Vactor Manufacturing, the industry leader in vacuum excavators and sewer and catch basin cleaners, has unveiled the successor to the legendary Vactor HXX vacuum excavator at the 2017 International Construction & Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) Show October 3-5, 2017, in Louisville, KY. The concept vacuum excavation truck makes its first public appearance at Vactor’s outdoor exhibit (K381) at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
“The new HXX concept showcases our latest design thinking in terms of improvements in payload capacity, weight distribution, operation and performance,” says Ben Schmitt, Product Manager at Vactor Manufacturing. “Our goal in previewing this HXX concept at ICUEE is to gain feedback from customers and other industry professionals before launching the next generation of this truck.”
Improved weight distribution
The HXX concept maximizes legal payload for customers and improves operational efficiency. “Maximizing productivity while adhering to strict weight regulations is a constant challenge for vacuum excavation users,” Schmitt says. “Weight enforcement is an important issue within the industry, as overweight fines can be significant.”
The placement of the debris body and water tank on the concept’s chassis ensures equal distribution of the payload on the axles, regardless of how much water is in the tanks. This design is an improvement over previous vacuum excavators configured with sloped floors in uni-body designs where weight shifts as water is used and debris is loaded, often resulting in lost payload capacity. Each component of the HXX concept truck was purposely placed to ensure the entire chassis gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is used. 
Single-piston water system
A new PrecisionFlow water pump system on the HXX concept features a single-piston design which is capable of higher flow and pressures than a triplex water pump system for superior production and reliability. “This new water pump system features half the moving parts of a traditional hydroexcavation water pump, eliminating more expensive and less reliable pressure regulating mechanisms or unloading valves and enabling quick and easy servicing in the field,” Schmitt says.
Improved operator interaction
The HXX concept features Vactor’s Park-N-Dig quick operation design, which reduces setup and teardown time between jobs. In addition, the concept features a 7-in. display featuring real-time operational and performance information feedback to allow the operator to maximize productivity. The HXX concept also features Vactor’s Bluetooth service connectivity tool and on-screen diagnostics for quick and easy field troubleshooting if necessary.
“Everything about the HXX concept truck was designed with operator safety, product reliability, productivity and serviceability in mind,” Schmitt says.
QuietPak system
The HXX concept is equipped with a QuietPak sound-damping system featuring a Robuschi positive displacement blower rated for 6,176 CFM and 28-in. Hg. The system delivers higher airflow and quieter operation, with a decibel rating of less than 90 dB(A) throughout the RPM range. Featuring ultra-quiet inlet and outlet silencers acoustically matched to the blower, this system is ideal for work at higher altitudes.
HXX vacuum excavator concept product specifications
- Vacuum system rated at 6,200 CFM and 28-in. Hg
- Water pump system rated at 30 GPM and 3,000 psig
- Water tank capacity: 1,200 gal.
- Debris tank capacity: 16 cu. yd.
- Boom reach: 27.5-ft. overall reach, 320 degrees of rotation
Additional equipment on display at ICUEE
In addition to the HXX vacuum excavator concept, Vactor will display their full line-up of vacuum excavation solutions at their outdoor and indoor (Booth 4906) exhibits at the ICUEE Show. These products include a mid-sized Vactor HXX vacuum excavator, a Vactor Paradigm vacuum excavator, and a nine-yard tandem axle configuration of the Vactor Prodigy vacuum excavator.
More than 100 years of proven performance
For more than 100 years, Vactor has been building durable, reliable products using air conveyance, high-pressure water and vacuum technology. The leader in vacuum excavation trucks, the Vactor HXX vacuum excavator was designed and engineered as a purpose-built machine and continues to grow in popularity as a non-mechanical tool and non-destructive process for safe digging with contractor input throughout the process. Today, Vactor offers the widest range of vacuum excavators for the utility industry, ranging from single- to four-rear axle, 3.5 cu. yd. to 15 cu. yd. debris capacity, and air, water or both for digging.
