TRACTO recognises that the energy transition, including the electrification of the civil construction sector, will be an enduring process that will transform the trenchless industry.
To contribute to this conversion, the company is planning electrification across its product range, continuously adapting to technological advances and electrifying additional machines and components.
There’s no doubt modern diesel-powered GRUNDODRILL rigs have come a long way from their predecessors.
Fitted with the latest Stage V engines – the current European emissions standard for heavy machinery – these rigs deliver significant reductions in harmful emissions such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.
This is achieved through an integrated aftertreatment system that combines diesel particulate filters with a catalytic converter, controlling emissions at their source.
The result is near-zero local emissions from nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, quieter operation, and improved fuel efficiency.
With stop-start capability and cleaner combustion, these machines support both environmental responsibility and more pleasant working conditions on site. Electrification for the future
However, despite these technological advancements, TRACTO’s ambition stretches beyond cleaner combustion.
The company recently unveiled the GRUNDODRILL JCS130E, its first fully electric drilling rig designed to operate without local exhaust emissions on the jobsite.
This milestone rig produces no diesel soot and no nitrogen oxide emissions, and operates at noise levels far lower than traditional diesel machines.
Conceived and developed over three years, the JCS130E was first introduced as a prototype at BAUMA 2022 as part of TRACTO’s ‘Road to Zero Emissions’ campaign, which signalled where the future of trenchless technology was headed.
TRACTO Australia’s Dan Toms, who was present for the unveiling of the new drill in 2022, said the company’s electrification strategy is already having an impact locally.
“As soon as we launched the JCS130E we started receiving enquiries about the machine and it’s eventual availability in Australia and New Zealand,” he said.
“Unlike some other parts of the world, local trenchless contractors are keen to push the boundaries of new technology and keen to be the first to try new machines. In a lot of cases this can give them an edge over their competitors, especially when working on public or utility projects where emissions reduction targets are becoming compulsory.”
Electrifying a powerful drilling rig was a challenging concept.
The first was purely spatial: electric drive systems and energy storage equipment need to fit into a machine originally conceived around its diesel powertrain, demanding thoughtful design and efficient use of existing space.
The second challenge came outside the rig, from the rapidly changing world of electrical components.
Unlike mature diesel technology, which has evolved steadily over decades, electrical parts such as batteries, inverters, and motors are being updated frequently.
This rapid development cycle means component availability and performance can shift quickly, requiring ongoing optimisation and flexibility in design.
TRACTO’s engineers identified that creating an electric rig was only part of the equation, realising fully electric construction sites require infrastructure that is still emerging.
In some instances, the electrical grid and charging facilities at construction sites are not yet uniformly prepared to support fully electric operations.
Projects often require careful approvals, grid-connection testing and site-specific energy solutions such as mobile battery containers.
By contrast, regions including Scandinavia are already demonstrating plug-and-play principles where electric construction sites are implemented with fewer hurdles, showing what is possible when infrastructure keeps pace with machine technology.
Performing in the field Despite these wider challenges, the GRUNDODRILL JCS130E has already proven itself in real-world use in Europe, delivering a performance on par with its diesel counterpart. One example was a utility pilot project in Essen, Germany with GasLINE which was expanding a fibre optic network.
TRACTO used the JCS130E alongside a battery container, providing two weeks energy supply. The feedback from the project stakeholders and the community was overwhelmingly positive, with local residents appreciating the lack of disruption caused by the installations beyond the usual benefits of trenchless methodologies, namely the lack of noise created by the machine.
Toms said the GasLINE project proved that electric no-dig construction sites are technically feasible and offer real added value for the environment, the community and beyond.
“The JCS130E represents an exciting future for TRACTO Australia. The possibilities are endless,” he said.
“A number of our key partners are often working in remote locations where fuel is hard and expensive to come by, so being able to operate a machine off grid for weeks at a time could revolutionise the construction sector.
“We’re already seeing that portable battery containers are becoming more prevalent and cheaper in industries like mining and resources, it’s only a matter of time till this extends to construction as well.”
“We believe this strategy places us in a unique position to capitalise and support the construction of the next generation of infrastructure.”
For more information, visit tracto.com/au