Jello-Mud is a pipe jacking lubrication material engineered to reduce pipe-soil friction and help stabilize the excavation annulus during tunnelling. By maintaining a low-friction interface between the pipe and surrounding ground, it reduces jacking forces and supports longer, more efficient pipe jacking drives.
Its performance was demonstrated on the Ligang Water Intake Project, a Guinness World Record 3.214 km single-drive pipe jacking installation beneath the Yangtze River using DN2600 steel pipes through water-saturated sand.
Although the project was designed with more than ten intermediate jacking stations as a safety margin, the left tunnel completed the entire drive without using a single station, while the right tunnel required only one activation following an unplanned extended shutdown.
By reducing thrust force by approximately 40% during each new pipe installation, Jello-Mud helped make one of the world's longest successful single-drive pipe jacking installations possible.
July 2026
Come find us at Underground Construction Association #NAT2026 at our Balsam Laboratory Company Ltd booth!
2026-June
Excited to share that we’ll be exhibiting at the No-Dig Show this year!
If you’re attending, come stop by booth 268 — we’d love to connect, talk trenchless tech, and show you what we’ve been working on!
See you there 👋
2026-Mar
We had a fantastic time exhibiting at the TAC 2025 Health & Safety Workshop this week. It was a great opportunity to connect with industry colleagues, exchange ideas, and learn more about the latest approaches to improving workplace safety.
A big thank-you to everyone who stopped by to chat with us. Events like this remind us how important collaboration is in advancing safer, more resilient work environments. We’re taking home valuable insights and are excited to apply what we’ve learned.
Looking forward to continuing the conversations and contributing to safer workplaces across our industry!
2025-Nov
We had a fantastic time exhibiting at No-Dig North 2025!
It was a pleasure connecting with so many trenchless professionals passionate about trenchless technology and innovation. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to learn more about our latest advancements in Jello-Mud grouting method and how it can help you navigate sticky situations underground.
We were also proud to share our Jello-Mud grouting method during the No-Dig North's Technical Sessions — the presentation drew strong attendance and sparked great discussions about improving efficiency and control in tunnelling operations.
A huge thank-you to the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) organizers and to everyone who joined us for making this event such a success. We’re already looking forward to next year!
2025-Nov
🎤 Balsam Laboratory at WSP Vancouver – Sharing Jello-Mud Innovation 🧪
On June 18th, Franck Peng from Balsam Laboratory had the pleasure of speaking at WSP Vancouver’s TPA presentation with 40 other online WSP participants, where he introduced Jello-Mud technology — a novel grouting material we’re developing to push the boundaries of geotechnical innovation.
We’d like to thank WSP Vancouver for the kind invitation and the WSP team for the warm welcome. It was an engaging and insightful event, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to share our work with such a forward-thinking audience.
We look forward to continuing the conversation around sustainable, practical solutions for complex ground engineering challenges.
2025-June
We are honoured to be invited as a poster presenter at the 51st World Tunnel Congress in Stockholm 2025.
Hosted annually by the ITA-AITES, WTC is the most authoritative global event in the tunnelling and underground engineering industry. ITA member nations gather to exchange ideas, showcase innovations, and shape the future of underground infrastructure.
Since entering the tunnelling industry in 1999 and founding Balsam Laboratory in 2020, our team has remained committed to innovation. With offices and laboratories in Shanghai, Singapore, and Canada, we aim to become a global leader in tunnel technologies. In just five years, we’ve shared numerous R&D breakthroughs with top tunnelling firms worldwide—earning broad industry recognition.
Jello-Mud – Advancing Modern Tunnelling
Jello-Mud is a next-generation material designed for shield and pipe jacking applications. It offers superior lubrication, anti-settlement, ground stabilization, and water sealing—far outperforming traditional bentonite-based slurries.
First Use: Debuted in Shanghai's Jing’an Temple pipe jacking project (2019), helping the project win the ITA “Beyond Engineering” award.
Innovation: Developed a complete equipment system and introduced the industry’s first Jello-Mud standards after extensive field trials.
Ongoing R&D Initiatives
Muck Recycling: Partnering with a European listed firm to reuse excavated material sustainably.
Slurry Waste Management: Researching efficient solid-liquid separation and volume reduction for eco-friendly disposal.
New Tail Seal Systems: Developing “synchronous sealing” technology to enable durable, leak-free tunnel operations.
We believe continuous innovation and open global collaboration will guide Balsam Laboratory toward a more sustainable and impactful future in the international tunnelling industry.
2025-May
On May 7th, we had the honour of hosting the TUNNELLING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA BC monthly talk, and it was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the local tunnel engineering community in the Greater Vancouver Area.
During the session, we were proud to present our innovative Jello-Mud solution, sharing insights into its development, applications, and benefits for tunnelling projects. It was a great platform for exchanging ideas, engaging in technical discussions, and exploring the future of underground construction methods.
The event was filled with thoughtful questions, shared experiences, and a strong spirit of collaboration — exactly what makes the TAC BC community so valuable.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, contributed to the conversation, and made the evening a success. We’re excited to continue these discussions and hope to see you again at the next TAC BC meeting!
2025-May
🚇 Exciting Event Alert – Join Us at the TAC BC Chapter Presentation!
We're thrilled to announce that our very own Franck Peng will be speaking at the upcoming Tunnelling Association of Canada – BC Chapter event on May 7, 2025, in Vancouver!
Franck will present “Jello-Mud: Innovative Ground Engineering Beneath a 1,800-Year-Old Temple” — a fascinating look into how our team collaborated with STEC during the construction of the Jing'an Temple Station in Shanghai. Using our proprietary additive BSP 70, we engineered a thixotropic, water-resistant slurry ("Jello-Mud") that enabled safe tunnelling near a historic temple — reducing thrust forces by 50% and preventing settlement under highly sensitive conditions.
