We-HDD - 1st DCA Spring Talks successfully launched in Aachen

On the 27th May 2025, a new event on the DCA annual calendar took place in Aachen, Germany: The DCA Spring Talks.

When Women Empowering HDD was launched by the DCA board two years ago, we raised an important question: how can we bring 50% of the talent in the population into our workforce?

A lot has been organized since, as a small group coordinators continue to see each other every month: a large survey with our members which results were shared during last year's congress in Barcelona, a "girls only" networking drinks event is part of the official schedule since last year, and an intense collaboration with drill for Europe, for example.

The first DCA Spring Talks was organized by We-HDD to condensate part of the change intended to be brought to our companies. It was designed to be an accessible event with a larger content proposal with topics like ground investigation campaign, the appropriate choice of the drilling tools, the role of grouting in cable projects, how to make our job sites greener, project presentations and even a much-appreciated mini mud-school! 

 Most of our speakers were women as well as the attendance, where we have chosen to have at least one woman per company. The intention was explicitly to put more women in the spotlight, given them the opportunity to experience DCA, showcasing their great contributions and spreading technical knowledge to inspire and help all - regardless of their gender.

This first event welcomed more than 40 people from our DCA members, which was a good participation for a new DCA event.

Other similar events will be planned to develop individuals and grow our industry together.

And together, let's make the HDD business stronger. Let's attract women and younger generations. Let's contribute to the energy transition and a better future.

See you again in 2026!

Women Empowering HDD (We-HDD) 

38. Oldenburg Pipe Forum 05.-06.02.2026

Call for Papers

The 38th Oldenburg Pipe Forum will take place from 5 to 6 February 2026 in Oldenburg under the motto ‘Old and New - Strategies for the Networks of Tomorrow’. As part of the event, the DCA is again planning an attractive lecture programme with two blocks. We have already received some suggestions for presentations. Please send suggestions for further interesting HDD presentations to the office by 15 July 2025 at the latest. Please include the title, name of the speaker and a short abstract. The lecture can be held in German or English. We would be very pleased to receive your support!

Dipl.-Ing. Martina Buschmann has been the new Managing Director of the Rohrleitungsbauverband (rbv) since 1 June 2025. She succeeds Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Dipl.-Ing. Dieter Hesselmann, who will remain with the association in an advisory capacity. In her new role, Ms Buschmann is also Managing Director of the Berufsförderungswerk des Rohrleitungsbauverbandes GmbH and rbv GmbH. At the annual congress of the rbv on 8 and 9 May 2025 in Bonn, which the DCA also attended, Dieter Hesselmann was officially dismissed from his position as Managing Director. Ralph Donath: "His services to the association are immense. I am therefore very pleased that Dieter Hesselmann will remain with us and, together with the HDB, will ensure that the interests of our industry are also heard and taken into account by the new federal government." Following the previous organisational and personnel changes, the ‘rbv 2030 strategy’, which was launched more than three years ago, has reached another milestone with the change in the management. ‘The implementation of our strategy is progressing according to plan and is bearing the hoped-for fruit,’ summarises Donath. "All employees at the office are doing an excellent job. The rbv has in-depth expertise in all areas and is ideally positioned for the future."