Update your equipment with expertise

Geomachine

Updating the equipment used in geotechnical investigations becomes relevant for every industry player from time to time. Whether it’s a facelift or a complete renewal, the process is clear and seamless under Geomachine’s guidance.

“The geotechnical investigation industry in the Nordic region is relatively small,” begins Alexander Packalén, Geomachine’s Chief Operating Officer. “It’s a highly specialized field where industry professionals often know each other. That’s why the companies reaching out to us for their equipment needs are frequently already familiar to us.”

Regardless of whether the customer is a long-time partner or a new acquaintance, the discussion always starts by aligning with their needs. “Most of our customers are well-informed and have a clear idea—down to the model—of the machine that best suits their requirements. However, sometimes they only have a general idea of the intended use. In such cases, we explore the situation in more detail, and based on these discussions, we determine the best approach for moving forward with the procurement process.”

The needs of all stakeholders are considered

When a customer first contacts Geomachine about acquiring a machine, their primary concern is usually the cost. “When the time comes to make a purchase, it’s naturally important to understand the budget scale. Once the investment range is clear, the customer can proceed with internal decision-making within their organization.”

The next step involves diving into the details. “We arrange a meeting for a thorough needs assessment. In addition to the decision-maker, we also welcome the machine operators to this discussion. A skilled driller typically has a strong opinion on the features their tool must have. By mapping out these requirements during the design phase, we can ensure a cost-effective production process, avoiding unnecessary modifications later when the machine is already nearing completion.”

Should you upgrade or replace?

According to Alexander Packalén, the goal is always to find the best solution tailored to each customer’s needs. “We provide calculations for our customers to assess whether upgrading their existing equipment or investing in a new machine would be more cost-effective in their specific case. This analysis is especially crucial for companies continuously striving for better profitability.

Sometimes, an upgrade isn’t enough. Companies positioning themselves as industry pioneers and preparing for future changes in their business environment often choose to acquire an entirely new machine. “The geotechnical investigation industry is subject to increasingly stringent regulations, particularly regarding emissions standards. If a company aims to operate in densely built urban areas or participate in public tenders, acquiring a new machine is often the smartest choice. Even if an old machine has been upgraded with smart technology, a new boom, or other modern features, it won’t be competitive if its diesel engine exceeds emission limits.”

The geotechnical investigation sector is constantly evolving. “We closely monitor industry developments and regulatory changes. While no one can predict the future with certainty, we can at least provide well-informed insights based on our expertise.”

Start the conversation when the need arises

When it’s time to update or renew equipment, Alexander Packalén encourages reaching out to Geomachine without hesitation. “Our Sales Manager, Alex Lindholm, is the right person to contact by phone or email. He initiates the discussions and assembles the Geomachine team to drive the procurement process forward. Depending on the case, machine production times range from a few months to a year. That’s why it’s best to start the conversation as soon as a new purchase is on the horizon—ensuring that the machine is ready for use exactly when needed.”

Regardless of the level of preparedness or prior knowledge about equipment procurement, Geomachine is always a valuable partner. “We have been in the geotechnical investigation field for several decades and have learned to listen closely to our customers’ needs. We guide the procurement process in close collaboration with our clients, from the initial needs assessment to the moment the machine rolls off our production line. Customer satisfaction is always our priority, and we are known for this in the industry. That’s why we are the right partner for professionals who want to work with the best tools on the market and continuously improve their business success.”

Interested? Contact Geomachine!

Geomachine

The emission class requirements for machines used in ground investigation are becoming increasingly stringent, and the pressure to work in an environmentally friendly manner is growing. Geomachine’s response to this challenge is the fully electric GMe100 drill rig.

The emissions of diesel-powered work machines have begun to be restricted, especially in densely built urban areas. For example, in Oslo, their use is no longer permitted. Efforts to reduce emissions are also evident in public tenders organized by cities, where emission class requirements are stricter than before, even if emissions are not yet legally regulated in the tendering area.

