MICROTUNNELLING

AUGER BORING
PIPE JACKING
BOX CULVERT JACKING
TUNNEL SUPPORT CANOPIES

CAPABILITY STATEMENT
PO Box 810 Helensvale QLD 4212 AUSTRALIA
Ph : 1300 TUNNEL (886635)
Mobile: 0439 449250
www.tunnelcorp.com.au
E Mail: contact@tunnelcorp.com.au
ABN: 84 123 139 113

COMPANY PROFILE
Tunnelcorp is an established trenchless technology company bringing together some of the best of the
industrys operators and equipped with world class equipment. It has offices in NSW and Queensland and
operates throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Tunnelcorps trenchless equipment is capable of installing pipes from 300mm to 3 metres diameter and box
culverts in most configurations for pedestrian / cycleways and trafficable tunnels. Steel, concrete, VC, HDPE
or GRP pipes can be installed using our trenchless systems.
The success of Tunnelcorp is due to the ability and effectiveness of its operations and management team and
skilled workers. The company specialises in completing high accuracy long distance micro-tunnelling and pipe
jacking projects. Tunnelcorp has the equipment and human resources to undertake just the trenchless
component of a project or provide a total turnkey solution encompassing shaft construction, drilling, pipe
insertion, grouting, manhole construction and restoration.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Tunnelcorp has a strong in house project management capability to ensure a quality product is provided within
budget and on time. The company can provide stand alone specialist trenchless technology capabilities or
undertake turnkey projects encompassing shaft construction, manhole installation and restoration.

OHSE&R
Tunnelcorp is committed to Occupational Health and Safety procedures to ensure we can provide every
employee, contractor or visitor with a safe and healthy working environment. We provide our sites with
Standard Operating Procedures, Risk Assessments and Job Safety Analysis Worksheets.
Our procedures report any accidents, incidents or near misses. Each of these events are investigated, reviewed
and the appropriate action taken to avoid repeat occurrences. The company operates an Integrated
Management System (IMS) that encompasses OHSE&R.

ENVIRONMENTAL
Tunnelcorp operates under the guidelines of our environmental policy. The company operates an Integrated
Management System (IMS) that encompasses Environmental Management Plans.

INSURANCE
Tunnelcorp Pty Ltd carries a $20 million Public Liability insurance policy and appropriate Workers
Compensation insurance.

QUALITY SYSTEM
Tunnelcorp operates an Integrated Management System (IMS).

NCOP COMPLIANCE
Tunnelcorp is NCOP Compliant and has an approved Enterprise Agreement valid to 30th November, 2013.

LASER GUIDED MICRO-TUNNELLING

Herrenknecht AVN700 slurry laser guided microtunneller
700mm, 860mm, 975mm diameter
Up to 180m in length
Custom VAC001 laser guided vacuum laser guided microtunneller
400mm, 500mm, 600mm diameter
Up to 150m in length
Custom VAC003 laser guided vacuum laser guided microtunneller
600mm, 750mm, 900mm, 1,000mm, 1200mm diameter
Up to 150m in length
Microtunnelling is classed as non man entry boring using laser guidance for accuracy and steering.
Tunnelcorps machines can drill in varying ground conditions from very soft formations to hard rock and is
used for high accuracy, fine grade gravity sewers, stormwater systems, and water, oil and gas pipelines.
Tunnelcorp operates three laser guided microtunnelling machines utilising various forms of spoil extraction
and face control. Tunnelcorp uses both slurry extraction and vacuum extraction microtunnellers providing us
with the capability to operate in most types of ground conditions and below the water table.
Our Herrenknecht AVN700 is capable of working below the water table and has been configured with a
trailing can slurry pump. Most smaller diameter machines rely on only the shaft slurry pump to pump the
slurry to the face and return the slurry to the launch shaft. The trailing can pump boosts the slurry flow at the
face on the return line allowing us to complete longer bores up to 180m in length.
Tunnelcorp manufactures vacuum extraction microtunnelling machines in its own manufacturing facility.
The newest addition is a high capacity vacuum unit driven by a 350 hp Caterpillar diesel engine powering a
5250 cfm vacuum system capable of drilling to 1200mm diameter.
Vacuum machines are high production multi functional machines which can drill either with or without a
product or encasing pipe. This versatility allows the extraction of the drilling can to change teeth or entire
cutting heads to cope with varying ground conditions as the bore proceeds.

