can accommodate demanding site conditions. Although hot-water curing may be more complex and costly in some applications, its flexibility and practical advantages mean that it remains an established option within Swietelsky-Faber’s range of rehabilitation solutions. Depending on the specific requirements of a project, different curing methods and liner systems may be considered, including hot-water curing, UVcuring and other solutions. The most suitable approach is determined by the individual project conditions and technical requirements. Matching the system to the task The project illustrates the complementary strengths of different CIPP systems. UV-curing GRP liners offer

PIPELINE REHABILITATION Installation of a hot-water-curing synthetic fibre liner accommodating a nominal diameter transition from DN 840 to DN 1000.

advantages for large profiles and high structural requirements, while hot-water-curing synthetic fibre liners can be particularly useful where changes in geometry or complex installation conditions demand flexibility. Cost is often central to method selection, but it must be considered alongside pipe diameter, profile shape, structural requirements, accessibility, construction sequence and local site conditions. Installation controls are equally important. The process parameters addressed in ISO 11300-2 include calibration times, installation pressures, temperature curves, tensile forces, sampling, leak testing and installation documentation. In my view, sound planning should consider the full range of technologies described in ISO 11295 against the requirements of the individual project. The engineering task is to assess those variables and identify the most appropriate solution. Looking beyond CIPP An open assessment may also identify circumstances in which spiral-wound lining or discrete pipelining offers a more suitable solution than CIPP.

For spiral-wound lining, reductions in pumping and water management, site set-up and material costs can offer substantial savings in suitable applications. Swietelsky-Faber estimates that these could reach around 30% of execution costs in some cases. This is an indicative, project-dependent estimate; the saving will vary with site conditions and the alternative method being considered. The wider point is that effective method selection can protect public budgets while improving the suitability of the chosen rehabilitation system. CIPP systems themselves should not be characterised solely by their curing method. Their performance depends on the interaction of the resin matrix, carrier materials, inner and outer films, installation equipment, mechanical properties, wall structure, ability to accommodate bends, leak tightness and traceable process documentation. A technology-neutral approach allows these factors to be assessed together. As the German project demonstrates, selecting different systems within the same scheme can provide a practical response to the varied demands of underground infrastructure rehabilitation.

SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 35

MOLING

Making the last mile connection with moling House connections often have to cross gardens, driveways and other finished surfaces. TRACTO explains how its GRUNDOMAT P+ impact moles are designed to install short utility connections with limited surface disruption.

onnecting a property to water, electricity, heat or telecommunications networks can be a small but awkward part of a wider infrastructure project. Crews need to complete the work quickly and economically while limiting disruption for residents. The growth of fibre-to-the-home networks and changes to energy infrastructure are adding to demand for these last-mile connections. Pneumatic soil displacement hammers, commonly known as impact moles, provide a trenchless option where ground conditions are suitable. Instead of excavating along the full route, the mole displaces and compacts the surrounding soil as it travels between a launch pit and a reception pit. Pipes or cables can then be installed through the bore, helping crews avoid opening up driveways, gardens and other surfaces. Accuracy matters Moling is generally used for straight, non-steerable routes, so keeping the tool on line is central to a successful installation. Depending on ground conditions, GRUNDOMAT equipment can be used for runs of up to 25 metres. Applications include cables, long plastic pipes from DA 40 to DA 160 and short pipes with smooth, non36 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

Practical training covers the safe use of GRUND displacement hammers and ac

protruding sleeves. These may be installed immediately or pulled in subsequently. TRACTO says its GRUNDOMAT P+ builds on the twostroke thrust principle used in earlier GRUNDOMAT models. The latest generation includes changes intended to improve accuracy, durability and servicing in day-today site use. “The GRUNDOMAT P+ is not an entirely new development, but rather the logical evolution of a triedand-tested technology that takes into account today’s and tomorrow’s construction site conditions,” says David Imhof, Head of Product Management at TRACTO. “We have listened to feedback from the field and focused on the areas where users expect the greatest benefits in day-to-day operation: reliability, ease of maintenance and cost-effectiveness.” An improved head seal is designed to limit the ingress of dirt, while a guide sleeve for the cutting bit helps maintain accuracy and reduce wear. An integrated wear indicator makes it easier to assess the machine’s condition and plan maintenance. TRACTO has also introduced a screw-in front housing section so that wear parts can be replaced more quickly.

