Working‑site conditions can be highly variable, and many buyers worry whether equipment fits their onsite requirements. Let’s take a real‑world project from one of our overseas clients. Based in Germany, the customer purchased our equipment sometime in 2025.
In a mountainous region of Germany, a civil engineering contractor faced a demanding challenge. The company had secured a contract for a tunnel rehabilitation project requiring precise profile correction and rock cutting. The tunnel, originally constructed decades ago, had developed sections where the inner surface required reshaping to meet modern clearance standards. Traditional methods—using breakers and hydraulic hammers—were too aggressive, causing micro-cracks in the surrounding rock and compromising the tunnel’s structural integrity. The vibration from impact tools also risked loosening the rock mass, creating unsafe conditions for the crew.
The project manager needed a cutting solution that could deliver precision, low vibration, and high productivity in confined tunnel conditions. After extensive research, the team purchased a rotary drum cutter from YG Machinery—specifically the YGM 210S model. This drum cutter attachment for excavator features a 9000 N.m maximum torque, a 268 L/min max flow, and a 28 MPa rated pressure. The attachment was mounted on a 22-ton excavator, providing the power and precision needed for the demanding tunnel rehabilitation work
The impact was immediate. The German crew now cuts and profiles the tunnel interior with exceptional accuracy, removing only the necessary material while preserving the rock’s natural stability. The rotary drum cutter’s low-vibration operation protects the surrounding rock structure and eliminates the risk of overbreak. The project is progressing ahead of schedule, and the contractor has since ordered a second unit for another tunnel project. For a free quote on equipment for your operation, contact us today.
Contact: 【WhatsApp/WeChat/Phone】+86 159 3715 3321
Technical Parameters Of The Rotary Drum Cutter
Below are the key specifications for the YG series rotary drum cutters. The German tunnelling contractor chose the YGM 210S model.
| Model | YGM 140 | YGM 160 | YGM 180 | YGM 210S | YGM 240 | YGM 200 | YGM 280 | YGM 350 | YGM 400 | YGM 800 | YGM 1250 |
| Engine Displacement | 398ml/r | 1340ml/r | 1340ml/r | 2680ml/r | 2099 ml/r | 2812 l/r | 2812ml/r | 4198ml/r | 8396ml/r | 20000 ml/r | 30000 ml/r |
| Speed Range | 0-100 r/min | 0-90 r/min | 0-120 r/min | 0-100 r/min | 0-85 r/min | 0-95 r/min | 0-120 r/min | 0-140 r/min | 0-80 r/min | 0-90 r/min | 0-90 r/min |
| Max Flow | 40 L/min | 174 L/min | 160 L/min | 268 L/min | 280 L/min | 400 L/min | 337 L/min | 580 L/min | 670 L/min | 1800 L/min | 2700 L/min |
| Rated Pressure | 28 Mpa | 25 Mpa | 28 Mpa | 28 Mpa | 25 Mpa | 28 Mpa | 28 Mpa | 30 Mpa | 30 Mpa | 35 Mpa | 35 Mpa |
| Max Pressure | 40 Mpa | 30 Mpa | 35 Mpa | 35 Mpa | 35 Mpa | 45 Mpa | 45 Mpa | 45 Mpa | 45 Mpa | 45 Mpa | 45 Mpa |
| Max Torque | 3000 N.m | 5200 N.m | 5600 N.m | 9000 N.m | 12800 N.m | 12800 N.m | 12000 N.m | 23500 N.m | 46500 N.m | 111300 N.m | 121400 N.m |
| Max Power | 22 KW | 45 KW | 50 KW | 80 KW | 65KW | 70 KW | 70 KW | 120 KW | 200 KW | 400 KW | 480 KW |
| Cutter Head | 22-44 pcs | 36-56 pcs | 44-68 pcs | 44-68 pcs | 48 pcs | 32 pcs | 60-76 pcs | 76 pcs | 76 pcs | 84 pcs | 84 pcs |
| Height | 650 mm | 840 mm | 830 mm | 840 mm | 1420mm | 1200 mm | 1420 mm | 1450 mm | mm | mm | mm |
| Width | 400-500 mm | 650-780 mm | 500-780 mm | 500-780 mm | 1000mm | 500 mm | 1000 mm | 1100 mm | None | None | None |
| Diameter | 390 mm | 460 mm | 470-500 mm | 470-500 mm | 620mm | 500 mm | 680 mm | 690 mm | None | None | None |
| Weight | 200 KG | 600 KG | 600 KG | 600 KG | 1650KG | 1650KG | 1600 KG | 1700 KG | 2600 KG | 5100 KG | 6000 KG |
| Excavator Class | 3-8 T | 10-15 T | 10-20 T | 18-25 T | 20-30 T | 20-30 T | 20-30 T | 30-50 T | 40-60 T | 80-120 T | 120-160 T |
Three Challenges That Made Tunnel Rehabilitation Difficult In Germany
The German tunnelling contractor faced three problems common across the country’s infrastructure and tunnelling sector.