In the world of ground investigation, just like in technological development in general today, the trend is towards electrification. New product innovations are continually being introduced under this theme. Geomachine is also actively developing products to meet changes and expectations in its operating environment. The latest example of this is the fully electric GMe100 ground investigation rig.

New product innovations are created in collaboration with customers

Geomachine’s Chief Technology Officer, Vesa-Matti Salminen, explains that the GMe100 ground investigation rig was developed based on market needs. “When the requirement for zero-emission operation was enforced in Oslo, Norway, our distributor operating there contacted us. Following discussions and market research, we began developing an electrically powered drill rig in 2023.”

The GMe100 drill rig was built on the existing diesel-powered GM100 platform. It retains the same functionalities and usability as its diesel-powered twin. The machine’s operations remain hydraulic, but power generation in this rig is fully electric.

The length of Geomachine’s product development process varies depending on whether it involves a completely new product innovation or the further development of an existing product. The journey of the GMe100 drill rig from the drawing board to machine delivery took about two years.

When developing a completely new innovation, the product development process does not end at the time of delivery. “Although the machine is ready at delivery, close collaboration with the customer continues in the support phase,” says Geomachine’s Head of Engineering, Juha Sandholm. “We collect customer feedback on the real-world functionality of the machine to make further refinements if needed. Customers who invest in new innovations are industry pioneers. They understand that a finished product can still be refined after deployment and are keen to participate in this stage of product development.”

An electrically powered option for ground investigation

The GMe100 ground investigation rig is suitable for all the same investigation methods as its diesel-powered twin. These include dynamic probing, weight sounding, percussion drilling, casing drilling, spt and dspt testing, cpt and cpt-u testing, and pore pressure drilling. Additionally, it is suitable for groundwater pipe installation and sampling from both hard and soft grounds.

The GMe100 rig is powered by a battery-operated electric motor. Compressed air is supplied via an electric compressor. “During product development, we realized that using an electric compressor improves the efficiency of the fully electric machine, allowing for longer operation on a single battery charge,” says Juha Sandholm. “With a dedicated motor for the compressor, we were able to reduce the size of the machine’s main powertrain motor.”

The battery life of the rig varies depending on the investigation method used, and its capacity can be increased with an additional battery pack if necessary.

Like Geomachine’s equipment in general, the GMe100 is highly intelligent. It features an IQAN control system and GMTracker data logging software. A Cloud version of the logging software is also available, enhancing workflow efficiency, machine maintenance, and project management by connecting all stakeholders in the project’s value chain in real time.

Usability was another key focus in designing the GMe100 rig. This machine includes more storage space than before for the operator’s tools and essential liquids.

Key principles of product development

Vesa-Matti Salminen explains that Geomachine adheres to specific requirements in product development, ensuring that every product meets the highest standards. “We strive for quality in everything we do; our machines must be durable and perform at their best. Our products must also be easy to use. That’s why we aim for minimal differences in usability between models. Workplace safety is another crucial factor, and we continuously develop new solutions to enhance it.”

Geomachine’s customers share a commitment to working with the most reliable and user-friendly machines on the market. But that’s not all. “Our customers also highly value efficient and high-quality customer support. It’s important for them to get assistance from a familiar service representative who knows the machine’s history and features inside out.”

The GMe100 is a product innovation that Geomachine is extremely proud of. “Drawing on our extensive experience, we have successfully built a machine that enables ground investigation with exceptional quality and efficiency—now also in a more environmentally friendly and emission-free manner, meeting today’s demands.”

Interested? Contact Geomachine!

GMTracker

Information about the geotechnical field equipment used in ground investigations must be documented in the investigation report. Thanks to a new feature in the GMTracker data-logger, data on equipment is now transferred to the investigation report without manual effort.

The equipment required for ground investigations include, for example, CPT cones, vane shear devices, and sampling tools. These details must also be recorded in the work report for the investigation.