MOLING

DOMAT soil ccessories.

“

The GRUNDOMAT P+ is not an entirely new development, but rather the logical evolution of a tried-and-tested technology that takes into account today’s and tomorrow’s construction site conditions. David Imhof, Head of Product Management, TRACTO

Impact moling can install house connections and short supply lines with limited surface excavation. SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 37

MOLING Choosing the right head The compact XS design allows work from smaller launch and reception pits.

Ground conditions influence the choice of mole head. The GRUNDOMAT P+ is available with a stepped head for loose, displaceable soils and a crowned head for harder, heavily compacted ground. TRACTO says the patented crowned-head design is intended to maintain performance and accuracy in more demanding conditions. Space above ground matters too. Property connections and work in built-up areas may leave little room for launch and reception pits. The compact GRUNDOMAT XS models are designed for these sites, allowing crews to work from smaller pits where a standard-length machine would be difficult to accommodate. Beyond house connections, moling can be used for short crossings beneath roads and driveways and for short sections within a supply network, subject to site and ground conditions. Accessories allow crews to install a pipe as the mole advances or pull it through afterwards. Support on site

“For us, the most important thing is that we can rely on our equipment,” says GRUNDOMAT user Florian Duraku. “A soil displacement hammer must work precisely, be robust and perform reliably in day-to-day use. It is precisely this combination of reliability and continuous development that we value in the GRUNDOMAT.”

TRACTO offers demonstrations and training for crews using GRUNDOMAT equipment and accessories. Training can take place at TRACTO or on a customer’s site, which may be useful when several crews need to learn the method under working conditions. The company also provides financing options and after-sales support. For contractors faced with a growing number of short connections, the appeal of moling remains straightforward: where the route and ground are suitable, it can get a pipe or cable into place while leaving much of the surface above undisturbed.

The P+ range includes features designed to improve accuracy, durability and ease of maintenance; compact XS models suit sites with restricted space.

38 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

GRUNDOMAT P+ THE ORIGINAL. TAKEN FURTHER. NEW!

Now also available in XS for very confined spaces.

Whether for all types of service connections or short undercrossings: For more than five decades, the GRUNDOMAT soil displacement hammer is synonymous with on-target underground pipe installation and trenchless ‚moling’. The ‘+’ stands for even greater reliability, precision and durability when installing pipes underground for: • House connections of all types • Crossings under roads and driveways • Connecting pipes • Short sections in supply networks To find out more about the P+ and our customised financing and service solutions, please get in touch: T +49 2023 808-0 | E info@tracto.com

TRACTO.COM

HDD

JGL expands HDD capability with new rig and fluid cleaning system Joseph Gallagher Limited (JGL) has put a new Ditch Witch AT120 All Terrain directional drill and an American Augers M3000DH drilling fluid cleaning system straight to work on the Carno Grid project in Wales.

he additions expand the contractor’s specialist plant fleet, supporting its capacity to deliver larger and more complex horizontal directional drilling installations across the energy, utilities and infrastructure sectors. Their first deployment is supporting energy infrastructure works at Carno Grid, bringing additional drilling power and fluid processing capacity to the project. Additional drilling capacity The AT120 delivers 120,000 lb of thrust and pullback force, together with 15,500 ft-lb of rotational torque. Its All Terrain technology is designed for challenging ground conditions, supporting installations where difficult geology places greater demands on drilling equipment.