Problem 1: Vibration Damage To Surrounding Rock
Impact tools like breakers cause micro-cracks and structural weakening in the surrounding rock mass. In tunnel rehabilitation, preserving the rock’s natural stability is critical to prevent collapse and ensure long-term safety. The contractor needed a method that would not compromise the tunnel’s integrity.
Problem 2: Imprecise Material Removal
Breakers and hammers remove material unpredictably, often taking more than intended. This creates overbreak, requiring additional filling and finishing work. The contractor needed precise control to remove only the necessary material.
Problem 3: Low Productivity In Confined Spaces
Tunnel environments are confined, with limited space for manoeuvring large equipment. Traditional methods require multiple passes and extensive setup time. The contractor needed a solution that could work efficiently in tight conditions.
The rotary drum cutter solved all three.
How The Drum Cutter Attachment For Excavator Transformed The German Project
The YGM 210S rotary drum cutter operates on a proven principle: a hydraulically driven drum with carbide-tipped cutting teeth rotates at high speed, milling through rock and concrete with a chipping action rather than impact. The drum cutter attachment for excavator mounts directly on the excavator arm, and the operator guides it along the cutting path with precision.
- Low Vibration, High Stability
Unlike impact tools, the equipment produces minimal vibration. The German crew reported no micro-cracks or structural weakening in the surrounding rock. The low-vibration operation also improves stability conditions at the tunnel face, reducing the risk of rock falls. - Precision Profiling
The equipment removes material with exceptional accuracy. The operator can control the cutting depth and path precisely, removing only the necessary material. The German contractor reported that over-break was virtually eliminated, reducing the need for additional filling work. - Efficient Operation In Confined Spaces
The compact design of the rotary drum cutter allows it to work effectively in confined tunnel conditions. The excavator positions the attachment precisely, and the drum cutter does the rest. The German crew completed the profile correction work in significantly less time than estimated.
Versatile Applications
Beyond tunnel rehabilitation, the equipment handles a wide range of applications:
- Tunnel excavation and profiling
- Demolition of reinforced concrete structures
- Trenching and pipeline work
- Road milling and surface preparation
- Mining of soft minerals and rock excavation
- Underwater excavations
For a custom rotary drum cutter configuration based on your application and excavator size, please feel free to contact us.
Phone / WhatsApp / WeChat: +86 159 3715 3321
Real Feedback From The German Tunnelling Contractor
After completing the tunnel rehabilitation project, the project manager shared his results.
- Vibration impact: Zero micro-cracks or structural damage to the surrounding rock.
- Cutting accuracy: Exceptional precision with virtually no overbreak.
- Productivity: The equipment completed the profile correction work in half the estimated time.
- Safety: The low-vibration operation improved stability conditions at the tunnel face.
- Versatility: The drum cutter attachment for excavator handled both rock and concrete sections of the tunnel.
- Payback: The rotary drum cutter paid for itself within the first three months of use.
The project manager said, “Germany’s tunnel infrastructure requires careful rehabilitation. We cannot afford to compromise the rock’s stability or create unsafe conditions. The YG equipment gave us exactly what we needed—precision, low vibration, and high productivity. The 9000 N.m torque and 0-100 r/min speed control allowed us to adjust cutting to the rock conditions. This equipment has transformed our tunnel rehabilitation work.”
Ready To Deploy Your Rotary Drum Cutter In Germany?
Following delivery, we kept in close follow‑up and supplied operation videos plus technical guidance to help the customer start on‑site work without delay.
The German tunnelling contractor proved that the equipment delivers precise, low-vibration, and high-productivity cutting for tunnel rehabilitation and rock excavation. The YGM 210S with 9000 N.m torque, 0-100 r/min speed control, and 44-68 cutter teeth handles the toughest rock conditions with ease. The unit is built with a high-torque hydraulic motor, durable carbide-tipped teeth, and heavy-duty construction that stands up to demanding tunnelling conditions.
YG Machinery has shipped rotary drum cutters and drum cutter attachments to customers across Europe and beyond. We provide export packaging, operation manuals, and spare parts support, including replacement teeth and hydraulic components.
Stop struggling with imprecise, vibration-heavy methods. Start cutting with precision and efficiency.
【WhatsApp/WeChat/Phone】+86 159 3715 3321
Share your excavator class, application type, and project requirements. We will send you a quotation with shipping to Germany within 24 hours.
