Underground pipeline installation in dense urban areas or challenging terrains demands high precision and minimal disruption. A horizontal directional drilling (HDD) rig is the ultimate trenchless solution, allowing you to lay pipelines beneath roads, rivers, and buildings without disruptive open trenching.
Engineered for maximum torque and reliable thrust-pull performance, YG horizontal directional drilling rigs are built to streamline municipal, telecom, and utility projects, ensuring high efficiency even in unpredictable soil conditions.
Horizontal Directional Drilling Machine Parameter:
| 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 the powerhead | 30m/min | 20m/min | 20m/min | 20m/min | 20m/min |
| Maximum reaming hole diameter | 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 | 7662*2162*2450mm |
Horizontal Directional Drilling Machine Catalogue ＆ Price
Common Applications Of Horizontal Directional Drilling Rig
YG trenchless drilling rigs are actively deployed worldwide across critical infrastructure sectors, delivering unmatched ROI by eliminating excavation and road restoration costs.
- Municipal Utility Networks: Perfect for laying high-density polyethylene (HDPE) water supply and drainage pipes under busy city streets with zero traffic disruption and minimal ground disturbance.
- Telecommunications & Power Cables: Efficiently pull bundles of fiber optic conduits and high-voltage power lines under existing concrete pavements, highways, and structural foundations.
- Oil & Gas Cross-Country Pipelines: Built to handle long-distance, large-diameter steel pipe installations under major rivers, wetlands, and environmental obstacles.
- Agricultural Irrigation Systems: Install sub-surface drainage and main irrigation lines beneath active fields without damaging crops or altering topsoil integrity.
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Horizontal Directional Drilling Equipment Features
What sets YG horizontal directional drilling equipment apart from generic market alternatives is our commitment to heavy-duty component sourcing and hydraulic efficiency.
- Optimized Hydraulic Thrust & Pullback: Driven by high-torque motors or heavy-duty cylinders (model-specific), ensuring steady feeding and retraction without pressure drops during critical pullback phases.
- Intelligent Ergonomic Control Station: Features a highly automated, user-friendly interface that real-time monitors drilling mud pressure, torque, and thrust, significantly reducing operator fatigue and operational errors.
- Modular & Upgradable Configurations: Tailor your rig to your fleet’s specific needs. Optional add-ons include integrated automatic drill rod loading boxes, heavy-duty hydraulic anchors, and fully enclosed, climate-controlled operator cabins for extreme weather sites.
- Global-Standard Powerplants: Equipped with Cummins or other world-renowned brand diesel engines that deliver high power output, low fuel consumption, and compliance with global emission standards for easy local maintenance.
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Actionable Framework: Choosing the Right HDD Rig
Avoid under-powering your project or over-spending on capacity. Follow this industry-standard framework to match your site requirements with the perfect YG model:
1. Calculate the Backreaming Diameter (The 1.3x–1.5x Rule)
Never choose a rig based strictly on the target pipe size. Your final reaming diameter must be 1.3 to 1.5 times larger than the outer diameter (OD) of the product pipe to allow smooth displacement of drilling fluids and cuttings.
- Example: For a 400mm gas pipe, your final reamed hole must be at least 520mm – 600mm. Refer to our parameter table’s maximum reaming hole diameter row to ensure compliance (e.g., YG-280 or higher).
2. Gauge the One-Time Crossing Distance
Longer continuous bores experience exponential increases in skin friction (drag) between the pipe string and the borehole wall. For crossings exceeding 150 meters, prioritize mudflow capacity (measured in L/min) and higher pullback tonnage to prevent the pipe from getting stuck.
3. Analyze Site Geology & Rock Hardness (UCS)
- Soft Soils, Silt & Clay: Standard drill bits and fluid mixing will suffice. Models like YG-160A or YG-180 are excellent choices.
- Cobbles, Gravel, or Hard Rock (Granite/Limestone): You will require a high-torque rig (such as the YG-320/320A) capable of operating mud motors or rock tricone bits. Always share your site’s Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) data with our engineers beforehand.
First, confirm the type of your project. Different projects need different types of rigs, whether it is for cable laying, water pipeline installation, or oil pipeline construction.
Second, check the pipe diameter and material. The size of the pipe you need to lay will decide the reaming diameter you need. Usually, the reaming diameter is 1.3 to 1.5 times the pipe diameter.
Third, confirm the one-time crossing distance. How long you need to drill in one go will decide the power and size of the HDD drill rig you need.
You should also check the geology of your work site. If the ground has hard rock, you will need a rig that can work with rock drilling tools, and confirm the rock hardness in advance.
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Top 5 FAQ about HDD Drill Rig
A: You can choose the right model based on your pipe diameter and crossing distance. First, calculate your backreaming diameter, which is typically 1.3 to 1.5 times the actual pipe diameter. Then check the machine pull force. For instance, a pull force of 51 kN represents a 5-ton capacity machine, while 135 kN represents a 13-ton capacity machine.
A: Yes, our equipment can drill through tough formations. For sites with challenging conditions, we provide professional large-scale rock drilling tools specifically engineered to handle hard ground surfaces. We highly recommend confirming your detailed site geology with our team before drilling.
A: Our standard configuration models are kept in stock and can be shipped out within 15 working days. For standard setups without automatic rod boxes, the unit is shipped inside a single wooden case (about 12–13 cubic meters). Units with automatic rod boxes require two wooden cases totaling 16–18 cubic meters.
A: No, our HDD drill rig machines are easy to operate, which feature high automation and are user-friendly. Besides, we also provide explicit operation manuals and instructional videos for you. If required, we can also dispatch field engineers to your job site. The engineering service is free for the first week, but you should offer us accommodation. If it takes longer than 7 days, our engineers will charge $150 per day.