2011 – KPP300 Launched
The company’s original Pipe Puller was launched in 2011 following several years of research and development. The freestanding KPP300 received numerous innovation awards from key industry associations, including the Pipeline Industry Guild, UKSTT, NJUG and SBWWI Water Dragons.
2017 – UK Relocation
Due to Kobus’s continued success, the company moved its headquarters to Tamworth, Staffordshire. The move allowed for the assembly of the Pullers to be brought in-house, and efforts began to grow exports of the equipment.
2020 – Physical North American Headquarters Added
Kobus opened its first North American physical location in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 2020.
2005 – Incorporation
Kobus Services was established in Halesowen, UK.
2014 – Utility Industry Funding + KPP400 Launch
In 2014, significant funding was secured through the Gas Industry Network Innovation Alliance. As a result of the additional funding, Kobus developed a bigger, more powerful puller, the KPP400 Pipe Puller. Unlike its predecessor, it is designed to be mounted on a compact excavator and driven from the auxiliary hydraulics for added capability.
2019 – Abbott Award
The KPP400 Pipe Puller won the Abbott Award for Innovative Products & Services at the NASTT No-Dig Show in Chicago, paving the way for success of the pipe puller in the United States.
With increasing popularity of the Kobus Pipe Puller in North America and Canada, Kobus Inc. was established in Michigan in July 2019.
2022 – US Relocation to Houston
Kobus quickly outgrew its Michigan facility and relocated to Houston, Texas, where they expanded into a larger space and established operations closer to their cable assembly facility. The Houston headquarters now supports North American operations with sales, distribution, and assembly of Kobus Pipe Pullers, cables, and accessories.
Kobus Pipe Puller
Why Kobus Pipe Puller
There are an estimated 7 million lead service lines in the United States, posing a serious risk to water quality. The lead contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan, highlighted the dangers of aging lead pipes and the urgent need for their replacement. In response, cities across the country are now replacing lead service lines. In addition to lead, aging galvanized iron and copper pipes require upgrades, and leaking pipes need immediate renewal to ensure the reliability of critical infrastructure.
Currently, common methods for replacing water, gas, and other service pipes include open-cut excavation, pulling with a backhoe, impact moling, pipe bursting, and horizontal directional drilling. However, each has significant drawbacks. Open-cut excavation, the most widely used technique, is invasive, costly, and time-consuming, especially given the depth of most service lines. This process disrupts communities and prolongs project timelines. Similarly, traditional pipe pulling using a backhoe is a crude and hazardous approach, with the potential for dangerous flying debris that could harm operators or bystanders.
The KOBUS Pipe Puller offers a game-changing solution. By providing a continuous, seamless pulling process, it eliminates the stop-and-start interruptions of manual pipe removal while drastically reducing the risks associated with traditional methods. This trenchless technology allows for faster, safer, and more cost-effective pipe replacement, minimizing site disruption and project costs. Its innovative design also enhances safety by reducing the risk of injury to workers and the public.
In an era where infrastructure renewal is more crucial than ever, the KOBUS Pipe Puller stands out as a vital tool for modernizing water and gas service lines efficiently and with minimal impact on communities.
A HISTORY OF INNOVATION
Since its incorporation in 2005, Kobus engineers have aimed to create a pipe puller with the precision and power to revolutionize trenchless pipe removal. Aging infrastructure and a growing demand to replace harmful lead service pipes has highlighted the value of the KPP400 in recent years, increasing adoption and driving the company’s expansion.
Pipe Pulling
Pipe Pulling Primer
Pipe pulling is a simple, trenchless technique for pipe replacement. A strong steel pulling cable with a special attachment is used to remove or replace old underground pipes. As it is removed, up to 80’ of pipe is safely winded onto a spool driven by powerful hydraulic motors. New copper or polyethylene pipe can be simultaneously towed into place along the same path. It’s a safer, faster, less disruptive approach that municipalities, utilities and contractors can all benefit from.
MINIMAL IMPACT
Reduce expensive excavation and reinstatement work. The Kobus Pipe Puller requires just a 2’ x 2’ pit to operate on the pulling end. Make your inserting pit only as big as you need to get the job done. Compatibility with a variety of excavators and a 360-degree rotating head provides flexibility and adaptability that minimizes job site disruptions.
FASTER
Every step is faster with the KPP400. Quick-connect-and-release fittings, a two-piece spool and a simple positioning process speeds up your setup and turnaround time dramatically. Capable of running at up to 20’ per minute, while pulling the new service right behind the old, our equipment makes quick work of pipe replacement projects.
SAFER
Protect your crew from the dangers of traditional pipe replacement methods. Since the action is contained within the KPP400, there’s no snapped cables or flying debris to worry about. The operator sits safely inside the excavator with no one else required to be in the vicinity. Less digging also means less chance of utility strikes or damage.
What We Do
A Legacy as a Pipe Pulling Leader
From its North American headquarters in Houston, Texas, and its European headquarters in Tamworth, Staffordshire, Kobus delivers a global solution for underground pipe replacement. With over a decade of experience in developing cutting-edge designs, the Kobus team has refined a technology that addresses the key challenges of replacing water and gas service pipes, minimizing both the expense and dangers involved.