Tehran - Iranian engineers have designed, built and tested first remote-controlled horizontal drilling machine successfully. The machine is the result of joint efforts made by one of the Shahrud Industrial University's research groups and an industrial unit from private sector.
In the ceremony held for successful introduction of the drilling machine, head of the School of Mechanics of Shahrud University (in Semnan Province) and the commissioner of the plan, Mohammad Shariati, stated that the technology worked into this product is exclusive in the world and it is made by the Iranian ingenuity and innovation. Moreover, Iran is ready to offer this technology to other countries and assist them in this business.
Iran's remote-controlled horizontal drilling machine is capable of excavating network canals for water, sewage and electricity as well as being used in mining sector. Unlike the similar drilling machines made by Germany and the United States, which can only drill a specific diameter, the Iranian version may drill holes with diameters varying from 10 to 60cm.
The modern remote part of this device was an A to Z work of the research group despite the availability of the technology from other countries to an extent. The remote unit is able to guide the drill in different directions while sensing the grade of the operation ground.
The cost of building this machine stands at 1.5 billion rials which is one-fourth of the price of the similar ones made by other developed countries, and 15 units are expected to be built on annual basis soon. The financing on this 6-month project was made available by the provincial science and technology industrial park and a group of seven was involved in the plan, he said in conclusion.
© Tehran Times 2005
