Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/873881
September 2017 | EquipmentWorld.com 22 to traditional training simulators, the VR is more realistic and can be configured for use either as a mobile trainer or at a fixed training location. The JT40, introduced at ConExpo, will also be on hand at the ICUEE booth. The 160-gross-horsepower machine has an optional cab with two 7-inch LED displays, the first in the industry designed as an HDD cab rather than an excavator cab modified for HDD use, according to Matthesen. Visibility is a key feature of the JT40. "We tracked operators' eyes to see where they were looking and then optimized visibility to those key locations," Matthesen says. The four places operators focused most of their attention were the point where the drill string enters the ground, the wrenches, the shuttle retract position and the rear con- nection. In response, Ditch Witch designed the JT40 with open-sided wrenches that rotate toward the operator for better visibility and with a shorter distance between the wrenches and where the string enters the ground. The cab posi- tions the operator at 45 degrees to optimize visibility; the cab also telescopes about 2 feet to position the operator for the best view. Working together Vermeer has relied on joint ventures to provide value to its customers. Some JVs are designed to be short- term while others are ongoing. Some components are private-labeled for Vermeer, while others carry the branding of the partner. Some agree- ments involve the licensing of Ver- meer patented technologies by joint venture partners. In other instances, Vermeer provides extensive input on product design, says Tod Michael, product manager of utility and pipe- line directional drills. For example, the rock package Vermeer will introduce at ICUEE features an air hammer available through a joint venture with Min- con. Vermeer also partnered with Wyo-Ben to provide the Thunder- storm mud recycling system, which Vermeer will market as their FL243. Thunderstorm is a mud solidifica- tion system that separates slurry into dirt and water. While slurry may be considered a hazardous waste, and slurry transport and disposal can be difficult and expensive, soil and water are easy to dispose of and require no special transport permits. Joint ventures are an efficient way for Vermeer to enhance their value as a solutions provider, says Mi- chael. Vermeer also offers a suite of productivity tools, some designed to work through the machine's monitor and others through a computer or mobile device. BoreAid Design runs on a computer and uses factors such as soil conditions and machine size to provide bore information, with details including load calculations and drilling fluid requirements. Via a web browser, Projects Suite allows the user to capture and share jobsite documentation. BoreAssist coupled with the DigiTrak Aurora display on a Vermeer machine can plan bores and compare bore plans with log- while-drilling data. Four years later Toro entered the HDD segment at ICUEE in 2013 with a line of drills, along with other underground products. Pending the arrival of their newest machine at ICUEE, machine matters | continued Ditch Witch says the 160-gross-horsepower Cummins Tier 4 Final engine on the new JT40 has 20 more horsepower in a smaller footprint than other 15-foot drill pipe models. The two-speed rotational drive system produces 5,500 foot-pounds of torque.