The landscape for microtunnelling is changing and as Edge Underground founder Stuart Harrison says, the benefits are adding up.
For decades, microtunnelling was a pipe installation method reserved for complex crossings and those projects where open trenching was not possible.
Challenging ground conditions, high-density urban environments, or existing utilities made trenchless the only option.
With advancements in efficiency, cost reductions, and continuous innovation, trenchless methods are now competing head-to-head with open trenching on projects that once would never have been considered for microtunnelling.
Breaking tradition
Stuart Harrison, Founder of Edge Underground and CEO of OptionX Group, says it is no longer acceptable to default to open trenching for many projects.
“It used to be the case that microtunnelling automatically added huge costs to pipeline installation compared to an open trench. It needed stronger and more expensive pipes, reinforced shafts and could fail or be significantly delayed when unexpected ground conditions were encountered,” said Harrison.
“That’s just not the case anymore. Machines like the AdaptX are more powerful but use lower jacking forces, so the shafts and pipes are not placed under as much pressure, and therefore don’t need the reinforcements of the past. This means an extra cost of microtunnelling is all but eliminated, making it an attractive option for more and more jobs.”
One example he cites is a current project in South Australia. By all accounts, the site is ideal for open trenching: plenty of space, minimal residential impact, and straightforward access. Yet trenchless was chosen as the preferred method, he says
“The reason? When using AdaptX, Edge Underground’s advanced microtunnelling system, trenchless can now compete with open trench on cost, time, and accuracy” Harrison says
“This shift represents a fundamental change in how the industry approaches pipeline installation. Microtunnelling is no longer a niche solution but a mainstream option.”
At the heart of this evolution are innovations like vacuum extraction and the AdaptX system. By immediately removing broken ground, vacuum technology reduces jacking forces and prevents regrind, saving time and minimising wear on equipment. AdaptX builds on this by giving operators flexibility in mixed ground conditions and real-time visibility with dual-camera guidance, further reducing downtime and risk.
Together, these advances deliver speed, precision, and reliability that rival, and now often surpass, open cut methods.
Advantages beyond the numbers
While cost and time are crucial, trenchless also brings environmental, community, and safety benefits. A compact site setup allows equipment to operate in the width of a single traffic lane, maintaining urban flow where open trenching would disrupt communities. Reduced spoil, less surface disturbance, and safer worksites add further weight to trenchless as the responsible choice for modern infrastructure projects.
The adoption of trenchless in projects once reserved for open cut is a huge step forward for the industry. As innovation continues, the scope for microtunnelling will only grow.
Edge Underground and OptionX Group say they remain committed to pushing these boundaries, demonstrating through real-world projects that trenchless is not just the solution of last resort, but often the best first choice.
Do you have news for the international trenchless industry? Contact journalist Gerald Lynch at gerald.lynch@primecreative.com.au
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