Ditch Witch AT120 All-Terrain Directional Drill Gives G&W Construction Of Kentucky The Power To Bid On Bigger Projects

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Ditch Witch calls the new AT120 the industry’s most powerful and largest all-terrain directional drill. (Photo courtesy of Ditch Witch.)

Underground construction and rock drilling business G&W Construction Company Inc. of Morehead, Kentucky, has a brand-new Ditch Witch AT120, which the manufacturer says is the industry’s largest, most powerful all-terrain directional drill. The big drill produces 120,000 pounds-force (534 kilonewtons) of thrust and pullback, 15,500 pounds-foot (21,015 newton-meters) of outer rotational torque, and 3,000 lbf-ft (4,067 N-m) of inner rotational torque.

The AT120’s automation and power will allow G&W to complete projects more quickly without a drop in quality, Ditch Witch says.

The AT120’s Quiet Power

The new AT120 gets its commanding performance from a 280-horsepower (209-kilowatt) Cummins diesel engine that complies with EU Stage V emissions standards, and therefore also with EPA Tier 4 Final standards in practical terms. The drill operates at a noise level of only 80 dB(A).

“It’s a very quiet machine and will allow us to work in urban jobsites where we would have been restricted in the past,” says Chase Alderman of G&W Construction.

Easier Setup & Cleanup For The AT120

The new horizontal drill can carry up to 360 feet (110 meters) of 20-ft (6.1-m) drill pipe. Ditch Witch says it’s a simple matter for workers to add or remove sections of pipe thanks to the AT120’s dual rod boxes. The company’s Virtually Assisted Makeup and Breakout (VAM) technology lets AT120 operators make up and break out tool joints without floats and sensors.

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The Ditch Witch Virtually Assisted Makeup and Breakout (VAM) technology allows AT120 operators to make up and break out tool joints without floats and sensors. (Photo courtesy of Ditch Witch.)

Drill operators also have an easier time when connecting wire thanks to an integrated wireline platform, according to Ditch Witch. They enjoy a better view of the functions of the drill during operation, too, due to open-top, angled front wrenches.

Ditch Witch says it developed the AT120 with maximum uptime in mind. The drill has a new displacement fluid pump with increased flow capability. The manufacturer says the AT120 only requires a low level of fluid when drilling rock, which means easier cleanup, less waste, and less impact on the environment. The drill’s specifications include a 6.5-inch (165-millimeter) bore diameter.

The AT120’s Comfortable Cab

The operator’s cabin of the new AT120 has full climate control and heated suspension seating with extra legroom. Features like these encourage productive workdays on a more year-round basis. The cab features a real-time indicator for the drill carriage’s position and dual LED touchscreen panels covering all aspects of operation.

Source: Ditch Witch