WorldWide Drilling Resource

Advancing the HDD Industry Information Courtesy of American Augers Al Richmond began building auger borers under the name Richmond Manufacturing in 1961. By 1970, under Leo Barbera, Richmond Manufacturing spun off into American Augers and continued to focus on auger boring machines. Over the years, the company has focused heavily on developing products and systems which improve produc- tivity while increasing overall safety. American Augers was the first company to eliminate chains and go completely to rack and pinion on all HDD (horizontal directional drilling) rigs. Realizing the need for exit pit crews to be able to lockout drills so they can work directly on the drill string or exit side tooling, the company developed es!lok ® , in 2001. Oftentimes, drill operators may not be able to see the exit pit crew, and miscommunication with two-way radios can lead to unexpected movement of the drill pipe, which can cause serious injury and even death. This system allows workers at the exit side to “lockout” the movement of the pipe, increasing the safety for those working in the exit pit. The company continues to drive the industry forward with new pioneering ideas. The most recent groundbreak- ing advancement is the new electric auger boring machine released earlier this year. Keeping fumes out of the pit is a big issue, especially with deep pit boring. This new machine has enough power to get through tough bores, is user-friendly, and can be operated out of the pit with the new remote control. American Augers takes pride in the support they give customers around the world. Their dedicated service team is responsive, knowledgeable, and available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Developed and handcrafted in the U.S.A., American Augers machines are built to last! The WWDR camera caught Duane Lyons proudly displaying the new elec- tric auger boring machine at the 2017 CONEXPO-CON/AGG event. 55 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® SEPTEMBER 2017