Vermeer Navigator horizontal directional drill offers 36 percent more horsepower than its predecessor
New drill also features almost 11 percent increase in carriage speed, reduced sound levels
Vermeer has announced the compact D10x15 S3 Navigator horizontal directional drill (HDD) for the utility installation market. The D10x15 S3 is designed to provide more power and carriage speed, and lower sound levels than its D9x13 S3 Navigator HDD predecessor.
“Market feedback indicated that utility contractors who are operating compact-size drills are demanding more performance,” said Tod Michael, product manager at Vermeer. “We listened and responded by optimizing the horsepower, thrust, rotation and carriage speed of the new D10x15 S3 to help utility contractors install more feet per day.”
The D10x15 S3 features a 60 hp (44.7 kW) Deutz TD2.9 Tier 4 Final engine — a 36 percent power boost compared to its D9x13 S3 predecessor. Vermeer also increased the thrust/pullback to 10,000 pounds (44.5 kN), the maximum torque to 1,500 foot-pounds (2,033.7 Nm), and the maximum spindle speed to 220 rpm.
Speed, sound and simplicity are trademarks of the entire Vermeer S3 drill lineup. With those goals in mind, Vermeer increased the maximum carriage speed to 208 fpm (63.4 m/min), and reduced operating noise. The drill’s reduced sound levels help reduce noise and disturbance on residential jobsites, and enables easier communication among the crew members.
The combination of the drill’s reduced sound levels and compact size, and the drill rod’s tight bend radius, makes it well suited for short “curb-to-home” fiber and service work. These shots are typically less than 300 feet (91.4 m) and 4 inches (10.2 cm) in diameter.
“Measuring just 12.5 feet (3.8 m) long, the D10x15 S3 has one of the smallest footprints in its class,” said Michael. “When a crew is working in a residential area with limited space, they may have to set up in the street. The compact design of the D10x15 S3 helps minimize traffic disruptions in a neighborhood.”
Like other models in the Vermeer S3 product line, the D10x15 S3 has an optional DigiTrak Aurora interactive, full-color touch-screen display. The Aurora screen delivers real-time, easy-to-view location information, and can be used in conjunction with the Vermeer Productivity Tools.
The D10x15 is the latest addition to the Vermeer S3 Navigator HDD product line, which includes the: D20x22 S3 Navigator HDD, D23x30 S3 Navigator HDD, D24x40 S3 Navigator HDD, D40x55 S3 Navigator HDD and D60x90 S3 Navigator HDD for utility work, and the larger D100x140 S3 Navigator HDD and D220x300 S3 Navigator HDD for pipeline installation projects.
