Underground Construction - July 2017 - 44

NEWPRODUCTS
New Ditch Witch Products Increase Machine
Longevity, Performance
Ditch Witch, a Charles Machine Works Company, has released the new,
compact VP30 vibratory plow to help operators efficiently install a variety of
residential utility products in tight spaces and with minimal surface disruption. From fiber to small irrigation pipe, the unit is the ideal, cost-effective
solution for product installation beneath residential properties.
The VP30 is powered by a 31-hp Briggs and Stratton engine for optimal
performance, making the compact machine the most powerful in its size
class. The vibratory plow also features a variable flow control - a first to
the underground construction industry. A maximum 12-in plow depth
and 4.1-psi ground pressure mean there's minimal lawn disruptions and
reduced restoration work. This makes the machine a great solution for
residential, fiber drop work and small irrigation pipe installation up to 1 in.
in diameter.
Leveraging the same reliable and proven pivot design featured on
the Ditch Witch CX-Series walk-behind trenchers, the VP30 is maintenance-free, keeping the machine on the job and out of the shop for
increased uptime and utilizes greaseless, sealed bearings that help extend
track-assembly life.
The VP30 is equipped with two, new adjustable blades - the pull blade
and feed blade - which can be adjusted between 6 and 12 inches to meet
fiber installation-depth requirements in various areas. Options include four
Ditch Witch plow blades, and a reel carrier that allows for easy cable and
fiber installation.
Also, Ditch Witch's new Rock Monster HD backreamers help today's
horizontal directional drilling (HDD) operators improve drilling performance
in hard rock conditions.
This design incorporates strategic placement of tungsten carbide discs
on critical areas of the bit shirttail, giving operators a significant advantage
over hardfacing and tungsten carbide inserts. Rock Monster HD backreamers are equipped with patent-pending EdgeGuard protection to increase

the life of the
reamer, reduce
replacement costs
and keep crews
profitable.
Other innovations, including
patent-pending
High Energy
Tumbling (HET) inserts, improve cutting structure life through increased
fracture toughness and wear resistance. This helps extend the usable life of
the backreamers, while also increasing production rates and performance.
The backreamers include a full-coverage cutting structure to maximize
weight on the bit, providing better performance in rock. Designed with
interchangeable nozzles in multiple sizes, operators can easily customize
fluid-flow specifications to specific drilling conditions. The Rock Monster
HD backreamers are also armed with a premium-sealed journal bearing,
further improving the tooling longevity. (800) 654-6481, ditchwitch.com

Volvo Unveils Electric Concept Machine
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) unveiled its latest concept machine
- known as the EX2 - to industry specialists, policymakers, the media and
academics at the Volvo Group Innovation Summit in May. The 100 percent
electric compact excavator prototype delivers zero emissions, 10 times higher
efficiency, 10 times lower noise levels and reduced total cost of ownership
compared to its conventional counterparts. It is believed to be the world's first
fully electric compact excavator prototype.
To make the EX2 prototype fully electric, the combustion engine was
replaced with two lithium ion batteries, totaling 38KWh, which store enough
electric energy to operate the machine for 8 hours in an intense application,
such as digging compact ground. The hydraulic architecture was also replaced
with electric architecture which incorporates electromechanical linear
actuators that help to optimize the transmission chain. Removing the hydraulic
system and the combustion engine, as well as reducing the cooling needs, has
led to significantly lower noise levels. At this stage, the EX2 is purely a research
project and there are currently no plans for industrialization.
"The EX2 is a revolutionary machine," said Ahcène Nedjimi, electrics and electronics systems lead engineer, and EX2 project leader. "With its zero
emissions and 10 times lower noise levels, it could easily be used in densely populated areas without disturbing people - even at night. Higher machine
efficiency and maintenance-free systems mean that operating costs and total cost of ownership would be significantly reduced. The prototype machine
delivers the same power and force as its conventional counterpart, as well as faster speeds in combined movements. And all of this has been achieved
without compromising on machine performance, ensuring customer needs would be fulfilled." (717) 532-9181, volvoce.com

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Underground Construction July 2017

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Underground Construction - July 2017

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