“

Deploying the equipment immediately to the Carno Grid project demonstrates our commitment to providing clients with the very best technology and ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest standard. Tony Matheson, Commercial Director, JGL Group

Powered by a 280 hp Stage V-compliant Cummins engine, the rig increases the range of HDD work JGL can undertake as part of its self-delivery operations. Tony Matheson, JGL Group Commercial Director, said: “The arrival of the new AT120 and M3000DH is a significant investment in the future capability of JGL. These additions give us increased capacity, improved efficiency and the ability to tackle larger and more complex HDD installations with confidence.” Managing drilling fluids The accompanying American Augers M3000DH adds dedicated drilling fluid cleaning capacity to the operation. The system features Derrick HyperPool shaker technology, a stated cleaning capacity of 300 GPM and a 3,000-gallon tank system. 40 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

Processing drilling fluid for reuse supports fluid quality and recycling efficiency while helping reduce waste. For JGL, the investment pairs the increased capability of the new drill with the fluid management equipment needed to support more demanding installations. The company expects the combination to improve operational efficiency and strengthen its ability to undertake longer and larger-diameter HDD work.

HDD

Investment in self-delivery Matheson said the immediate deployment reflected the company’s approach to equipping its project teams. “Deploying the equipment immediately to the Carno Grid project demonstrates our commitment to providing clients with the very best technology and ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest standard.”

The purchase continues JGL’s investment in its specialist plant fleet and strengthens its in-house resources for trenchless construction. With both units already in operation in Wales, the additional capacity is supporting current project delivery as well as the company’s plans for growth in utility and energy infrastructure work.

SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 41

WovoX: The Next Generation addition to the WovoLiner suite of products. ®

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EVENTS

JBP Open 2026 brings the international trenchless community together in Valencia

Technology, relationships and a little friendly competition were at the heart of three days in Valencia as JBP Trenchless welcomed 55 guests from across the world for its 2026 Open House and JBP Open.

he international trenchless community came together in Valencia this September for three days of live technology, networking and friendly competition as JBP Trenchless hosted its 2026 Open House and JBP Open. Welcoming 55 attendees from 11 countries, the event brought together guests from the US, Canada, UAE, Saudi Arabia, UK, Finland, Norway, Germany, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands. It was a fitting reflection of an industry that is increasingly international in outlook, but still built around close relationships, shared expertise and a willingness to learn from one another. Westrade Group Managing Director, Paul Harwood, was among those attending, joining industry colleagues and friends for a programme that began at JBP Trenchless’s factory in Paterna before moving to El Saler Golf Club for two days of golf and networking.

44 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

Technology takes centre stage The programme began on Wednesday 16th September with the JBP Trenchless Open House at the company’s warehouse in Paterna. From 10am, guests were able to watch a programme of practical trenchless demonstrations covering a range of rehabilitation and repair technologies. These included LED-cured liner and UV-cured CIPP liner demonstrations, alongside PICOTE Mini Miller and coating technology, E-cutter equipment and Quick-Lock liner end installation. The afternoon then moved into lunch and networking, creating time for guests to discuss the equipment on display and exchange experiences from different markets and projects. Seeing the technology in action For an industry where the performance of equipment and installation systems matters in real-world conditions, the live format provided a useful opportunity for attendees to move beyond brochures, specifications and exhibition displays.

EVENTS

Guests gather in Valencia for the JBP Trenchless Open House and JBP Open 2026

Manufacturers, contractors, suppliers and other industry professionals were able to see the technologies operating, ask questions and discuss how different approaches are being applied internationally. An international meeting point The geographical spread of those attending was particularly notable. With guests travelling from Europe, North America and the Middle East, the JBP Open brought different markets and perspectives together in one place.

