An impressive project for trenchless wastewater disposal in Treviso (Italy)

The place: The historic centre of Treviso in Italy

In a recent project in Italy, a new DN 800 sewage pipeline was successfully installed beneath two major obstacles: the Sile River and the Treviso–Udine railway line. Installing this new pipeline in Treviso’s medieval city centre posed significant challenges due to its sensitive urban setting and high groundwater levels. To avoid open excavation and protect the historic infrastructure, the project adopted a trenchless solution using Steinzeug Keramo KERA.Drive jacking pipes—minimizing disruption while ensuring long-term performance. Thanks to their high structural strength and reliable, watertight joints, KERA.Drive pipes met the technical demands of the installation. The project was completed efficiently, with minimal impact on the environment and surrounding infrastructure. This case highlights the practical advantages of trenchless technology in combination with robust pipe systems for complex underground construction.

KERA.Drive is the sustainable solution. Not only from the material perspective, but also from an installation point of view.

- Lorenzo Vidus Rosin, Sales Engineer Italy

vitrified clay pipes are the ideal solution

For this project, KERA.Drive jacking pipes proved to be the ideal solution. The KERA.Drive product range includes all components required for the trenchless installation of a modern sewer system. The advantages of vitrified clay jacking pipes over other materials are significant. “Mechanical strength, joint tightness, and resistance to chemicals and domestic wastewater are maintained over time,” says Lorenzo Vidus Rosin, Sales Engineer at Steinzeug-Keramo Italy.

Vitrified clay pipes: long lifespan, natural materials and high quality

Vitrified clay pipes have a lifespan of over 150 years. They are natural products, made from fired clay, that are non-hazardous and recyclable. And as a bonus, the vitrified clay jacking pipes have the highest certifications.

In practice, vitrified clay pipes are mainly known for their durability in open-trench projects. In this case, however, we’re working on a jacking project with DN 800, where we guarantee the same durability—while even increasing the wall thickness of the pipe. Thanks to their robust walls, the vitrified clay pipes can withstand jacking forces of up to 300 tonnes, enabling jacking lengths of up to more than 100 meters.

advantages of trenchless technology

Unlike traditional open-trench sewer installation, pipe jacking is carried out without digging a trench. This method offers several key advantages:

Minimal disruption to traffic and the environment: pipe jacking allows installation beneath obstacles such as roads, local infrastructure, railways, and buildings—without disturbing the surface.
Limited impact on flora and fauna
Fast installation: Pipe jacking can be completed quickly, making projects more efficient.
Minimal impact on transport: No need for detours and reduced transport of construction materials, resulting in lower CO₂ emissions.
Extremely accurate installation tolerances, maintaining the required gravity-based slope with precision—within millimetres per metre.
Minimal risk of settlement affecting nearby structures.
Less disturbance for residents: Pipe jacking produces significantly less noise and vibration than conventional excavation, and residential access is better maintained.
Improved safety: Since the work takes place underground, the risk of on-site accidents is reduced.

Vitrified Clay Demonstrates Its Strength

In this project, vitrified clay once again proves its qualities as a material. It remains a very strong product with high density and excellent resistance to chemicals—just like all other vitrified clay solutions used in open-trench applications.

With a lifespan of 150 years, vitrified clay ranks exceptionally high in terms of durability. And because it is made entirely from natural materials, its environmental impact is particularly positive.“At Steinzeug-Keramo, we focus specifically on sustainable solutions for sewer systems, sewer renovation, rainwater management, and utility services. The project in Oostakker is a perfect example of that,” concludes Lorenzo Vidus Rosin.

Want to learn more about vitrified clay jacking pipes? Click here to discover everything about the KERA.Drive range.