These 3 directional drilling design advances pack more power, versatility in HDDs than ever before

The International Construction & Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) in Louisville at the end of this month promises an innovation showcase from makers of horizontal directional drills.

Intelligent hydraulic systems, telematics, configurable controls, standardization of controls and displays that can be customized from the type of information shown to colors displayed to units of measure are all appearing on drills. As the cost of these features continues to come down, they’re available on mid-level machines, not just the biggest and most expensive. Benefits include lower costs, greater productivity and better management of all resources from equipment to operators to drilling fluid.

Lower noise means lower stress and fatigue for the operator and others on site. It also reduces complaints from communities; noise abatement may allow longer operating hours in some instances. Can it go too low? “For the engine itself, no, but for operational functions, yes,” says Seth Matthesen, Ditch Witch senior product manager. “Noise reduction is important and is part of our design process, but operators rely on sound to assess the drill’s performance and make adjustments to what they’re doing. If you reduce the sound level too much it’s possible that operator performance could be impaired.”

On Vermeer’s new S3 machines, sound has been decreased by at least 10 decibels. “That’s like taking your stereo from a 10 to a 5,” says Jon Kuyers, Vermeer senior global product manager for underground products. “Equipment will never be 100 percent silent, but we are making significant strides in sound reduction because contractors need to reduce their impact when working in more congested areas. Project owners are demanding quieter equipment on jobsites.” The D23x30 S3 has sound levels of 78 to 79 decibels at the operator’s ear.

Drill operators use remote control to easily load and unload a drill off a trailer, and position it on site. Tethered remotes are common. Optional wireless remotes are increasingly popular as they further improve the safety and ease of these tasks. Barbco includes thrust and rotation controls on their wireless remote. “Prior to 2015 we had basic set-up functions on the remote,” says David Barbera, vice president and general manager. “By adding thrust and rotation the operator has the flexibility to roam the jobsite without restrictions and can operate the machine from the best vantage point.” Rigs can be built with offset cabs to improve visibility when the operator is working from the cab.

Recognizing contractors need simplicity when training operators, many manufacturers have opted to use the same controls throughout their lineup, including Vermeer and Toro. Toro uses identical controls on both of their models, the DD2024 and DD4045 and the control pattern is switchable between single and double joysticks to suit operator preferences. The dual-joystick provides greater control while the single joystick is suited for simpler projects. says Josh Beddow, marketing manager. “By standardizing controls, the learning curve for operators is reduced or eliminated as contractors switch between classes of drills,” says Josh Beddow, marketing manager.

Digital displays make it easier to access needed information. The full CAN bus systems on Vermeer’s S3 machines monitor and collect information on all aspects of machine operation. The D24x40 S3 and larger models feature DigiTrak Aurora displays that integrate with the Vermeer InSite Productivity Tools suite (see story on page 71) to further enhance access to operating information. And operators aren’t the only ones seeking more information. “Real-time information during the job is important to the contractor,” says Kuyers. “Our customers are looking for ways to make better business decisions from planning to job completion and project owners  want additional information. Easements are getting more and more congested and project owners need to know specifics about what, where, and how product was put in.”