Auger Boring Technology

In the unguided auger drilling process, a steel pipe (drill pipe or casing pipe) is pushed forward with the aid of a auger boring rig. The direction and tilt are taken into account when aligning the drilling rig. The drilled material is extracted using a drill head and an auger. The steel casing pipe remains in the ground, while recoverable drill pipes are pressed out with the carrier pipe in a further work step. The method is used for both unconsolidated rock and solid rock. The choice of drill head depends on the sub-soil conditions. In the case of solid rock and non-cohesive unconsolidated rock, down-the-hole hammers are also used.

In this process a string of pilot tubes is installed by displacing the ground with a steering head complete with target. The surveying and control are carried out using an optical-electronic navigation system The system consists of the optical aiming device, a digital camera unit and a monitor. Directional changes are carried out by control surfaces of the control head using the reaction force of the foundation soil. Subsequently, casing or product pipes of the same or larger outer diameter are driven while simultaneously pressing out the pilot tubes. Larger outer diameters require widening by soil removal in one or more operations.

In this method, the pilot tube string (casing pipe) is driven by removing the soil. As with pilot tube jacking with soil displacement, surveying and control is carried out with an optical-electronic navigation system. Directional changes are carried out by a steerable drill head (pipe control). Pipe control systems make it possible to lay casing pipes with diameters of 406–1.420 mm in unconsolidated and solid rock, controlled in just one work step. Product pipes of the same outer diameter are driven while the casing pipes are pressed out at the same time.

The process variant combines the classic pilot tube jacking methods with directly driven powered reaming heads (PUD) or powered cutting heads (PPS). The driven reaming heads or cutting heads are connected to casing pipes that are already laid (steel pipes or temporary casing pipes) with internal auger. The product pipes are then connected to the PUD or PPS and pressed in. At the same time, the drilling material is transported into the target pit by means of augers.

PUDs are used for unconsolidated rock (easily displaceable soils) up to a product pipe diameter of 1.200 mm, PPS can be used up to solid rock and a product pipe diameter of 1.520 mm.

HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling) method as pilot pipe tube jacking with soil displacement. In this process a string of pilot tubes is installed by displacing the ground with a steering head complete with target. In the case of unconsolidated rock drilling, the soil is extracted hydromechanically with high-pressure nozzles on the drill head and, at the same time, mechanically with cutting elements on the drill head (control head).

Surveying and control is carried out with an optical-electronic navigation system, which guarantees the highest degree of positional accuracy. In the HDD process variant, gravity pipes made of polyethylene (PE) can therefore also be laid. The product pipe is laid using the pull-back method with backreamer and bentonite.

Mini Auger Boring Machines forced of 100–400 kN for pipes up to an outer diameter of 550mm.

These compact auger drilling rigs are used for trenchless installation of all types of house connections. No matter whether it is gas, water or sewage pipes or protective pipes for telecommunication or electricity cables. The compact design and simple construction allow you to work from basements, collection shafts, circular shafts and hard-to-reach excavation pits. With the help of extension frames, the auger drilling rigs in the Mini series can be adapted to the length of the pipes to be laid. With the pilot tube method, the boreholes achieve the highest accuracies required for gravity pipelines.

Midi Auger Boring Machines forced of 1.250–2.050 kN for pipes up to an outer diameter of 1.260mm.

The compact design allows the use with 1m drilling tools and pipes in small excavations or circular shafts. The PBA 125 RS press drilling rig has been designed for drilling from 2 m diameter circular shafts. For use with longer drilling tools and pipes, this Midi class can be extended to the required size using extension frames. Some machine types are available as an LH version with extended press cylinders for increased advance speed. The application range of the press drilling rigs extends up to a maximum jacking length of over 100 m and serves all requirements of the most varied subsoil conditions. In displaceable soils, the pilot tube method is generally used; in heavy soils or rock, pipe control systems with or without hammer systems are used. The Midi class is suitable for the installation of steel protection pipes, temporary casing pipes, concrete, vitrified clay and GRP jacking pipes.

Maxi Auger Boring Machines forced of 2.350–3.200 kN for pipes up to an outer diameter of 1.720mm.

These robust and powerful auger drilling rigs are designed for pipeline construction. They are mainly used for railway, river or motorway crossings or in pipeline construction. The Maxi class is suitable for the installation of steel protection pipes, reusable temporary casing pipes, concrete, vitrified clay and GRP jacking pipes. Designed for the toughest applications, with impressive jacking forces and high torques of up to 100,000 Nm, the Maxi machines enable drilling tasks in the most difficult ground conditions. With extension frames, the auger drilling rigs can be extended to various pipe lengths in order to use tools and pipes with a length of more than 3m. Drilling lengths of up to 130m and pipe diameters of up to 1.720mm are possible depending on the application and drilling method.

