Serbian OEM VLIG opted for the Vanguard® 400
commercial single-cylinder engine to create a reliable,
portable drilling rig for hard-to-reach places
Based in Serbia, VLIG is a family business founded by two brothers with extensive experience in the drilling industry. Focusing on portability and innovation, the company manufactures vertical drilling machines designed for water well, geothermal, and geotechnical drilling.
"The Vanguard 400 Commercial Engine strikes the perfect balance for us in terms of power, weight, and cost, making our GTC Compact drilling rig a 10 out of 10 in terms of compactness and portability.”
Igor Bačanin, CEO of VLIG
THE CHALLENGE
VLIG was facing demand from dealers and customers for a non-electric, portable drilling option due to the unreliability of electric power in some regions of the world and the ease of refuelling a petrol engine. The need for a compact and lightweight, yet powerful drilling solution to complete water well and geotechnical drilling made the weight of a diesel-powered machine unsuitable. Added to this, the team was presented with the challenge of accessing urban areas with traditional truck-mounted drilling machines.
THE SOLUTION
Seeking the right power partner to help them develop a product to answer these challenges, VLIG conducted thorough research and selected Briggs & Stratton’s Vanguard 400 commercial engine as the perfect power solution for their all new GTC Compact drilling machines. VLIG was also impressed with Briggs & Stratton’s solid industry reputation and high quality service support alongside its wide range of power options, all of which would help VLIG to achieve quality standout in a competitive market.
PERFECT BALANCE
The Vanguard 400 commercial single cylinder engine is built to excel, featuring 14 horsepower, integrated cyclonic air filtration that doubles air filter replacement intervals to 600 hours, and TransportGuard® to control throttle, ignition and fuel, preventing any mixing of fuel and oil during transport. The engine was considered by VLIG to be the ‘golden middle’, as Igor Bačanin, CEO of VLIG explains, “The Vanguard 400 Commercial Engine strikes the perfect balance for us in terms of power, weight, and cost, making our GTC Compact drilling rig a 10 out of 10 in terms of compactness and portability.”
The resulting GTC Compact Drilling Rig is a portable drilling machine for water wells of 80 metres depth or more, which can also be used for geotechnical drilling. The machine consists of a hydraulic generator powered by the Vanguard 400 commercial engine to run the hydraulic pumps, distributing pressure with oil lines to further distributors installed on the machine mast. Drilling is carried out in vertical holes, either flushing with water or down the hole (DTH) drilling with air or dry drilling for sampling soil. The machine is very lightweight and easy to install, delivering impressive results with minimal noise and vibrations, thanks to the Vanguard engine, making it ideal for both remote and urban locations.
"Given the tough environments that the GTC Drilling Machines will be used in, VLIG required maximum reliability and durability from their power solution. And our Vanguard 400 Commercial Engines provided exactly that.”
Tomas Mika, Manager Regional Sales for CEE & Balkans, Briggs & Stratton
Vanguard’s 3-year warranty on the engine provides peace of mind for VLIG in terms of reliability and support for maintenance and repair, a benefit which is naturally passed on to customers.
“Customers love hearing about the 3-year warranty, plus an additional year when registering the engine, and we do too."
Igor Bačanin says, “We have already experienced the outstanding customer service provided by the Briggs & Stratton service team. The client was happy, so we were happy as well. Peace of mind for all parties involved.”
The carefully selected Vanguard 400 commercial petrol engine makes the GTC Compact Drilling Rig completely portable, while the design allows for easy manoeuvrability, quick installation, and efficient operation. Its low maintenance requirements, characteristic of the entire Vanguard single-cylinder engine line, contribute to a reduced total cost of ownership (TCO). Additionally, the engine delivers stable performance and power in varying challenging conditions.
Discover the engine
Find out more about the innovative Vanguard 400 Single cylinder horizontal shaft engine. Also available with Vanguard's trailblazing EFI/ETC technology.