Background
A Coffs Harbour–based plumbing company recently faced a major challenge when a pipe reline installation failed midway due to an equipment malfunction. A large section of liner — approximately five metres long — became lodged and hardened inside the drain, causing a complete blockage and halting the project.
To make matters worse, the affected pipework was located directly beside a swimming pool, meaning excavation was not an option without risking serious structural damage.
Recognising the complexity of the situation, the company contacted Enjoy Plumbing for assistance with our advanced robotic milling equipment.
The Challenge
When a liner cures incorrectly, it adheres tightly to the host pipe, creating an almost impenetrable obstruction.
Conventional methods like jetting or manual cutting rarely succeed — and can easily cause further damage.
In this case, excavation was ruled out, leaving robotic cutting as the only viable solution.
The task required millimetre-level precision, patience, and the right technology to remove the hardened liner safely and prepare the pipe for successful relining.
Our Solution
Enjoy Plumbing mobilised our IMS Robotic Milling Cutter, a German-engineered robotic system designed for internal pipe rehabilitation and precision cutting.
This cutting-edge unit can grind through hardened resin liners, steel, concrete, and metal intrusions — safely and effectively from inside the pipe.
Our technicians spent 16 hours on-site carefully operating the robotic head under live CCTV control, methodically cutting and extracting five metres of failed liner from within the drain.
Every pass was monitored in real time to protect the host pipe and ensure accuracy.
Throughout the process, we worked closely with the Coffs Harbour plumbing company, providing video updates and maintaining open communication to ensure complete confidence from start to finish.
The Result
After 16 hours of detailed robotic milling, the full section of failed liner was completely removed — all without excavation and without damage to the surrounding infrastructure.
The original plumbing company was then able to return, successfully reline the pipe, and deliver a professional, long-lasting repair for their customer.
This project not only resolved a complex technical issue but also protected the plumber’s reputation, showcasing how collaboration and advanced technology can work hand-in-hand.
Partnering with the Trade
At Enjoy Plumbing, we proudly offer robotic cutting and relining services exclusively to other plumbing companies — not to homeowners directly.
This ensures that our trade partners maintain full ownership of their customer relationships while we provide the technical expertise and specialised equipment to complete challenging jobs.
We also believe in supporting our fellow plumbers, offering:
Fair, industry-friendly trade rates for all robotic and technical support work
Full relining services at heavily reduced rates, allowing plumbing companies to make a margin on the work while still delivering a premium result to their client
Transparent pricing and collaboration, with no conflict of interest
Our goal is simple — to help other plumbing businesses succeed, protect their reputation, and deliver outstanding results for their customers.
Technology Highlight: IMS Robotic Milling System
Enjoy Plumbing’s IMS Robotic Cutter is one of the most advanced internal pipe rehabilitation tools available globally.
It is ideal for situations where excavation is impossible — such as under concrete slabs, driveways, or near swimming pools.
Capabilities include:
- Cutting through cured resin liners and failed relines
- Milling metal intrusions, screws, nails, and steel objects
- Grinding concrete or rubble blockages
- Reopening junctions and branch lines after relining
- Operating under live CCTV guidance for complete control and documentation
This system allows for efficient, non-destructive restoration of drainage systems with full visual verification.
Conclusion
This project is a great example of how technology, experience, and collaboration can solve problems that traditional methods can’t.
At Enjoy Plumbing, we’re proud to support plumbers across the Mid North Coast with robotic cutting and relining solutions at fair trade rates, helping them maintain strong reputations, earn profit on specialised work, and deliver the best possible outcomes for their customers.
