Ditch Witch's largest all-terrain directional drill offers 120,000 pounds of thrust and pullback

Ditch Witch has launched the AT120 all-terrain (AT) directional drill – the largest AT system currently from Ditch Witch. 

The AT120 gives operators the power and stability needed for efficient fibre, pipeline, and utility installation through hard rock. And as the successor to the Ditch Witch AT100 and American Augers' DD110, the AT120 enables maxi-rig drill operators to move down a class size to meet job site constraints without compromising productivity.

The AT120 features 15,500 foot-pounds of rotational torque and 3,000 foot-pounds of inner rotational torque – a 50 percent increase over the AT100. With 120,000 pounds of thrust and pullback, the AT120 allows operators to take on a wide variety of projects, as well as move through longer bores and larger diameter installations more efficiently. The drill is powered by a 280-horsepower Cummins Stage V diesel engine that meets European emissions standards for cleaner job sites.

The AT120 offers a 20-foot end-to-end drill pipe on board, helping operators put more pipe in the ground. New technology enhancements include a virtually assisted makeup and breakout (VAM) solution, which helps ensure that the drill pipe and tooling are at the correct levels observed by the torque gauge during a bore. This makes it easier for operators to automatically add or remove drill pipe during a bore and increase job site productivity.

The AT120 offers a saver lock design to protect the drill pipe and drive system against wear and tear. With an updated engine compartment and access panel design, operators have increased access to critical components that frequently need to be maintained.

"Anyone drilling through hard rock needs a machine that has the brawn to push through," says Jeff Davis, Ditch Witch HDD product manager. "The AT120 delivers the exceptional power that these jobs require. And as our largest AT drill yet, the AT120 pushes Ditch Witch users to larger-scale jobs that typically run maxi-rigs, which means maxi-rig operators can bring less equipment to the job site, maximizing cost savings and boosting job site uptime."

The AT120 also offers a multimode joystick – the first production unit in the Ditch Witch lineup to market with this. The multimode joystick boosts operator productivity as operators can set up their joystick controls to their style of drilling. The joystick helps to improve operator confidence while running the drill and reduces time spent training.

Additionally, the AT120 shares a common design with the latest Ditch Witch family of horizontal directional drills.