Project of the Year - New Installation

Winner: PBG SA and Hobas Systems Polska

The PBG Group installed a large collector system, owned by MPWiK-Warsaw and located in an urbanised area of Warsaw. The Czajka microtunnelling project installed a pipeline system that collects wastewater previously untreated and transports it to a new wastewater treatment plant.

The pipe selected for this project was HOBAS CC-GRP pipe. This project established a number of records – world’s largest CC-GRP pipe, length of total project (5,700 m) and length of single drive (930 m). The contractor was able to achieve tight grade tolerances of 0.55 per cent and high production rates of 36 m per day, at peak, at lower cost than open cut with minimal impacts on city life and the environment.

Project of the Year - Rehabilitation

Winner: Stroitelna Mehanizatsia AD

Sofijska Voda, the operator of the Sofia water and sewer system, needed to restore a 1,220 mm diameter thin-walled steel water pipeline, which had been out of service since the mid 1990s. The 850 m project was located in a densely populated district with narrow rights-of-way.

The project had to be completed within 40 days, without unduly restricting access to residential property, and in temperatures that were routinely well below freezing. A semi-structural liner using cured-in-place pipe was chosen.

An additional challenge emerged when the contractor discovered the inversion system lacked the capacity to handle some of the sections to be rehabilitated. The contractor designed, built and tested a new inversion vessel and had it ready to use in three weeks. The project, which was completed successfully on time, has won over the customer on the merits of Trenchless Technology.

Academic Research & Course of the Year

Winner: University of Geosciences – Wuhan

Professor Baosong Ma, University of Geosciences – Wuhan, has established a 40-hour course on the Science of Trenchless Engineering (STE). The course structure includes lectures, laboratories, and tutorials on all aspects of Trenchless Technology.

Since it was establish in 2004, more than 300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students have taken the STE course. Professor Ma’s STE course has an outstanding reputation and has contributed to the advancement of trenchless practices in China. In 2010, the course received awards for academic achievement from the Chinese Ministry of Education and China University of Geosciences – Wuhan.

Product of the Year

Winner: Hydrascan Limited

Hydrascan Limited has developed the Typhoon, a pipe cleaning system that uses water pressure for propulsion and to clean water mains. Hydro jets power the Typhoon away from the launch point to a predetermined target area.

An onboard valve switches the pressurised water from propulsion to cleaning via a radially arranged system of manifolds and fan jets. The bulk of the water used in cleaning is recycled, solids are removed and the clean water reused in the next cleaning run. The cleaning system is fully adjustable and highly controllable. The system has a 500 m range, requires only one access point and can clean upstream and downstream as well as up to valve faces.

Student Paper of the Year

Winner: Haitao Lan, University of Geosciences – Wuhan

Haitao Lan, a student in the College of Engineering, University of Geosciences – Wuhan, presents the results of his research to better characterise the predictability of torque requirements and reamer selection in large diameter pipe installation using horizontal directional drilling in rock strata.

Mr Lan developed a new predictive model for estimating rotational torque in large diameter HDD operations. The model included reamer size as a variable, which improved the accuracy of rotational torque estimates, and provides a means for analysing and selecting the appropriate reamer for projects with similar geological conditions.

Bob Westphal recognised: Person of the Year

A highlight of the NASTT No-Dig Show in Washington, D.C., was the recognition of Michels Corporation Senior Vice President of Construction Operations Bob Westphal as the 2011 Trenchless Technology Person of the Year.

Mr Westphal has been with Michels since 1965 and currently oversees Michels Pipeline Construction, Michels Directional Crossings, Michels Pipe Services and Michels Canada.

Michels Corporation President Pat Michels said “Bob has been a valued employee of the Michels family for more than 45 years and has been instrumental in Michels entering the horizontal directional drilling business. He is a highly respected individual in the trenchless technology industry and we are very proud of him and his accomplishments. We’re extremely pleased that he is being recognised and is receiving this illustrious, well deserved award.”

Mr Westphal was presented with his award at the NASTT Kick-off Breakfast. He was joined by his wife, Jone, his four sons and their partners, and other valued members of the Michels team.

“I am so very humbled by this,” Mr Westphal said. “I am joining a very prestigious group of individuals who have been chosen over the years. When you are awarded something like this, there really aren’t words that you can put forth to describe how you really feel.”

Congratulations, Bob!

Michels Corporation has been pioneering innovative new technologies for more than five decades. With a proven track record of success, Michels has earned a sterling reputation while growing from a small pipeline construction company into one of the largest utility contractors in North America.

For more information, please visit www.michels.us or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)