September 2015 Vol. 70 No. 9
New Products
McLaughlin Premiers Truck-Mounted Vac-Ex
by Jeff Griffin, Senior Editor
McLaughlin introduced a new truck-mounted vacuum excavator at the 2015 ICUEE show in Louisville, KY. The primary market for the machine is expected to be horizontal directional drilling (HDD) contractors for cleaning up drilling fluid and high-production potholing.
The Vermeer Mega Vac 6-Inch by McLaughlin fills a gap in vacuum excavator equipment currently available, said Jeff Wage, McLaughlin vice president.
“There is a wide selection of compact, trailer-mounted vacuum excavations – including those in our product line – and the big, powerful PTO driven truck units with 8-inch diameter hoses that develop up to 3,600 cfm, but not a lot in between,” said Wage. “The Mega Vac 6-Inch fills that void. It will be available through Vermeer’s worldwide dealer organization which will provide sales, service and support.”
The Mega Vac 6-Inch is a high-capacity vacuum with a 6-inch suction hose powered by a 200-horsepower John Deere Tier 3 diesel engine; the blower develops 3,200 cfm at 18-inches of mercury. It can pump 12 gallons of water per minute at 3,000 psi maximum operating pressure. Fresh water for excavation is provided from two 400-gallon fresh water tanks. Spoil tank options are 1,200, 1,600, 2,000, 2,200, 2,600 and 3,000 gallons.
“Utility contractors are staying on job sites longer these days and need to carry more water for excavation and more collected spoils,” Wage said. “That is the driving force for developing this new product. The Mega Vac 6-Inch gives contractors an affordably-priced, high-capacity vac with a 6-inch suction hose.”
Wage believes one of the most attractive benefits offered by the Mega Vac 6-Inch is an option for truck mounting which has the potential for significant savings for purchasers.
“The unit,” he continued, “is available as a truck/vacuum excavator package, mounted on a new truck chassis of the buyer’s choice, or it can be mounted on repurposed trucks that the buyer already owns or purchases. Depending on the truck option selected, the buyer can realize a savings of 30 percent, compared with other big vac trucks.”
The Mega Vac 6-Inch includes proven features of other McLaughlin vacuum excavator models:
- The industry-leading three-stage cyclonic filtration system for both wet and dry vacuuming;
- Exclusive “cam-over” external hydraulic rear tank door providing a 360-degree locking system and mechanical locking mechanism, and with no components inside the tank, door maintenance is done from the outside;
- Built-in tank wash-down
system; - Conveniently-located, lockable control panel; and
- Easy-to-access service points and automatic belt tensioners are standard.
Located in Greenville, SC, McLaughlin’s line of equipment includes vacuum excavators with several basic models, auger boring equipment, piercing tools, pit-launch directional drills, utility locators and accessory and support equipment for its complete product line.
FOR MORE INFO:
McLaughlin, (800) 435-9340, mclaughlinunderground.com
Vermeer Corp., (888) 837-6337, vermeer.com
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