Vermeer has released a new machine for ground-mount solar pile installation. The company says the Vermeer MT500 material transporter consistently and precisely delivers and places 10- to 25-ft (3.05 m to 7.6 m) W-beam piles on ground-mount, utility-scale solar jobsites with minimal labor. Operated by one person with the push of a button, the MT500 eliminates manual pile lifting.
“Solar contractors are looking for ways to do more with the crews they have, and accuracy matters on every pile,” said Ed Savage, product manager, Vermeer. “The MT500 brings a level of consistency to the layout process that is hard to achieve manually, and it does it with minimal user inputs and one person running the machine.”
On most ground-mount solar jobsites, pile layout involves a crew operating skid steers or telehandlers to move pile bundles from the staging area to the required pile positions. It is labor-intensive work, and consistent, accurate placement is difficult to achieve at scale.
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 400 lb (181.44 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.
An amber beacon notifies others on the site when the machine is in remote control or automation mode, and the object detection system and bump bars slow or stop the machine when an object is detected in specific travel zones. An emergency stop is standard. All machine functions are controlled via a full-function wireless remote.
The adjustable pile rack is configurable on the jobsite to hold 10- to 25-ft piles up to a 5,000-lb (2,268-kg) payload, giving contractors the flexibility to work with different pile sizes on the same site.
Rubber tracks keep ground pressure at 6.4 psi (44 kPa) reducing ground disturbance and allowing the machine to work in wet conditions. With 12 in. (30 cm) of ground clearance, the MT500 handles uneven terrain across a range of jobsite conditions. A 74-hp (55 kW) Tier 4 Final/Stage V Rehlko engine powers the machine without requiring DEF fluid. The machine has a 35-gal (132 L) fuel capacity.
No major disassembly is required to move between sites. Stow the pile rack and arm and the MT500 is ready to go, measuring 88 in. (224 cm) wide and 187 in. (475 cm) long in transport mode.
On-rig diagnostics deliver specific diagnostic 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 lineup 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.
News item from Vermeer
