KEMROC EK 150 Chain Cutters in Trenching Project in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Caterpillar 330 | Cutting limestone in Riyadh.
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s growing capital, a major sewage pipeline project required highly accurate trenching through dense limestone with strict geometric specifications, trench widths of 70–80 cm and depths reaching up to 6 meters.
Conventional trenching tools and hydraulic attachments available in the local market proved incapability of meeting both the dimensional and productivity targets within acceptable cost parameters. The contractor faced multiple challenges: Excessive tool wear and downtime, Oversized trench profiles requiring costly backfill, High fuel consumption and low productivity per cubic meter, Complicated logistics due to removal and transport of large, excavated rocks.
To overcome these limitations, the KEMROC team organized two intensive demonstration days in Saudi Arabia. The outstanding results convinced the contractor to purchase 3 KEMROC EK chain cutter attachments, marking a major milestone for efficient trenching operations in the region. Also, KEMROC’s excavator trenching attachment with integrated chain drive system ensured uniform cutting and minimal vibration, essential for maintaining stability in sensitive subsurface environments. KEMROC’s EK series chain cutter was the optimal solution, combining cutting-edge German engineering with field-proven productivity and durability.
Performance & Productivity
KEMROC EK 150 chain cutters mounted on a Caterpillar 330 excavator, delivered unmatched trenching precision and consistency. The KEMROC EK 150 trench cutter’s centrally positioned chain drive between the two drums ensured a flat trench bottom, eliminating the need for secondary trimming and enabling perfect installation of sewage pipelines. During operation, the KEMROC chain cutter achieved:
- Consistent trench width (70–80 cm) with depths up to 6 m.
- Enabled rock cutting trenching with up to 40% faster cycle times compared to conventional drum cutters or hoe rams.
- Significant fuel savings through steady cutting torque and reduced excavator repositioning.
- Reduction in overall trenching costs per cubic meter.
- Reusability of 80–90% of the excavated limestone as backfill material, minimizing disposal and transport costs.
The EK 150 excavator chain cutter achieved remarkable trenching efficiency. With an average cutting rate exceeding expectation, operators reported smooth performance even in high-strength rock formations. Using round attack picks, the chain cutter required minimal maintenance, with minimal pick wear (average of just 3 replacements per 100 m³), confirming KEMROC’s reputation for durability and low-maintenance design.
Technical Highlights of KEMROC Chain Cutters:
The KEMROC trench cutter belongs to KEMROC’s globally recognized EK chain cutter series, the world’s first ever – chain trench cutters designed for precise, low-vibration excavation of narrow trenches.
Key Technical Advantages:
- Chain-driven system connecting both cutter drums for uniform trenching and a perfectly flat trench base.
- Hydraulic side-shift option for optimized positioning along walls or obstacles.
- Exceptional cutting depth and stability: ideal for pipelines, cables, and foundation trenches.
- Reduced vibration ensuring safety near sensitive structures.
- Low pick consumption due to optimized tool arrangement and torque control.
- Clean trench geometry that eliminates overbreak and minimizes backfilling volume.
- Compatibility with standard excavators (2 – 70 t class) without complex modifications.
Together with the hydraulic power of the Caterpillar excavator CAT 330, the KEMROC chain cutter EK 150 achieved stable cutting torque and maximum penetration rate through high-strength limestone, ensuring high daily outputs under the toughest geological conditions.
Customer Feedback
The Saudi contractor highlighted two decisive factors: productivity and precision.
“None of the other attachments and trenching machines could achieve our required 70–80 cm trench width and 6 m depth at this productivity level. The KEMROC chain cutter EK 150 worked continuously, producing clean cuts, reusable material, and lower overall project costs.”
Following the demo, the contractor confirmed the purchase of 3 KEMROC EK 150 chain cutters, citing: Precision trench geometry, lower fuel and tool wear, significant savings on material handling and backfill logistics, reliable on-site support, and guidance from KEMROC’s technical team.
Conclusion
The Riyadh sewage project set a new performance benchmark for rock trenching in the Middle East. By integrating German-engineered precision and robust field performance, the KEMROC EK 150 chain cutters proved to be the only attachment capable of meeting the project’s strict trenching requirements, delivering efficiency, accuracy, and cost savings in one solution.
As KEMROC continues expanding across the region, KEMROC chain cutters remain the trusted choice for contractors demanding precision trenching, lower operating costs, and sustainable excavation performance.
