Taking place across October 17-18 at Comacchio's new production facility in Castello di Godego, Italy, the company's Open House showcased an exhibition of over 20 rigs, representative of the entire Comacchio offering, ranging from compact and lightweight drilling rigs for soil investigations and environmental drilling, to those for micropiles and anchoring applications, and included piling machines weighing over 90t, without forgetting the machines for water well and geothermal.

The star of the Open House was the CH 850, the latest addition to the Comacchio CH line of piling machines and currently the largest multipurpose unit in the range.

The CH 850 stands out for its unmatched balance between rotary torque and machine weight. The exceptional performance of the machine is guaranteed by the high-torque rotary head, delivering up to 360kNm maximum torque and 60rpm maximum speed. It has a powerful three-gear unit with manual and automatic speed settings for optimal drilling efficiency.

The CH 850 is characterised by an innovative hydraulic system that goes beyond the conventional use of load sensing technology, introducing an advanced electronic control of the pumps and the valve blocks. Thanks to this system, the pump always delivers, with precision, the flow/pressure required according to the functions activated by the operator. The result is a considerable reduction in power losses and fuel consumption, marking another step forward in Comacchio's ongoing effort to provide more efficient and sustainable solutions.

The new rig features a winch-pull-down system that makes the CH 850 a truly multipurpose unit that can be configured for constructing Kelly piles, CFA piles, displacement piles and soil mixing treatments, easily switching between configurations with minimal changes.

In its Kelly configuration, the CH 850 can be utilised for the construction of piles with up to 3000mm diameter. The maximum achievable pile depth is 91m with the addition of a mast extension. The machine can be easily transformed to install CFA piles thanks to a quick-conversion kit. The CFA configuration allows for the use of augers with up to 1200mm diameter. Installing an 8m long auger extension allows the machine to reach a CFA pile depth of 28m.

As with all the CH-line rigs, the CH 850 is controlled by the Comacchio Control System (CCS), which provides complete electronic control of all machine functions and advanced diagnostics. The system ensures user-friendly operation through a 12in touchscreen, making switching from one machine configuration to another easy.

The rig is fitted with a Volvo diesel engine available in 345kW or 405kW configurations, meeting EU Stage V and US EPA Tier 4F emission standards.

The CH 850 has variable gauge tracks and removable side frames, providing enhanced stability, reduced ground pressure, and ease of transport. The modular design of the counterweight allows for flexible mounting and dismounting with minimum change to the machine outline. Mounting and dismounting operations are made safer and easier thanks to the hydraulic, remote-controlled lifting system of the counterweight installed on the machine. To reduce transport weight and dimensions, the CH 850 can be dismounted in modules up to a minimum transport weight of 51.5t and a transport width that does not exceed 3m.

The cabin of the CH 850 boasts TOPS and FOPS-1 certification, ensuring robust protection against external impacts, along with a protective grate on the front and top for added security. The fully glazed cabin, equipped with sliding doors, offers excellent visibility, while the soundproofing ensures a quieter, more focused working environment. For enhanced safety and visibility, the cabin is equipped with four AI-powered cameras that offer an all-around view displayed on an in-cab monitor.