New 2010 Vacuum System and Tank

PIPE JACKING
Tunnelcorp is capable of installing pipes from 1,050mm to 3000mm diameter using pipe jacking
techniques. Tunnelcorp operates Herrenknecht electro/hydraulic powerpacks and thrust rams that can
deliver up to 1600 tonnes of thrust with a 3.2m stroke. Long distance drives can be achieved, up to
250m in length, using intermediate jacking stations. Either rotating cutters or mini-excavators are
used to cut the formation with spoil removal via skips, conveyors, continuous flight augers or
vacuum, depebding on ground conditions and length of bore.

BOX CULVERT JACKING

PEDESTRIAN / CYCLEWAYS & TRAFFICABLE UNDERPASSES
Tunnelcorp is capable of installing box culverts for utilisation on stormwater systems, combined pedestrian /
bicycle access ways and vehicular traffic tunnels.
Government Authorities have announced an ambitious rollout plan to construct urban cycleways throughout
Australia. Inevitably these cycleways will encounter immovable objects such as roads and railways that have
to be traversed. Tunnelcorp can jack box culvert sections under obstructions without interruption to road or
rail traffic.
Tunnelcorps 1600 tonne jacking system is used to install either pre cast box sections or cast in situ culverts
using various types of excavation equipment at the cutting face. The cutting shield is monitored by two laser
stations and hydraulic steering rams provide all directional steering. In some applications bond breaker roof
systems relieve the adhesion to the material above ensuring the surface structures are not distorted by the
structure being jacked forward.
The project depicted below involved the installation of 40m x 4600mm x 3800mm box culvert sections in
mixed ground conditions with a face rock content up to 80% of the surface area. Each 2.4m long segment
weighed 22 tonnes.

AUGER BORING
American Augers 36-600 auger borer (new)
300mm to 900mm diameter
Up to 100m in length
American Augers 42-600 auger borer (new)
300mm to 1100mm diameter
Up to 100m in length
Custom hydraulic auger borer
300mm to 900mm diameter
Up to 80m in length
Tunnelcorp recently purchased two new American Augers auger boring machines. These machines
compliment the other auger boring machines in Tunnelcorps fleet.
The installation of pipes using auger boring is a tried and proven technology that has been used for over 50
years throughout the world.
Tunnelcorp can install bores from 300 mm to 1100 mm diameter and up to 100 m in length, depending on
ground conditions. Bores can be completed in most types of ground conditions ranging from sands to hard
rock.
Historically auger boring was used for the installation of underground infrastructure that did not require high
accuracy grades. This is no longer the case with the use of hydrostatic levels, walkover electronic tracking
systems and high accuracy pilot hole systems to monitor line and grade.
Tunnelcorps auger boring machines can install steel or concrete pipes, as the cutting head progresses
minimizing the risk of subsidence. These pipes can be used as the product pipe or an encasing pipe.
Alternatively an encasing pipe can be installed to accept a smaller diameter carrier pipe or multiple services. In
this instance the annular space is usually grout filled.
In rock the bores can be completed with the installation of a pilot hole followed by a larger diameter cutter.
Normally an encasing pipe is not installed as the bore progresses with the product pipe installed in an open
borehole. Alternatively an encasing pipe can be installed as the cutting head progresses. Retractable cutters are
used to allow cutter changes during the advancement of the bore.

Tunnelcorp purchased two new American Augers units in October, 2009

TUNNEL SUPPORT CANOPIES (MICRO-PILES)

In July 2010 Tunnelcorp completed the largest tunnel support canopy structure completed in Australia
and one of the largest in the world. The project at the Airport Link site in Brisbane involved the
installation of 48 off 762mm OD steel casings averaging 52m in length. A total of 2,536m of pipe was
installed, clutched together, to form a canopy to support six live rail lines whilst two box culverts are
jacked under the rail.
The installation of multiple bores is an accepted construction method used as a temporary or permanent
support structure for the installation of larger diameter tunnels, box culverts and pipes. Tunnelcorp can install
multiple bores using auger boring or micro-tunnelling techniques, across the roof and if required down the
walls of the final tunnel structure.
The bores can vary from 150 mm to 1200 mm diameter. Depending on ground conditions, the pipes are
usually installed with a 50-70 mm separation between pipe walls. Alternatively the pipes can be attached to
each other with clutches during installation. Clutching the pipes reduces the possibility of material falling
from above the pipe canopy into the excavated tunnel during construction.
The pipe canopy minimises the risk of subsidence of the structure above the proposed tunnel during
excavation. The pipes can be used as a temporary support by filling with grout or where the bore is used as a
structural component a steel reinforcing cage can be installed into each bore and the bore filled with concrete.

Airport Link Brisbane July 2010

Airport Link Brisbane July 2010