Product Report: UCT

Steerable, laser guided boring system ensures accuracy
Nothing quite mucks up a launch pit worse than having the spoils return to where you’re trying to run the machine. TT Technologies designed its new Grundobore 200 S laser-guided steerable auger boring unit so that the spoils get dumped in the exit pit. Designed for house connections, laterals and pipes from 4 to 6 inches in diameter, the pit-launched unit bores up to 150 feet depending on soil conditions. The 25-inch-wide, 37-inch-long footprint accommodates tight working conditions including manhole applications. A laser-guided, slant-faced steering head guides the pilot bore to the exit pit, then a reaming head and reusable auger casings are attached at the exit pit and pulled back towards the machine, pushing the spoils back into the exit pit. The product pipe is attached to the last auger casing and pulled in toward the launch pit. The 794-pound Grundobore 200 S puts out 22.5 tons of thrust and 24.5 tons of pullback force and uses 2-inch by 17 3⁄4-inch drill rod sections.

Vermeer acquires maxi-drill manufacturer
With the market for the biggest horizontal direction drills booming, Vermeer has announced the purchase of Horizontal Rig & Equipment. Based in Conroe, Texas, HRE manufactures three drills with pullback forces of 500,000, 750,000 and 1,000,000 pounds. Production of the big drills will move to Vermeer’s home base of Pella, Iowa, this year. The units will carry the Vermeer name and be sold though its distribution channel. “The market for drill rigs of this size is robust, and gas, oil and major water and sewer projects have a strong global outlook, says Dave Wisniewski, senior director of underground solutions for Vermeer.

Locator covers the spectrum – active and passive
The Rigid SeekTech SR-60 utility locator taps into a broad frequency range from 10 Hz to 490 kHz and can tune the frequency 1 Hz at a time allowing it to be used with any pre-set frequency transmitter. A passive search mode scans for all broadband passive frequencies to help you detect unknown metallic lines underground. The display visually maps the signal so you can see changes in line direction, depth and signal strength in real time. Additionally you can program the SR-60 with up to 30 field-configurable user designated frequencies.