Rolkon is a trenchless construction specialist with a team of skilled drillers and operators who together have over 50 years of drilling experience and civil engineering specialisation. These skills are brought to bear using precision machinery and specialised technology which allows Rolkon to deliver practical and efficient solutions such as those described under our Key Projects.
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a steerable trenchless method of installing underground pipelines and utilities in a prescribed path bore (straight or curved) by using a surface-launched drilling rig.
An environmentally beneficial technique, as compared to traditional cut and cover pipeline/utility installations, this method is routinely used when conventional trenching or excavating is not practical or when a minimal surface disturbance is required.
HDD can be utilised to cross any number of surface obstacles including roadways, railroads, wetlands, and water bodies of varying sizes/depths. Learn more about this process under The Rolkon Way
Ground Penetrating Radar
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is used across a range of substrates from rock to soil. Using radar pulses to image the subsurface, GPR helps the team detect often-unmapped underground utilities that can cause endless delays and additional construction costs and civil projects if not identified.
This technology and Rolkon’s skill set are applied to carry out the key trenchless services of Horizontal Directional Drilling and Moling /Grundomat Soil Displacement.
Grundomat Soil Displacement / Moling
In Moling or Grundomat Soil Displacement, pneumatically-driven hammers work according to the soil displacement method, when moving forward the spoil is displaced into the surrounding soil. A channel is produced into which socketless short or long pipes up to OD 160 made of plastic (LDPE) or cables can be pulled in.
Depending on the type of soil, pipe lengths of up to 25m can either be pulled in simultaneously or later. A compressor with 6 – 7 bar operating pressure is required for this, with the exact alignment of the machine towards the target necessary for high on-target accuracy.
What Is Trenchless Construction?
Trenchless construction is the technique by which a pipe, duct or cable can be installed underground without disturbing service structures such as roads, pavements and driveways, thereby avoiding the disruption caused by traditional open trenching methods.
Using Directional Drilling or Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) techniques, this unique offering provides a much-needed non-invasive tunnelling service for underground pipelines for sewer and water; fibre optic installation, and electrical sleeving. This to industries such as developers/consulting engineers/contractors/municipalities and parastatals.