VACUUM EXCAVATION SOLUTIONS | 1

VACUUM EXCAVATION

VACUUM EXCAVATION SOLUTIONS | 2

Often, once a contractor or municipality buys their first vacuum excavator, it’s use expands to applications beyond the original intended use, realising new revenue streams and/or efficiencies for the organisation.

UTILITY AND FIBRE INSTALLATION

Utility location or ‘Potholing’Since vacuum excavators use air or water at 'non-destructive' pressures, they are perfect for excavation to locate existing utilities, and in fibre rollouts this is one of their most common applications in preparation for cable installation.

Horizontal Directional Drilling (‘HDD’) contractors use vacuum excavators to 'pothole' and reveal utilities, often in conjunction with an electronic location device, for 100% depth calculation of utilities before drilling.

Damaging existing utilities can be costly in terms of project downtime and potentially significant fines from utility owners. The relatively low pressure water and air used in vacuum excavation will not damage existing utilities like a backhoe, compact excavator or shovel. In practice, the air and water clean around the existing utilities, giving the operator a clear view.

Horizontal Directional Drilling (‘HDD’) rig supportVacuum excavators are often used to make entry and exit pits and to remove drilling mud both during and at the conclusion of a HDD shot. The speed of excavation and mud recovery can offer an increase to daily productivity that easily offsets the plant costs.

Hauling rope and cableA small jetter hose attached to high pressure water enables contractors to clean out and remove blockages in existing infrastructure so that rope and cable can be hauled. When the time comes to haul, a ‘parachute’ attached to the rope enables the vacuum excavator to suck rope or cable through pipes in a fraction of the time it takes with a traditional rod system.

Communications pit clean-out and dewateringOver time, and as a result of rainfall and flooding, inspection pits often fill with mud, water and debris. Vacuum excavators are used to clean pits so that operators can gain access to the utilities without risk of damage to the multitude of infrastructure that often exists in these installations.

Pit installation, upgrade and removalWhere a new pit is to be installed, an existing pit extended, or a pit removed or replaced, a vacuum excavator is used to excavate the area without risk of damage to underground assets or disturbance of harmful materials such as asbestos. When excavating around harmful materials such as asbestos the use of special HPE filters is typically recommended.

VACUUM EXCAVATION APPLICATIONS

The demand for non-destructive digging (‘NDD’) solutions has seen a surge in demand for vacuum excavation across a wide range of industries and applications. This growth has been driven by factors including the increased mandating of NDD by primary contractors and municipalities, occupational health and safety regulation, the roll-out of fibre networks and availability of vacuum excavators in an increasing array of sizes and configurations.

Trailer mounted vacs offer great versatility

Vacs are ideal for HDD rig support

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CIVIL WORKS

Precision excavation around existing infrastructureThe need for precise excavation around sensitive infrastructure, with the added bonus of immediate spoil removal, has introduced a lot of our operators within the civil contracting industry to the benefits of vacuum excavation

Post hole diggingAn expanding application for vacuum excavators is their use to excavate post holes for road guard rails and traffic signs, as well as small excavation projects. If you need a larger hole, you can repeat the process in spots. Using a vacuum helps eliminate the chance of damaging an existing underground line and requires less labor and time than using an auger.

Today’s trailer-mounted vacuum excavators are well-suited to these applications due to their portability, and as only one person is required to operate the unit.

Emergency response clean up and dewateringToday’s stringent OH&S requirements necessitate the ability for immediate containment and clean up of spills and other situations that may endanger workers, and traditional means –shovels, excavators etc – can introduce a range of additional risks. Many operators are utilising vacuum excavators for cleanup of waste, debris and other contaminants to ensure compliance to legislation and the wellbeing of their workers.

Exercising water valves and hydrantsRoutine maintenance of water valves and hydrants, both cleaning of systems and opening of seized valves, can be performed efficiently via vacuum excavation, the latter requiring a special accessory designed for the purpose.

MINING & RESOURCES

Removal of drilling mudThe increased prevalence of sump-less drilling has necessitated a means for collection and remote disposal of drilling mud and other spoil, a task for which Vermeer’s larger capacity vacuum excavators have proven ideal. The combination of high CFM and large tank capacity mean fewer trips to dispose of the spoil and less down time in general.

