A regional contractor in Virginia was tasked with trenching inside an existing electrical substation, an area packed with sensitive equipment and fencing that left little room to maneuver. The job required a 30’’ wide x 24’’ deep trench and the only machine that could fit was a CAT 306 mini excavator.
They started with a hydraulic hammer, but the results were disappointing. In 2 weeks, they broke 3 hammer points and completed only 20 linear feet of trench. The 15,000 psi limestone was too much for the hammer and the excavator lacked the down pressure to break through it.
The Antraquip Solution
The company brought in the AQ-1 drum cutter to demo. Mounted on the same CAT 306, the AQ-1 had no issues cutting through the rock with precision, making steady progress at about 3 linear feet per hour.
After only 2 hours of operations, the difference was clear and it became the go-to solution for the remainder of the project! The small drum cutter proved its value immediately, performing reliably in the tightest conditions without damaging equipment or stalling progress.
The Outcome
The AQ-1 allowed the project to stay on schedule and eliminated the frustration and slow progress caused by the hammer. It’s compact design, durability, and cutting power made it the ideal solution for confined space trenching in tough rock, delivering significantly higher production rates than traditional methods like the hydraulic hammer.Let us find a solution for your project, connect with our cutting experts and get the equipment that works when others fail.
