July 2014 Tube Products International
37
products & developments
Pipe handling system for directional
drilling markets
Vacuworx, a manufacturer of vacuum
lifting technology and heavy-duty
material handling equipment, has
launched a lightweight pipe handling
system to lift and position drill stem
in horizontal and directional drilling
operations.
The HDD Pipe Handling System utilises
wireless remote controller operation and
the latest vacuum-lifting technology
to tilt and place drill stem at angles
between 0° and 30° without the use of
ropes or slings.
Suitable for use with Vacuworx MC
Series lifters, the HDD unit is claimed
to be significantly lighter in weight than
competing technologies and requires
only one worker to lift drill stem and
transfer the pipe into a drilling rig,
reducing exposure to risk of injury in a
pipe yard or on a jobsite.
The unit is compact yet highly durable,
to meet the rigorous demands of
contractors or municipalities looking for
ways to decrease load times and bolster
safety during the course of trenchless
HDD applications.
The equipment features a 360° hydraulic
rotator that gives operators complete
control over drill stem and allows for the
precise placement of pipe joints with
fewer workers on the ground.
The HDD Pipe Handling System handles
single joints of steel pipe from 76 to
457mm (3" to 18") in diameter, with lift
capacities ranging from 771 to 2,449kg
(1,700 to 5,400lb), depending on the
size and configuration of vacuum pads.
The HDD unit is suitable for smaller
excavators and host equipment such
as forklifts, cranes, wheel loaders and
boom trucks.
The MC Series lifter is powered by a self-
contained engine and includes audible
and visible alarms, adding an additional
layer of safety and performance in the
field.
The HDD Pipe Handling System’s
integrated safety control valve also
ensures pipe is never dropped.
All Vacuworx lifting systems are CE
certified, OSHA compliant and
manufactured to meet or exceed ASME/
ANSI safety standards. The systems are
customisable for various applications
and lift capacities.
With a growing base of distribution
points in the USA, Canada, Latin
America, Australia, Europe and Africa,
Vacuworx offers on-site maintenance
and repairs, and stocks a full line of
parts available for shipping 365 days
a year.
Vacuworx
– USA
