Trenchers

Trenchers

A trencher is a kind of heavy machine that is used to dig trenches for the laying of cables, drain pipes, irrigation, or even to prepare for warfare. There are several types of trenchers, with variations in their size and the kind of digging they are used for; the type of surface they will be digging trenches in (whether hard or soft), the reach of the trencher (both in terms of width and depth of the trench to be made).


The trencher is essentially a mechanized shovel, and is designed to be more powerful and save human effort. Low-end trencher models are operated manually. The user has to use it just like he would use a shovel, the difference being that the trencher has a deeper reach and makes the work quicker. These models are used in home gardening, and for other similar small-scale projects. Trenchers used in large-scale projects are mechanized and much larger. There are two types of large trenchers: one kind which can be attached to another piece of heavy equipment and the other that is a complete piece of equipment in itself and can be navigated by a controller.

Trenchers are used widely in civil and landscaping work, to dig pits for pipes, sewage lines, cables, etc; in agriculture and for irrigation; in sporting activities, to remove and lay turf, and to drain water from the fields and for several other purposes. Prominent manufacturers of trenchers include Ditch Witch (USA), John Deere, Case, Rocksaw (USA), Marais (France) and Digga (Australia.)