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Vermeer, a world leading provider of agricultural and industrial equipment has introduced Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) equipment in Ghana at an event in Accra.

The event was attended by over 60 participants from the construction industry, the telecommunication industry, oil and gas industry and the public sector.

The equipment enables contractors to install cables and pipes underground without touching the surface of the earth, and was developed to limit the social and environmental impact of construction while installing critical utility lines.

The Regional Sales Manager of Vermeer, Mr. Ruben de Meijer, in an interview with Peace FM on the sidelines of the event said, as the challenges posed by expanding populations grow, access to clean water, reliable electricity, and utility services are a necessity.

He said in order to meet the needs of rapidly developing societies, contractors and municipalities around the world need equipment that complete work efficiently and productively.

He also pointed out that, in a more established locales, the demand for faster transfer of information is driving broadband and fiber installation, while a rapidly aging water infrastructure is receiving a falling grade and needs replacement.

Mr. Meijer said Vermeer lineup of equipments and software solutions will continue to evolve to meet these challenges.

He said Vermeer will be targeting the fiber optic industry such as telecommunication companies since they are mostly involved in the laying of underground cables and pipes.

He said Vermeer offers versatility to contractors looking to install a variety of utilities and services in difficult ground conditions at the depths required by local municipalities efficiently and effectively.

According to him, using the HDD equipment for utility installation is more affordable considering the fact that the cost of cutting the surface of the ground plus the cost of restoring the surface after cutting is avoided.

Kwame Anani-Korba, Vermeer’s representative in Ghana, said that a lot of the restoration works that had taken place after trenching and the laying of fiber optic cables and pipelines in Accra had been poorly done and had lead to the creation of gullies and potholes on the roads and pavements.

He therefore urged the contractors in Ghana to consider the use of HDD machines that will leave the surface of roads and pavements undisturbed, increase productivity and save cost.