New Ditch Witch Directional Drills Inspired by Customer Input

The Charles Machine Works (CMW) Inc., manufacturer of Ditch Witch underground construction equipment, released two new directional drills: the Ditch Witch JT30 Mach 1 and JT30 All Terrain.

Both drills incorporate extensive customer feedback from years of experience in all types of job conditions. The end result: drills with greater power to all drill functions, more stability, simplicity of operation and greater overall efficiency, according to the manufacturer.

Each drill is equipped with a 160-gross-hp (119 kW), Tier IVi engine. With full power available to all machine functions, the JT30 Mach 1 and JT30 All Terrain are able to operate with greater efficiency.

These drills are equipped with numerous features exclusive to the Ditch Witch organization. One such feature is “assisted makeup and breakout,” which means that the machines automatically adjust the carriage thrust speed when making up and breaking out drill pipe. This saves wear on pipe threads and helps reduce operator fatigue.

Other features include intuitive carve mode, which enables the operator to steer more easily with the TriHawk drill bit; a double-pivot drill frame, which allows steep entry angles without raising the tracks off the ground; and a heavy-duty anchor system that enables the operator to push or pull with full machine thrust and maintain stability, resulting in a more productive and efficient bore.

The JT30 All Terrain features Ditch Witch all terrain technology with an advanced inner-rod design, enabling the machine to drill in the widest range of ground conditions, from mixed hard soil to solid rock, according to the manufacturer.

For all of their horsepower, the JT30 Mach 1 and JT30 all terrain are exceptionally quiet with a maximum 85-dBA operator sound pressure, so they can operate in urban areas with minimal disruption and environmental impact. And they are relatively slim by industry standards — just 80 in. (203 cm) wide without the optional enclosed, climate-controlled cab, so they can do big jobs in tighter spaces.

The JT30 Mach 1 and JT30 all terrain are designed to provide visibility of the job site and machine functions from the operator’s station, which features advanced electronics and diagnostic capabilities. The machines’ open-top vise wrenches are angled toward the drill operator for an enhanced view of the tool joint when making up and breaking out pipe.

For easy maintenance and servicing, the machines are designed with hinges on the main and rear hoods to allow easy access to all service points in the engine and mud pump. The rear mud pump cover enables the machines to operate in colder conditions.

For more information, call 800/654-6481 or visit www.ditchwitch.com.