The company bases its machine designs on requirements and needs specified directly by the No-Dig contractors.

In 2008, the increasing need for more power from the pipe replacement industry, resulted in the manufacturing of the T400 – a 400 metric tonne pipe bursting machine. Today the T400 stands as the biggest machine of its kind in the world.

When working in a 1 m manhole, having a large machine will not provide a practical solution for the problem. These problems can include upgrading an existing pipeline, between two manholes, without any excavation. Until now, CIPP or sliplining has been used due to the lack of available and functional equipment specifically designed for upgrading existing pipelines between manholes.

In some cases the pipelines should not have been renovated, because of poor structural conditions and lack of capacity, but should have been automatically replaced with new polyethylene pipes instead.

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A new machine is on the market, setting new standards and precedence for what can possibly be done underground in between manholes.

The mini-T

To date, this unique product is the smallest and most compact static machine ever produced, with 37 metric tonnes of pulling force.

The mini-T can replace and upgrade existing pipes, where digging is impossible, with its unique combination of size and power.

Following a new line of technology developed by the Scandinavian No-Dig Centre in Denmark, the machine design is based on years of underground experience.

Fully assembled in a vertical loading position, the machine is able to go through an open standard sized manhole cover. The machine is then easily positioned up against the 1 m concrete ring. Once it has cleared the half-metre entry hole, it is ready for work.

Sectional HDPE pipe would be best suited for the manhole-to-manhole applications as the technology relies on the pipe’s structural strength to support the expansion and work made by the bursting head during the upgrade.

The importance of this new product can be underlined by the amount of positive response from the industry.

The second largest water municipal in Russia, St. Petersburg Water-board, has recently invested in three mini-T systems.

This investment from the St. Petersberg Waterboard could mean a change in Russian rehabilitation strategy, which to date has focused on large diameter pipes and even bigger transmission lines.

Small diameter pipes located beneath the congested road networks often cause a series of problems, and after 60 years in the ground, whether it is water, sewage or gas, there isn’t much left worth saving. The most critical thing is the structural condition of the pipe.