Conveyor system clean upTraditional methods, typically shovels, used to clean up spills on mine conveyer systems require shutdown of the conveyor and thus down time and risk to workers. Vacuum excavators are being used increasingly to eliminates manual handling and reduce down time and risk associated to this task. The addition of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to convey the hose and wand into confined or high-risk environments, as well as ancillaries such as video inspection cameras, further enhances a vacuum excavator's suitability for this application.

OPEN SPACE, MAINTENANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL

Arboriculture and tree careIt's inherently non-destructive nature means that vacuum excavation is an ideal means of excavating around sensistive trees and infrastructure. The use of appropriate nozzles and water pressure enables excavation without damage to trees for tasks such as root inspection as part of pest insect and disease management, root deflector/ barrier installations, selective root pruning and isolation of root ball in transplanting. As a means of excavating for tree planting there is the added benefit of water being introduced as part of the process.

Landscaping and open spaces maintenanceThe versatile and non-destructive nature of vacuum excavation leads itself to many applications here; landscaping applications include the installation of irrigation systems and their location and exposure for maintenance, installation of landscape lighting, retaining walls, and general excavation as part of hardscape construction.

As a tool for maintenance it is ideal for high pressure water blasting, gutter cleaning and leaf fall removal, debris and liquid waste cleanup, and countless other specialised applications such as removal of roofing insulation material and cleaning of roof cavities.

ROVs enable safer excavation, cleaning, and visual inspection of assets in high-risk environments

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VSK25-100

The V100 is designed for potholing, soil excavation, and other wet or dry vacuum applications. The unit fits into the bed of a full size utility, which makes its compact size ideal for space restricted areas or areas where right-of-way constraints may exist.

� The V100 is ideal for small jobs, such as "last mile" fibre installation and valve box cleanout.

� 24 hp (17.9 kW) Honda petrol power pack with diesel option available

� Three-stage filtration process includes a cyclone separator and a 2-micron poly filter to offer maximum system protection.

� Positive displacement Roots blower (standard on all models) features dual oil bath lubrication for maximum longevity.

� The VSK25-100 is mounted on a compact skid that can easily be mounted in trailers and on utility and truck beds.

� Australian kerb-side controls (standard on all models) helps protect operators from traffic hazards.

VX30-250

The VX30-250 offers Australian municipalities and contractors a low-cost, highly portable system for potholing, valve box clean out and a range of non-destructive digging tasks in industries including water, gas and fibre installation.

� Powerful, versatile and portable � In-tank washdown system reduces cleanup time and makes it

easier to remove difficult debris as it delivers a high-pressure water spray to the tank interior while simultaneously dumping material.

� Integrated silencing system provides for quieter operation, benefiting jobsite communication and neighbour relations.

� Dual tank shut-off system protects the blower, aiding machine longevity.

TRAILER-MOUNTED VACUUM EXCAVATOR RANGE

Trailer-mounted vacuum excavators offer great flexibility in applications where lower volumes of spoil are expected and offer the flexibility to use existing vehicle fleet. These units have all of the durability of larger units, and with portability and flexibility that enables them to take on a diverse range of tasks.

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THE VX70 RANGE

The Vermeer VX70 range features 1025 cfm of vacuum at 15 inHg and a 4” (10.2 cm) hose diameter that make it ideal for a range of medium-volume excavation and spoil removal applications. The VX70 range builds upon the specs of our trailer mounted units with the following features:

� Compact one-piece skid design can be easily mounted to a wide range of chassis— permanently, or via container-locks.

� Cam-over auto-locking hydraulic rear door design provides a positive door seal, even under reverse-flow pressure without additional clamping requirements.

� Three-stage cyclonic filtration provides superior filtration over a baghouse arrangement, and is located at chest height for easy removal and fitting with no high-access risk.

� Reverse Flow (optional) improves productivity with the ability to offload spoil faster and clear blockages quickly; saving up to two hours per day of productivity lost clearing blockages.

� Hydraulic boom (optional) with manual or hydraulic rotation maintains hose length during extension and the unique segmented design graduates from 4 through to 8 inches in diameter dramatically reduces the chance of blockages.

