Vacuum Excavation in a Confined Industrial Site

The Job

John Mee Vac-Ex Hire was recently contacted by a well-established precast concrete manufacturer to support with a specialist excavation project at their recycling and production facility. The site is responsible for producing large volumes of precast concrete products, and part of their operation involves the regular management of raw materials, including sandstone.

Over time, significant build-up had occurred within both the top and bottom hoppers located underground on site. The client required this excess material to be removed safely and efficiently, without disrupting their day-to-day production. Given the sensitive location of the work – surrounded by machinery and positioned below ground level – traditional excavation methods weren’t suitable.

Our team was contacted to provide a fully operated vacuum excavation service using one of our powerful 32-tonne units, complete with a highly experienced CPCS operator. The aim was to clear and remove the build-up, avoid disruption, and complete the job safely and on time.

Key Issues

Although the job itself was straightforward in theory, we came across a couple of issues where which we had to manage. The most obvious issue was access. The area to excavate was underground, meaning we couldn’t drive our vacuum excavator directly to the of work. The only way to reach the working area was through a standard doorway and down a flight of stairs. This meant we had to manoeuvre our suction hose through the door and navigate several tight turns before we reached the excavation area. The work area itself was compact and surrounded by industrial machinery, leaving very little room to manoeuvre.

Fortunately, our specialist flexible hosing was ideal for this kind of environment. Unlike traditional pipes, our flexi hose is designed specifically for tight or awkward spaces. It gave our team the ability to get through the site layout without causing any disruption or damage to the client’s equipment.

Flexibility, along with the skills and experience of our operators, ensured the excavation could take place exactly where it was needed, even in a restricted area that would have been unreachable with a standard kit.

Conclusion

Despite the challenging access and tight working environment, the job was completed successfully. Our operator worked carefully and efficiently, removing all excess sandstone from both hoppers as requested by the client. The use of our vacuum excavation unit allowed us to complete the project with minimal mess, no risk to any buried or nearby services, and no disruption to the client’s ongoing daily production activities.

The client was extremely pleased with the outcome, particularly with how well our team managed the access challenges and worked safely in such a complex environment. The combination of reliable machinery and a skilled operator made all the difference.

Why It Matters

This project emphasises exactly why vacuum excavation is such the perfect solution for many sectors, especially where space is limited or traditional methods are too risky. By using suction excavation rather than digging, we can work around infrastructure, protect underground services, and reduce the risk of costly damage or delays.

At John Mee Vac-Ex Hire, we specialise in operated vacuum excavation. Every operator is CPCS-qualified and trained to handle sensitive, high-risk environments. Our flexible hose systems mean we can reach areas that many others simply can’t – whether that’s underground, through buildings, or around machinery.

If you have a project which involves limited access or a sensitive working environments, we’ve got the team, equipment, and experience to deliver a safe and efficient solution.