From gas mains to digital testing and pipe handling, the family-run business is setting new standards in trenchless technology through in-house R&D and sector-driven solutions.
Sitting down with Managing Director Caspar Vick it is almost impossible not to sense his tremendous pride in leading a business that exudes a strong family feel and entrepreneurial spirit.
Founded by its current Chairman, Steve Vick, in 1981, the company’s core business and stellar reputation have been built around its work in the gas replacement sector. Today, it supplies mains replacement equipment and consumables to four of the UK’s main gas distribution network operators (GDNs), while also partnering on several significant R&D projects.
This work, coupled with recent expansion into the nuclear decommissioning market, has seen the company employ 112 people nationwide tripling its headcount since relocating to a new head office in Bradford-on- Avon in 2014.
As we talk, it becomes clear that the company’s diversity is one of its key strengths. In addition to mains replacement and pipeline repair, it offers extensive R&D services through a team of engineers and field technicians, plant hire, contract services for specialised pipeline operations, and the SMARTester app, now used by three of the six major UK energy providers, including E.ON and Octopus.
Caspar is rightly proud of two relatively recent innovations developed almost entirely by the Steve Vick team.
SMARTester
The SMARTester is a digital pressure gauge that provides clients such as EDF with a searchable bank of definitive test evidence, offering reassurance on traceability.
Ideal for smart metering and used both upstream and downstream of the meter, the system promotes competency by accurately recording every step of the testing process. Its ability to guide engineers through industry test stages guarantees compliance and safeguards the operator.
Caspar highlights that developing the accompanying app was a wholly new experience for the team. However, through their dedication and the expertise of their R&D department, they successfully completed the entire development in-house. This achievement not only resulted in a market-leading product but also established a new digital capability that will benefit the company going forward.
Coil Control
Coil Control marks a significant breakthrough in the safe handling of coiled HDPE pipes, addressing a key safety concern in the industry, the sudden release of stored kinetic energy within the coils. By automatically neutralising this energy, the system enables safer handling and uncoiling, greatly reducing risks for operators working in challenging on-site environments.
Furthermore, Coil Control offers environmental advantages by allowing operators to use only the necessary length of pipe for each project, the device can be stopped and removed as needed, leaving the remaining pipe available for future use.
In addition to the coil control device, the company has implemented additional guarding and developed a new tool that allows contractors to cut bands from ground level, maintaining a safe distance from the trailer. Together, these look set to revolutionise the market by providing contractors with safer, more efficient solutions.
In addition to the company’s clear passion for R&D innovation, its successful diversification is driven, in part, by the realisation that the UK’s gas mains replacement programme is scheduled to end in 2030, with decisions still pending on whether it will be extended. The business is ready to assist with the engineering of complex works yet to be completed, particularly in major cities where infrastructure often dates back to Victorian times. Caspar emphasises that refurbishing this segment of the gas network “will require the adoption of low-impact, trenchless technologies to minimise disruption to city road networks.”
The lack of a definitive decision on the extension of the UK Gas Main Replacement Programme naturally leads to a broader discussion about the country’s pursuit of net zero. Caspar points out that “the next government will need to make significant decisions regarding national infrastructure plans within a very short timeframe” and questions how the UK plans to meet its ambitious carbon reduction targets without a clear pathway. He notes that difficult decisions have regularly been deferred, with headline-grabbing policies masking a need to tackle the core issues.
Despite these challenges, Caspar remains optimistic, and it’s easy to see why. The company’s diverse portfolio presents considerable growth potential, including expanding its work in the nuclear decommissioning sector, such as foam filling of pipework, enabling safe cutting and removal without radiation release.
It was a pleasure to speak with Caspar, and this article only scratches the surface of our discussion. I haven’t even mentioned their team member attempting the world record for the fastest half-marathon dressed as a 3D aircraft, designed by their in-house sewing team! Nonetheless, it was inspiring to gain further insight into the business, and I look forward to catching up with them again soon.