The new feature added to the GMTracker data-logger enables the maintenance and automatic adding of equipment data in work reports. The equipment registry contains information on the device’s identifier, model, type, and calibration, depending on the device. GMTracker is the only data-logger on the market whose registry also includes sampling tubes. Thanks to this new feature, equipment data is always accurately recorded in reports.

In the future, equipment management will also be integrated into the Cloud version of the GMTracker data-logger. Once data can be stored in the cloud, all stakeholders requiring equipment information will gain a comprehensive view of the devices used by the investigation company, their age, condition, and calibration status.

Managing specialized equipment through GMTrackerCloud will not only enhance reporting but also streamline the execution of investigation projects. It will help project management allocate sampling tasks to specific investigation vehicles without needing to transfer equipment from other sites. In the future, calibration values for equipment will also be manageable via GMTrackerCloud.

Interested? Take contact!

GMTracker

A new intelligent feature has been added to the GMTracker data-logger’s Cloud-version. The digital safety inspection streamlines the process of ensuring occupational safety measures are met, making it easier to comply with safety and quality requirements.

Before starting a soil investigation or well-drilling work, a commissioning inspection must be performed on the drilling rig at the site. For longer-term projects, daily or weekly inspections are also required. The GMTracker data-logger now serves as a tool to efficiently carry out these procedures as well.

Thanks to the new feature in the GMTracker data-logger, the safety inspection process can now be conducted in a standardized, digital format, eliminating time-consuming paperwork. The Cloud version of the data-logger enables real-time reporting of inspection results and any detected discrepancies to all relevant stakeholders. This feature ensures that the inspection history of the equipment, including records of any failed inspection tasks, is securely stored. Inspection task lists are fully customizable to meet user needs.

By digitizing site inspections, Geomachine emphasizes that working safety is just as important as its efficiency, quality, and environmental sustainability. This feature aims to familiarize operators with safe work practices and integrate risk assessment into routine operations. It also ensures that information about working conditions and the safe operational status of machines is always accessible to external inspectors, such as authorities, when required.

International standards ISO9001 and ISO14001 require Geomachine to operate in accordance with the highest quality standards. However, our aim is not only to meet these requirements but also to exceed them whenever possible. Adding the digital safety inspection feature to the GMTracker data-logger is one example of this commitment.

Interested? Contact us!

Geomachine

Geomachine is a company deeply committed to product development. At the core of every innovation lies a profound understanding of customer needs, the unresolved challenges within the industry, and the future directions of the field.

The guiding principle of Geomachine’s product development is to create solutions that genuinely meet its customers’ needs. To deepen its customer insight, Geomachine engages in close discussions with professionals in the geotechnical investigation and well-drilling sectors. This collaborative approach was pivotal also in developing the GM2000 drilling rig, designed specifically for deep geothermal well drilling.

To dive into the world of geothermal wells, Geomachine collaborated with consultant Jukka Ahonen. Ahonen’s expertise spans various drilling and piling methods, from anchoring to rotary drilling and quarry techniques ranging from precision holes for dimension stone to large-scale hammer drilling and shaft sinking.

“I have been involved in numerous mining projects, hydroelectric construction sites, and challenging foundation reinforcement projects around the world,” begins Jukka Ahonen. “In the well-drilling industry, I have worked for decades both in Finland and abroad, particularly in the Middle East, North America, and South America. My comprehensive understanding of the field has been built through hands-on experience, research, and especially through collaboration with local drilling professionals, who are the true experts in the field.”

The changing landscape of well drilling

According to Ahonen, the well-drilling industry has undergone significant changes in recent years. “Households have become more urbanized, and people now live in areas where municipalities provide water supply and wastewater infrastructure. Private households no longer find it worthwhile to maintain their own wells, making the drilling of traditional water wells for households increasingly rare. In contrast, vacation homes and farms, especially dairy farms, continue to invest in drilled well water.”

