The Vac-Ex Files: McLaughlin
Jeff Wage, Vice President
Productivity Points: Proper water use, re-verifying utilities and efficient removal of hard surface material are three areas important to productivity. When digging, only use the amount of water pressure and volume necessary to agitate the soil enough to be sucked up by the vacuum. By minimizing water use and the amount of eroded soil, the operator can stay on the job longer. Before vacuum excavating, re-verify with a utility locator the depth and location of conductive utilities. Taking time to re-verify allows you to excavate in the right spot at the right depth on the first try. On urban jobsites, choose the most efficient method to remove hard surfaces. Core sawing is a good solution for excavating under a hard surface — it keeps the restoration area small and minimizes traffic disturbances.
Favorite Unit: The MEGA VX200 6-in. truck-mounted vacuum excavator fills a hole in the market at an affordable price with the capacity and power contractors need to stay on the job longer. The machine features spoil tank capacities from 1,200 to 3,000 gal. It has a 6-in. hose diameter with a 3,200-cfm blower at 18 in. of mercury and is powered by a 200-hp John Deere Tier 3 engine. The McLaughlin industry-exclusive three-stage cyclonic filtration system allows for wet and dry vacuum excavation, while prolonging filter life and helping to keep maintenance costs low.
For more information, visit www.mclaughlinunderground.com.
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