top of page
michels3.png
Case Study

Rig Anchor

Michels Trenchless

Michels Trenchless is the Australian branch of the globally renowned Michels Family of Companies, established in 1959. Since launching operations in 2021 in Wangaratta, Victoria, Michels has become a leader in trenchless infrastructure delivery, specialising in Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), Direct Pipe, and other advanced, minimally invasive excavation methods. Michels Australia has quickly earned recognition for delivering technically challenging trenchless projects. Notably, its work on the Snowy 2.0 HDD project. To support this effort, Michels engaged us to design and certify custom drilling rig anchors, ensuring their rigs could operate safely and effectively under the project’s demanding load requirements.

michels2.png
michels4.png
michels5.png
michels1.png

Challenges

Designing these customised heavy-duty anchors required some clever thinking to achieving all Michels' goals and outcomes. 
 

  • Customisation – The anchors, fabricated from 50 mm plate steel, have to safely secure drill rigs during operation. Each anchor needed to be tailored to suit different drilling angles, achieved through the geometry of the base mounting plate.
     

  • Extreme Load Requirements – The anchors are required to withstand an ultimate axial load of 250 tonnes and a torque load of 241 kNm, necessitating an exceptionally robust design approach.
     

  • Compliance and Safety – While no specific anchoring standard applied, the designs were developed in line with AS 4100 (Steel Structures) principles, ensuring that stresses, welds, and deflections were kept within safe limits for mild steel.
     

  • Operational Constraints – One of the anchors had to allow sufficient travel in the track system so the slip unit could fully retract without interference. Careful attention to clearance and range of motion was therefore critical to ensure safe, reliable operation on site.
     

  • Project Context – The work was delivered to align with Snowy Hydro project requirements and allowed the focus to remain on achieving a technically sound, fully certified solution.
     

Solution

We worked with Michels to come up with an innovative way forward for this project:

​

  • Ground-Up Design – Quantech Design developed both rig anchors from first principles, building complete 3D CAD models based on sketches, dimensions, and on-site measurements. Careful attention was given to aligning bolt patterns with the existing drill rig and slip unit to ensure seamless integration in the field.
     

  • Engineering-Grade Validation – The anchors were subjected to engineering-grade finite element analysis (FEA) to verify their performance under the specified 250-tonne axial load and 241 kNm torque load. Multiple iterations were completed to address areas of high stress, ensuring all components achieved the required strength and safety margins.
     

  • Robust Design Philosophy – Given the extreme demands of trenchless drilling in the Snowy Hydro project, the anchors were designed with a “make it heavy, make it strong” philosophy. The use of 50 mm mild steel plate and heavily reinforced geometry provided the robustness required to perform reliably in harsh operating environments.
     

  • Functional Considerations – For one of the anchor designs, the geometry was carefully refined to provide sufficient clearance and travel for the slip unit to fully retract. This ensured the anchor system did not interfere with the operational range of the drilling equipment.
     

  • Collaborative Development – Quantech Design worked closely with Michels Trenchless throughout the process, providing concept drawings, hosting review meetings, and incorporating client feedback to deliver a solution that was not only structurally sound but also practical for real-world drilling operations.
     

Results

We were really pleased with the result and outcomes for this project. 

 

  • The custom rig anchors designed by Quantech Design provided Michels Trenchless with a safe, certified, and fit-for-purpose solution for the Snowy Hydro project.
     

  • Certified for Extreme Loads – The anchors were validated for 250-tonne axial loading and 241 kNm torque, ensuring reliable performance under the most demanding drilling conditions.
     

  • Operational Reliability – The robust 50 mm plate construction and reinforced geometry delivered anchors capable of withstanding the harsh realities of trenchless drilling environments.
     

  • Practical Integration – Careful attention to bolt patterns and clearance ensured full compatibility with existing drill rigs and slip units, avoiding costly modifications on site.
     

  • Client Confidence – Engineering-grade analysis and iterative refinement gave Michels Trenchless assurance that the anchors would meet both safety expectations and functional requirements.
     

  • Successful Delivery – The project was completed within the required timeframe, aligning with Snowy Hydro’s operational schedule and supporting one of Australia’s most significant infrastructure projects.
     

bottom of page