Manufacturer Vermeer has released the D220x500 S3 Navigator horizontal directional drill, building on the company’s success with its D220x300 S3 Navigator.

“The new D220x500 S3 integrates many of the quality features found on the Vermeer D220x300 S3 HDD, but with even more versatility and ramped-up performance,” says Tod Michael, product manager of trenchless products for Vermeer. “This drill is designed to meet the needs of utility contractors performing large-diameter city work, as well as pipeliners that are performing long, large-diameter bores.”

The D220x500 S3 delivers up to 54,000 foot-pounds (39,828.2 Nm) of torque at a spindle speed of 36 revolutions per minute, 240,400 pounds (1069.4 kN) of thrust/pullback, and fluid flow rates of up to 350 gpm (1324.9 L/min) if the onboard pump is selected. The D220x500 S3 is available with an onboard cab or standalone operator cab, and with a 20- to 30-foot (6.1- to 9.1-meter) rod rack. Contractors can also choose between a rod stager or full-length catwalk, as well as add an optional mud pump, crane or hydraulic scissor lift for optimum staging efficiency.

For more mobile operations, the D220x500 S3 can be equipped with an on-board excavator-style cab that has a view of the open-top vises, as well as the rack and rod stager. Both the on-board and detached cab include the same dual-multifunction joystick controls found on all Vermeer S3 horizontal directional drills.

Vermeer built the D220x500 S3 with a 415-horsepower (310-kW) Cat C13 ACERT Tier-4 Final engine that it calls convenient to service. The drill also runs quietly at just 81.2 dB(A).

“The combination of the D220x500 S3 drill’s class-leading rotary torque and fluid pressure delivers optimized drilling and reaming performance in challenging ground conditions like rock,” Michael adds. “More torque helps reduce the number of reamer passes crews need to make when widening a hole, and high fluid flow help protect tooling while maintaining the drill hole integrity and operational efficiencies.”

The D220x500 S3 also features a sliding vise that helps clamp the rod connection at different positions when reaming and pulling product, and includes a wireless remote for repositioning plus mounted cameras near the drive chuck, vise and rod handling areas for operator visibility.

Vermeer Corporation, based in Pella, Iowa, serves utility drilling, surface mining and pipeline drilling markets. The company also works in agriculture, biomass and other equipment areas. To learn more, visit vermeer.com.