With the popularity of pipe fusion in the field continuing to increase, new innovations are making the practice easier than ever. The Tritan 560 from McElroy combines features of three of the company’s most popular machines: the rugged portability and technology of the TracStar iSeries, pipe loading capabilities of the Talon 2000, and the ability to meet the pipe where it lays, found in the Acrobat QuikFit carriages. With a full 360-degree rotation and a boom that can raise, extend and curl the carriage to approach and load pipe, the Tritan boosts job site efficiency and improves workplace safety by eliminating the need to top-load pipe into the fusion machine.
The Tritan 560 aids in pipe positioning, allowing for more flexibility and increased performance and productivity. With the same rugged, dual rubber tracks found on McElroy TracStar machines, the Tritan offers all-terrain mobility to easily travel across a variety of terrains and can be driven directly to and from the pipe itself.
“That makes it very unique in trench operation,” says McElroy product manager Chris Greggs. “Rather than having to have the extra excavation under the pipe, we’re able to meet the pipe where it lays and simply lower the carriage down on top of the pipe. Once the fusion is complete, rather than opening the carriage and rolling it out from under the pipe, you simply lift it up.”
The Tritan 560 was designed with operator safety in mind. All functions are wirelessly controlled with the DataLogger, McElroy’s touchscreen tablet that also captures the most important information related to fusion operations in real time. No second remote is needed — all controls have been integrated into the DataLogger tablet, allowing a single operator to control all parts of the pipe loading and fusion process. Rather than being tethered to the machine, operators can instead position themselves where they have good visibility and can safely manipulate the machine.
“It is a great machine for use in the trench because it is bottom-loading,” Greggs says. “You bring the pipe into the machine from the bottom rather than from the top.”
The Tritan is powered by a 50 hp Stage V/Tier 4 Final Compliant Kubota engine. Its heater power varies based on need, allowing for full power during the heat-up phase and lower power when maintaining temperature. This equates to lower fuel consumption and quieter operation. 918-836-8611; www.mcelroy.com
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