Business Details
Directional drilling, and other trenchless solutions are usually chosen on a project for a variety of reasons. From environmental protection through to terrain challenges, infrastructure operation and costs, a trenchless solution is often the best choice from your project and GMAC have a range of options available.
Infrastructure Continuity: Maintain road and rail and even aircraft runway operation with no requirement to disturb the main infrastructure above the utility placement. Terrain Difficulty: In locations where the existing terrain makes access with plant difficult, a trenchless solution can be the answer.
Environmental Protection: Where a sensitive area needs a utility service placed under it, be it a protected marsh, an SSSI or a river, a trenchless solution is the answer. Reinstatement Costs: One use for trenchless solutions is where reinstatement of the terrain is costly.
Infrastructure Continuity: Maintain road and rail and even aircraft runway operation with no requirement to disturb the main infrastructure above the utility placement. Terrain Difficulty: In locations where the existing terrain makes access with plant difficult, a trenchless solution can be the answer.
Environmental Protection: Where a sensitive area needs a utility service placed under it, be it a protected marsh, an SSSI or a river, a trenchless solution is the answer. Reinstatement Costs: One use for trenchless solutions is where reinstatement of the terrain is costly.
Services
About
Gmac Utilities Ltd was established over 30 years ago to provide a turn-key solution to the utilities installation industry. With the people, equipment, experience and grit that GMAC can bring to the project, it is clear that we are a supply chain partner that will compliment and support you in delivering excellent customer satisfaction on your projects.
Services
Gmac Utilities Ltd strive to find the best trenchless solution for our clients. With over 30 years experience 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 HDD
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.
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.
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.
Galashiels – Scotland
Working on behalf of A.G Wilson on a project for the Caledonia Water Alliance, GMAC Utilities Ltd were awarded the contract to place two 400mm water pipes, in two 420m shots under the sensitive River Tweed and the A7 road without causing any disruption to traffic or the environment. Using our American Augers DD440T, we took on the task and the challenging geology in the area to safely place the pipes with no environmental impact.
Cornwall – A30
GMAC Utilities Ltd were contracted by G&J Engineering on a project for Highways England in Cornwall. The project was to install a new gas main. GMAC were tasked to place the 320mm high pressure steel pipe under a roundabout on the busy A30 trunk road just outside Newquay.
Southport Beach – HDD
Gmac Utilities Ltd won the contract to place two 125mm ducts for data cables, 300m under a protected marsh on Southport beach to meet data cables being places across the Irish Sea from Northern Ireland. It was vital to maintain the integrity of the marsh and an environmental monitor was on site at all times to observe and report on the drilling activity.
HDD Reading Hydro
The Reading Hydro community project is a Community Benefit Society, set up to raise funds from shareholders to build a twin Archimedes Screw hydroelectric turbines by Caversham Weir, to take advantage of the power of the River Thames. When operational, the power from the turbines will supply customers and the profits from the sale os the power will be invested back to the shareholders and into a number of community projects in the area.
Colchester – Auger Boring
GMAC Utilities Ltd were contracted by MDS Civil Engineering to provide a new clay sewer and connect to an existing main on a Taylor Wimpy project near Colchester. The job entailed a mix of guided auger boring and timber heading work to insert the new pipes and connect to the old. The team also made the job ready for a future estate on the other side of the road.