HammerHead Trenchless, a leading manufacturer of trenchless installation, rehabilitation, and replacement solutions for underground utility infrastructure, has released the newest addition to their product line: The PortaBurst® PB30X.

The PB30X is a portable, cost-effective and efficient method of replacing 2″ to 6″ lateral pipes in a minimum amount of time, with up to 30 tons of pulling force. “Through extensive research and development, we were able to create a system that is 125 lbs. lighter than its predecessor, while maintaining the same power,” said Mark Randa, Sr. Manager of Research, Development & Engineering of HammerHead Trenchless.

Along with being lighter than HammerHead’s previous downhole unit, the PB30X prioritizes portability and breaks down into three components. According to Randa, this allows for easy carrying into basements and overall transportation of the unit.

Having the PB30X on a jobsite provides versatility as the unit can burst sewer laterals and slit water and gas services. “With a second jaw set and 3/8” cable, this unit can be used to slit plastic and lead water services,” said Randa.

To accompany the new PB30X, HammerHead Trenchless has also released the newest hydraulic control unit, the PB13X. The PB13X comes equipped with a new tethered controller or optional wireless controller to allow the operator to be close to the pit while the control unit is further away. “Our team spent time on with customers on their job sites and saw that flexibility is key to any job site and whether they use the tethered or wireless controller, we now provide that needed flexibility,” said Randa. “Our patent pending jaw system was created to increase speed and efficiency on the jobsite while making the unit versatile to allow for bursting and slitting,” he added.

To continue to provide flexibility to customers, HammerHead is now providing stackable extraction cages and an extended Quick Grip® Burst Head line covering 2-to-6-inch options. “The stackable extraction cages now allow to fully pull in a 6-inch burst head,” said Randa. “And the new burst head line can burst through any fracturable pipe and negotiate 45-degree bends,” he added.

The PB30X, PB13X, and additional components are all available for purchase at hammerheadshop.com

The St. Louis Road Tour host, Jeff Urbanski.

Mechanical Hub recently caught up with the HammerHead Trenchless team at its St. Louis stop on the HammerHead Road Tour 2024. There, around 35 contractors took in this “lunch and learn”-type setting to get more acquainted with HammerHead product and service offerings. Right from the jump, there was a high priority on safety. “Safety is the foundation of everything we do,” says Jeff Urbanski, senior manager, training and marketing with HammerHead—and our trenchless professor for the day.

Of interest to the Mechanical Hub team were the three live demos—assisted by Thomas Davies, application specialist—which started with CIPP point repairs, which included the point repair process with a standard packer wrapped in fiberglass coated in resin inserted into a PVC DWV pipe.

Thomas Davies prepares the standard packer wrapped in a resin-coated fiberglass sheath.

Next, the group ventured outside to watch the lateral clay pipe bursting demo— initiated by Nate Hrabosky, regional sales manager and assisted by Davies—using HammerHead’s PortaBurst PB30 machine. The rugged PortaBurst system replaces 2 to 6″ lateral pipes with up to 30-tons of pulling force.

And saving perhaps the best for last, attendees get to see Hammerhead’s proprietary BlueLight LED CIPP lining system in full effect. The Bluelight LED CIPP lining system for laterals and small drain pipes is the most advanced light-curing system available. The LED light head up to five times faster than other methods. The specially formulated resin only cures under light in the “blue” wavelength, giving installers a significantly longer working time between liner wet-out and curing. Once installed, the automated curing system pulls the LED light head through the liner, curing the resin almost instantly—up to five times faster than other methods. Instead of waiting hours for the liner to cure, a 50-foot sewer line could be fully cured in under 10 minutes.

Nate Hrabosky readies the PortaBurst PB30 machine for a clay pipe bursting demo.

In fact, contractor friend Diego Lujan, president, Alphalete Plumbing Drain & Sewer Rehab (@alphalete_plumbing_drain_sewer), Colorado Springs, Colo., gives high marks for the Bluelight CIPP system. “At Alphalete Plumbing, we absolutely love using the HammerHead Translucent Blue Light CIPP Liner Cure Machine. It’s been a complete game-changer for us,” says Lujan.

“The speed and efficiency this machine delivers are unparalleled, making pipeline repairs easier, more reliable, and environmentally friendly. We can’t imagine using anything else—it’s forever our go-to for trenchless technology.”

Urbanski discusses BlueLight’s diagnostics and intuitive touchscreen interface, which is easy to learn and operate. Simply input the job specs and the system will automatically set pull-back speed.

The Road Tour is a great way to get up close and personal with HammerHead products. Nonetheless, the team is equally as excited to get on job sites across the country as well. “We love being on job sites, and we love solving problems,” says Urbanski.

Be sure to check out HammerHead on the road.

Remaining HammerHead Road Tour

• Raleigh, N.C. — July 16
• Des Moines, Iowa — July 23
• Salt Lake City — August 27
• Lake Mills, Wis. — More info coming soon!

HammerHead ® Trenchless attended the 2023 Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show at the Indianapolis
Convention Center, Feb. 21 through Feb. 23, 2023. Among its show
highlights, the company hosted 12 live product demonstrations that span three focal areas, including a real-time Bluelight LED lining demonstration in the Live Demo area of the WWETT Show floor.

HammerHead application specialists will perform a 20-foot above-ground, air inversion CIPP demonstration, utilizing the most advanced light-curing system available: Bluelight LED. During the 30-minute demonstration, guests will experience the lateral lining process from inversion to cure.

The first, “CIPP Technologies,” explores common approaches to cured-in-place practices and quality testing measures to ensure resilience. The second, “HydraSlitter Lead Pipe Replacement,” showcases a new product solution for the nationwide drive to replace lead and copper pipes.

“It’s always been a focus of HammerHead to share knowledge and best practices within the industry,” said Jeff Gabrielse, general manager, HammerHead Trenchless. “We have tremendous in-house expertise, so these live demonstrations are the ideal platform for sharing – and even gaining – insight from customers.”

Gabrielse added, “Another facet of our booth is an area dedicated to HHU Online. Our training and certification program is unmatched in the industry and the new online platform is an extension of our in-person offering.” HammerHead University Online launched in December 2022 and features free online courses, covering a variety of HammerHead products and applications from company experts.

In addition to sharing new products, updates to current products and live
demonstrations, the HammerHead booth featured a new experience in the form of shopping kiosks. “We’ll have kiosks set up, enabling customers to place online orders directly in the booth,” Gabrielse said. “So, customers will order at WWETT and have the items at their shop when they return home,” he added.

About the Bluelight LED CIPP Lining System

The newly redesigned Bluelight LED CIPP lining system for laterals and small drain pipes is the most advanced light-curing system available. The innovative technology empowers CIPP lining pros by alleviating the time pressures of other CIPP systems. The specially formulated resin only cures under light in the “blue” wavelength, giving installers a significantly longer working time between liner wet-out and curing. Once installed, the automated curing system pulls the LED light head through the liner – curing the resin almost instantly – up to five times faster than other methods.

About The HydraSlitter System

Making its WWETT Show debut, HydraSlitter is a compact kitted system that uses the company’s Same Path® Technology method to replace lead pipes without digging, minimizing the impact to a property. This simple, efficient way to replace lead pipes is critical as communities tackle the problem of lead contaminants in drinking water.

For more information on HammerHead Trenchless visit www.hammerheadtrenchless.com or to speak with a customer service representative call 800-331-6653.