Less than a decade after introducing the first DigiTrak Locating system, Digital Control Inc (DCI) established a customer service office in Queensland to support its growing dealer network and the steady growth of the HDD industry as a mainstream method of construction in this part of the world. That was in 1999.

Fast forward to 2009 through a series of innovations in the world of HDD and DCI’s Australian Operations Manager Chris Dowd is very enthusiastic about DCI’s newest offering, the DigiTrak F2 Locating System. “The DigiTrak product line, and most recently the Eclipse system, is the most widely recognised and used HDD tracking system in the world,” said Mr Dowd. “Now, the DigiTrak F2 delivers everything the Eclipse locator did and also provides more accuracy, enhanced sensitivity and greater ease of operation.”

This is big news for DCI. “For HDD contractors, this newer, better locator also comes at a better price,” said Mr Dowd. “We’ve put together a very attractive package price and DCI is also encouraging its customers to take advantage of valuable trade-in options. Some of our earliest locators, the Mark III and Mark V, will be discontinued and we want to make sure that everyone has access to the latest technology.” Global experience for DCI Australia

Mr Dowd stepped into the HDD business in 1995 while working for a construction company in New Zealand that had just imported the first HDD machines being used for the installation of gas pipelines and fibre optic cables. Mr Dowd said “That was the beginning of the HDD market in New Zealand and then I went to work in Asia spending most of my time training local companies on how to successfully install pipelines using HDD.” He then spent two years travelling in Thailand, Taiwan and China.

The next move was to the UK, taking a position with Earth Tool Company, LLC – an American-based manufacturer of trenchless rehabilitation equipment. Mr Dowd’s territory included European, African and Middle Eastern territories, and eventually added Australasia to the fold.

“My family and I spent eight and a half years in the UK, and during that time I got to meet and work with many other people involved with trenchless technology. My work led me to meet people from DCI, including the late Steve Edwards, a long-timer in the HDD world whose passion and experience are sorely missed by everyone. I also met Christian Weise, which was a prelude to my joining the company.”

At the time of their first introduction, Weise was the Director of Sales and Marketing for DCI. Recently, he has moved into a new role for the company, spearheading product development, and will spend more of his time at DCI headquarters in Kent, Washington in the USA with the engineering team and less time travelling around the world.

Mr Weise said “Timing is everything, as they say, and while Chris Dowd was contemplating a move back ‘down under’, DCI was making some changes at our Australian office. With Dowd’s industry experience and reputation as a first-rate professional, we were delighted to have him head up the Queensland office.”

Mr Dowd notes that “the market down here is probably unique to other DCI regional offices in a way that the territory is so huge.” The combined population of Australia and New Zealand may only be that of a large North American city, but the distances that contractors must travel, and the remoteness of some of the construction sites make it necessary to have a good plan of action in place – both for the contractors and for the people they rely on for support, people like DCI.

“Although HDD is well accepted by municipalities and construction companies, it is still growing in this region,” Dowd continues. “Recently we have seen an increase in the maxi rig population, which means more people are wanting bigger and longer pipes installed – which suggests that HDD is not only mainstream, it is a necessity.”

The DCI Queensland office provides sales support and service for a network of distributors; there are 13 locations in New Zealand and Australia where contractors can seek out expertise and support. The local repair facility ensures that contractors’ equipment is returned as quickly as possible, whenever they require service. On site training for new and seasoned contractors, 24 hour technical advice on the phone, and representation at regional trades shows are all part of the DCI support services. “All DCI regional locations are known for outstanding customer support, and our distributors rely on us, that is what keeps us at the top of the market,” said Mr Dowd. More changes at DCI

Mike Young, formerly National Sales Manager for the USA, has assumed the role of Global Sales and Marketing Director for DCI. Young will oversee DCI’s service operations around the world. He recently returned from Russia and Dubai, where he was introducing the F2 system to contractors and equipment dealers.

“The reception for DCI’s new system was exceptional,” said Mr Young. “The enhanced features of the F2, particularly its ease of use, will translate immediately into greater productivity and profitability for HDD operators. Obviously, the subject of the economy is a prevalent theme around the world, so the timing for a product that not only increases productivity, but also comes at a lower cost could not be better.”

Siggi Finnsson, who has been focusing on product development for the past few years, has taken on the role of Director of Customer Service. He will be working closely with Mr Weise and Mr Young as DCI “continues to push the technical envelope of HDD technology.”

DigiTrak F2 locating system

Building on the successful applications of the Eclipse locating system, DCI has developed the DigiTrak® F2, a locating system being touted as ‘the ultimate ball-in-the-box locator’. It is the first three dimensional field view directional drilling locating system with a single button user interface and graphically driven menu. The system consists of a handheld receiver, a transmitter, a remote display, a battery charger and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to power the receiver and remote display.

The F2’s active display enables DCI’s exclusive ‘look-ahead’ capability with ‘target-in-the-box’ location for intuitive transmitter tracking in a view similar to the Eclipse® locating system. This field view, with the F2’s new design and graphic menu interface, offers both performance and stylish simplicity.

In addition to the basic locating capabilities of directional tracking and depth, the DigiTrak F2 includes the advanced features of Off-Trak locating and Target Steering® to easily and accurately navigate the drill, even when obstacles prevent tracking over the drill head.

The enhanced target steering function on the F2 menu allows the operator to place the F2 receiver in front of the drill head along the bore path and to use a target on the remote display to steer. The operator can actually see in real time the distance and depth of the transmitter relative to the box.

The high degree of accuracy for DCI’s DigiTrak systems is due to the company’s unique three dimensional antenna configuration. A real time, bird’s-eye view provides operators with critical on-the-fly steering ability and directly contributes to on-the-job productivity and money-saving opportunities.

The F2, with its four channel radio, enables multiple F2 locators to be in the same vicinity and work for distances of up to 2,000 feet. This excellent telemetry range makes the new F2 suitable for even the maxi rigs on today’s market. Additionally, the F2 depth capability of 85 feet enhances its versatility, making it DCI’s most advanced locator to date.