Global trends also influence the well-drilling sector, with the increasing demand for renewable energy being a major driver. As a result, the focus has shifted significantly towards drilling geothermal wells. “Today, 70–80% of new buildings rely on geothermal energy for heating. Geothermal wells have also been adopted as a heating solution for large new construction projects, such as halls, shopping centers, and factories.”

In densely built urban areas, one major challenge in utilizing geothermal energy has been the limited availability of land. “Previously, to meet the energy needs of a large property it has been necessary to drill for example 150 shallow wells. In densely built areas, this has naturally been challenging, if not impossible. Therefore, there has been a real need for deeper wells.”

Currently, a 2,000-meter-deep geothermal well is considered the most economically viable option, and thanks to QHeat and Geomachine, cost-efficient drilling to such depths is now possible. “The overall cost-effectiveness of a well is not only influenced by the drilling costs but also on how efficiently heat can be extracted from the well without losses. QHeat and Geomachine have successfully addressed this challenge.”

Unique challenges of deep geothermal well drilling

The Scandinavian bedrock is a slab of granite and other deep-rock types, hundreds of kilometers thick. Ahonen notes that in this ancient, folded, and layered bedrock, drilling conditions vary significantly as the depth increases. “Even in hard bedrock, there are fault zones, and within the first 500 meters, there is usually a lot of groundwater. Faults and high water inflow can cause the well walls to collapse. In the GM2000 solution, this challenge is mitigated by reinforcing the well walls with a casing for the first 500 meters. Besides preserving the well’s structure, wall reinforcement also serves another critical purpose: it acts as a surface water barrier, preventing unwanted substances from entering the groundwater.”

Water present in the bedrock also affects the drilling process. “Within the first 500 meters, encountered water can be under high pressure, ranging from 40 to 50 bar depending on rock fractures. This means the compressors used in drilling need to handle higher pressures than before. The GM2000 solution ensures a stable air supply by enhancing compressor performance with a dedicated high-pressure booster.”

To maximize cost-efficiency, it is essential to drill continuously without interruptions. “When drilling stops at the end of a shift, the well begins to fill with water. This means the well must first be emptied before drilling can resume. Developing faster methods for well-emptying is one area of future product development. Another focus is creating quieter drilling methods, which would enable 24/7 drilling without noise disturbances.”

Drilling brings up significant amounts of groundwater, which must also be managed. “The solids content in the groundwater must not exceed 300 mg/l. The water must either be transported off-site or treated before being discharged into the sewage system. Developing advanced water treatment systems is another key focus for deep-well drilling product development.”

Increasing demand for renewable energy

Geothermal energy is highly likely to grow in popularity in the future. “The drive for energy self-sufficiency is intensifying. In Sweden, for example, interest in property-specific geothermal wells has surged due to the volatility of electricity prices.”

One of the challenges for the future is how to drill wells in confined environments, such as from within existing buildings. “In Canada, for example, there have already been attempts to develop new drilling and collector solutions for such scenarios.”

To make geothermal energy accessible for a wide range of properties, it’s essential to consider which well solution best suits each case—depth isn’t always the key factor. “Shallow wells are suitable for areas with fractured, water-rich bedrock, while deep wells are a good solution when the bedrock is homogeneous and relatively dry.”

Ahonen believes that drilling deep geothermal wells will continue to become more efficient. “Drilling to depths of 300–400 meters was still a significant challenge twenty years ago, but today it has become routine. Progress has been remarkable and will continue. Thanks to QHeat and Geomachine, we now have a solution that makes deep drilling cost-effective and replicable. The results achieved at the Salo Waste-to-Energy plant are very promising and suggest great potential for the future.”

Interested? Contact Geomachine!

GMTracker

Weather conditions can impact the results of geotechnical investigations, which is why they are documented in the project’s work report. Geomachine has enhanced its GMTracker data-logger with a new feature that records weather data during investigations, allowing this information to be easily integrated into reports.

