Astec Underground provides equipment to meet the underground construction needs of customers involved in construction, the pipeline industry, and the installation of infrastructure. It offers Trencor high performance rock trenchers and road miners and Astec utility trenchers, horizontal directional drills, and geothermal drills. These products are manufactured at the company’s 360,000-square-foot facility in Loudon, Tenn.

For more than 60 years, Trencor has been a leading choice for heavy-duty rock trenching and milling needs. This tough, ruggedly built equipment is a favorite of the oil and gas markets, and for contractors working in demanding digging conditions worldwide. As the world's energy needs continue to grow, we expect these markets will continue to generate demand for our specialized equipment.

The seeds of the Trencor brand were sown in 1945 in Alhambra, Calif., with the establishment of the Jiffy Excavator Tooth Company, which later became known as Dallas Jetco.  In 1981, Trencher Corporation of America (Trencor) was established in Grand Prairie, Tex.  The company manufactured chain type trenchers, while Dallas Jetco specialized in wheel trenchers.  Trencor purchased Dallas Jetco in 1984 and changed the name of the combined operation to Trencor Jetco.  Four years later, Astec Industries, Inc., acquired the thriving business, and provided additional resources for capital investment and growth.  The company moved to the Grapevine, Tex., location in 1994, and shortened its name to Trencor.   Manufacturing operations moved to Loudon, Tennessee in 2002.

The Astec line of utility trenchers and compact horizontal directional drills benefit from the same technology and attention to design that makes Trencor machines so popular. From walk-behind trenchers like the RT130 and RT160 to powerful, full-size ride-on trenchers like the RT1160, Astec trenchers set the standard for performance and productivity.

The forerunners of the Astec machines were developed by Charles Davis in 1959.  Recognized as an industry leader, Davis trenchers were renowned for their innovative designs and rugged reliability.  The line was purchased by Case in 1969, and the machines carried the Case-Davis label until the mid 1970s when the Davis name was dropped.  Case nurtured the line until 2002 when it was sold to Astec Underground and the machines received the Astec brand.

The Astec compact horizontal directional drills (HDD) complement the trencher lineup to meet customers' underground construction needs. These units utilize technology and engineering derived from the maxi drills produced by Astec Underground’s sister company, American Augers. These compact units are sized for working in tight conditions, but boast plenty of power and torque to keep production high.

 The most recent addition to the Astec lineup is the EarthPro Geothermal drill. Available as either the Astec EarthPro Geothermal 4550X, a track-mounted unit, or the 4550, a truck-mounted version, the drill is designed to meet the specialized demands of geothermal system installations. Its superior field mobility, power, and state-of-the-art technology make it ideally suited to high-production drilling applications.

Astec Underground engineers conducted extensive field studies with goethermal system installers and incorporated suggestions by veteran drillers into the design of the EarthPro Geothermal 4550X. It uses technology that has made Astec Underground an innovative leader in the horizontal directional drilling industry.

Astec trenchers and HDDs are sold and supported through a worldwide network of 56 dealers that operate more than 100 locations. Astec EarthPro geothermal drills and Trencor machines are sold direct from the factory and through a network of agents and dealers worldwide. They’re supported through a dedicated parts and service center available 24-hours a day.