Contractors say they want machines that can handle more types of projects proficiently and -- equally important --dependably.
Versatility and efficiency are indispensable traits for successful drilling contractors, and those qualities are reflected in their horizontal directional drilling (HDD) rig preferences. Contractors need machines that can handle more types of projects proficiently and -- equally important --dependably.
Asked what drilling contractors are looking for in an HDD rig, Ed Savage, product support manager for Vermeer Manufacturing Co., says succinctly, "Efficiency and up time are everything." In addition to increasing rig reliability, manufacturers are upgrading creature comforts as technology allows. Examples include joysticks with integrated controls, and tilting operator stations designed to reduce fatigue.