Pipelayers Dismantled Machines

About Pipelayers

Pipelayers specialize in lifting lengths of pipe, moving them into position, and laying them down to be joined together in trenches. They’re used by the oil and natural gas industries to lay pipelines, as well as by municipalities, construction companies, and other entities for sewer and storm drainage purposes. Heavy-duty models can have lifting capacities in excess of 100 tons and are able to handle steel, concrete, PVC, and other types of pipes measuring 27 inches (686 millimeters) or more in diameter.

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Komatsu D155CX-8 Pipelayer

Pipelayers are typically based on a stable excavator, crawler tractor, or dozer. (Some even retain a dozer blade or can be converted back into an excavator to perform other tasks when not laying pipes.) A pipelayer package adds a boom and counterweights, along with a powerful winch and cables to lift and place the pipes. Pipelaying machines with a boom extending out to one side and an extendable counterweight assembly on the other are often referred to as “sideboom” models.

A Size For Every Job

As the oil industry began to take off in earnest in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and the need to transfer fuel longer distances became a reality, pipelayers began to appear on construction sites. They soon became a necessary component of pipeline production, as well as sanitation and drainage infrastructure projects.

Today, factory-built pipelayers tend to have load capacities ranging from 40,000 pounds (18,145 kilograms) on up to tipping loads of more than 242,500 lbs (110,000 kg). Some equipment makers, such as Deere, manufacture “pipelayer-ready” machines that support sidebooms from third parties such as Brandt and Midwestern Manufacturing. The latter company converts Cat, CASE, Deere, and Komatsu tractors into pipelayers with capacities ranging from 10,000 to 230,000 lbs (4,540 to 104,300 kg).

Most pipelayers have 24- to 28-foot (7.3- to 8.5-meter) booms, but some booms are as short as 18 ft (5.5 m) and some are as long as 36.75 ft (11.2 m). Overall machine operating weights can range from less than 40,000 to more than 134,000 lbs (60,780 kg).

Modern Features

Current pipelayers are built with a very low center of gravity for stability. They may feature low ground pressure (LGP) tracks, and excavator-based models may have 360-degree swing capabilities. Some pipelayers, such as those from Caterpillar, offer single-hand joystick control over the boom, hook, and counterweight. For better visibility, roof windows (skylights) are commonplace, while external lighting and cameras are desirable standard or optional features. For off-season jobs, cold weather packages can make the cab more comfortable and ensure reliable engine startup.

Safety features for pipelayers include a load moment indicator or load monitor indicator (LMI), a rollover protection system (ROPS), and powerline proximity sensors to avoid contact with high-voltage lines. Some models have a powertrain lockout to keep the machine from moving when the operator is not seated.

Finally, recent pipelayers can benefit from remote monitoring via telematics systems. Wireless fleet monitoring systems can report a machine’s location, productivity, fuel economy, maintenance and service needs, opportunities for operator training, and more.

Find The Right Pipelayer

Manufacturers of pipelayers and pipelayer-ready machines include Caterpillar, Deere, Komatsu, and Volvo, among others. Some popular models on MachineryTrader.com are the Cat D5, D6, and 561; the Deere 700 and 850; and the Volvo PL3005D.