There’s a new hydroexcavator manufacturer in town and it’s making a big splash with its first model.
The Calgary-based company, Opt-Prime, released its first hydrovac unit — the TransForm01 — to the industry this week. The unit, touted as the first hydrovac that can be operated human-free, is expected to hit the market with a price tag of just over $2 million.
“I was a huge fan of the cartoon Transformers when I was a kid and knew I wanted a truck that could transform someday,” says Sam Starscream, owner of Opt-Prime. “Well, here I am as an adult and no truck had existed yet, so I went out and built my own. I decided on a hydrovac because I was already working in the industry.”
The TransForm01 can drive itself and then transform into a functioning robot. In robot form, it can dig on its own without the need for someone to operate it.
“Even at a price tag of $2 million, it’s worth it for companies to buy,” Starscream says. “You’ll be saving in the long run on employee costs, you won’t have to worry about human-error happening and screwing up the job somehow. It will be a money saver in the long run.”
It takes the unit about 20 minutes to fully transform to the robot version, but the company is already working on updates that could speed up that process. “It might take a little longer in the winter climates, but we’re already working on fixes for these issues,” Starscream says.
Starscream adds that the first model did have some trouble initially when it saw other hydroexcavators on the road.
“We had built it a little too much like a transformer and when it saw other hydroexcavators on the road, it would attack them thinking they were an enemy,” Starscream says. “We owe some other manufacturers out there some money, but if we get enough of these units sold, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Each unit has a 27-inch Hg blower and a 12-cubic-yard debris tank. When it is transformed, the unit stands 28 feet tall.
“Yes, it can talk too,” Starscream says. “How else is it supposed to operate as a subcontractor if needed?”