THE VX100 RANGE

The Vermeer VX100 range builds upon the specs of the VX70 range, with increased horsepower providing for higher output blower and water pump packages. The increased performance of the VX100 range enables higher-volumes and greater depths of excavation, particularly of heavier/denser materials.

� Standard 1200 cfm blower with 15 inHg of vacuum � Optional Deep Vacuum blower option increases output to

1200 cfm and 23 inHg of vacuum � Optional XT water pump package provides 5.6 gpm @ 5000

psi (21.2 L/min @ 344.7 bar).

TRUCK-MOUNTED VACUUM EXCAVATOR RANGE

Vermeer truck-mounted vacuum excavators feature spoil tank capacities ranging from 1,000 to 11,400 litres and a range of configurations to suit a wide range of non-destructive digging and liquid waste management applications. The modular skid design offers the flexibility to optimise weight distribution for handling high volumes of spoil.

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THE VX200 RANGE

The VX200 truck-mounted vacuum excavator range has spoil tank capacities ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 gallons, and a standard option of 800 gallons of fresh water. It has a 6-inch hose diameter with a 3,200-cfm blower at 18 inches of mercury. The tank, power pack, and water system all have a modular design that can be mounted on either a new or a re-purposed truck chassis. The VX200 range builds upon the specs of the VX100 units with the following features:

� 200 hp (149.1 kw) John Deere Diesel power pack � Hose Diameter of 6" (15.2 cm) for high volume excavation

(can be used with 4" hose if required) � Standard 3,200 cfm Roots blower with 18 inHg of vacuum � Water pump with 38 LPM at 3000 psi � Two 400 gal (1,514.2 L) water tanks � Standard wireless remote control hydraulic boom (telescoping

and 270 degree rotation) � The Magnetek Telemotive Mini-MBT radio remote controls all

machine functions, displays vital machine information, and features an emergency stop.

VSK25-100G VX30-250 VSK70 VSK100 VX200

Stan

dard

Fea

ture

s

Water Tank Capacity 50 gal (189 L) 2 x 50 gal (378 L)2 x 776 L or 1 x 3550 L

2 x 776 L or 1 x 3550 L

2 x 1,514 L

Power pack24 hp (17.9 kW) Honda petrol

31 hp (23.1 kW) Yanmar diesel

67 hp (50 kW) Kubota Diesel

99 hp (74 kW) Kubota Diesel

200 hp (149.1 kw) John Deere Diesel

Fuel Tank Capacity 22.7 L 76.0 L Plumbed to Truck Plumbed to Truck Plumbed to Truck

Vacuum cfm 575 cfm 575 cfm 1025 cfm 1200 cfm 3,200 cfm

Vacuum inHg 10 inHg 15 inHg 15 inHg 15 inHg 18 inHg

Filtration system 3-Stage cyclonic 3-Stage cyclonic 3-Stage cyclonic 3-Stage cyclonic 3-Stage cyclonic

Water Pump 4.0 gpm @ 3000 psi 5.6 gpm @ 3000 psi 5.6 gpm @ 3000 psi 5.6 gpm @ 3000 psi 10 gpm @ 3,000 psi

Low Water Shut-off Electric Electric Electric Electric Electric

Spoil Tank Shut-off Electric and Manual Electric and Manual Electric and Manual Electric and Manual Electric and Manual

Hose Length 4.8 m2 x 3 m lengths (6 m total)

3 x 3 m lengths (9 m total)

3 x 3 m lengths (9 m total)

N/A

Hose diameter 3” (7.6 cm) 3” (7.6 cm) 4” (10.2 cm) 4” (10.2 cm) 6” (15.2 cm)

Reverse Flow N/A N/A Standard Standard N/A

Hydraulic Boom, in-out, up-down

N/AManual StrongArm™

boom availableOptional Optional Standard

Optio

ns

XT water pump (5.6 gpm @ 5000 psi)

N/A N/A N/A Optional N/A

Deep Vacuum blower (1200 cfm, 23 inHg)

N/A N/A N/A Optional N/A

Sewer Jetter N/A N/A N/A Optional Optional

Hydraulic Boom 5” N/A N/A N/A Optional N/A

KEY SPECIFICATIONS

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KEY COMPONENTS

Power packNoise levels are a key consideration on noise-sensitive job sites. Integrated silencing systems offer quieter operation and will keep you in favour with the site management.

