Rehabilitating house connections – where millimeters make all the difference

House connections are among the most challenging sections in trenchless sewer rehabilitation: narrow, often winding, and frequently burdened with deposits, protruding connections, or blocked inlets after hose liner rehabilitation. While large milling robots are used in main sewers, compact, maneuverable, yet powerful solutions are needed here.

With the latest generation of the eCutter lateral, Pipetronics GmbH & Co. KG is addressing precisely this issue – and taking flexibility, handling, and system integration to a whole new level.

Electric milling force for DN 75 to DN 300
The eCutter lateral was developed to precisely remove deposits, blockages, obstacles, and inflow in house connections. It is purely electric and emission-free, requiring only a standard 110/230-volt power supply. A 40-volt milling motor provides the necessary power, while a milling head that can be extended up to 45 millimeters with endless rotation precisely removes even deep-seated deposits or protruding obstacles. Pneumatic centering keeps the robot stable in the pipe, and a front and rear camera (on the Robot Head 100) transmit the image in real time to a 12-inch monitor in the compact control case. The system comes with a cable reel that offers either 25 or 50 meters of cable – for maximum flexibility depending on the location and pipe layout.

But what really sets the eCutter lateral apart is its modular design. With the Robot Head 75 for pipe diameters from DN 75 to 125 and the Robot Head 100 for DN 100 to 200 – which can be expanded with special clamping units up to DN 300 if required – the system covers the entire house connection area. Both robot heads can be combined with the cable reel and the control case in no time at all.

If you need additional cleaning power and propulsion in the pipe, you can use the eCutter lateral jet version. This combines proven milling technology with flushing nozzles at the end of the cable for high-pressure water supply up to 200 bar – not only flushing out deposits, but also assisting entry into the pipe. Thanks to the modular system, simply replacing the cable drum is enough to turn the eCutter lateral into a high-pressure cleaning system.

Three crucial optimizations for practical application
The new generation of the eCutter lateral is not merely a revamp, but a consistent further development based on practical experience. Three key innovations make all the difference.

First: More compact design for confined spaces
The outer diameter and length of the Robot Head 100 have been reduced by ten millimeters each. What sounds like a minor adjustment has a major impact in practice. “In house connections with multiple bends or 90-degree branches, every millimeter often determines success or failure,” explains Markus Lämmerhirt, Technical Director at Pipetronics. “The reduction in size was a direct response to feedback from the field. Some users reported that the robot is technically suitable, but reaches its limits on particularly tight curves. We have now eliminated this hurdle.”

Second: A spring for greater flexibility 
A real first is the newly developed spring mechanism, which guides the robot through 90-degree turns without it getting stuck. “The spring enables controlled movement even in angled situations (bendability) and ensures that the robot is pushed to the outside of the angle,” explains Mario Saalow, application engineer and sales representative for eCutter lateral and eCutter light. “At the same time, the pneumatic clamping remains fully functional, so that the robot works just as precisely in bends as it does in straight pipe sections.” Until now, this combination of flexibility and stability was a virtually unsolvable dilemma. Now, the eCutter lateral can be controlled safely even in complex pipe runs – without compromising on milling precision.

Thirdly: The control cabinet disappears into the cable drum
Previously, the control cabinet was a separate unit that had to be transported and connected separately. In the new generation, it is fully integrated into the cable reel – a seemingly small but practical step. Fewer components mean less effort when transporting the robot system, faster commissioning (no separate cabling required), and less susceptibility to faults (fewer plug connections, fewer sources of error).

Greater efficiency, less rework
For renovation companies, these improvements are particularly noticeable in practice. The new eCutter lateral not only works faster and is more adaptable – it also delivers more precise results. This reduces rework and costs.

Faster deployment starts with setup. Thanks to its integrated control system and compact design, the robot is ready for use in just a few minutes. The modular design allows for quick replacement of robot heads and cable reels. Improved maneuverability saves time in difficult pipe layouts. And if a problem does arise, remote support enables quick diagnosis – without long downtimes.

Conclusion: A robot that thinks for itself
The new eCutter lateral is the answer to the real challenges of house connection rehabilitation. Thanks to its more compact design, bendable spring, and integrated control cabinet, the system is not only more powerful but also more user-friendly. “Our goal was to create a robot that is as versatile as the pipe networks in which it operates,” summarizes Markus Lämmerhirt. “With the new generation of the eCutter lateral, we are solving these challenges.”