A Brandt hydrovac is tackling permafrost in Canada’s Arctic
A Brandt HX085 hydrovac has arrived on Baffin Island to help the City of Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, tackle utility work during its short construction season.
The HX085 is a compact truck designed to improve maneuverability and efficiency on congested city streets and residential work sites. One of several models in Brandt’s Hydrovac lineup, the HX085’s low operating weight allows it to operate in tight urban environments.
With a population of about 7,500 people and narrow road infrastructure, Iqaluit required a small, maneuverable machine.
“It’s tight quarters. They needed a truck with enough maneuverability to get around their tight streets and side areas,” said Dave Crouter, Brandt Director of Sales — Vac Trucks Canada.
The municipality will use the HX085 hydrovac to complete utility infrastructure maintenance during the summer months. While the city’s population and permafrost account for fewer underground utilities than similar cities in warmer climates, maintenance is required for watermains, sewers and catch basins.
“It’s very similar to what we would use it for in the southern climates, but they have a very short window,” Crouter said. “They will mostly use the truck in their summer months, but with the cold weather capabilities of our Hydrovacs, even in permafrost they can use the truck year-round.”
Built for brrrrr
Brandt’s hydrovacs are no stranger to operating in cold weather. The machines are already operational in Fort McMurray and Grand Prairie, Alberta, where temperatures can dip to -45 C.
“A hydrovac is one of the only pieces of equipment besides a straight old ice pick that can dig in actual frost,” Crouter said.
To cut through frozen ground, the HX085 hydrovac is equipped with a 705,000 BTU boiler to deliver hot water.
“With all that hot water and up to 4,000 psi out of our Cat 2560 water pump, it makes winter work much easier,” Crouter said. “You can cut right through frost. You can cut right through asphalt with these machines.”
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With a minimal working window due to weather, Brandt’s parts availability helped the municipality decide on the HX085 hydrovac.
“That’s a big selling point for us is that we don’t have one or two service centres, we have 64 in Canada alone, as well as the USA, Australia and New Zealand,” Crouter said. “It’s only a three-hour flight out there for support and service from our Ottawa location. We’re the closest branch and dealership network to the location.”
Built with an AR steel boom turret and 7.3-metres of reach, the HX085 also includes several features aimed at minimizing downtime.
A progressive-diameter boom reduces plugging and increases suction efficiency, while easily accessible service points, remote sight glasses and grease lines are designed to speed up maintenance.
The model’s 2,800 cfm blower operates via a dual power takeoff with no external rotating driveshafts and one button operation, eliminating the need for a transfer case and lowering fuel consumption. A powder-coated debris tank, corrosion-resistant finishes and a wear plate under the boom turret are intended to extend component life.
“Everything’s built by us right in Regina, other than the chassis,” Crouter said.
Low tare weight
The HX085’s most notable feature is its low tare weight of 15,888 kg, the lowest in its class, according to Brandt, which allows for greater payload capacity while staying within legal weight limits. The vac truck also includes an 8.4-cubic-yard debris tank and 3,785-litre capacity water tank.
Real-time measurement of water and truck weight helps operators manage load accuracy, potentially reducing fines and improving hauling efficiency.
The truck’s debris tank is engineered to unload quickly and completely, with the option to pressure offload into another vehicle or containment bin.
The boom offers 340 degrees of rotation. It is configured on a Peterbilt chassis, powered by a Paccar MX engine paired with an Allison 3000 transmission.
The vacuum system uses a Hibon 822 blower with a dual cyclone filtration setup, while the wash system features a Cat 2560 pump delivering 60-litres-per-minute at 3,000 psi.
The control system includes Bosch Rexroth hydraulics and marine-grade push-button controls. Operators can monitor truck weight, water level and pump pressure from a wireless remote with live readouts. LED work lighting surrounds the vehicle to enhance safety and visibility.
Storage and accessibility were also key considerations in the HX085’s design. Multiple heated and cold storage cabinets are located on both sides and the rear of the vehicle. A heated operator enclosure allows for shelter and clothing changes during winter operations.
For added safety, the truck includes a boom isolation valve that allows vacuum shut-off at the hose end, a rear-door automatic safety lockout system for tank cleaning and a top-of-tank access ladder with a full-length non-slip walkway.
To ensure the City of Iqaluit’s new hydrovac reaches its full potential, Crouter and a team from Brandt visited the municipality to train the machine’s operators as well as its technicians.
“We’re not just going to sell it and forget it,” Crouter said. “We really follow up on how to use the product properly.”
