Ditch Witch Unveils New MT26 Microtrencher, Designed To Provide Deepest Cut Depth For Fiber

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Ditch Witch has introduced a new MT26 microtrencher attachment that works as part of a complete microtrenching system along with the firm’s RT80 ride-on trencher and HX75 vacuum excavator. (Photo courtesy of Ditch Witch.)

Power and fiber-optic cable contractors have a new microtrencher attachment available in the Ditch Witch MT26. The equipment manufacturer designed the MT26 with a standard hydraulic plunge to provide variable depth control. The MT26 cuts trenches from 1.5 to 3 inches (3.8 to 7.62 centimeters) wide and up to 26 in. (66 cm) deep. The attachment forms part of a complete microtrenching system along with the Ditch Witch RT80 ride-on trencher and HX75 vacuum excavator.

Tailor-Made For Power & Fiber-Optic Installation

“Microtrenching is quickly growing in popularity among power and fiber-optic installation contractors because it is the least invasive open-cut solution,” says Steve Seabolt, Ditch Witch HD tractors product marketing manager. “The MT26 is designed to help operators create narrow trenches that go deeper and wider than ever before, which helps them increase productivity and reduce their jobsite cost per foot.”

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Designed to excel at power and fiber-optic cable installations, Ditch Witch’s new MT26 microtrencher can form trenches 1.5 to 3 inches wide and up to 26 in. deep. (Photo courtesy of Ditch Witch.)

Tidy Up While You Cut

The newest member of a microtrencher lineup that includes Ditch Witch’s MT9, MT12, and MT16 models, the MT26 weighs 3,567 pounds (1,618 kilograms) and has a variable blade speed from 0 to 140 rpm. The 26-in. maximum trench depth lets contractors install a typical 2-in. (5.08-cm) fiber or power cable line with 2 feet (0.61 meters) of ground cover. Previously, cutting a narrow trench to this depth meant using a rock saw or horizontal directional drill and generally resulted in a more invasive trench, a bigger mess to clean up, and more setup time.

The MT26, however, can excavate spoils while cutting, resulting in time and cost savings and freeing up time for contractors to take on additional installation jobs. Operators can switch among various blades, including standard carbide-tipped blades and Ditch Witch-exclusive PDC blades with diamond-embedded carbide, using standard hand tools. The microtrencher also accepts 4-, 5-, and 6-in. (10.16-, 12.7-, and 15.24-cm) vacuum excavator hoses.

Source: Ditch Witch