On the 27^th of May 2026 we celebrated a decade of Trenchless Romania Conference & Exhibition alongside distinguished guests and partners who have been with us since the very first edition in 2016.

It has been 10 years of innovation, major projects, and a community that has grown together. The anniversary edition highlighted the theme “A Decade of the Trenchless Community: Innovation, People, Impact,” celebrating technical progress, the people behind the technologies, and the real impact that trenchless solutions have on modern infrastructure.

Over the past nine editions, Trenchless Romania has continuously evolved into the leading platform in Romania dedicated to trenchless technologies, connecting local and international specialists, top companies, decision-makers and technical experts from both the public and private sectors.

The conference highlighted not only the latest technologies and solutions in underground infrastructure, but also the strong professional community that has been built around the event during the last decade.

The organizers were honored to welcome distinguished guests and industry representatives, including:

• Mark André Haebler, President of the International Society for Trenchless Technology (ISTT), a long-time supporter of Trenchless Romania;
• Thorsten Schulte, Head of Pipe Bursting Center at TRACTO and initiator of the Trenchless Romania project;
• Ionel Irinel Scrioșteanu, State Secretary within the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure;
• Florian Burnar, representing the Association Partnership for Projects and European Funds;
• Alexandru Dumitriu, representative of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
• Ionuț Ciurea — Executive Director of Pro Infrastructura Association;
• Cosmin Carteș — Operations Director at Sixense Romania & SEE.

The conference agenda included two major panels focused on the future of underground infrastructure, innovation and sustainable development.

One of the key moments of the event was Panel 2 — “The Future of Romanian Underground Infrastructure: Financing, Safety and Execution”, a strategic discussion addressing the major opportunities and challenges facing Romania’s infrastructure sector in the context of European funding, national investment programs and increasing public demand for resilient infrastructure systems.

The discussions emphasized the importance of efficient financing mechanisms, execution quality, infrastructure safety and stronger collaboration between authorities, contractors, consultants and technology providers in order to accelerate Romania’s infrastructure modernization process.

Trenchless Romania Awards 2026 – Gala“The Man Behind the Machine”

A defining moment of this anniversary edition was the Trenchless Romania Awards 2026 Gala, the only award ceremony in Romania dedicated exclusively to the trenchless industry.

Under the theme “The Man Behind the Machine”, the gala celebrated not only technologies, projects and industry achievements, but especially the professionals whose dedication, expertise and daily work contribute to the development of underground infrastructure and the advancement of trenchless technologies in Romania.

The awards recognized the passion, professionalism and commitment of the people who transform challenges into solutions and innovation into tangible results.

Award Recipients

Thorsten Schulte – TRACTO & GSTT
Initiator of Trenchless Romania – 10 Years of Growth
Thorsten Schulte, initiator of Trenchless Romania, was recognized for his vision and essential role in launching and developing this project. Through his initiative, Trenchless Romania has grown into a reference event for the trenchless industry in Romania, helping connect professionals and strengthen the industry community over the past decade.

Mark André Haebler – President of ISTT
Strategic Supporter for Trenchless Romania
Through his vision, dedication and continuous involvement, Mark André Haebler played an important role in strengthening the connection between the Romanian trenchless community and the international industry, supporting the growth, visibility and credibility of Trenchless Romania throughout the years.

Daniel Turza – CEO Blejkan Construct Romania
Rapid Career Growth Award – Trenchless Industry
Through professionalism, dedication and constant involvement, Daniel Turza demonstrated outstanding leadership potential and remarkable professional growth within the trenchless sector, becoming an example of rapid career development in the industry.

Two truly special highlights of the evening brought a unique blend of creativity, elegance, and emotion to the Trenchless Romania Awards Gala 2026. The fashion show by Raluca Soare added color, style, and a refreshing artistic touch to the world of trenchless engineering, creating a memorable moment where innovation met creativity. In the same spirit of celebration, the evening concluded with an unforgettable musical performance by Raluca Cioca, mezzosoprano and principal soloist of the Ion Dacian National Operetta and Musical Theatre.

The anniversary edition reaffirmed the role of Trenchless Romania as the reference event for the underground infrastructure sector in Romania and highlighted the importance of collaboration between authorities, industry leaders, contractors, engineers and technology providers in shaping the future of sustainable infrastructure.

The organizers thank all participants, speakers, sponsors and partners for contributing to the success of this special edition and look forward to continuing the mission of promoting innovation, expertise and excellence in the trenchless industry in Romania.

About Trenchless Romania Conference & Exhibition

Trenchless Romania Conference & Exhibition is the leading event in Romania dedicated to trenchless technologies and horizontal directional drilling solutions for underground infrastructure projects, bringing together professionals, authorities, manufacturers, contractors and international experts to support innovation and sustainable infrastructure development.