“

There is always value in seeing equipment actually being used. You get a much better sense of how a technology works in practice and it naturally leads to conversations about where it fits, what challenges people are seeing and how the market is evolving. Paul Harwood, Managing Director, Westrade Group

JBP team

SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 45

EVENTS

“

The JBP Open is about bringing people together. We’re fortunate to work with customers, partners and friends from across the world, and having 55 people from so many different countries here in Valencia made this year’s event particularly special. Jan-Börje Persson, Managing Director and owner, JBP Trenchless

The JBP Open moved to El Saler Golf Club for two days of competition and networking

For JBP Trenchless Managing Director and owner JanBörje Persson, that international mix is a key part of what makes the event special. “The JBP Open is about bringing people together. We’re fortunate to work with customers, partners and friends from across the world, and having 55 people from so many different countries here in Valencia made this year’s event particularly special. The Open House gives us the opportunity to share technology and knowledge, while the golf and social programme gives everyone time to build relationships in a more relaxed environment. For us, that combination is what makes the event so valuable.” Despite the differences between individual countries, many of the issues facing underground infrastructure owners and contractors are shared: ageing assets, pressure to reduce disruption, growing sustainability expectations and the need to deliver more efficiently. That makes opportunities for international exchange particularly valuable. Conversations that begin around a product demonstration can quickly develop into discussions about project challenges, procurement, training, installation methods and wider industry trends. 46 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

Rather than identifying one single standout moment, JBP Trenchless’s Naomi summed it up simply: the whole event was a highlight. That sentiment captures the appeal of the programme – a mix of technical content, international visitors and enough time for people to speak properly rather than simply crossing paths at a busy exhibition. From the warehouse to the fairway Following the Open House, attention turned from trenchless technology to another kind of competition. On Thursday, the programme moved to El Saler Golf Club, where attendees began the day with registration, briefing and practice before taking part in a Stableford best-ball tournament. A separate programme was also arranged for non-golfing guests, with a daytime activity at Huerto Ribera, ensuring the social side of the event extended beyond the golf course. The day then concluded with cocktails and dinner. The golf continued on Friday with a second day of competition, featuring an individual Stableford tournament and lowest gross score competition. Nongolfers were again included in the programme, with the option of a spa circuit or golf lesson, before everyone

EVENTS

ATTENDEES

COUNTRIES

DAYS

GOLF DAYS

COMMUNITY

came back together for the evening cocktail reception, prize ceremony and gala dinner. While the golf provided plenty of friendly rivalry, it also created another environment for people to spend time together away from formal meetings and exhibition halls. There was also success on the course for Westrade Group Managing Director Paul Harwood, who took home one of the golf honours during the JBP Open. For Paul, however, the real value of the golf days was the chance to continue conversations started at the Open House and enjoy time with industry colleagues in a more informal setting.

For Westrade Group Managing Director Paul Harwood, the event was a chance to reconnect with colleagues from across the international trenchless sector and enjoy a programme that combined the technical and social sides of the industry. “A huge thank you to Börje, Naomi and the entire JBP Trenchless team for their fantastic hospitality. From the Open House and demonstrations through to the golf and evening events, everything was incredibly well organised and we were made to feel very welcome throughout.” Paul added:

“One of the things that makes this industry so enjoyable is the community around it. Events like this give you the chance to continue those conversations in a much more relaxed setting.” Paul Harwood

“It was a brilliant few days and a real pleasure to spend time with so many familiar faces from across the industry. JBP put on a fantastic event and I’m very grateful to the whole team for having us.”

More than an industry event

Trenchless Works would like to thank JBP Trenchless, Börje, Naomi and the wider team for their hospitality and for making JBP Open 2026 such an enjoyable and memorable event.

After three days of demonstrations, golf, networking and social events, JBP Open 2026 drew to a close with the prize ceremony and gala dinner at El Saler Golf Club.

SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 47

FOCUS ON TRENCHLESS TRAINING

Beneath the Surface of Focus on Trenchless Training

Frank Reilly Director JBP’s Trenchless, Training Programme

ince this column was launched in Trenchless Works, at the beginning of 2024, we’ve aimed to return to a single idea and explore it from different angles: that trenchless technology is only as good as the people trained to deliver it. Over more than thirty instalments, the subject has ranged widely, artificial intelligence, skills audits, standards, apprenticeships, emerging markets, classroom versus online delivery, but the purpose behind all of it has stayed the same. This is not a space for product news or course promotion. It is a space to shine a light on the issues, opportunities, and real-world impact of training across the trenchless sector, and to keep that conversation active among the people who depend on it. Rooted in practice, not theory That purpose did not begin with this column. It goes back to 2015 and 2016, when JBP first launched its Trenchless Training programme, initially focused on sewer condition assessment and CIPP rehabilitation methods, and delivered through early courses run in South East Asia. Without that groundwork, building know-how and competency among 48 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

engineers and technicians who had little or not experience of working with trenchless methods and technologies before, the pace at which CIPP was subsequently adopted across the region would almost certainly have been slower. Nearly a decade on, that same conviction sits behind every article published here: that adoption follows capability, not the other way round. An evolving set of questions What has changed since those early courses is the breadth of what “training” now has to cover. Where earlier articles in this series examined the diverse needs of technicians, engineers and asset managers sitting in the same room, and the balance between classroom immediacy and online flexibility, later instalments turned to skills audits as a way of replacing assumption with evidence, and to the practical costs, in time, in fees, and in the far greater cost of not training at all, that shape real investment decisions. Others followed the sector’s expansion into the Middle East, Southeast Asia and beyond, where training does more than transfer skills; it helps seed the standards and frameworks

that markets are still building. Most recently, the conversation has turned to artificial intelligence, not as a replacement for experience but as a tool that raises, rather than lowers, the bar for what practitioners need to understand. Keeping the conversation open None of these threads is treated here as settled. The intention, issue after issue, has been to raise questions rather than close them down, through roundtables at industry events, through workshops delivered alongside conferences from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur, and through monthly polls that invite readers to contribute their own view rather than simply take ours. That is the real function of this page: not to catalogue what has already been achieved, but to keep pressing on where training in this sector still falls short, and to make sure those conversations continue well beyond these pages.

ISTT NEWS

ISTT announces support for Trenchless Middle East 2026

The International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT) has announced its support for Trenchless Middle East 2026, taking place on 2–3 December at the Riyadh Marriott Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Society joins several supporting organisations, including the Arabian Trenchless Technology Society (ATTME), the Institution of Civil Engineers, the UK Society for Trenchless Technology and the German Society for Trenchless Technology (GATT).

ow in its 15th edition, Trenchless Middle East is the region’s longest-running event dedicated to no-dig technology. It will bring together engineers, contractors, utility owners, manufacturers and other industry professionals from across the Gulf region and beyond. The event will showcase developments in CIPP, horizontal directional drilling and microtunnelling, as well as technology for pipeline inspection, rehabilitation and utility mapping. These solutions are expected to play an important role in the modernisation of Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure under Vision 2030. ISTT said its involvement reflects the Society’s continuing commitment to advancing trenchless methods worldwide and encouraging knowledgesharing between established and emerging markets.

50 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

ISTT is encouraging its members, partners and industry colleagues to attend, exhibit and participate in the event, describing Trenchless Middle East 2026 as an opportunity to connect with the region’s growing nodig community and contribute to the development of sustainable underground infrastructure. Further information is available at trenchlessmiddleeast.com.

“

ISTT said its involvement reflects the Society’s continuing commitment to advancing trenchless methods worldwide and encouraging knowledge-sharing between established and emerging markets.

ISTT NEWS

ISTT webinar to examine trenchless and open-trench sewer installation

Microtunnelling works on the SA Water Munno Para Sewer Trunk Main project in Adelaide, South Australia

The International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT) will host a free educational webinar examining the safety, sustainability and whole-life impacts of trenchless and open-trench methods for gravity sewer installation.

aking place on 19 November 2026, the webinar will be presented by Stuart Harrison, CEO and founder of Australia-based OptionX Group.

