CHALLENGES

During microtunneling machine breakthrough and extraction, uncontrolled groundwater ingress, slurry leakage, and ground pressure can create unsafe site conditions. Conventional sealing materials often fail to deform adequately under variable pressure, increasing the risk of flooding, contamination, and delays.

Solution

Forech engineered a Custom Rubber Seal manufactured from **Natural HG Rubber**, specifically selected for microtunneling extraction applications where high elasticity, resilience, and sealing performance are critical.

• Natural HG Rubber compound providing high elasticity and recovery under compression
• Excellent sealing performance against concrete and steel interfaces
• Ability to deform under ground and water pressure while maintaining seal integrity
• Custom-designed geometry and dimensions to suit site-specific microtunneling equipment
• High resistance to wear, moisture, and repeated deformation cycles

OUTCOME

• Effective control of groundwater and slurry ingress during machine extraction
• Improved safety during tunneling breakthrough operations
• Reduced risk of ground contamination and site flooding
• Smooth and controlled extraction of the microtunneling machine
• Successful project completion without sealing-related delays

CONCLUSION

By utilizing a Forech Custom Rubber Seal manufactured from Natural HG Rubber, the project achieved a controlled and reliable microtunneling extraction process. This case study highlights Forech’s capability to engineer high-performance rubber sealing solutions for complex underground and tunneling applications.