Run your own show, without the stress
Ever wanted to experience the benefits of owning your own business, but been put off by the long hours and potential stress? Ever wanted to run your own show, but lack the capital required to start your own business? If you’re in microtunnelling and answered yes to the above question, Edge Underground Managing Director Stuart Harrison might just have the ideal solution for you. Edge Underground is Australia’s leading precision microtunnelling contractor, having installed thousands of kilometres of sewer and water lines all around Australia. Stuart Harrison is also the creator of the Vermeer AXIS guided boring system, a revolutionary...
Read More
Building elite alliances
When managing major projects, the number of individual tasks that need to be managed and actioned can seem enormous. Getting the right subcontractors on board can be a challenge; but by taking a few simple considerations on board, major contractors can ensure they assemble the best team for the job. Choosing subcontractors for major projects will usually involve a number of different factors. Beyond the usual price, there’s a number of other factors contractors should take into consideration when deciding who they want to work with. A little bit art, a little bit science, there’s a few simple things contractors...
Read More
To make the right choice, you need options
With the wide range of trenchless installation methods currently available, it is imperative that clients are provided with sound knowledge and guidance when selecting the appropriate method for their particular installation. However, more often than not, best suited methods are not utilised, meaning the potential for cost and time savings is never fully realised. Stuart Harrison from Edge Underground explains why. When it comes to choosing the appropriate trenchless installation method for projects, companies are often left without the security of unbiased knowledge regarding construction options from their contractors. The reality is, there is a wide range of trenchless options...
Read More
What you see isn’t always what you get
Understanding the prevailing ground conditions is paramount to achieving successful outcomes from microtunnelling. Planning and preparation before arriving at the job site are also key. But what happens when you arrive on site, and the ground conditions are not what you expected? Microtunnelling expert Stuart Harrison shares his tips and tricks for a successful installation when the ground conditions aren’t what they seem. There are many factors that need to be taken into account when it comes to presumed ground conditions. Is the ground hard or soft? Is clay present, and if so, what type of clay is it? What...
Read More
Pipe selection critical for accuracy
There are many reasons why people opt for a micro tunnelled pipe installation, yet the one reason that is by and large the most frequent, is the requirement for accuracy. Microtunnelling is accurate to +/-25mm, with a number of contractors commonly achieving +/-10mm accuracy on line and grade. The difference between this accuracy and the accuracy seen from pipe profiling is often going to be affected ultimately by the pipe selection. Not only will the pipe selection affect the accuracy, it will also have a major impact on skin friction and installation costs. From a contractor’s perspective, the use...
Read More
Everything you wanted to know about microtunnelling…but were afraid to ask
Microtunnelling expert Stuart Harrison has answered countless questions from the uninitiated about microtunnelling, and maintains there’s no such thing as a silly question. Here, he introduces the science and technology of microtunnelling, addressing some of the most common questions he’s asked on the job site. First things first According to Stuart, the first question he’s usually asked by those considering undertaking microtunnelling works is: “How does microtunnelling differ from other installation methods?” Microtunnelling is one of a number of trenchless installation methods currently available to project owners/builders. Others include horizontal directional drilling (HDD), thrust boring and bed boring. “All of...
Read More
AXIS guides the way
In the five years since it was launched, the AXIS guided boring system has performed countless trenchless pipe installations around the world. AXIS inventor and Edge Underground Managing Director Stuart Harrison reflects on the system’s achievements to date, and his ongoing development of this unique installation method. The Vermeer AXIS guided boring system was launched at the International No-Dig Conference in Toronto in March 2009, where it went on to win the Innovative New Product of the Year Award in the New Construction category. The AXIS system is a pit-launched trenchless installation method designed to achieve pinpoint, on-grade accuracy while...
Read More