"ECA is thrilled to add this Bauer MC 96 duty-cycle crane equipped with a Berminghammer leader and a powerful Bauer KDK 280S Rotary Head to our fleet," said director of Bauer Product Sales and Service Gordian Ulrich. "This rig can drill up to 150ft of single-pass piles (CFA or FDP) in various diameters, which is 25ft more than our BG 45 in the high-end CFA setup."

When equipped with the 138ft long (42m) Berminghammer lead, Bauer's 130t duty-cycle crane can reach depths of up to 150ft (45m). The specially adapted MC 96 mast geometry allows an operator to drill in single-pass mode using the complete mast length. This means that the 750mm auger can achieve a depth of 115ft (35m) in a completely continuous drilling process. It is also possible to attach a Kelly extension to drill down an additional 33ft (10m).  

This customised rig represents a partnership between two of the world's leading manufacturers of foundation equipment. Berminghammer and Bauer Maschinen collaborated to develop this special lead setup specifically for the MC 96 series of duty-cycle cranes in 2020.  

Bauer and Berminghammer also developed special joint kinematics to allow the lead itself to be rigged easily and quickly. No additional modifications are required to connect the Berminghammer lead to any MC duty-cycle crane.  

In addition to the latest drilling features such as drill or pull assist, this MC 96 uses a standard Bauer KDK 280S rotary head, which is powered by the onboard Caterpillar C18 engine. This means that no additional power pack is required, which reduces noise levels and operating costs.