Tunnelling Specialist Supplier of the Year

This award is open to any specialist supplier working with companies that design or construct tunnels or deliver tunnelling related infrastructure. You could be providing a specialist product, material, software, app, professional service or advice that supports the tunnelling work itself or the skills needed to undertake the work.

Cemex UK and Normet UK

Cemex Dry Mortar Europe Specialist Solutions in partnership with Normet UK has developed a groundbreaking, high-performance, lower carbon product innovation: Vertua Lower Carbon Sprayed Concrete, which offers a 25.4 % carbon reduction compared with traditional like-for-like sprayed concrete product applications. The innovative new product solution was developed specifically for challenging site conditions on the Balfour Beatty Vinci JV, HS2, Long Itchington & Bromford tunnel design, as part of Cemex and Normet’s ongoing commitment to sustainable, product development. Climate action demands the industry to work together to embed new ambitious technologies with urgency - Vertua Lower Carbon Sprayed Concrete is testament to tireless collaboration across multiple disciplines in the pursuit of lower carbon end-to-end delivery and design excellence.

Geoptic Infrastructure Investigations

Geoptic is an innovative provider of the muon tunnel imaging services. Geoptic’s technology provides a three dimensional view of railway tunnel overburden, similar to a medical x-ray computed tomography 3D image, showing in clear detail the presence of density anomalies such as voids and concealed shafts; an impactful first for the UK in assuring the tunnel safety in the UK. The Geoptic team have had a breakthrough year, disrupting geophysical approaches for near-tunnel ground characterisation and monitoring across the breadth of closely-related tunnel engineering disciplines. The company’s work includes: The completion of two major programmes of muon tunnel surveys for shaft detection for Network Rail; digital modelling of an underground international nuclear waste disposal site to advise on the technology’s ability to enhance safety and security; and the development of a new, compact, downhole muon imaging system for density imaging near tunnels from the surface.

Joseph Gallagher

Joseph Gallagher is a unique UK subcontractor with a comprehensive tunnelling fleet, offering non-destructive methods for tunnels, underground utilities, and infrastructure. Operating both nationally and internationally, our team has vast experience in projects ranging from heavy civil engineering, like HS2's reinforced concrete packages, to bespoke cast-in-situ shafts. Our Design offices in Leeds and Lebanon enable early project involvement, providing efficient, cost-effective design and constructability advice. Known for innovation, we adapt techniques to urban constraints, exemplified by our HS2 and Old Oak Common projects. Collaborating on prestigious projects like Thames Tideway and London Power Tunnels 2, we emphasise collaborative planning, holding regular sessions to optimise project sequences. Our commitment to technical excellence, innovation and achieving milestones with a "Right First Time Approach" ensures client satisfaction and solidifies our reputation ensuring Joseph Gallagher’s continued leadership in the tunnelling industry.

London Bridge Associates

London Bridge Associates Limited (LBA) is an employee-owned engineering consultancy, established in 2000.LBA provides engineering solutions for projects across all stages of their development and has worked on the successful delivery of some of the largest and most innovative tunnelling projects in the UK and abroad. The nature of the service LBA provides often requires embedding LBA staff into a client’s teams, working with a single team ethos and in close collaboration with project stakeholders. We have a strong culture of teamwork and innovation, and have nurtured a willingness to challenge the norm. This has led to several innovation breakthroughs, while expanding knowledge and understanding within our company and client’s organisations, as well as the wider construction industry.LBA is showcasing two recent projects we have been involved in:Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS): Tunnelling techniques for reactor dismantling.Strabag Costain Skanska (SCS): HS2 S1 & S2 Construction – Geotechnical

Mapei

Mapei UTT was pivotal in the Woodsmith Project's ambitious goal of pumping grout over an 18.6-kilometre distance. Utilising their innovative two-component backfill annulus grout system, Mapei UTT supported STRABAG in overcoming intricate engineering, logistical, and technical challenges. Their comprehensive approach included continuous testing, monitoring, and providing recommendations for equipment modifications, ensuring consistent material quality and performance. Mapei UTT's commitment to collaboration, regular training, and technical support was instrumental in achieving the unprecedented pump distance, earning high praise from the customer, and demonstrating industry-leading innovation and support.

OTB Engineering

SCS is constructing the London tunnels for HS2, 24km of the alignment from the M25 into Euston passing through a congested urban area. Original assessments identified 50+ critical third-party assets, all potentially requiring ground movement mitigation due to the construction of six TBM tunnels, shafts and cross passages. SCS appointed OTB Engineering, supported by BG&E as a specialist Mitigation Designer to re-evaluate these assessments. Going back to first principles and using a practical innovative approach, we:• Removed the need for structural mitigation to 90% of the assets.• Achieved multiple asset owner accepted that HS2 tunnelling movements would not comprise their structures.• Reduced the overall mitigation scope.• Achieved £5M design services savings and many times more in construction costs.• Achieved significant carbon savings.• Eliminated/reduced HS2 tunnel construction programme risks.• Minimal impact to rail and highways operations, with no line closures.

Peri

We are supporting the construction of the Aerodynamic Box at HS2’s Bromford Tunnel site. We’ve engineered and prefabricated a customised VTC tunnel carriage, designed to serve a dual purpose – not only does the system form the concrete walls and soffit, it is also capable of transporting a 25-tonne rebar cage into each casting position, helping to overcome the challenges with access on site. Ninety percent of the system has been engineered using standard components to deliver a cost-effective solution, with special components incorporated to enable the system to continuously adapt to site constraints throughout the project. The system is powered entirely via hydraulics, from striking the walls and soffits to repositioning the carriage, so no additional machinery is required. The project marks a significant milestone for PERI UK, as it is the first VTC design of this complexity to be entirely engineered by our infrastructure specialists in the UK.

Queenswood

Our pedigree in construction and infrastructure delivery allows us to engage meaningfully with design and construction professionals. We understand what makes projects tick and can speak the vernacular, making our communications with impacted communities accurate and easy to understand. Our focus on reducing programme and consenting risk through effective engagement via easy-to-understand visualisations responds directly to what we believe to be our industry's biggest challenge and the key cause of project cost and programme overruns.

Renesco UK

Renesco is a leading international company, specialized in the field of structural waterproofing and injections/grouting services. Established in 1965, active in UK since 2017, Renesco is delivering waterproofing services for the major infrastructure projects across UK. The company supplies and installs all the main waterproofing system for underground structures as well as technical support for the design from extensive knowledge of the international standards/guidelines, the in-depth understanding of different materials and technical solutions available (locally and internationally) and the invaluable experience gained from the projects delivered worldwide. In the past 18 months, Renesco has delivered its services to some of the most challenging projects in the UK currently. These include Riverilnx Tunnel and along several sections of the Hs2 project (S1-S2, N1-N2 and C1 sections).