spotlight
A Cure for Jetting Safety Concerns
Robotic waterjetting system from Stutes separates
operators from dangerous high-pressure water
By Craig Mandli
O
perator safety is paramount in the waterjetting industry. With
more companies — especially those in the refinery and petroleum
cleaning industry — wishing to remove their operators from
possible harm from high-pressure sources and caustic chemicals,
automated systems are becoming more common.
The HydraX Xtream Pad Dragon from Stutes Enterprise Systems,
introduced to the water and wastewater industry at the 2015 Water &
Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show, is just such
a product. The innovative robotic waterjetting system allows the operator to
manipulate the variable-speed rotating nozzles as an extension of his own body.
“What we essentially did with this product was took a compact excavator
and added a tail whip that swivels back and forth and doesn’t pinch or puncture
the high-pressure hose,” says Tryan Stutes, the president and owner of Stutes
Enterprise Systems. “Our blasting head comes in a small package while offering
a wide range of motion.”
The head rotates 180 degrees left and right, and 180 degrees up and down,
allowing the operator to reach small crevices and cracks far out of arm’s reach.
It can blast water at pressures up to 20,000 psi at 43 gpm. The Pad Dragon’s
intelligent hydraulic system controls the speed of the nozzle’s spin rotation and
“Operator safety is the biggest factor with the
design of this unit. It allows for less wear and tear
on the operator, a faster clean, less downtime,
and less cost for protective equipment, as the
operator can stay in the comfort of the cab.”
Tryan Stutes
other functions from the comfort of its climate-controlled cab. It’s also efficient,
as there’s no need to idle-up the engine to power the hydraulic controls.
“Operator safety is the biggest factor with the design of this unit,” says
Stutes. “It allows for less wear and tear on the operator, a faster clean, less
downtime, and less cost for protective equipment, as the operator can stay in
the comfort of the cab.”
Multiple tools are available with the blasting head, with a quick-change
system that allows the operator to make adjustments in minutes. While the
target market is service workers and companies that work in refinery and utility
pipe cleaning and blasting, Stutes says that several municipalities have also
purchased units. The unit can also be hooked to a trailer jetter to give it full
hydroexcavation capability.
Tryan Stutes, right, the owner and president of Stutes Enterprise Systems, discusses the
features of the waterblasting head on his HydraX Xtream Pad Dragon robotic waterjetting
system with an attendee at WWETT 2015. The system offers pressures up to 20,000
psi at 43 gpm, while keeping the operator away from potential harm. (Photo by Craig
Mandli)
“We designed this unit to be a fit across multiple industries,” Stutes says.
“Now it’s a matter of getting the name out there and letting municipalities and
contractors know that there is a different, safer option out there for what they’re
trying to do.”
The 2015 show was Stutes’ first as an exhibitor, and overall he was
enthused by the excitement surrounding his unit — after first explaining what
it is, and what it’s capable of.
“I think a lot of people in the industry have a vision of what a waterjetting
system looks like, and this is something that, looks-wise, is completely
different,” Stutes says. “There was a lot of education on this product at the
WWETT Show, and once people learned about it, they wanted to know more.
The feedback I’ve gotten from those who have units in the field indicates that
they don’t want to do anything without it.”
Stutes says he’s excited to see where the market for the unit goes in
the coming year. Based on the feedback he received at WWETT, the unit’s
hydroexcavation functionality could potentially be an even bigger selling point.
“Just being at the WWETT Show for the week, we gained a ton of
knowledge on this industry,” he says. “I’m confident that this waterblasting
unit is a great fit, and I look forward to working with this industry even
more.” 866/362-9332; www.aquablasters.com. C
Water & Wastewater Equipment,
Treatment & Transport Show
Education Day: Feb. 17, 2016
Exhibits Open: Feb. 18-20, 2016
Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis
www.wwett.com