Geomachine’s GMTracker data-logger is now smarter than ever, thanks to its new weather-tracking feature. This functionality significantly streamlines the work of project managers, as weather information can now be directly copied into the report from geotechnical investigation data. This means that there’s no need to retrieve it separately from a weather service during the report preparation phase anymore.

Using this feature in the GMTracker is straightforward. With the device’s location tracking enabled, the data-logger automatically fetches weather data from a weather service and includes it in the investigation report. Recorded data includes temperature, dew point, precipitation, and wind speed during the investigation.

Geomachine’s GMTracker is currently the only geotechnical data-logger on the market equipped with a weather tracking feature.

Interested? Get in touch!

Vegagerðin

Vegagerðin is an Icelandic state-owned company responsible for managing the country’s roads and infrastructure. The company has recently adopted Geomachine’s GMTrackerCloud service, which enables it to conduct geotechnical investigations in the most intelligent way possible.

Thanks to the GMTrackerCloud service, geotechnical projects can now be carried out more efficiently. The service enables the data-logging, storage, processing, and real-time availability of data for all members of the value chain. “GMTrackerCloud makes the data supply chain smarter,” says Pasi Majakangas, Head of Digital Products at Geomachine. “It reduces the amount of manual work, and the data is always effortlessly accessible to everyone who needs it.”

According to Sverrir Sverrisson, Project Manager at Vegagerðin, GMTrackerCloud is now used by all stakeholders involved in geotechnical projects in Iceland. “Geotechnical engineers upload their drilling plans to Geomachine’s cloud and allocate tasks to the drilling rigs. The field investigator performs the investigations as requested and uploads the data to the cloud service. Geotechnical engineers receive the data in real time from the cloud and can utilize it in their work without delay.”

The activation of the GMTrackerCloud service also eases the workload of field investigators in other ways. “We have implemented a Bluetooth-enabled CPTu solution. This allows the transfer of investigation data wirelessly from the CPTu probe to the GMTracker data-logger. Additionally, we use DGPS positioning, which ensures that the precise location of the investigation point is measured and also saved to the cloud in real time.”

Since Vegagerðin is the sole organization conducting geotechnical investigations in Iceland, the adoption of the GMTrackerCloud service means that the entire country’s investigations are now carried out in a more efficient, high-quality, and intelligent manner.

Interested? Contact us!

Der Geothermie Kongress

In October 2024 Geomachine participated in Der Geothermie Kongress event in Potsdam, Germany. During the three-day event, congress attendees were presented with a comprehensive lecture series on various topics related to geothermal technology, one of them being Geomachine’s GM2000 drilling solution.

“We joined the event at the suggestion of our new German distributor, BODO,” says Ari Kuhalampi, Geomachine’s Product Line Director. “It turned out to be a good decision, as deep geothermal drilling is currently a hot topic worldwide. In Europe, DTH drilling technology is still relatively unknown, so Geomachine’s presentation on the subject was met with great interest at the event.”

The congress attracted approximately 600 visitors over three days, with 110 presentations given. “Geomachine’s presentation focused on showcasing the unique benefits of the GM2000 solution. In our presentation we put emphasis on the fact that drilling requires only a small land area nowadays and opened up the GM2000’s sectored drilling process. In addition we presented our GMTrackerCloud service, which makes the drilling process intelligent and this way also enhances it’s efficiency.”

In many parts of central and southern Europe, the soil is soft. This means that deep well drilling in these regions requires combining multiple drilling technologies. “When drilling through soft soil layers, appropriate methods must be used, such as reinforcing the well walls. Once through the soft soil, Geomachine’s solution allows drilling to continue as the ground turns to rock at greater depths. Different technologies are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary.”

