Versatile test boreholing rig from Central Alliance

A new modular rig from Central Alliance is said to opens access to areas that would otherwise be difficult to reach with conventional equipment. The firm says it has designed and built an innovative modular rig for use on difficult access areas. The modular rig was constructed in-house by Central Alliance’s development department, and can complete all the operations possible with a tracked rig including Standard Penetration Tests (SPT) and Cone Penetration Tests (CPT) at 1m intervals, U38, U70, U100 and U
May 22, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
The versatile borehole test rig from central Alliance can be used in difficult to access areas
A new modular rig from Central Alliance is said to opens access to areas that would otherwise be difficult to reach with conventional equipment. The firm says it has designed and built an innovative modular rig for use on difficult access areas.


The modular rig was constructed in-house by 8653 Central Alliance’s development department, and can complete all the operations possible with a tracked rig including Standard Penetration Tests (SPT) and Cone Penetration Tests (CPT) at 1m intervals, U38, U70, U100 and U100T sampling, dynamic sampling, dynamic probing (DPSH and DPH) and simultaneous casing of boreholes.

The rig is powered by a portable hydraulic power pack, which can be operated approximately 10m away from the rig, and with a mast height of just 2.1m, it is suitable for working below OHLE structures as well as requiring a base area of just 1.5m by 1m.

The firm says that the modular rig has been used already on a number of projects with many more scheduled. The unit’s versatility is said to open up new geotechnical opportunities especially on limited headroom sites, under bridges or on embankments and cuttings for roads. Meanwhile its compact size and construction also allows the unit to be used inside buildings or tunnels.

Road Structures

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Technology makes materials testing quicker and easier
    February 14, 2012
    Sophisticated technology is now being used to make the testing of a wide variety of materials quicker and easier as Patrick Smith reports. Ever since the CE mark became mandatory for asphalt mixes, it also became necessary and important to update the testing equipment and systems used for testing such materials.
    Read More
  • Innovative reinforcement for weak roads
    May 9, 2012
    An innovative solution was put forward to support slip roads on a Dutch motorway. Patrick Smith reports. The 2010 opening of the A7 motorway extension on the southern ring road of the city of Sneek, The Netherlands, brings an end to local traffic misery. By using innovative Tensar Geocell Foundation Mattress technology over weak estuarine clay, MNO-Vervat Noord, the main contractor, constructed a key junction and its slip roads in weeks instead of months, with considerable cost savings.
    Read More
  • Innovative reinforcement for weak roads
    April 10, 2012
    An innovative solution was put forward to support slip roads on a Dutch motorway. Patrick Smith reports The 2010 opening of the A7 motorway extension on the southern ring road of the city of Sneek, The Netherlands, brings an end to local traffic misery. By using innovative Tensar Geocell Foundation Mattress technology over weak estuarine clay, MNO-Vervat Noord, the main contractor, constructed a key junction and its slip roads in weeks instead of months, with considerable cost savings. The conversion
    Read More
  • Work on St Petersburg bridge project
    June 20, 2016
    Contractor ICA Construction used two Aquajet robotic hydrodemolition machines at the top of a 120m-high bridge pylon located in the city of St Petersburg. The two Aquajet robotic water cutters were used to remove surplus concrete from around the inner steel structure of the bridge pylon. This link spans the River Neva and forms part of the Western High-Speed Diameter (WHSD) route in St Petersburg. The WHSD is a highly important route for the region and will provide a key connection between the Scandinavi
    Read More

Highlighted Content