Schwanhausen, Germany — Water, energy, and raw materials are the core topics of our time. Only by successfully producing and supplying these resources in a sustainable manner can we overcome the challenges brought by a rapidly changing world. Although the current demand for water, energy, and raw materials is already enormous, future demand will continue to grow exponentially due to the major trends of urbanization and digitalization. In the long run, climate change also requires a rethinking of energy and raw material issues. How can these problems be effectively solved? Part of the answer lies deep underground, buried beneath tons of soil and rock. Here lie resources that have not yet been extracted or even explored at all. Bauer Maschinen GmbH provides suitable equipment for this purpose.

Truck-mounted Drills

       For Bauer's RB series truck-mounted drills, complex geological conditions, large drilling depths, or borehole diameters are not a problem. This series of drills provides the optimal technical prerequisites for operations such as developing low-lying drinking water sources, utilizing geothermal energy, exploring raw materials, or conducting dewatering drilling in mining operations. Their main advantage is that, with minimal modification, the same equipment can be used for various methods, such as direct circulation mud drilling, air-lift reverse circulation mud drilling, down-the-hole hammer drilling, or wireline core drilling. Ulrich Schöpf, Head of the Water, Energy, and Mining Division at Bauer Maschinen GmbH, said: "This flexibility and the customized solutions for customers are what make the Bauer RB series drills unique."

      The current Bauer RB product range includes the trailer-mounted drills RB-T 100 and RB-T 135, as well as two truck-chassis-mounted drills, the RB 50 and RB 65. The power for the onboard hydraulic systems of the RB 50 and RB 65 comes from the truck's auxiliary drive, and these two drills use a combined feed system with cylinders and a hook. External components such as the hole press or flushing pump are also integrated into the drill's drilling system.

Focus on Automation

       The latest generation of the RB 65 truck-mounted drill from Bauer Maschinen features electro-pilot control to enable more economical and safer operation based on automated processes. Depending on the geology and the size and weight of the drilling tools, the RB 65 can be used for small-diameter boreholes up to 1,550 meters deep, or for large-diameter drilling of 1,200 millimeters to a final depth of approximately 400 meters. The RB 50 and RB 65 feature restricted operation mode (ROM), protective guards, safety controls, and other functions, and also meet all requirements of CE/DIN EN 16228, which is an important factor for the European market. Many RB drills are successfully in use not only in Europe but also in Africa and South America.

A Perfect Combination

      To develop the North American and Central American markets, Bauer acquired the long-established GEFCO brand in 2020, which is one of the leaders in the water supply and irrigation drilling market in the region. GEFCO equipment is currently produced at the Bauer Equipment USA plant in Conroe, Texas. Depending on the model, these products have hook loads between 12 and 42 tons. "The GEFCO brand is the perfect complement to our product portfolio," said Wolfgang Pünnel, Head of the Water, Energy, and Mining Division at Bauer Maschinen GmbH, "and in a sense, this also aligns with our original intentions: after all, it was when Bauer began constructing water wells in the first half of the 20th century that the company took its first steps, developing from a coppersmith's workshop into an internationally renowned large company."