The efficient, powerful and compact hydraulic power units of the HS series are specially designed to meet the requirements of auger drilling rigs. Their simple handling, the modern, power-controlled and durable drive technology guarantee smooth operation of the machines. All units in the HS series are soundproofed and comply with the applicable emission limits (US, EU) and safety standards. The electric hydraulic units in particular define a new ecological standard – almost emission-free (exhaust gases, noise). The diesel or electric power units of the HS series for the Midi and Maxi auger drilling rigs have a 3 or 4-circuit hydraulic system. This provides the user with the highest performance in thrust, pull, speed and torque in all drilling situations. The 3rd or 4th circuit is provided for the operation of a bentonite mixing and pumping station, the entire operation is carried out via only one hydraulic unit.

In addition to the classic diesel and electro hydraulic power units PERFORATOR offers energy storage and hybrid-solutions.

These concepts are individually designed and manufactured based on your needs.

The PERFORCAM optical-electronic navigation system is used for pilot tube jacking with and without soil removal (RS-HV pipe control). The system consists of the PERFORLUX optical aiming device, a digital camera unit with GPS receiver – PERFORCAM, a TFT monitor with data logger and a length measuring unit. The newest version PERFORCAM AI offers an artificial intelligence for automated processes, digital recording and navigation of the pilot tube jacking. First, the direction and tilt of the camera unit and the auger drilling rig are adjusted as required. This is controlled via the target optics inserted in the control head or initial auger of the pipe control system, which is optically detected by the camera and displayed on the monitor. The control movement or position change takes place with the pilot bore via a control bevel on the control head and, on the pipe control system, via the deflection of the front pipe, which is also called the cutting ring. The control data stored with the data logger includes all relevant drilling parameters and is continuously recorded.

The PERFORDAT measuring and data recording unit is used to record and log the jacking length and force exerted on the pipeline being laid. All relevant jacking data during the pipe-laying process is displayed and stored in real time. The internal display can be mirrored to your smartphone or desktop device via WiFi. The press force is determined via the pressure transmitters connected to the machine’s press cylinders. The length measurement during the installation of the pipes is mapped via a measuring wheel with rotary encoder. If the permissible jacking forces are exceeded, a visual and acoustic signal is triggered. A water or bentonite pressure and flow measurement is also part of the system. The recorded measured values can be documented after the work is completed.

PERFORATOR offers two types of pilot tubes. The single-walled pilot tube for precise short bores and the double-walled tube for precise installation of the pilot tubes in long bores. The annular gap between the inner and outer pipe serves as a transport line for lubricant to reduce friction or, optionally, for compressed air to drive controllable hammer systems. The inner pipe guarantees a clear and clean optical path to the PERFORLUX optical aiming device, which is located directly behind the control head or initial auger.

The pilot pipe linkages are available in different lengths and in practical transport racks. Mechanical or hydraulically driven breaking devices allow for easy loosening of the bolted linkage connections. For simple applications, plugged pilot pipe linkages are also available. A wide range of different control heads enables optimum adaptation to the ground.

The pipe controls allow for the laying of steel pipes with diameters between 406mm and 1.400mm in any subsoil, from cohesive soils and unconsolidated rock, right through to solid rock, in one operation. The horizontal (RS) and the horizontal and vertical (RS-HV) versions can be precisely controlled by means of articulated pipe sections that can be adjusted hydraulically.

Different soil conditions may require the use of special tools, such as a hammer system. Special initial augers guarantee optimal control behaviour. The control system for the RS pipe controls uses tilt sensors exclusively; the system for the RS-HV pipe controls is supplemented by the PERFORCAM optical-electronic navigation system in addition to the tilt and angle sensors. This
increases the accuracy. Both RS and RS-HV pipe controls work with the PERFORDAT measuring and data recording unit and a hydraulic control unit for the pipe controls.

The BMA 2000 mixing and pumping unit has everything that matters.

Perfect mixing, a tank volume of 2.000 l, high delivery rate and pressure. The BMA 2000 is used for pilot tube jacking and the lubrication of temporary casings and carrier pipes. An additional application is the lubrication and loosening of the excavated material directly at the drill head or auger, powered reaming had (PUD) or powered cutting head (PPS). The PERFORATOR HS hydraulic power units are equipped with an additional hydraulic circuit for the BMA 2000, which makes another power unit superfluous.

