Trenchless Australasia was in attendance and spoke to the developers of the rig.

The DD-4045 has an 18.14 tonne pullback and a rotary torque of 4,500 pounds (6,101 Nm). The rig also has a cruise control capability and can carry 158.5 metres of drill pipe. 

Astec Underground’s Utility Project Manager Carl Seeliger said that the DD-4045 has been received well in the industry because of their ground-up design concept. 

“Generally, engineers create the machines and then go and train customers how to use the machine.

“We took a new concept approach with the DD-4045 – we found out…