Tracto Grundodrill 20 ACS: HDD design and performance notes for utility engineers
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell
First reported on The Construction Index
30 Second Briefing
Tracto has introduced the Grundodrill 20 ACS horizontal directional drill, upgrading the previous 18ACS with 200 kN thrust/pullback, 9,000 Nm outer-rod torque, a 123 kW diesel engine and a high-capacity Bentonite pump, with the first unit sold to a Tier 1 contractor. The rig offers fully automated drilling, rod changing and lubrication, and can carry up to 144 m of Elicon twin-rod tubes with rod types selected via the operator interface. Cable-guided bores in difficult ground, an upgraded undercarriage for stability and an optional anchoring system target demanding utility and trenchless crossings.
Technical Brief
- First production Grundodrill 20 ACS unit has already been purchased by a Tier 1 contractor.
- Cable-guided boring capability targets alignments where conventional walkover tracking is impossible or unreliable.
- Upgraded undercarriage is intended to reduce rig movement and settlement on soft or uneven working platforms.
- Optional anchoring system is aimed at resisting reaction forces on steep slopes or low-friction surfaces.
Our Take
Within our 915 Infrastructure stories, very few product pieces specify thrust and pullback ratings, so Tracto’s 200 kN-class HDD positions it towards the mid-range segment typically used for urban utility and fibre routes in the UK rather than long, deep crossings.
A 123 kW diesel package on this Tracto unit suggests contractors can still work within common noise and emissions constraints on UK urban projects, but may face tighter scrutiny on low-emission zones compared with newer hybrid or electric HDD rigs appearing elsewhere in our product coverage.
The 144 m rod capacity aligns with typical block-to-block or street-length HDD shots in congested UK rights-of-way, signalling that Tracto is targeting high-productivity, short- to medium-length service installations rather than specialist long-distance pipeline work.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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