CPT Made Simple for Any Operator

For Jake Bram of Rauch Inc., Geoprobe^® ASTRA CPT made learning and teaching CPT easy

“Troy came out and did a day-and-half demonstration. Learning the equipment was very simple,” Bram said. “Four days after he taught us, I took it to the field and taught someone else, which speaks volumes on the ASTRA CPT's simplicity.

Since training, the team needed technical support only once, demonstrating how intuitive the system is.

Bram reports significant time savings and cleaner job sites

“We did 30 borings to 20-60 feet… It took us two weeks less than what we would expect to have taken doing solely SPT… CPT allows us to have a much cleaner and noise-friendly job site,” Bram said. “CPT gives us wiggle room in the schedule to deal with the unexpected."

Strength to Withstand Tough Geologies

Todd Ives, drilling operator for Amdrill in Florida, has put the ASTRA CPT’s durability to the test.

“I’ve definitely put the ASTRA cone in situations where other manufacturer’s cones would have had a breakage, and I’ve yet to break the Geoprobe^® ASTRA,” he said. “I’ve put it in dense soils and limestone. With the Geoprobe^® ASTRA cones, I’m more comfortable pushing the envelope if I’m confident in the data I’m getting, and I’m anchored well.

Even when he pushed the ASTRA cone a little too far, it flexed rather than broke. Moisture intrusion caused a pore pressure issue, but repair was fast and stateside.

“We can send our cones back to Salina, Kansas, for repairs versus overseas. We can stay on site and keep working with the backup cone while they get it repaired and back to me quickly,” Ives said.

Troy Schmidt, Direct Image^® product line manager, emphasized the efficiency.

“This was a several hundred dollar repair with a 3-day turnaround. Our goal is to manage cost and minimize the time a CPT probe is in-house for repair,” Schmidt said.

Why Operators Choose ASTRA CPT

Ives lists four key advantages:

• Simple operation: “New software is super easy to use. Someone who’s never done CPT could get trained on it.”
• Cost-conscious and durable: “More economical from initial investment to upkeep… I put them through the paces, sometimes a little overboard.”
• Quality tooling: “They always have good quality tooling.”
• Support: “Geoprobe^® support is always fantastic.”

Strong and Simple to Streamline New Business 

When launching Stable Ground In-Situ, engineers Ryan Ward PE and Fernando Garcia PE chose Geoprobe^® ASTRA CPT for its strength and simplicity.

“The ASTRA CPT is stronger, and it’s good to have a strong cone for those tougher conditions,” Ward said.
“It’s easy to transition between NOVA and ASTRA if necessary, so we keep our NOVA system as a backup.”

They value American-made design and quick support:

“Geoprobe^® is responsive. There are good people you can call who will listen to you. They’ve definitely invested in making a really good product,” Ward said.

The ASTRA Advantage

Operators consistently highlight:

• Ease of operation and training
• Strength and durability in difficult geologies
• Responsive, local support for repairs

Geoprobe^® ASTRA CPT: stronger, simpler, and more efficient — giving operators confidence to push the limits safely and get the job done right.