Traditional comparisons between trenchless and opentrench construction often focus on cost, productivity, programme duration and carbon emissions. This session will consider the wider implications of each method, including worker safety, construction complexity, disruption to communities and the longterm impact on infrastructure assets. Drawing on practical experience from the SA Water Munno Para Sewer Trunk Main project in South Australia, Harrison will examine how the choice of construction method can affect workforce exposure, interaction between people and plant, utility conflicts, material movements, traffic disruption and future maintenance requirements. The project included the installation of gravity sewer infrastructure at grades as low as 0.13 per cent. Its results will be used to demonstrate how modern trenchless methods can reduce workforce exposure, minimise disruption, avoid utility conflicts and deliver environmental benefits while maintaining productivity.

52 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

The webinar will also introduce the concept of Permanent Ground Disturbance. This considers whether infrastructure projects should be assessed not only on their safe and efficient delivery, but also on the lasting effects they create for asset owners, highway authorities and future generations. Attendees will learn about: • The comparative safety risks of trenchless and opentrench sewer construction • The relationship between construction complexity, workforce exposure and project risk • The environmental and carbon impacts of different installation methods • Community and stakeholder impacts • Permanent Ground Disturbance and whole-life infrastructure outcomes • The role of trenchless construction in eliminating hazards • Approaches to assessing projects beyond cost and productivity

ISTT NEWS

Inside the launch shaft during pipe installation on the Munno Para project.

Webinar details Date: 19 November 2026 Time: 14:00–15:00 GMT Platform: Zoom Speaker: Stuart Harrison, CEO and founder, OptionX Group Fee: Free About the speaker Stuart Harrison has more than 25 years’ experience in the trenchless installation sector in Australia and the United States. Having begun his career as a contractor, he subsequently moved into the development and manufacture of specialist equipment for drilling, boring and tunnelling applications.

The webinar recording will be available to ISTT members. Presentation materials will be free to members and available to non-members for US$10. Further information is available from the ISTT website, and attendees can register online.

He invented the Axis Guided Boring System for gravity sewer installation, which was licensed globally to Vermeer. Through OptionX Group, Harrison now leads the development of underground construction equipment, including the company’s AdaptX rock microtunnelling system. SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 53

ISTT NEWS

ISTT Chair addresses Czech trenchless conference in Mikulov International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT) Chair Mark André Haebler joined more than 330 industry professionals at NO-DIG 2026 in Mikulov, Czech Republic.

osted by the Czech Society for Trenchless Technology (CzSTT), the 31st National Conference on Trenchless Technologies took place at Hotel Galant Mikulov on 15–16 September. This year’s conference, themed Trenchless Technologies and Water Mains, opened with a panel discussion on the operation and maintenance of water networks constructed using directional drilling, relining and pipe bursting. Haebler addressed delegates on the work of ISTT and its international network of 27 affiliated societies. He also highlighted the longstanding relationship between the international organisation and its Czech affiliate: “CzSTT has been part of the ISTT family for decades, and it’s great to see how active they’ve remained – a real hub for the trenchless community in Central Europe,” he said. Chaired by CzSTT Chairman Karel Franczyk, the twoday programme combined technical presentations and project case studies with an accompanying exhibition. 54 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

It attracted trenchless specialists, contractors and technology providers from across the Czech Republic and neighbouring countries. Haebler also met CzSTT Vice Chairman Robert Kostolány, whose company Eutit was among the conference’s principal sponsors. The event was preceded by the NO-DIG CzSTT Challenge Cup golf tournament on 14 September. Delegates were also welcomed to a conference dinner at Mikulov Castle on the evening of 15 September. Mikulov provided an appropriate setting for the conference. The historic South Moravian town has an extensive network of underground cellars and passages beneath its streets, reflecting a long history of developing and using underground space. ISTT congratulated Franczyk, Kostolány and the CzSTT team on the successful delivery of the organisation’s latest national conference. Further information is available at www.no-dig.cz.