Reaming heads are the connection of pilot tube to steel pipe or temporary casing pipe. In the case of multi-stage expansion steps, the intermediate reaming head takes over the connection
between the different pipe dimensions. The reaming head provides sufficient space for the drilling material to be picked up by the drill head or the auger. The construction is based on a high-strength structure made of high-quality steels and a state-of-the-art welding process for a long service life.

PERFORATOR’s actively driven powered reaming heads (PUD) or cutting heads (PPS) are the ideal basis for pilot tube microtunnelling. These powerful units increase the drilling diameter of
a pilot tube jacking by one or more dimensional steps to match the final pipe diameter. The direction of material transport of the drilled material to the target shaft or pit is reversed. In this way, jacking pipes made of concrete, GRP, vitrified clay or even steel pipes can be laid quickly and efficiently.

Actively powered reaming heads (PUD)
The PUD active powered reaming head uses powerful, hydraulic drives to simultaneously rotate the cutting head and the auger string. The required hydraulic power is supplied via high-pressure hoses through the carrier pipe and operated from the control panel of the auger drilling rig. The PUD is mounted on an installed steel pipe or temporary casing pipe, which already contains the auger string. This allows the installation of carrier pipes in various diameters without the need for additional, larger temporary casing pipes and auger strings. PUDs are a clever and efficient solution for saving drilling accessories and set-up time on the construction site. The PUD product range includes various nominal diameters from ND 250–1.200 mm and delivers maximum torques between 3.500 Nm and 86.000 Nm.

Actively driven powered cutting heads (PPS)
Driven drill heads (PPS) have two independent pump circuits and hydraulic drives that allow the speed and direction of both the cutting head and auger string to be controlled independently. This guarantees full power for the material transport of the drilling material as well as full power at the cutting head at the same time. The PPS system allows for longer and multi-dimensional enlargement in one operation while reversing the direction of material transport of the drilled material to the target shaft or pit. The PPS process allows for the individual selection of the product pipe type and adaptation to almost all soil conditions, high-pressure jet nozzles improve the transport of the drilled material and support the cutting effect at the drill head in cohesive soil conditions. Integrated lubrication ports minimise friction on the carrier pipe.

Temporary casing pipes and the augers are mounted directly behind the reaming head and the pilot tube string. The reaming head enlarges the borehole from the pilot tube diameter to the casing pipe or carrier pipe diameter. The augers transport the drilling material into the starting pit. Depending on the carrier pipe diameter, several expansion steps are required.

Temporary casing pipes and augers are available for various diameters, pipe lengths and connection types. In addition to the standard delivery programme, we also offer groundwater augers (sluice augers) and hollow drill augers. All sizes and types can be designed and manufactured to customer requirements.

Groundwater augers (sluice augers) prevent uncontrolled discharge of the drilled material at high groundwater levels and flowing soil types. They can be used for both unguided and guided drilling, where they are installed directly between the pilot tubes and the casing pipes. Groundwater levels of 4m above invert level are therefore possible.

The groundwater auger has two bulkheads at the front and back with an opening angle of 100 degrees. A multi-flight auger is located between the bulkheads to allow for the continuous transport of excavated material. When the first bulkhead is closed at the front, the second front bulkhead and the rear bulkhead are open. This causes one side of the chamber to always be open and the other closed. In this way, the drilling material can be permanently transported away without soil escaping in an uncontrolled manner. Groundwater augers minimise the risk of cavities and subsidence during drilling and are essential guarantees of success in difficult ground conditions.

Hollow drill augers are usually used for simultaneous pilot tube widening bores. This involves drilling a series of hollow drill augers over the pre-installed pilot tube while simultaneously installing the steel pipe along the drilling axis. The method is often used for blind holes and, in good ground conditions, for boreholes up to 1.000 mm where multi-stage drilling is not required.

Cutting heads loosen and transport the drilling material. The type of drill head to be selected depends primarily on the respective ground conditions, the technique used and the diameter of the pipe to be laid. Regardless of whether clay, sand, loam, gravel or solid rock, the right drill head guarantees drilling success. Standard drill heads are trench wing cutters and wing cutters; for hard rock drilling, hammer drill bits are also used in combination with pneumatic hammer systems.

Pipe bursting systems
With the PERFORATOR RBZ-series bursting systems, pipes can be renewed and renovated in an environmentally friendly manner and without trenching in old routes. Depending on the requirements and the damage to the old pipeline, various methods can be used.

