An excavator attachment can mean a lot of things—but when the job calls for drilling in rock, the “attachment” that matters is the one that turns an excavator into a true production drilling platform. John Henry Drilling (Jimco) builds excavator-mounted rock drill systems that function as a complete drilling package on a reputable excavator carrier. The result is an excavator-based drilling solution that’s mobile, jobsite-ready, and built for the kind of rock work where uptime and consistency are the difference between staying on schedule and falling behind.
Excavator Attachment
Why Excavator-Mounted Drilling Is a Practical “Attachment” Concept
Rock drilling rarely happens in perfect conditions. Work zones shift, access changes, and terrain can be uneven or tight. That’s why excavator-mounted drilling is so popular: the excavator platform gives you reach, fast repositioning, and flexibility that traditional fixed drill setups struggle to match. Instead of building your workflow around a rigid drill, your drilling system moves with the excavator and fits real construction pacing. For contractors, that means drilling becomes a practical, repeatable phase of the job—not a bottleneck that requires constant workaround planning.
More Than a Bolt-On: A Complete Drilling System
A real drilling “excavator attachment” isn’t just one part—it’s a coordinated system designed to work together: the feed/boom, drifter, drilling controls, and supporting components that make drilling stable and controllable. John Henry’s excavator-mounted rock drill platform is positioned around precision and versatility, with the goal of delivering consistent hole quality across diverse projects. When contractors choose an excavator drilling system, they’re not just adding a tool—they’re adding a production capability that has to perform day after day in hard ground.
Built for Mobility and Access on Real Jobsites
One of the biggest advantages of drilling from an excavator platform is how well it handles jobsite constraints. Narrow corridors, compact work zones, uneven benches, and constantly changing access are normal in construction. John Henry’s lineup includes configurations designed for different site realities—including specialized options like the LTS “Limited Tail Swing” setup for narrow jobsites and compact work areas. That kind of configuration flexibility is what makes an excavator-mounted drill feel like a real solution instead of an awkward compromise.
Finding an Attachment Thats Right For You
Model Lineup and Configurations to Match the Work
Not every project needs the same drilling reach or jobsite footprint, which is why Jimco supports multiple John Henry models and configurations. The Products lineup includes JH16 and JH20 systems, plus options like the LTS and the Revolver configuration—each designed around excavator-mounted drilling needs. The right excavator attachment choice is the one that matches your typical conditions: access, drilling reach requirements, the way your crew stages work, and how you want production to flow from hole to hole.
Package Mounts: Put the Drilling System on Your Excavator
If you already have an excavator in your fleet and you want drilling capability without changing carriers, package mounts are worth a serious look. Jimco invites contractors to discuss excavator specs with their team so an engineer can provide a package mount proposal. This approach can be an efficient way to add drilling capability while keeping your fleet standardized and your operator experience consistent. It also helps contractors leverage equipment they already trust, while adding a drilling system designed to perform in rock.
Rentals: The Fastest Way to Add Capacity or Validate Fit
Sometimes the smartest “attachment decision” is renting—especially when a job ramps up quickly or drilling demand spikes for a specific phase. Jimco emphasizes having the nation’s largest John Henry Rock Drill rental fleet and positions rentals as a practical path to get drilling capacity in the field fast. Rentals are also a great way to validate fit: you get real operator feedback, real production pacing, and real jobsite performance without needing to commit long-term on day one.
Support After You’re Drilling: Keep the System Working
Drilling equipment lives a hard life, and long-term success comes down to more than the machine—it comes down to support. Jimco positions John Henry systems as “Proudly made in USA” equipment backed by a structured product ecosystem (Products, Parts, and more). When you choose an excavator-mounted drilling system, you’re choosing an operation you’ll run under pressure—so having a team that supports the lineup and helps you keep the system productive is part of the value. The goal is simple: fewer surprises, fewer stalled days, and more predictable production throughout the project.