ISTT NEWS

Mark André Haebler, ISTT Chair, addresses delegates at NO-DIG 2026 in Mikulov

“

CzSTT has been part of the ISTT family for decades, and it’s great to see how active they’ve remained – a real hub for the trenchless community in Central Europe. Mark André Haebler, Chair, International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT)

ISTT Chair Mark André Haebler, left, with CzSTT Chairman Karel Franczyk

Mark André Haebler, right, with CzSTT Vice Chairman Robert Kostolány SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 55

ISTT NEWS

Training courses announced ahead of International No-Dig Auckland 2026 Three specialist training courses will take place ahead of International No-Dig Auckland 2026, giving delegates an opportunity to develop their technical knowledge before the main conference begins.

he one-day courses will be held at the New Zealand International Convention Centre on 27 October, followed by the International NoDig conference and exhibition on 28–29 October. The programme includes: • Horizontal Directional Drilling – covering design, steering, safety and drilling-fluid fundamentals • Renovation of Pipes by Lining – examining CIPP, fold-and-form, spiral-wound and lateral-lining methods • New Installation Methods – covering auger boring, pipe jacking, pipe ramming and pilot-tube techniques Designed for both early-career engineers and experienced trenchless professionals, the courses will provide technical instruction alongside an opportunity to review current methods and industry best practice.

56 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

Course details Date: 27 October 2026 Time: 08:00–17:00 Venue: New Zealand International Convention Centre, Auckland Cost: NZ$545 for members and NZ$650 for non-members Further information about the courses is available from the International No-Dig Auckland website. Delegates can register online.

ISTT NEWS

Horizontal Directional Drilling Training Course 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

An introductory course offering a comprehensive overview of the HDD process, from planning to jobsite completion, led by industry experts. Designed for junior and mid-level professionals involved in delivering or planning HDD projects – including consultants, contractors, suppliers and asset owners. Presenter: Ash Hamer, Divisional Manager Operations at Yarra Valley Water Presenter: Jiang Aizezi, Chartered Professional Engineer at UGL

Renovation of Pipes by Lining Training Course 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

An introductory course on trenchless pipe lining techniques used for structural renewal of gravity and non-pressure pipelines in Australasia. Designed for asset managers, designers, and rehabilitation professionals involved in the renewal of existing underground infrastructure. Presenter: Shaun Melville, General Manager Operations at SEKISUI Rib Loc Australia Presenter: Sudipta Basu, Principal Engineer at AESBY

New Installation Methods Training Course 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

A practical course covering the most common trenchless methods for new pipe and casing installations, using real-life case studies. Designed for engineers, project managers, and field professionals looking to understand or select appropriate trenchless techniques for new infrastructure projects. Presenter: Ash Hamer, Divisional Manager Operations at Yarra Valley Water Presenter: Blair Telfer, ASTT President | Technical Director at Mott MacDonald

SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 57

AFFILIATED SOCIETIES ISTT Affiliated Societies around the world

GRABENLOS.AT

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

58 TRENCHLESS WORKS | SEPTEMBER 2026

China Hong Kong Society for Trenchless Technology (CHKSTT) Tsimshatsui Post Office 91499 Kowloon Hong Kong Phone: +852 9201 1952 Email: chkstt@gmail.com Web: www.chkstt.org

China Society of Geology – Trenchless Technology Committee (CSTT) Xicheng District Room 151, 26 Baiwanzhuang Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037 China (PR) Phone: +86 10 6899 2605 Email: yan64843889@126.com Web: www.cstt.org

