The company has purchased all of the operating assets of Texas-based HRE, which is a manufacturer of HDD rigs. Prior to this acquisition, Vermeer’s biggest HDD rig was a 330,000 lbs pullback force rig (D330x500), but with the purchase of HRE, Vermeer can now supply rigs capable of up to 1,000,000 lbs of pullback force.

“The market for drill rigs of this size is robust, as gas, oil and major water and sewer projects have a strong global outlook,” says Dave Wisniewski, Senior Director of Underground Solutions for Vermeer.

The new D500x500 rig is the smallest of the HRE rigs, with 500,000 lbs of pullback force and 500,000 lbs of thrust. It has the capacity to reach 760 hp (570 kW) and a maximum spindle torque of 50,000 ft-lb (68,000 Nm).

The mid-size D750x500 rig has 750,000 lbs of pullback force and the same amount of thrust. It also can reach a maximum of 1,200 hp (900 kW) and spindle torque of 92,000ft-lb (125,120 Nm).

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With 1,000,000 lbs of pullback force and thrust, the mammoth D1000x900 can reach a maximum of 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) and a spindle torque of 92,500 ft-lb (125,800 Nm).

Production of HRE’s units has moved to the Vermeer manufacturing plant based in Pella, Iowa. The units carry the Vermeer brand name and will be sold through the Vermeer exclusive distribution channel.

“While there are competitors in this range of drills, we feel our global sales and service distribution network will distinguish Vermeer in this market,” Mr Wisniewski added.