news

All New At No Dig 2012 – Steve Vick International, Stand No. 45

August 31, 2012

First pipe coil trailer of its kind


The 90/500 (now Hexi Pipe Coil Trailer) is the first pipe coil trailer of its type capable of transporting and dispensing a 500 metre coil of up to 90mm diameter PE. It is a completely new design from the company which began manufacturing trailers in the 1980s. With a hexagonal drum frame, the central drum is moved from loading/dispensing position to the transport position by hydraulics. The method of removing and replacing the drum bars in order to load the pipe coil has been simplified and is now a one-man operation.

The new trailer has a number of key advantages: By taking a 500 metre coil as opposed to a typical 100 metres, it allows operators to save money by reducing pipe wastage.  From a safety perspective, the pipe can be loaded and dispensed without operatives having to reach inside or climb onto the frame.

Due to an improved central drum configuration, pipe is dispensed quicker, faster and more smoothly compared with trailers with no central drum. As the coil is fully supported by the hexagonal drum, re-coiling pipe is an easy, single-handed process.

Despite its large capacity, the new Steve Vick trailer weighs only 1900kg fully laden allowing it to be towed by a typical transit vehicle and the combination of its light weight and single axle makes the 90/500 (now Hexi Pipe Coil Trailer) easy to manoeuvre.

New Pipe Handler for mini excavators

Steve Vick is introducing not one but two new Mini Pipe Handlers at No Dig. These tools attach to mini excavators to allow PE pipe, up to 180mm in diameter, to be manoeuvred on site and inserted quickly and securely from the safety of the cab.
The first model inserts pipe up to 125mm and the larger model handles pipe up to 180mm diameter. Both are suitable for use with a typical 1.5 to 3 tonne excavator.

The unique ‘J-shape’ design of the jaw allows the pipe to be side-loaded, eliminating the need for operatives to work in the trench. Pipe manoeuvring and insertion operations are controlled entirely from the safety of the cab and a one-stage set up is all that is required for the entire insertion process.
Typical insertion speeds of up to 10 metres per minute are possible.

The J-shaped jaw allows a constant pipe depth to be maintained to aid insertion and needs only 35mm ground clearance, minimising the depth of the trench required. The 360° swivel head provides the operator with maximum manoeuvrability when positioning and inserting the pipe whilst the clamp design prevents damage to the surface of the PE and minimises slippage in wet weather.

A ‘cracking’ tool

The newest additions to the pipe handling range are the MACAW Pipe Crackers, hydraulic tools for safe, effective breaking out of cast iron mains.
The range consists of two models, the MACAW for breaking 8 – 24” and the Mini MACAW for 4 – 6” mains.

The larger of the two, the MACAW, so called because its pipe cracking arms resemble the powerful beak of the South American bird, attaches to the quick-hitch or bucket pins of a mini excavator. Controlled from the cab, and using the excavator’s hydraulic power, the operative manoeuvres the arms around the pipe and then applies sufficient pressure to crack the pipe.
Adapting to all site environments and for the convenience of differing site conditions, the Mini Macaw has two means of hydraulic power; a hand pump, or a mini excavator.
When hydraulic power is applied, the linkage arms squeeze the pipe making the breaker discs, which act as the pressure points, crack the pipe.

Both models accommodate a full range of pipe sizes and can be used on inserted or abandoned mains.