Chinese Taipei Society for Trenchless Technology (CTSTT) 3F, No 92, Roosevelt Rd., Sec. 4, Zhongzheng Dist, Taipei City, 100 Taiwan Phone: +886 2 2362 0939 Email: zoradcrc@gmail.com Web: www.ctstt.org.tw/en_index.asp

Czech Society for Trenchless Technology (CzSTT) Bezova 1658/1 ,147 14 Praha 4 Czech Republic Phone: +420 244 062 722 Email: office@czstt.cz Web: www.czstt.cz

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

Finnish Society for Trenchless Technology (FISTT) c/o Sari Pietilä, Haapasuonkankaantie 10 90830 Haukipudas, Finland Phone: +358 504132484 Email: info@fistt.net Web: www.fistt.net

French Society for Trenchless Technology (FSTT) 4 rue des Beaumonts, F-94120 Fontenay Sous Bo, France Phone: +33 1 53 99 90 20 Email: contact@fstt.org Web: www.fstt.org

German Society for Trenchless Technology (GSTT) Kurfürstenstr. 129 (Building: German construction association) Berlin, Germany Phone: +49 30 81 45 59 84 Email: beyer@gstt.de Web: www.gstt.de

Italian Association of Trenchless Technology (IATT) Via Ruggero Fiore, 41 Rome Italy Phone: +39 06 39721997 Email: iatt@iatt.info Web: www.iatt.it

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

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

Latin American Society for Trenchless Technology (LAMSTT) Medellín Highway (Calle 80) KM3.5 via BogotáSiberia 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

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

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

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

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

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

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/

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

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

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

SEPTEMBER 2026 | TRENCHLESS WORKS 59

EVENTS AND MEETINGS

2026

2027

27-29 October 2026 International No-Dig Auckland Auckland, New Zealand www.no-dignz.com/event-schedule

21-23 April 2027 China International Trenchless Technology Conference and Exhibition (ITTC2027) Suzhou International Expo Center, Jiangsu, China www.istt.com/events/c898a394-6a96-462aab49-e8fd0c09bdbb

SÃO PAULO No-Dig Show São Paulo, Paulo ,Brazil Brazil www.abratt.org.br/no-dig-show-2026

2-4 November NASTT 2026 No-Dig North Canada www.nastt.org/no-dig-north/ 4-5 November No-Dig Turkiye 2026 Conference and Exhibition WOW Convention Center, Istanbul Email: info@akated.com www.nodigturkey.com 5 November 2026 Technical Day / Journée Technique in In Brussels Brussels, Belgium www.fstt.org/page-evenement/jtbruxelles-05-11-2026/ 2-3 December 2026 Trenchless Middle East 2026 Riyadh Marriott Hotel, Riyadh, Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Kingdom of Saudi Arabia www.trenchlessmiddleeast.com

21-25 March 2027 NASTT 2027 No-Dig Show Raleigh, United States www.nastt.org/no-dig-show/

11-13 October 2027 International No-Dig 2027 Bologna 11-13 October Bologna, Italy 2027 International No-Dig 2027 Bologna www.istt.com/events/a4923104-a859-43f0Bologna, Italy b30f-a8bd3935c1af www.istt.com/events/a4923104-a859-43f0b30f-a8bd3935c1af 13-14 October 2027 NSTT No-Dig Event 2027 Nijkerk, Netherlands 13-14 October 2027 NSTT No-Dig Event 2027 www.no-dig-event.nl/ Nijkerk, Netherlands www.no-dig-event.nl/ 25-27 October 2027 NASTT 2027 No-Dig North Niagara Falls, Canada 25-27 October 2027 NASTT 2027 No-Dig North www.nastt.org/no-dig-north/futureNiagara Falls, Canada locations-north/ www.nastt.org/no-dig-north/futurelocations-north/ 26-28 Sep 2028 NO-DIG Live 2028 NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire 26-28 Sep 2028 NO-DIG Live 2028 NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire

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