PERRY, Oklahoma — Construction Equipment magazine has announced the Ditch Witch^®JT100 All Terrain horizontal directional drill and the MT12 MicroTrencher were named as Top 100 Products of 2010. The Top 100 Products award program was conceived to call special attention to the most significant new products announced each year. These awards serve to emphasize innovations, highlighting manufacturers who are investing in research and development. Their investments pay off for equipment users in the form of greater productivity, efficiencies and safety. They also ensure a competitive marketplace. The publication considers several hundred product introductions in the process.  

The MT12 MicroTrencher is designed to quickly and cleanly slice through asphalt to create trenches into which fiber-optic cable can be installed. Throughout the world, demand is increasing for faster broadband communications, necessitating an increase in the installation of high-speed fiber-optic cable for commercial and residential use. Many utility companies prefer underground installation to reduce the risk of cable damage due to the elements (e.g., ice storms and high winds). With its capability to efficiently install fiber in congested urban areas, the new MT12 offers underground contractors a rapid, highly cost-effective solution. 

The JT100 All Terrain has 100,000 lb (445 kN) of pullback and 12,000 ft-lb (16 270 N•m) of torque, and is built for extended-range bores and installations of large-diameter pipe. The machine’s 268-hp (200 kW) engine delivers more raw power more efficiently to all machine functions so the installation can be completed faster. And with its exclusive, patented two-pipe drilling system, the JT100 All Terrain can install pipe in most ground formations, including solid rock. 

These two products are examples of the continuous innovation the industry has come to expect from the Ditch Witch organization. For more information, call Ditch Witch Worldwide Headquarters at 800-654-6481 or visit www.ditchwitch.com.