ORFEUS field trial news

The development phases of the project are complete, and demonstration field trials, on live sites, have commenced.

Activities started in the test site of Tracto Technik in Lennestadt, Germany with a gentle work-out of the equipment to test the radar and communications systems before committing to working with contractors on commercial projects.

So far, two trials have been undertaken on live sites, in Stuttgart and Paris, with a third planned in Slovenia during August. In the Paris trial, the radar detected an undocumented electricity cable in the path of the drill head (verified by excavation), and a collision was avoided. We believe that this may be the first instance of accidental damage being prevented by the use of HDD radar during a commercial drilling operation. The job resulted in the successful installation of a new water main in an urban situation.