Hot tapping machine MAXI

This product has already been covered in our session — the FORATUBI MAXI 6-12. Here it is again in full for easy copy-paste:

LONG DESCRIPTION

The Gastech FORATUBI MAXI 6-12 Hot Tapping Machine is an under-pressure pipe drilling machine for making new service connections and network extensions on gas and water pipelines from DN 1″ to DN 2″, rated up to 12 bar operating pressure, and expandable to DN 6″ with additional accessories. The machine body is constructed from heavy-duty steel with double-dip galvanized surface protection. Total assembled length is 650 mm with a 220 mm effective drilling stroke. Pipe material compatibility covers steel, grey cast iron, ductile cast iron, stainless steel, asbestos cement, polyethylene (PE), PVC, and AC — covering the full range of materials found across gas and water distribution networks. Drive is via ratchet wrench with crank as standard, with optional pneumatic or hydraulic motor drive available for higher-volume operations. All interchangeable fittings carry vent valves, and a mechanical automatic safety limit stop is built into the stroke assembly.

The automatic spring-regulated drilling pressure system maintains constant feed force during the hole saw cut, regardless of operator technique — eliminating the inconsistent feed rate that manual-only drilling tools produce and reducing the risk of broken cutters or incomplete cuts in harder pipe materials. Modular extension cords allow the drilling distance to be varied beyond the standard stroke, enabling bore holes to be made through valves already installed on the pipeline without removing them. The hole saw coupon is recovered inside the machine body during retraction, preventing the cut disc from dropping into the live pipeline flow. A threaded plug can be introduced through a valve connection after drilling, sealing the new connection point without interrupting service.

The Gastech FORATUBI MAXI 6-12 Hot Tapping Machine is deployed by gas and water network operators, pipeline contractors, and utility installation teams whenever a new service connection or branch extension must be made on a live pressurized pipeline — without interrupting supply to downstream customers or draining the pipeline section. It is used across urban gas distribution networks for new residential and commercial connections, and on water distribution mains for new service branches and network loop completions.

Leader Infra supplies this double-galvanized, spring-regulated hot tapping machine for gas and water network operators — enabling live-line service connections from DN 1″ to DN 6″ at up to 12 bar operating pressure, with no service interruption and no fluid escape during the drilling operation.

FAQ — Can the FORATUBI MAXI 6-12 be operated in any orientation on the pipeline? Yes. The machine is designed for drilling in any position — horizontal, vertical, or angled — on the pipe surface. The spring-regulated auto-feed mechanism maintains consistent drilling pressure regardless of machine orientation, and the coupon recovery device retains the cut disc inside the machine body in all positions, preventing coupon loss into the pipeline irrespective of whether the cut is made from above, below, or the side of the pipe.