Vactor Manufacturing is making its HXX Paradigm vacuum excavator available in an air-only version and in different water system configurations, the company said. What’s more, Vactor has introduced a configuration made for excavating in extreme terrain.

Modular Design Allows Tailoring

The Vactor HXX Paradigm permits safer excavation around utilities, and its modular design lets Vactor tailor the Paradigm to specific customer needs, the company said. The air-only configuration is available with an air compressor rated at 185 cubic feet per minute at 150 lbs. per square inch, or with one rated at 300 cubic feet per minute at 250 lbs. per square inch.

“Many of our contractor and utility customers are looking at air excavation as a method to solve their spoil disposal issues,” explained Ben Schmitt, product manager at Vactor Manufacturing. Air excavation keeps the material dry and available for backfill.

The Paradigm can also be configured with several different water systems, including a wash-down system rated for four gallons per minute at 2,500 lbs. per square inch with a 100-gallon water tank. Another option is a hydro-excavation system rated for eight gallons per minute at 2,500 lbs. per square inch with a 300-gallon water tank.

Vacuum Excavation a Safer Choice

Meanwhile, the standard Paradigm, which allows excavation with water or air, remains a popular option. The ability for operators to select air or water digging allows them to use the most effective method for soil conditions, Schmitt said.

Vactor designed the Paradigm specifically for customers involved in the installation, maintenance, and repair of underground water, sewer, gas, electric, and telecommunications utilities. In addition to digging holes, the multi-use truck can vacuum, contain, and dispose of drill mud; power pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrical tools; and provide transport and storage of replacement parts, equipment, and tools.

The Paradigm features a six-inch hose and a powerful vacuum system capable of up to 2,200 cubic feet per minute and 15-inch Hg of vacuum. The standard extendable boom with six-inch vacuum hose delivers more than double the airflow of competing models, with a three- or four-inch ­vacuum hose and a boom as an upgraded option, according to Vactor. As a result, the Paradigm’s larger vacuum hose reduces clogging often encountered with smaller vacuum systems.

The Paradigm boasts a maximum payload of more than 8,000 lbs. of spoils on the Class 7 chassis and 6,000 lbs. of spoils on the Class 6 chassis. Another plus is the Park-n-Dig design, which allows for quick setup.