Geomachine’s presentation piqued the interest of professionals in the well-drilling sector from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. “There was particular interest in how drilling has progressed with the GM2000 solution at the waste-to-energy plant in Salo, Finland. Additionally, questions were raised about daily drilling progress and drilling costs. Now that we have concrete evidence of how efficiently and replicably deep wells can be drilled today, it’s easy to explain it clearly to all those interested in the topic.”

News of Geomachine’s GM2000 solution had already reached many congress attendees before the event. “We have been actively producing content related to deep well drilling for our website and social media channels lately. These efforts have clearly been noticed and received with interest. This encourages us to continue sharing information on the topic. It strongly seems that our solution is attracting significant interest and meets a real need.”

Geoenergidagen

Geomachine wants to actively engage in the discussion on renewable energy. For this reason, it often participates in the events that are organized on this topic worldwide.

“In the beginning of October 2024 we participated in the Geoenergidagen event, held in Nynäshamn, Sweden,” says Ari Kuhalampi, Product Line Director at Geomachine. “The two-day event brought together some of the most prominent players in the geoenergy sector from around Sweden and the Nordic countries.”

Geomachine focused on highlighting the unique features of the GM2000 drilling solution during its presentation. “Drilling geothermal wells has truly become replicable and cost-effective thanks to our GM2000 solution. The required area for drilling is minimal, just a 30m x 40m space is enough. The equipment is easy to set-up and transport. The actual drilling, machine control, and drilling progress monitoring are made possible with the GMTracker data-logger.”

According to Ari Kuhalampi, the efficiency of the drilling process and, therefore, the timely completion of the well is based on the phased drilling process. “In the first phase, the attention is paid to surface layer, then the water, and in the final phase, drilling is carried out to the target depth using data collected by the GMTracker data-logger. Using the latest IoT and cloud technologies this information can also be saved and shared in real-time with everyone who needs it.”

According to Ari Kuhalampi, another factor contributing to the cost-effectiveness of the drilling process is how the machines are maintained. “At Geoenergidagen, we also introduced Geomachine’s GMCare maintenance service, which helps shift from reactive to predictive maintenance of drilling equipment. When the necessary maintenance can be done systematically and by communicating efficiently with the service, the utilization rate and productivity of the machines can be maximized.”

Documentation

When considering the development of work machinery, good product documentation is often not the most glamorous or trendy aspect to focus on. However, easy access to information can significantly improve the user experience, operational efficiency, and safety of the machine. Documentation also serves as the backbone of communication between the machine’s user and manufacturer, thereby enhancing not only the operation of the machine but also speeding up the resolution of any issues.

At Geomachine, over the course of a year-long project, we have elevated our user, maintenance, and spare parts documentation to a new level. We began with the development projects of new products, including the GM2000 geothermal drilling rig, the GM22S stabilization rig, and the GMair35 compressor. At the same time, we have also focused on the documentation for ground investigation rigs, and the updated documentation package is now included with all machines delivered from the beginning of this year.

We have thoroughly reviewed the user manuals with an emphasis on safe and efficient operation. The manuals are organized into clear sections at a main level, such as safety, operation, and transportation. The manuals include step-by-step instructions for operating the machine, as well as general and case-specific safety precautions. We have also invested in illustrative visual materials to make the information as easy to understand as possible.

The maintenance instructions are based on years of experience, proven maintenance practices, and the requirements specified by the suppliers of the machine’s various components. Special attention has been paid to daily and frequently recurring maintenance tasks. For example, lubrication points are clearly illustrated with images.

Spare parts manuals are created individually for each machine unit according to a new process, ensuring that the specific differences between machines are taken into account and that the correct parts can be quickly and easily found for each machine. The manuals aim to include the machine’s structure as comprehensively as possible, so that the appropriate part or assembly can be located effortlessly.

The updated documentation is delivered with the machines and is also available in Geomachine’s cloud service, where it is always easily accessible to the customer.

Interested? Contact Geomachine!