OptionX Group has entered into an agreement with MTS Microtunnelling Systems to expand its drilling tunnelling and boring industry capabilities. Through this agreement, OptionX Group will become the exclusive seller of MTS equipment across Australia and New Zealand.
OptionX Group will offer MTS machinery, after-sales support, and stock critical parts for urgent repairs. Bournedrill, one of the businesses within OptionX Group, is well-placed to support MTS equipment, having designed and manufactured drilling, boring and tunnelling equipment for more than 60 years.
This level of service is rarely seen in Australia, with repairs on similar machines often requiring imported parts or overseas mechanical experts.
OptionX Group CEO, Stuart Harrison, said the industry has been crying out for more efficient local service.
“There is an abundance of tunnelling work available in Australia at the moment, but often delays are caused by inadequate equipment or waiting for parts to arrive from overseas,” Mr Harrison said.
“The goal of OptionX Group has always been to create more options for the industry, and this deal with MTS is just another solution we can now offer.”
MTS Microtunnelling Systems has a strong reputation around the world and utilises the best of German engineering. OptionX Group’s Business Development lead, Jim Perry, said he expects the MTS machines to sell well in local conditions.
“The MTS products have proven themselves around the world. The high praise we often see for German engineering is well deserved, and the quality of MTS machines is exactly what you would expect from Germany,” Mr Perry said.
Mr Perry is also the Managing Director of Tunnelcorp, and said the backup support from OptionX Group will be a game-changer.
“Even the best equipment is subject to wear and tear, so being able to service machines appropriately and replace parts as required will extend the life of the equipment. This in turn will reduce delays and stoppages, which is an attractive option to contractors and asset owners alike,” Mr Perry said.
“In Australia, it’s often complicated to source replacement parts and complete repairs. Having access to Bournedrill’s workshop and engineers means parts can be supplied when they are needed,” said Jim.
As the founder of Edge Underground, Australia’s leading microtunnelling contractor specialising in sewer and water pipeline installations, Mr Harrison also knows how important it is to work with reliable machinery.
“MTS machines have a proven track record worldwide, and I’m excited we can now offer these machines to the Australian and New Zealand markets. These machines are built to handle ground conditions from soft formations below the water table to the hardest rock, but can also be used in other ground conditions,” Mr Harrison said.
Another recent expansion of OptionX Group is the creation of PerforatorX, a joint venture between OptionX Group and German company, Perforator. Like the deal with MTS, this joint venture sees import delays eliminated and service wait times reduced by using OptionX Group’s Australian facilities for manufacturing German-engineered drill pipes.
The last twelve months have seen OptionX Group come into its own as a complete package for the drilling, tunnelling and boring industries. The businesses within the group provide separate but related services, and the announcement of the deal with MTS rounds out what’s on offer.
For more information about the OptionX Group, visit optionxgroup.com.au.
This sponsored editorial is brought to you by OptionX Group. For more information, please visit optionxgroup.com.au.
