While manufacturing the backfill rod handler, AVD drew on its experience with clamps used for its drills to design, manufacture and test a unique lower clamp that can be used with rods up to ZW (8.625 inches, or 219 mm, in diame-ter) and whose holding capacity has been tested to 198,000 lbs. (89,811 kg). The ZW rods used for backfill are heavier than regular rods because of their anti-abrasive ceramic lining.
