Capital Equipment News November 2021

From planers and descalers to rock drills, saws and shotcrete guns, a demolition robot can become a true multi-purpose machine that opens up new revenue opportunities and speeds up ROI.

any demolition project. After erecting a hoarding system around the top of the building, the demolition area was essentially hidden from the ground and neighbouring buildings. The contractor worked down through the building’s floors, systematically crushing concrete and cutting reinforcement steel. Working with two demolition robots, crews were able to complete one floor every three to four days, taking down the entire 38 stories in just nine months. Curious residents, unable to see or hear what was going on, questioned if the project was actually progressing until the protective hoarding structures were removed and the top of the landmark structure had disappeared. In addition to “silent demolition” crushers also make material handling easier. The resulting debris is a uniform size, and steel is separated for recycling during the initial demolition instead of having to remove it later. For maximum efficiency, pay attention to the jaw opening and crushing force. To easily take on concrete slabs 440 – 560 mm thick, a crushing force from 44 – 54 t is best. Wear-resistant, replaceable steel alloy crusher tips and cutter blades, as well as a full 360-degree rotation are also recommended.

QUICK TAKE

Selecting the right attachments is key to unlocking the full potential of remote-controlled demolition robots

Crushers are probably the most common attachment for demolition contactors – these attachments reduce noise and vibrations, so they can be used in a number of sensitive environments

Shears are another attachment that, when paired with demolition robots, can significantly increase safety and productivity on a demolition jobsite

Perhaps the most underutilised demolition attachment is the grapple – this versatile tool is ideal for soft demolition, separation and sorting applications

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