Vermeer is introducing a new type of machine to simplify one of the solar industry’s most tedious tasks.
One of the first steps in constructing a new solar farm is the “shake out,” the manual process of placing piles that serve as the support for solar panels. With solar farms covering hundreds and even thousands of acres of land, the number of piles requiring placement translates to repetitive and difficult work for contractors.
“Finding, training and retaining labour: that’s at the forefront of all of our customers’ minds,” said Ed Savage, Product Manager at Vermeer.
“Solar requires a lot of repetitive tasks. You look at the scale of the utility scale solar market, it’s thousands of acres, so tens of thousands of piles that must be put in the ground.”
The new Vermeer MT500 material transporter is designed to reduce the manual labour required during the shake out. The machine carries and places 3 metre to 7.6 metre W-beam piles on ground-mount, utility-scale solar jobsites with minimal labour.
More news from Vermeer:
- Trimble and Vermeer partner on remote control pile drivers
- Vermeer’s new vac trucks deliver dual digging capability
- Vermeer’s VX75 vacuum excavator is available in three configurations
Operated by one person with the push of a button, the MT500 eliminates manual pile lifting.
Traditionally, the process is tackled by a three-person crew loading the piles onto a skid steer or telehandler equipped with forks, then manually lifting and dropping the beams across the jobsite.
“The MT 500 can carry a bundle of piles on board up to 5,000 pounds, which typically covers the majority of the market,” Savage said. “It works off the same digital map as the pile driver, so it’s placing it at a very accurate point on the ground.”
The MT500 is built on the same undercarriage as Vermeer’s PD25R pile driver. Both machines use the same engine and hydraulics and share the same maintenance points and parts. The commonality allows contractors with PD25Rs to easily integrate the MT500 into their fleet.
The machine itself includes a rack to carry the piles and a mechanical arm to lift and place the beams. The arm is equipped with a grip that uses a laser to sense which pile on the rack is easiest to grab. With the push of a button on the remote control, the pile is selected, lifted and placed according to the digital map. The machine then automatically moves to the next waypoint.
“We’ve got it down to just one button push to do a complete cycle,” Savage said. “The operators that have run it absolutely love it. Just imagine if they had to do that all with individual button pushes or toggle switches. It would be pretty fatiguing at the end of the shift.”
Rubber tracks keep ground pressure at 6.4 psi to reduce ground disturbance and allowing the machine to work in wet conditions. With 30 cm of ground clearance, the MT500 handles uneven terrain across a range of jobsite conditions. A 74-hp Tier 4 Final Rehlko engine powers the machine without requiring DEF fluid. The machine has a 132-litre fuel capacity.
Improved accuracy
While the MT500 reduces the labour required to place piles, it also improves accuracy.
The automated arm on the MT500 picks each pile and places it on the correct pile plan position with the push of a button, handling piles up to 181 kg. Compatible with third-party GPS systems, the MT500 uses point-to-point and row-to-row automation to move accurately across the solar field.
With specific tolerances required for pile installation, improperly placed beams lead to rework and delays on the jobsite.
“A lot of times the pile driver crew has to drag that pile into position to try and get it underneath the hammer on the pile driver,” Savage said. “They can weigh up to 400 pounds, so it’s not always an easy task.”
Safe handling
The hands-off approach of the MT500 eliminates the risk of injury associated with moving piles.
“Customers tell us this all the time they have had so many smashed fingers, hands and feet dealing with piles,” Savage said.
The machine is also equipped with an amber beacon to notify others on the site when the machine is in remote control or automation mode.
Bump bars on the front slow or stop the machine when an object is detected in specific travel zones. Vermeer also included lidar to sense for obstacles on either side of the MT500.
An operator-controlled emergency stop is standard. All machine functions are controlled via a full-function wireless remote.
Shortened training curve
On-rig diagnostics deliver specific explanations and prescriptive troubleshooting steps to the operator, helping crews of all skill levels keep the machine running. The MT500 shares the same on-machine display as the Vermeer PD25R pile driver, so crews already familiar with the pile driver can get up to speed quickly.
“Solar contractors need a machine that can move to the next site and get back to work without a lot of setup time or retraining,” Savage said.
“The MT500 fits into an existing Vermeer pile driver operation in a way that makes sense for the crew and for the dealer supporting them.”
The MT500 integrates with the VermeerOne platform, delivering real-time machine data to help operators and fleet managers proactively manage maintenance and performance. The machine is backed by the Vermeer dealer network, with localized service and support available wherever jobs take contractors.
For transport, the MT500 does not require any major disassembly to move to its next jobsite. The machine measures 2.2 metres wide by 4.6 metres long in transport mode.
“To get it ready to put back on the truck or trailer, you just have to stow the mechanical arm,” Savage said. “And that’s all done on the remote control. It’s a very simple process.”
