Entering the 21st century, Schramm celebrated its 100th anniversary and continued to grow as a drilling rig company. Schramm continued innovating products for water well drilling, introducing the T555 in 2002. That year also saw the introduction of the Telemast series of high capacity rigs. Instead of the long and heavy mast of TM rigs, telemast rigs had telescoping masts that expanded and contracted for adding and removing drill rods. This design reduced the overall weight and length of the rig, greatly facilitating highway travel.
Photograph: Promotional material for Schramms T130XD with Telemast. See photo below.
The first model in the series, the T130XD, was immediately accepted by natural gas drilling contractors in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, setting the stage for use globally and creating the foundation for Schramm to develop larger oil and gas rigs. The T130XD literally saved lives when it was used to drill rescue holes for 33 Chilean miners trapped 2,300 feet underground in 2010 as well as in other mining rescues worldwide.
The TXD Model, unveiled in 2006, had a Telemast design with greater depth capacity than the T130. The new TXD had two units, the rig and the LOADSAFE drill rod handling system that offered rapid and handsfree manipulation of drilling rods and tools.
The T500XD and T250XD rigs were introduced to the oil/gas energy market in 2013 and 2014 respectively. These state-of-the-art rigs were designed to outperform conventional energy rigs. With greater depth capacities, LOADSAFE to handle heavy drill rods and collars, digital control systems programmable from West Chester. These rigs were safer to use and more productive than conventional energy rigs on the market. The company continued to upgrade and diversify their product line, introducing the T130 Fury in 2016. This lightweight, high-capacity drilling rig was designed for deep exploration, municipal water wells, mine rescue operations, and oil & gas drilling.
Schramm’s leadership also evolved over these years. Ed Breiner joined in 2000 as Vice President of Marketing and became CEO in 2005. Under his leadership and with the guidance of majority stockholder and former company president Dick Schramm, a management team—including John Bellis, Frank Gabriel, Jim Dolan, Bob Edwards, Bruce Mackay, and Fred Slack— acquired controlling interest in the company. Over the next seven years, Schramm significantly increased its annual sales by expanding its product line for mining and oil and gas industries. In 2012 the company was purchased by GenNx360 Capital Partners and renamed Schramm Inc II.
In 2021, the company, now called SCHRAMM Powered by Epiroc closed the West Chester site and relocated the entire business to the Schramm manufacturing site in Perth Australia.
Schramm continues as a recognized name in the drilling industry and holds a permanent place in the history of technology for its many innovations. The company’s legacy is built not just on groundbreaking technology but also on the strong relationships it has maintained with employees, customers, suppliers, and dealers worldwide.
PHOTOGRAPHS : 21st Century
