Faced with challenging terrain and difficult bluestone in the middle of a National Park, the team at Underground Civil Solutions turned to Ditch Witch.
A Ditch Witch AT40 all-terrain directional drill proved to be the perfect choice for Underground Civil Solutions (UCS), thanks to what it says is its proven system and the supplier’s product support.
UCS managing director Tony Mitchell says the company had been looking for a directional drill with all-terrain capabilities to add to its fleet, and knew the AT40 was the machine for the job.
CEA took over distribution of the Ditch Witch range earlier this year. Check out our story here
Ditch Witch says thanks to its All-Terrain technology, the AT40 can undertake rock drilling at a low fluid level to decrease overall jobsite waste, minimise clean up and reduce environmental impact.
Despite its minimised disruption, the machine packs maximised power and is equipped with a 160-gross-hp Tier 4 Cummins diesel engine as well as 40,000 lbs (18,100 kg) of thrust and pullback.
The drill’s first job for UCS comprised a granite creek, crossing including drilling through difficult blue stone – the kind of conditions Ditch Witch says the AT40 is optimised for.
Mitchell says the company’s drill penetration rate is currently about an hour per rod, thanks to the machine’s power, productivity and enhancements
Once that job is completed, Mitchell says team will head to Heathcote National Park in Victoria for an anticipated two months of directional drilling work.
UCS purchased its first Ditch Witch drill back in 2012 with another purchase in 2016, resulting in the operation of two AT30’s and fluid mixing systems on numerous projects across the country.
Mitchell was full of praise for new suppliers Ditch Witch CEA, which took over supply of the drill range earlier this year.
He says the group has strong product knowledge and had never shied away from lending them a hand.
“Any servicing is just a call away. We can ring at any time, and if there are any problems we can go out to their depo or they can come to our office or even straight out to the site,” he says.
“It’s been a long-term relationship, and it’ll go for much longer,” he says.