Blower (CFM)The air flow and suction rating of the blower determines the volume and weight of spoil that can be lifted, and from what depth. Blower output is typically described in cubic feet per minute or CFM, and is a key metric when you are assessing the performance of a vacuum excavator.

VacuumThe other key metric that determines how much spoil can be lifted by a vacuum excavator is the suction capability of the blower, typically described in inches of mercury or inHg. If you're lifting dense spoil or lifting spoil vertically over greater distances you will typically need a high vacuum rating.

Spoil tankProximity to authorised dumping stations and carrying capacity of the intended vehicle are the two key considerations when choosing spoil tank sizes. Dumping costs and time spent in transit can add up.

Water PumpWater pumps are available in a range of pressure capabilities, typically from 3000 to 5000psi, and pressure can be reduced to suit different applications (typically in relation to the sensitivity of the utilities you are excavating around).

Water tanksPlacement of tanks is important for weight distribution, and their capacity should be matched to the spoil tank size.

Wands and accessoriesThere are a range of wands and nozzles available, including combination wands that enable one-person excavation, as well as specialist tools such as jetters and parachutes. See your Vermeer product specialist for advice on the right tools for your application.

Filtration systemThe two common types of filtration are baghouse and cyclonic style. Placement of the filtration system is a key but often-overlooked consideration, as it has implications re work site height regulations and recommended manual handling practices.

BoomsA boom enables easier manipulation of the suction hose and reduces manual handling risk. Remote control hydraulic booms offer the ultimate in efficiency and reduced manpower requirements. The sectional diameter of a boom is a key factor in avoiding blockages; a boom that increases in diameter as it meets the spoil tank will significantly reduce the instance of time-consuming blockages.

Door mechanismsDoor mechanisms should ideally have no in-tank hydraulic components so as to avoid degradation from spoil and the possibility of spoil contamination if a hydraulic component should fail.

Automated shut-off systemsThis feature reduces the risk of material entering the blower if the spoil tank becomes overfull; ideally this system should have redundancy (such as both and electronic and mechanical activation) that turns off the vacuum flow to protect the blower from ingress of spoil.

Reverse air-flowOn machines fitted with this feature the direction of air flow from the blower can be reversed, creating internal pressure that forces spoil from the tank and can also be used to clear a blockage in the suction hose.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

Vacuum excavation ROVsRemotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) enable vacuum excavation, as well as cleaning and visual inspection of utilities and other assets, in high-risk environments. ROVs can reduce the risk to human operators and the expense of work in high-risk environments, as well as enable access to work in areas previously inaccessible to humans.

COMPONENTS AND TECHNOLOGIES

Understanding the role of key components in the effectiveness of a vacuum excavator for different applications is key to getting the right setup for your operation. We've provided an overview of the components and technologies in typical vacuum excavation units below. See to your local Vermeer product specialist for detailed information on the vacuum excavation solution that will best meet your needs.

Vermeer and the Vermeer logo are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the United States and / or other countries. © 2017 Vermeer Equipment Holdings Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved. First published November 2017.

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HISTORY

Vermeer Corporation, a manufacturer established in Pella, Iowa, in 1948, delivers real impact in a progressing world through the manufacture of high-quality construction, surface mining, agricultural and environmental equipment.

Vermeer Equipment Holdings began as Vermeer Sales & Service Pty Ltd in 1989, as the sole authorised dealer for the products of Vermeer Corporation in Eastern Australia and the South Pacific region.

During the more than 25 years since it’s establishment the business has partnered with some of Australia’s largest resource owners and contractors in the delivery of significant resources and infrastructure projects, including major gas pipelines and fibre roll-outs.

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Product backup is crucial for delivery of jobs and projects on-time and to budget. Vermeer Equipment Holdings has five dealership locations strategically placed to service the east coast of Australia, and aligned to key areas of infrastructure and resources development.

All of our dealerships feature comprehensive parts warehousing and workshop facilities with factory certified service personnel offering on-site and mobile field service support to our customers.

In addition to vacuum excavators and the full range of Vermeer equipment solutions, each of our dealerships offer a range of vacuum excavator parts, accessories and consumables.

ABOUT VERMEER

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