Poland is no newcomer to horizontal directional drilling. The country's first directional drilling crossing dates back to 1991, beneath the Vistula River. Since then, the industry has grown to cover everything from local utility installations to major crossings for energy infrastructure. With a well-established HDD industry and ambitious projects ahead, we're pleased to strengthen our dealer network with the local expertise of MP-TECHNIK. We spoke with owner Mateusz Kalmucki about the Polish market.
MP-TECHNIK started as a service team. How has that shaped the company you run today?
"Our technical background is still at the heart of what we do. Since 2017, we've expanded into equipment sales, servicing and rental for the trenchless, energy, telecommunications and water and sewage industries. We know the machines from working on them, not just selling them. This hands-on experience helps us understand the challenges contractors face in their daily work."
What developments are you seeing in the Polish HDD market?
"The Polish HDD market continues to grow, driven by investments in energy infrastructure, fibre-optic networks and utilities. Offshore wind is creating new opportunities. A good example is the Baltica 2 project on the Baltic coast. Major gas pipeline projects also continue to demonstrate the capabilities of Poland's HDD industry. At the same time, the market is changing also at a smaller scale. The trenchless technology was traditionally carried out mainly by specialist drilling contractors, but we're now seeing more medium-sized companies investing in their own drilling rigs."
What are the biggest challenges for contractors in Poland?
"Larger and increasingly complex HDD projects place greater demands on equipment selection and drilling fluid management. Finding experienced drillers is another challenge, while investing in drilling rigs and specialist equipment requires considerable capital. As a result, contractors place great importance on quality, equipment availability, fast service and expert technical advice. They expect not only reliable equipment, but also effective after-sales support."
How did the partnership with SiteTec come about and what will it mean for Polish HDD-contractors?
"We were seeing increasing demand from our customers for drilling fluid recycling systems and HDD rod breakout tools such as the LaValley Industries Tonghand. These products complement our existing portfolio. We also see potential for large drilling fluid mixing systems and SiteTec's rental equipment. Our aim is to make these units and tools more accessible in Poland. Contractors can deal directly with our team, whether they need advice on equipment or support with their operations."
Looking for SiteTec equipment or technical advice in Poland? Get in touch with MP-Technik here.