Vermeer Unveils A New Horizontal Directional Drill

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The new Vermeer D40x55DR S3 is a horizontal directional drill is capable of punching through just about anything that gets in its way. (Photo courtesy of Vermeer.)

Vermeer, a Pella, Iowa,-based manufacturer of underground construction and surface mining equipment, launched its new D40x55DR S3 Navigator. This horizontal directional rock drill features Vermeer’s dual rod technology, helping the machine cut through loamy/dirt and clay as well as hard, medium, and soft rock ground conditions.

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Dual Rods Provide Better Cutting Action

The new drill is based on the popular D40x55 S3 Navigator, which has earned high praise from operators for its dependability and performance. Vermeer’s dual rod-equipped version feature an outer rod for steering capability and rotation torque and an inner rod to provide drill bit torque. When they’re working together and paired with properly optimized tooling, this technology lets the machine deliver superior cutting action regardless of how the ground conditions may change along the bore path.

Drill-Down Features

In most horizontal directional drilling applications, setup time can be a major concern, but Vermeer’s engineers managed to reduce the number of steps required to add or remove a rod on the D40x55DR S3, cutting setup time by up to 30% compared to prior models. The new drill also supports a range of tooling options, including rotary, drag cutting, and roller cone bits, air hammers, and large hole openers.

Another feature that will have a positive impact on your productivity is the hollow inner rod, which gives the drill head more access to air and drilling fluid during pullback. This machine features a John Deere 140-horsepower diesel engine capable of producing up to 40,000 pounds-force (177.9 kilonewtons) of thrust/pullback and 5,500 pounds-foot (7,457 newton-meters) of rotational torque. Operators can equip the machine with up to 500 feet (152.4 meters) of drill rods onboard and the carriage speed limit is up to 115 feet (35 meters) per minute. Those working around the D40x55DR S3 will also appreciate that the machine has a guaranteed sound power rating of up to 104 dBA.

Vermeer also launched its new RH15 Rock Drill Head, which works well with the new D40x55DR S3 for a pilot boring.

Source: Vermeer

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