Vermeer vacuum excavators are designed to help promote safe digging practices through innovative features and advanced technology to help prevent damage to underground utilities.
As we recognize National Safe Digging Month, let’s explore how Vermeer vacuum excavators help promote safe digging practices and the various safety benefits they offer.
“Before digging for a new utility line, a call must be placed to 811/One Call so existing utilities can be marked,” said Jake Jeffords, Vermeer MV Solutions director of sales, marketing and global accounts. “However, on almost every utility job, the contractor must expose any buried lines that a new installation may cross to help avoid unknowingly striking an existing utility, and using a vacuum excavator is an efficient and nondestructive way to do that.”
When is National Safe Digging Month?
April is National Safe Digging Month and it was created to foster awareness about the importance of safe excavation practices. Established in 2008 by the Common Ground Alliance, National Safe Digging Month serves as a key reminder as digging activity begins across the country.
What is vacuum excavation?
Vacuum excavation is a non-destructive digging method that uses high-pressure air or water to break up soil, which is then vacuumed into a debris tank. This technique is particularly useful to help expose underground utilities and pipelines. Typical jobs for vacuum excavation include exposing underground utilities, such as gas lines and electrical cables, performing potholing or daylighting, and cleaning out storm drains and catch basins.
One of the key advantages of vacuum excavation is its ability to minimize the risk of damaging existing underground infrastructure. This makes it an ideal choice for utility contractors working in densely populated or sensitive areas.
Reasons for vacuum excavation
1. Soft digging helps reduce underground damage
Vermeer vacuum excavators use soft digging technology, which involves using pressurized air or water to break up soil and other materials before vacuuming them up. This method is less invasive and reduces the risk of damaging underground utilities compared to traditional mechanical digging methods. Soft digging is particularly effective in urban areas where there is a high density of buried utilities.
2. It offers precision and control to help minimize utility strikes
The precision and control offered by Vermeer vacuum excavators allow operators to excavate around sensitive underground infrastructure with minimal risk. The ability to precisely direct the air or water stream allows only the targeted area to be disturbed. This precision is crucial for maintaining the integrity of existing infrastructure, helping to prevent costly repairs.
3. Advanced filtration systems
Vermeer vacuum excavators are equipped with advanced filtration systems that capture and contain debris, helping maintain a clean worksite. The filtration systems are designed to handle a variety of materials.
4. Operator safety features promote jobsite safety
Safety is a top priority in the design of Vermeer vacuum excavators. These machines come with a range of operator safety features, including a spoil tank safety brace and lid lock pin.
5. Vermeer provides comprehensive training and support
Vermeer provides comprehensive training and support for operators to be well-versed in the safe operation of vacuum excavators. Each model has an operator’s manual and certain models have an operation and safety video.
Additionally, Vermeer emphasizes the importance of having a vacuum excavation specialist on your team. These specialists bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, which can significantly enhance the efficiency of your operations. They are trained to handle complex excavation tasks, troubleshoot issues, and ensure compliance with industry standards. By investing in a vacuum excavation specialist, businesses may benefit from improved project outcomes.
“The operator shows me what needs to be done, and I show him the best way to do it,” said Brian Showley, vacuum excavation specialist at Vermeer Southeast. “To become an expert operator on your own would require a long learning process. The vacuum excavation specialist streamlines this process. That is a serious benefit.”
6. Environmental measures reduce disturbances
In addition to promoting safe digging practices, Vermeer vacuum excavators are designed with jobsite disturbance in mind. The ability to precisely excavate and contain debris helps reduce the impact on the surrounding environment. This is particularly important in sensitive areas where minimizing environmental disturbance is crucial.
7. Versatility and adaptability
Vermeer vacuum excavators are incredibly versatile and can be adapted to a wide range of applications, from utility location and daylighting to trenching. The adaptability of vacuum excavators makes them a reliable workhorse for any excavation project.
“If you think about your ShopVac in your garage and what it does, you’re always finding something you can do with it. That’s how a vac system is for a municipality,” Showley said. “They can get into a manhole and clear the way to make underground repairs or locate underground utility lines. A city can use the vacuum to quickly and precisely straighten signs or meter boxes and install signs. They can do all of these things with a vacuum excavator that would otherwise take so much longer to do by hand.”
8. Vermeer utility locators help reduce excavation hazards
Vermeer utility locators play a crucial role in promoting safe digging practices by accurately identifying underground utilities before excavation begins. This process starts with a thorough investigation of the jobsite, looking for signs of unmarked utilities such as ground disturbances, utility risers or pavement repairs. Vermeer locators are designed to be easy to use and highly accurate, with customizable features like gain and depth estimators to suit specific jobsite needs. By using these locators, contractors can avoid damaging existing utilities, which helps prevent costly repairs.
