KEMROC EK 110_600 Chain Cutter in the U.S for Major Electrical Duct-Bank Installation Project.
Caterpillar 340 | Cutting Puddingstone in Massachusetts, USA.
The project required the installation of approximately 10,000 ft of electrical duct banks across the Boston College site. The ground conditions were dominated by puddingstone, a silica-cemented conglomerate made up of rounded pebbles embedded in a fine matrix. Unlike harder formations such as granite or shale, this material tends to pulverize into powder under hammering rather than fracture cleanly. As a result, conventional breakers and hammers proved extremely inefficient. The hammering process produced crushed powder and oversized debris, caused over-excavation, slowed trench progress, and increased cleanup time, while also accelerating wear on machinery.
Working in a high-value, upscale neighborhood added another challenge: the contractor needed to minimize noise, vibration, and unnecessary ground disturbance. Traditional trenching tools and methods risked excessive disruption, especially so close to existing sensitive properties.
Solution: KEMROC Chain Cutter Excavator Trenching Attachment
To overcome these challenges, the contractor deployed a KEMROC chain cutter, a trench cutter attachment built around a center-chain design. The excavator’s hydraulic system was fine-tuned to power the excavator chain cutter efficiently, providing optimal torque and cutting performance.
Unlike hammer-based tools, KEMROC chain cutter trenching attachment does not rely on impact or crushing. Instead, it cuts and mills through puddingstone, producing a uniform-width trench essential for duct-bank work. This approach converted what would have been a messy, irregularly fragmented rock mass into consistent, predictable excavated material, a major advantage for accurate excavator trenching.
Because of its precision, KEMROC qualifies as both a trench cutter and an excavator trenching attachment, supporting highly controlled trenching with accurate depth and width management. In difficult conditions like puddingstone, KEMROC smart technology outperforms conventional hammering and ensures proper alignment for utilities.
Results & Benefits: Rock Trenching Done Right with KEMROC Chain Cutter in the U.S
Using KEMROC excavator chain cutter trenching attachment produced several significant advantages:
- Precise Excavator Trenching: KEMROC chain cutter in the U.S delivered consistent trench width and depth, eliminating the over-excavation typically caused by hammering soft, variable rock formations. This precision is essential for electrical duct banks and other utility works.
- Reduced Vibration and Noise: Because KEMROC chain cutter mills instead of hammering, vibration levels were substantially reduced. This is critical in residential or sensitive environments where traditional rock-breaking tools can cause disturbance.
- Efficient Rock Cutting Trenching: the chain cutter excels at rock trenching, cutting smoothly through puddingstone without generating oversized chunks or unpredictable breakage patterns. The result: easier, faster removal and produced backfilling material.
- Clean, Uniform Material Output: Unlike hammering, which creates messy rubble, KEMROC chain cutter produces a more uniform, manageable spoil. This speeds up loading, hauling, and backfill operations.
- Lower Stress on Excavator: The smoother cutting action reduces shock load and mechanical stress on the excavator, extending component life and reducing maintenance costs.
- Higher Productivity and Reliability: Production rates increased significantly compared to hammering. The excavator KEMROC chain cutter trench technology enabled the contractor to maintain schedule, reduce delays, and complete trenching more efficiently.
Conclusion
This project clearly demonstrates the superior performance of the KEMROC chain cutter attachment, especially a dedicated excavator trenching attachment, when working in challenging ground like puddingstone. Unlike traditional breakers that pulverize or over-excavate, KEMROC trench cutter delivers clean, controlled, and highly accurate rock trenching.
If you are dealing with rock cutting trenching, duct-bank installations, or excavator chain cutter trench operations in difficult geology, KEMROC chain cutter in the U.S offers major advantages: precision trenching, lower vibration, smoother operation, and increased productivity. For contractors looking to gain a competitive edge in pipeline trenching, micro trenching, utility crossings, excavation, and rock cutting, KEMROC is the ultimate smart solution. Meet KEMROC expert team at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 – Indoor/West Hall, stand number W41250 to choose the smart KEMROC solution for your construction project.