Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1531611
Vermeer Rolls Out D24 HDD for Urban Utility Installation IDA Universal January - February 2025 37 Vermeer is retiring its D23x30 S3 horizontal di- rectional drill and rolling out the new D24. Following suit with other manufacturers, Vermeer has simplified the model nomenclature of its machines. e "24" in D24 represents the drill's 24,000-pound size class and 24,700 pounds of maximum peak thrust and pullback. Powered by a 100-horsepower Cat 3.6L Tier 4 Final diesel engine, the compact yet powerful D24 is designed to install utilities — including fiber, power cables and water infrastructure — in congested urban areas. It has a continuous thrust and pullback of 22,000 pounds, 3,080 foot-pounds of rotational torque and a 45-gal- lon-per-minute mud pump. e drill also boasts a low operator ear noise level of 88 decibels. Vermeer has equipped the machine with pre- mium hydraulic compo- nents — typically found in larger pipeline equip- ment — to help protect the hydraulic circuit and ensure consistent per- formance across drilling conditions. Operators can choose between 400 feet or 480 feet of 2.375-inch Fire- stick drill rod. An auto- mated rod exchange sys- tem completes the entire rod changeout sequence with the push of a but- ton, eliminating up to 19 manual steps. is reduc- es wear on components and the risk of operator error, Vermeer says. e D24's stakedowns feature tiered shark teeth and a rotation speed of up to 60 rpm — nearly triple that of its prede- cessors— which reduces setup time, especially in harder soils, allowing crews to begin drill- ing faster. e carriage speed is 181 feet per minute and rotational speed is 198 rpm. It has a 3.3-mile-per-hour track- ing speed. e redesigned vise system features sliding open-side vises for easy cleaning and clear joint visibility. https://www.equipment- world.com NUTS & BOLTS Continued from page 35 If an issue occurs, operators can quickly troubleshoot using the drill's advanced onboard diagnostics system, ac- cessible via the machine's touchscreen display. De- tailed information and data from the machine can be passed along to the dealer if additional support is needed. Nuts & Bolts continued on page 39