The static pipe bursting method is used for the renewal of pipelines in old routes. Regardless of whether it is a gravity or pressure pipeline, the old pipeline is cut into segments by breaking or cutting, and displaced radially into the surrounding soil. At the same time, a new pipe of the same or larger dimension is pulled in. The bursting method is suitable for almost all old and new pipe materials.

The pressing/drawing process involves the complete replacement of existing pipelines in a single operation. The old pipe is completely removed from the ground. The new pipe can be drawn in with the same or larger dimensions.

The auxiliary pipe method is also a route-equivalent, complete replacement of existing pipelines in two work steps. It is particularly suitable for old pipes made of cast iron, ductile cast iron, steel and fibre cement. As with other same-route renewal procedures, the new pipe can be pulled in in the same or larger dimension. In the relining process with annular gap, pipe strings or individual pipes are inserted into the existing pipelines. The pipe dimension is reduced and the annular gap is filled depending on the process variant. In relining processes without an annular gap, a PE pipe string with a reduced cross-section is inserted into the old pipeline. In the reduction process, the new pipe later lies close to the old pipe wall (close-fit). Both process variants are suitable for both gravity and pressure pipes.

The RBZ series comprises two machine sizes. This means that pipelines up to a pipe diameter of 1.000mm can be laid trenchlessly.

The KOBUS Pipe Puller technology has been developed for trenchless house connection renewal using the static winding method. The method can be used to renew gas and water house connection pipes made of copper, lead, steel and polyethylene (PE) from DN 15 (1/2”) to DN 32 (1 1/4”) mm without trenching. The sectional length is up to 25 m depending on the subsoil conditions and the local conditions.

Polyethylene (PE) pipes up to a diameter of DN 40 (1 1/2”) are used as new pipes. The old pipe can be replaced with a new pipe that has the same dimensions or that has larger dimensions. Both standard pipes in SDR 11 and pipes with protective properties can be used. It is also possible to install a protective pipe for the installation of the product pipeline.

The KOBUS KPP series comprises two device types:
KPP 300 – This machine is a stand-alone solution for independent handling, modular in design and powered by a separate hydraulic power unit. The maximum tensile force is 100 kN and therefore allows for a range of applications for shorter distances and smaller diameters. The modular design also allows for use in areas with limited accessibility (e.g. gardens and buildings) and transport in a box truck or flatbed truck.

KPP 400 – The Pipe Puller is the all-in-one version as an attachment for the mini excavator from the 1.6 t class. It is driven via the auxiliary hydraulics, safely from the driver’s seat. The maximum tensile force is 200 kN and allows for the full range of applications. The drive via the mini excavator reduces the investment volume and avoids additional aggregates on site. The transport takes place on the trailer of the mini excavator or on the loading area of the small truck. The low weight of just 320 kg allows for the use of existing transport concepts.

Attachment augers have proven themselves for many years, especially in explosive ordnance exploration, but are also widely used in pile driving and geotechnics as well as in gardening and landscaping (planting, pile and foundation holes).

Vertical auger attachments can be quickly and easily mounted on many carriers such as mobile excavators, loader cranes, tractors or loaders. With an extensive range of tools, augers can be used universally for many applications and soil types.

Do you need spare parts and accessories for your PERFORATOR machine?

We offer you a wide range of high-quality original spare parts in OEM quality and high-quality drilling accessories “Made by PERFORATOR”. Our team of specialists knows your machines and will quickly find the right part!

Regular and qualified maintenance guarantees the maximum performance of your PERFORATOR machine and accessories throughout their entire service life, while ensuring the highest level
of work safety.

In the event of a defect, our qualified service staff guarantee a quick and uncomplicated repair. Regardless of whether you visit us in Walkenried or we come to your premises, our range of services will impress you!

Only top qualified employees guarantee high work performance, execution quality, high work safety and a long service life of your machines.

PERFORATOR offers you the right solution:

• Providing instruction to your employees when using the machine for the first time
• Recurring regular training of your staff
• Support on your construction site for special requirements

Whether you are looking for a used machine to expand your portfolio or want to market your machine in the best possible way, we offer you a comprehensive service for used machines.

Reconditioning, valuation and trade-in are part of our offer. PERFORATOR machine or third-party brand, it makes no difference to us.

Finance machines and accessories in a way that conserves liquidity with leasing and hire-purchase solutions via the PERFORATOR GmbH partner network. Our financing partners do the work for you and find you the best offer on the market. Are you looking for flexible financing and rental solutions for your project business?

We offer you the right solution!