The GPS-enabled Verifier® G3+ utility locator offers high accuracy, optimized connectivity and intuitive controls. This model pairs with smartphones using the G3+ map mobile app to plot location information, including depth, current index, GPS data, utility type and operator details. The Verifier G3+ locator also features a water-resistant, rugged design suitable for harsh jobsite conditions, and it can detect ambient noise to switch to a different frequency for better accuracy. These advanced features allow Vermeer locators to provide reliable and precise utility detection, enhancing the efficiency of excavation projects.
9. Vermeer technology focuses on safety and efficiency
Vermeer continues to innovate with new technologies. These advancements include combining traditional soft digging methods with cutting-edge separation technology, which allows for more efficient material handling and reduced environmental impact.
Vermeer vacuum excavators: Products available
Vermeer offers a range of vacuum excavators designed to meet various excavation needs, such as utility location, potholing, trenching and daylighting.
- EC025 vacuum excavator: Ideal for small to medium-sized projects, the ECO25 is perfect for utility location and potholing. Its compact design allows for easy maneuverability in tight spaces, making it a versatile choice for urban environments.
- EV150 vacuum excavator: This model excels in valve box cleanout and smaller excavation tasks. Its high performance and maneuverability make it suitable for jobs that require precision and efficiency in tight areas.
- CS GT vacuum excavator: Designed for general excavation tasks, the CS GT is reliable for utility location, trenching and daylighting. Its robust performance ensures consistent results across various job
- CV GT vacuum excavator: Similar to the CS GT, the CV GT is versatile and dependable, making it a great choice for a wide range of excavation applications including utility location and trenching.
- CV SGT vacuum excavator: With enhanced power, the CV SGT is ideal for more demanding projects. It handles larger excavation tasks efficiently, making it suitable for extensive utility and construction work.
- LP mini vacuum excavator: Perfect for tight areas, the LP Mini offers versatility and efficiency. It’s great for small-scale excavation projects, utility location and potholing in tight spaces.
- LP XDT vacuum excavator: This model is designed for various excavation conditions, providing reliable performance for utility location, trenching and daylighting. Its adaptability makes it a solid choice for diverse job sites.
- LP SGT vacuum excavator: Ideal for larger projects, the LP SGT offers powerful performance for extensive excavation tasks. It’s well-suited for utility and construction work that requires significant digging capacity.
- LP SDT vacuum excavator: With robust power, the LP SDT is perfect for heavy-duty excavation projects. It excels in large-scale utility and construction work, ensuring efficient and effective digging.
- VX50 vacuum excavator: Designed for high-efficiency excavation, the VX50 is great for utility location, trenching and daylighting. Its powerful performance ensures quick and precise results.
- VX75 vacuum excavator: This model is built for heavy-duty projects, offering exceptional power for large-scale excavation tasks. It’s ideal for extensive utility and construction work that demands high performance.
- HTV873 PTO vacuum excavator: Suitable for various excavation conditions, the HTV873 provides powerful performance for utility location, trenching and daylighting. Its versatility makes it a reliable choice for diverse job sites.
- JTV873 PTO vacuum excavator: Similar to the HTV873, the JTV873 offers reliable performance for demanding excavation tasks. It’s well-suited for utility and construction work that requires significant digging capacity.
- ECO50 vacuum excavator: Perfect for efficient and effective excavation, the ECO50 is great for utility location, trenching and daylighting. Its high performance ensures quick and precise results.
- VXT300 vacuum excavator: Designed for large-scale projects, the VXT300 offers powerful performance for extensive excavation tasks. It’s ideal for utility and construction work that requires significant digging capacity.
- VXT600 vacuum truck: Built for the most demanding excavation tasks, the VXT600 provides maximum efficiency and performance. It’s perfect for large-scale utility and construction projects that require robust digging power.
Innovating vacuum excavation technology
Vermeer offers a range of vacuum excavation products, including skid, trailer, and truck-mounted hydro-excavators. These products are designed to handle various soil conditions and meet the needs of the underground utility and soft dig markets.
The Vermeer MV Solutions team operates from facilities in Piedmont, South Carolina, and Okahumpka, Florida. The Piedmont facility, opened in 2021, spans 130,000 square feet and supports the demand for cutting-edge vacuum excavation technology.
For more information or assistance with excavation projects, contact your local Vermeer dealer.
Vermeer MV Solutions, Inc. reserves the right to make changes in engineering, design and specifications; add improvements; or discontinue manufacturing at any time without notice or obligation.
Equipment shown is for illustrative purposes only and may display optional accessories or components specific to their global region.
Please contact your local Vermeer dealer for more information on machine specifications.
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