Volvo pipelayers - The future of the pipe laying business

[nematvey]

What is a green indicator on the top? Weigth?

[MotoScootMech]

@nematvey Yes, its a display of a control module on the machine that constantly monitors the load placed on the end of the boom. It proportions the weight on the end of the boom to the machines rated maximum load capacity and gives that reading on the green display you see.

[nematvey]

@MotoScootMech Thnx for an answer.

[MotoScootMech]

@nematvey Anytime, I enjoy answering those types of questions =D. Hope I wasnt too in-depth tho >.<

[nematvey]

@MotoScootMech No, no. Excellent:)

[1vachand1]

With these machines the mats would have to be two sets wide..That couldn't be done in narrow areas and would cost to much.This machine might have a few benefits but would be limited on an actual ROW..Stringing pipe nothing is faster,safer,more productive and less labor intensive than a vacuum unit !!! Vacuworx International makes the best and there are many videos on here demonstrating so.No people have to be anywhere around it when it is being un-loaded making it very safe....

[MotoScootMech]

@1vachand1 I still think this machine has a lot of advantages over conventional sidebooms, which Volvo all said in the video- so i wont say them again to prove my point. Yes, you do need to widen the right of way a bit, but is it really that much hassle? Or are you and byuhas57 just nit-picking anything you two can think of? Widening the right of way by a couple of feet just doesnt seem like its that awful to me to be honest. Also, have either of you tried this machine out? Before you go

[1vachand1]

byuhas57 is right!!! Machines have their place and this one is in a yard being used as a crane.There is no way that it can out work or be faster than a sideboom..I work pipeline and production is key!!! The right of way issues are this...A wider one DOES mean more time,cost and is even not possible in most areas.The allowed width can be as narrow as 60' and that is for ditch,pipe welding area and the travel lane..And then in most of these areas wooden mats must be placed to hold up equipment.

[MotoScootMech]

@1vachand1 and bash this machine, try it out and get a true idea of how good- or bad- it is. I do agree with you about the Vacuworx International though, it seems like a really good idea and I could definitely see it finding its niche in the future.

[HARLEYBOY33]

Very Impressive ! Move over CAT ....

[byuhas57]

productivity? bullllll. first of all youre going to have to widen the rightaway for that thing wich means your dozers are going to have to move more material. then when youre running down the rightaway i doubt that thing can beat the other booms when theyre running 3rd gear wide open. the only thing that hunk of iron is good for is a laydown yard unloading trucks, even then you still have the hoes with the vaccum on it. and the list goes on

[MotoScootMech]

@byuhas57 Okay, so you need to widen the rightaway... so what? Maybe the way people have been laying pipes in the past isn't as good as i can be. Maybe Volvo is looking for new solutions to get the job done better, faster, and cheaper- its just a guess.

Did you find evidence that the PL4611 can't keep up with the other booms? Or are you just making assumptions?

What hoes with the vacuum on it?

[xfilethe]

i'm not in the field but that thing stil looks pretty conventional compared to other new volvo consepts , the tracks should flip inwards and not have to be detatshed so it can sit on the tracks on the truck , the arm should be like the one on a "steady cam" having more articulation have more hydrolics , it would be a much more versitile mashine that could be transformed withe a buket into a digger , thus beeing more worthe buying and recouping the investmant.

[jix177]

@xfilethe Earthmovers magazine did a feature on this recently and apparently it can be converted back to a digger in a couple of hours. Already some customers have purchased the machine with both a digging and pipe laying boom.

I suspect that if the tracks were flipped underneath the frame, the machine would probably end up too high to transport on public roads. As it is, the fact that the machine is able to lift its own tracks and counterweight onto a trailer makes it pretty self sufficient.

[xfilethe]

@jix177 oke cool , but i see no need for the pipe laying boom !! a sympel existing 2 jointed boom would do the same work , and would able agradual lowering like a set of davits does , there would be no modification wich takes time , a symple auto grab withe hook like on a digger would do to excange a multipe of tools , this mashine has bits that are not needed ea obsolete that have been copied from an old mashine. withe a colapeble cab the hithe of the mashine would stil meet road standards.

[MotoScootMech]

@xfilethe I don't believe you completely understand what kind of machine this very specialized industry needs. They're working with massively heavy pipes all day, every day. So why would you want a machine designed for digging to do pipe laying work? I know I would want to use a machine designed for my industry so that i could use it effectively, in my industry.

[nsfan4life]

I've seen this in person here in the states!I was surprised and pleased to see something new come to the pipe laying world!Congrats Volvo!!!!