GMAC Utilities Ltd

Specialists In Directional Drilling And Trenchless Techniques

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At GMAC Utilities Ltd, we understand the importance of finding the right solution for your project. That’s why we offer a range of trenchless options to choose from. Our directional drilling and other trenchless solutions are designed to meet a variety of project needs, from environmental protection to terrain challenges and infrastructure continuity.

With our expertise and experience in ecologically sensitive areas, we can help you maintain road and rail operation, even aircraft runways, without disturbing the main infrastructure above the utility placement. We can also provide solutions for difficult terrain and costly reinstatement.

Trenchless Services
Gmac Utilities Ltd strive to find the best trenchless solution for our clients.
With over 30 years experience of trenchless services in the utilities industry, our knowledgeable team will work with you to find the best solution for your task.

Contact us to talk about your project and find the right solution the will be the best for the environment, health and safety and budget.

Horizontal Directional Drilling
Horizontal directional drilling, HDD, can be a useful and cost effective solution when utility placement is required in difficult locations. Open trench solutions have many limitations when terrain is difficult or infrastructure is in the way. Importantly, Horizontal Directional Drilling can go places open cut options cannot.

What is Electro Fusion?
Electro Fusion / Butt Fusion.

To compliment our Directional Drilling and trenchless techniques, we operate a range of automatic/semi-automatic fusion welders and electrofusion.

These include 6m/12m sticks and 100m coils of MDPE and HPPE pipes from 63mm to 600mm.

Auger Boring
Auger Boring is a jack and bore trenchless method of installing pipe, generally steel but can be used with specific clay pipes etc.

A pit is dug either side of the work area to allow for plant machinery used in the boring procedure.

This method uses an auger (or helicoil) inside the steel casing, which reduces the likelihood of ground settlement from the excavation. As the auger is drilling the excess soil is transferred out of the pipe and the steel pipe remains in situ . Once installed the next length of pipe is welded to the end and the process continues until all the pipe is installed. In other methods, the steel pipe is pushed through by a permanent clay pipe to be reused. This method is a popular solution to install utilities where settlement is an issue, like railways, and roads and is a popular alternative when HDD cannot be used for a variety of reasons.

Unlike other boring methods, auger boring doesn’t create any slurry and is sometimes referred to as ‘dry boring’.

Advantages of Vacuum Excavation:
This is the safest method of excavation around power cables and other utilities without the risk of damage to the utility or danger of injury to the operator.
The excavated material is contained in the vehicle rather than deposited on the side of the trench which is important in confined spaces.

Percussion Moling
Percussion moling is an alternative to open cut trenches where smaller diameter pipes are placed over shorter distances and avoids the need for HDD machines.

With moling, a smaller pit than with HDD is usually dug either side of the area to the tunnelled, occasionally additional pits may be required but this would be discussed on the site visit.

A pneumatic mole then forces its way along the determined route under the supervision and control of our expert crew. The mole leaves a smooth bore hole into which the required pipe is place.

What is Shaft Sinking?
This is an option to aid tunnelling when there is no access initially to the bottom. This is often used in civil engineering projects as a start, access, or end point of a horizontal tunnel. It allows for personnel, equipment and ventilation access. Due to the risks involved in this method, hiring a skilled and experience company to provide a safe excavation service is essential.

Timber Heading
In the most basic of terms, timber heading is a traditional horizontal technique whereby timber sets are used to support a tunnel construction. Usually hand dug, the method hasn’t really changed in decades and is a skill unto itself.
A timber heading would usually be used when open cut isn’t an option and HDD or auger boring are not suitable. This could be for a number of reasons from maintaining access to the services in the tunnel through to needing to connect into an existing utility system.

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