MIDI-VAC
The Midi-Vac is our mid-range machine, featuring a 6.5m3 hopper. This machine is perfect for medium to large excavations and can tackle tough ground conditions whilst being extremely versatile. This machine was built in-house by our specialist team of engineers and is designed to have the longest working life possible.
Available on 16 or 18 tonne chassis, this model has exceptional excavation qualities whilst still providing excellent maneuverability and access capability.
Axles Rental are the first company to provide Hydro-Suction excavation equipment in the UK, available to the marketplace through convenient contract hire packages. We are able to ensure that all the advantages of Dry Vacuum excavation, and the extra advantages that Stock Hydro-Suction excavation equipment offer, is available to everyone who needs to excavate Safely in the vicinity of buried services.
Drive Option 1: JCB Auxiliary Engine: 97kW Stage V.
Drive Option 2: Single Engine (NFE): Auxiliary equipment driven via split or engine driven PTO options.
Truck Chassis: 15 – 18t.
Hopper: 6.5m3 Twin-Discharge system (Electric and PTO Option).
Auxiliary Fuel Tank: 160 Litres.
Clean Water Tank: 1850 Litres.
High Pressure Water System: set at 280 Bar 15lts per/min.
Hydro-Spade XT: Oscillating cutting lance.
Standard Wash Down Lance: For use when cleaning vehicle and equipment and ensuring the work site is left clean and tidy.
Suction Arm
The Suction Arm has a 4.2 meter reach and a selection of dig extensions. Fitted with a hydraulically operated raise and lower system, and a rotational self braking mechanism, to ensure safe operation.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Hydro-Suction Excavation?
Vacuum excavation is a relatively new process of non-destructive digging, by way of using pressurised air or water to safely agitate and dislodge the ground, then removing loose material via a high powered vacuum suction hose into a storage tank.
Why is it used?
Primarily used when excavating sensitive areas in the ground such as around utility lines, pipelines, or tree roots, it is by far the safest, quickest and most environmentally friendly way of exposing buried utility services, as opposed to using conventional hand or machinery digging methods, vastly reduces or eliminates utility service strikes, reducing manual labour and associated risk from injury, reducing damage to wildlife and consequential downtime.
What makes it the safest way of excavating?
It’s a more precision dig compared to traditional mechanical digging, reducing the chance of error. Personnel are not required to be inside the hole during the process, avoiding risk from direct physical contact with the ground or buried services. Manual labour is massively reduced, leading to less fatigue or injuries. Surrounding area is kept clean of debris and free from hazards. Service strikes can occur in seconds with a spade or mechanical machinery, while a Vacuum excavator will gently but quickly reveal underground services without any or little contact, leaving them safe and undamaged, to then assess and repair as required.
What are the effects of a Utility Service strike?
The health and safety impact of a service strike can reach far beyond the immediate working area, causing risk of injury to workers whilst posing a significant risk to public further afield. The environmental impact can be colossal, causing contamination to soil, the watercourse, including storm drains, ditches, rivers, potentially catastrophic to wildlife and the ecosystem. The cost of completing a remedial repair to a damaged utility is negligible when compared to the wider financial impact, which is much harder to quantify.