Herrenknecht has delivered an E-Power Pipe machine to Heitkamp Construction Swiss to tackle obstacles like rivers and infrastructure during grid expansion projects in Germany.
This technology allows for fast and safe underground installation of cable protection pipes over distances exceeding 1km, said Herrenknecht. The E-Power Pipe eliminates the need for trenches.
Heitkamp Construction Swiss will use it for grid expansion projects, including the SuedLink extra-high voltage direct current transmission line starting in April 2025.
The work will be done in various construction lots and sections. To support this, Heitkamp Construction Swiss has established a new subsidiary in Germany, Heitkamp Energy Infra.
Germany-based Herrenknecht said trenchless technologies protect nature reserves, recreational areas, groundwater zones, landscapes, and valuable agricultural land.
The company provides a variety of tunnelling, drilling, and laying solutions for these challenges.
The E-Power Pipe method enables trenchless installation of protective pipes at shallow depths. It allows for the quick, safe, and precise laying of both pressure-resistant and non-pressure-resistant product pipes over distances up to 2km.
This two-phase process combines proven horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and pipe jacking techniques.
HEITKAMP Construction Swiss CEO Philipp Kohlschreiber said: “The planned bores must be very precise, with some very low and some very high overburden.
“The longest planned route is about 1,600m long and under difficult conditions.”
The centrepiece of the E-Power Pipe is the AVNS350XB jacking machine, which is a fully remote-controlled system designed for lengths over 1,000m and a drilling diameter of 505mm.
The machine can drill at minimal distances of just 1-2m, allowing multiple lines to be laid in parallel.
Equipped with a jet pump and integrated hydraulic unit, the AVNS350XB overcomes previous limitations in cramped spaces. The jet pump enables efficient excavated material removal, allowing for jacking distances up to 10 times longer than conventional methods.
A thrust unit is positioned at the starting point to push the jacking pipes and machine along the predetermined alignment toward the target point.
The prefabricated cable protection pipe is then attached to the jacking pipes and pulled back through the launch shaft using the thrust unit, completing the installation of the E-Power Pipe.
Herrenknecht E-Power Pipe product manager Maximilian Bischoff said: “E-Power Pipe combines the advantages of micro tunnelling and HDD, thus complementing our product portfolio.”