📍 Where: Steamworks Brewpub, 375 Water St., Vancouver, BC
📅 When: May 7, 2025
🕠 Time: 5:30 PM – 8:10 PM
💵 Cost: $5 (members) / $10 (non-members) — includes one drink & shared appetizers
📧 RSVP to: alexander.mackinnon@wsp.com & jarambarri@aldeaservices.com
We would love to see you there — come connect, learn, and share ideas with fellow tunnelling and geotech professionals!
2025-Apr
Franck Peng with Mr. John Corcoran, the President of British Tunnelling Society
The BTSYM 2024 Conference, organized by the British Tunnelling Society Young Members (BTSYM) in London, brings together young professionals, engineers, academics, and industry leaders in tunneling and underground engineering. The event aims to foster networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration, while nurturing the next generation of technical experts and leaders in the field.
During the conference, Franck Peng led a session on the Jello-Mud Grouting Method. This innovative technique addresses soil stability, water-proofing, and construction safety in underground projects. The session provided participants with valuable insights into applying cutting-edge technologies in complex tunnelling environments to enhance efficiency and safety.
BTSYM 2024 serves as both an academic exchange and a catalyst for innovation and collaboration in the tunnelling industry, offering participants opportunities to showcase their work, expand networks, and contribute to the future of tunnelling.
2025-Feb
We are truly honoured to be featured in the December 2024 / January 2025 issue of Tunnelling Journal, where our innovative "Jello-Mud" grouting technology is showcased as a game-changer in the industry.
This feature highlights the unique capabilities of Jello-Mud, which has been developed to address complex challenges in tunnel constructions. We are grateful to Kristina Smith for taking the time to speak with us, providing valuable insights into the evolution and real-world applications of this groundbreaking technology.
If you are a subscriber of Tunnelling Journal, please make sure to look out for us in the December 2024 / January 2025 issue on page 30!
2025-Jan
We are excited to announce that we will be speaking at the BTSYM Conference 2024 in London, UK, on November 29th. During this prestigious event, we will be presenting our innovative grouting technique, "Jello-Mud," to the European tunnelling community for the very first time. This novel approach promises to significantly enhance efficiency and safety in grouting applications, and we look forward to sharing our findings and experiences with contractors, engineers, and professionals in the field.
2024-Nov
North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) No-Dig North 2024 conference! We are very excited to be a part of the conference and privileged to share Jello-Mud grouting method to the North American trenchless industry.
2024-Nov
Day 2 at TAC 2024 in Montreal hosted by TUNNELLING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA
Met up with old friends and made many new friends in the industry. Looking forward to meeting you at booth 35 Balsam Laboratory Company Ltd to talk more about how we can help you stop WaterIngress, and Pressure Building to protect your assets and save time on your next tunnelling project!
2024-Oct
HERSHENG TS G-products and BSP 70 has landed in Singapore! 🇸🇬
Hersheng's TS G tail-sealant products and Jello-Mud BSP 70 additive have gained favour in the Singapore market for their outstanding performance. Products from Hersheng Pte. — Hersheng TS GFF, Hersheng TS G60, and Hersheng BSP 70 — have successfully secured orders from Singaporean clients, thanks to their excellent performance and reliable quality. This milestone not only marks a new chapter for the Hersheng brand in the international market but also serves as the highest praise for its exceptional quality.
The team effectively showcased the products' advantages through outstanding business presentations, ultimately gaining customer recognition. We take immense pride and joy in this remarkable achievement, which is the best reward for the team's relentless efforts.
To ensure smooth execution and flawless delivery of this order, our professional team is fully prepared to reciprocate customer recognition with a more focused attitude and even more professional service. Hersheng Pte. will continue to launch new products that meet market demands, catering to the diverse needs of customers in Southeast Asia and Oceania. We remain committed to continually improving product quality and service levels, delivering exceptional solutions to our customers.
At the same time, we're eager to collaborate with exceptional partners from around the world. Together, we're aiming for mutual success and contributing to the growth of the global tunnel engineering industry.
2024-Jun
We are thrilled to announce a new chapter in the journey of Balsam Laboratory Company. In our relentless pursuit of innovation and commitment to advancing the field of underground infrastructure, we are delighted to share the news that we have officially joined hands with the Canadian Underground Infrastructure Innovation Centre - CUIIC (CUIIC).
Why CUIIC?
The decision to align ourselves with CUIIC stems from a shared passion for pioneering advancements that transcend the conventional boundaries of underground infrastructure. By joining this esteemed innovation hub, we are reinforcing our commitment to shaping the future of construction, design, and maintenance in this dynamic field.
What This Partnership Means for us:
Cutting-Edge Collaboration: Collaborate with leading experts in civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, and other diverse fields. This partnership opens the door to a collaborative environment where ideas flourish.
Access to State-of-the-Art Research: Our collaboration with CUIIC provides us access to cutting-edge research initiatives and projects. This exposure will enhance our capabilities to deliver innovative solutions to our clients.
Industry Leadership: By actively participating in CUIIC's initiatives, we position ourselves as industry leaders committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements and sustainable practices in underground infrastructure.
Client Value Enhancement: The knowledge and insights gained through our affiliation with CUIIC will directly benefit our clients. Expect heightened project efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and a focus on sustainability in all our endeavours.
Our Commitment to Innovation:
This partnership with CUIIC is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of innovation within Balsam Laboratory Company. We believe that the collaboration between industry leaders and research pioneers is the driving force behind transformative solutions that redefine the landscape of underground infrastructure.
2024-Jan