A utility contracting company based in the UK was struggling with slow trenching methods. Every time they needed to install a gas line under a road or a telecom duct beneath a rail crossing, they had to shut down traffic, dig up pavement, and pay for expensive surface restoration. The delays were costing them penalty fees. They needed a faster, non‑destructive solution.
They chose to purchase a brand‑new HDD drill rig from YG Machinery. With a maximum pull force of 320KN and torque up to 12,000N·m, the machine bored horizontally beneath obstacles without opening a trench. The crew drilled from a small entry pit, passed under a busy roundabout, and pulled the pipe back through in a single shift – something that used to take three days with open‑cut methods. Project completion time dropped by 40%, and surface restoration costs were almost eliminated.
Technical Parameters: Five Models Of HDD Drill Rig For Sale
Before you invest in an underground horizontal drilling machine, you need to understand the core specifications. Below are the key parameters for all five HDD drilling equipment models offered by YG Machinery.
| Model | YG-160A | YG-180 | YG-280 | YG-320 | YG-320A |
| Engine rated power | 100KW | 97KW | 160KW | 140KW/160KW | 160KW |
| Push and pull | Cylinder | Motor | Motor | Cylinder | Motor |
| Maximum drag/feed force | 160/100KN | 180/180KN | 280/280KN | 320/320KN | 320/320KN |
| The maximum torque of the powerhead | 5000N.n | 6000N.n | 10000N.n | 12000N.n | 12000N.n |
| Powerhead speed | 0-180r/min | 0-140r/min | 0-120r/min | 0-140r/min | 0-140r/min |
| Moving speed of powerhead | 30m/min | 20m/min | 20m/min | 20m/min | 20m/min |
| Moving speed of the powerhead | Φ600mm | Φ600mm | Φ750mm | Φ800mm | Φ800mm |
| Drill rod length (single) | 3m | 3m | 3m | 3m | 3m |
| Drill pipe diameter | Φ60mm | Φ60mm | Φ73mm | Φ73mm | Φ73mm |
| Drill pipe diameter | 10-23° | 10-22° | 10-23° | 10-20° | 10-20° |
| Maximum mudflow | 160L/min | 250L/min | 320L/min | 320L/min | 320L/min |
| Maximum mud pressure | 100bar | 80bar | 80bar | 80bar | 80bar |
| Overall quality | 6700kg | 8500kg | 12500kg | 11500kg | 11200kg |
| Dimension(length*width*height) | 5700*1820*2400mm | 6400*2270*2340mm | 7100*2260*2450mm | 7100*2250*2450mm | Moving speed of the powerhead |
Project Background: Three Core Challenges In The UK Market
The British contractor‘s experience reflects three common challenges faced by utility and civil engineering companies across the UK.
Surface Disruption and Traffic Management: Installing pipes or cables under roads, rail lines, and rivers using traditional open‑cut methods requires lane closures, diversions, and extensive signage. In dense UK urban areas like London, Manchester, or Birmingham, these disruptions lead to traffic fines, angry residents, and prolonged project timelines.
High Restoration Costs: After trenching, the surface – asphalt, sidewalks, landscaping – must be fully restored. These costs add up quickly, especially when historic pavements or environmentally sensitive areas are involved.
Equipment Durability in Variable Ground Conditions: The UK‘s geology varies from soft clay and loam in the south to rocky, hard ground in the north and Scotland. A reliable HDD drill rig must adapt to changing soil conditions without frequent breakdowns or bit changes.
These challenges are common for any utility contractor looking to reduce costs and complete projects faster.
Why Choose This HDD Drill Rig For Your UK Projects?
The YG‑320A horizontal directional drilling rig was selected because it addresses the three core challenges directly.
1. Trenchless Technology Eliminates Surface Disruption
An HDD drill rig drills underground from a small entry pit, passing under obstacles without cutting the surface. The hole is directional and guided, emerging exactly at the target point. The pipe or cable is then pulled back through. No traffic disruption. No damaged pavement. No digging up historic sites or farmlands.
2. High Pull Force Cuts Through Challenging Ground
With 320KN of drag/feed force and 12,000N·m of torque, the YG‑320A underground horizontal drilling machine handles soft soil, hard rock, and everything in between. The powerhead moves at 20m/min, and the maximum pipe diameter reaches φ800mm with a single drill length of 1,500 meters. This power and speed ensure projects stay on schedule.
3. Precision Control for Utility Installation
The underground horizontal drilling machine uses a guidance system to control the drill head’s path. Operators can steer around existing underground infrastructure – water mains, gas lines, electrical conduits – without striking them. This precision is essential in the UK, where buried utilities are dense and often poorly mapped.
Real‑World Application And Client Feedback
The British contractor‘s YG‑320A underground horizontal drilling machine delivered measurable results across multiple projects.
- Time Savings: A 200‑meter gas line installation under a suburban road was completed in one 8‑hour shift. The same job previously required three days of open‑cut trenching plus surface restoration.
- Cost Reduction: Surface restoration costs dropped by more than 80%. No asphalt patching, no landscaping repairs, and no traffic management fees.
- Project Manager Testimonial: “We were losing money on every urban job because of traffic fines and delays. The YG HDD drill rig changed our numbers completely. Our crew learned the machine in two days, and we finished our first project 40% ahead of schedule. The guidance system is accurate to within a few centimeters – we threaded the drill between two existing gas lines without touching either one.”
- Operator Feedback: “The 320KN push‑pull force is impressive. We drilled through a section of compacted clay and sandstone that our old machine couldn‘t handle. The hydraulic system is smooth, and the crawler tracks move easily across muddy site entrances.”
The machine‘s performance in the UK‘s mixed geology exceeded expectations, with no unscheduled downtime during the first six months of operation.
Partner With Us For A More Efficient Drilling Future
The UK contracting case demonstrates that a high‑quality HDD drill rig delivers faster installations, lower costs, and less disruption compared to traditional trenching. Whether you install water pipes, gas lines, power cables, or telecommunications ducts, our YG‑320A and other models are engineered for durability, precision, and ease of operation.
YG Machinery has shipped HDD drilling equipment to contractors across Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. We provide full technical support, operator training documentation, and genuine spare parts supply.
Don‘t let surface disruption and restoration costs eat your profits. Contact us today for a customized quote, a recommended model, and a shipping estimate to the UK.
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