Construction World February 2020

TECHNICALLY-ADVANCED FLEET Jet Demolition has a fleet of 34 specialised demolition excavators, and 44 additional items of plant, ranging from skidsteer loaders to tractors, telescopic handlers, and articulated dumpers. It also has over 65 hydraulic attachments, and a range of mechanical attachments. This makes it not only the leading demolition specialist in Africa, but the most technically-advanced as well.

The largest demolition shear in Africa.

A mechanical pulveriser used to crush concrete in-situ.

PHQWRULQJ LV FULWLFDO ̸2XU RSHUDWRUV generally carry the same accreditations as HDUWKZRUNV FRQWUDFWRUV EXW WKHLU H[SHUWLVH as specialised demolition operators sets them apart. It is similar to the crane industry in that operators may have a licence, EXW WKHLU H[SHULHQFH FRQͤGHQFH DQG SHUIRUPDQFH GHWHUPLQHV WKH H[WHQW RI WKHLU GHYHORSPHQW DQG JURZWK̹ 9HUPHXOHQ DGGV Commenting on the latest equipment trends and developments, Vermeulen points out that mechanisation is an ongoing REMHFWLYH RI PDQ\ ODUJH GHPROLWLRQ ͤUPV ̸:H KDYH DOVR QRWHG D WUHQG LQ XVLQJ digital advances, including sensors, anti-collision devices, and complicated live-feed camera systems that are able to further advance safety in the demolition LQGXVWU\̹ KH FRQFOXGHV ƒ

W hat makes Jet Demolition so unique is that the bulk of its equipment and attachments are unavailable locally. Although it uses reliable, well-known H[FDYDWRU EUDQGV WKHVH DUH DOO DGDSWHG WR suit the challenging and arduous demolition HQYLURQPHQW ̸7KHVH PRGLͤFDWLRQV HQDEOH us to carry and operate with heavier attachments that are unavailable in South $IULFD̹ -HW 'HPROLWLRQ 2SHUDWLRQV 0DQDJHU :LOOLH 9HUPHXOHQ H[SODLQV &RPSOH[ WRROV DQG DWWDFKPHQWV DUH LPSRUWHG VSHFLͤFDOO\ IURP DEURDG ZKLOH Jet Demolition has an in-house R&D capability to develop and manufacture simpler attachments and tools locally. Vermeulen reveals that the material cost alone is often more than the attachment value if it were to be purchased outright. However, this is due to the attachments being designed and built to long out-last those available commercially. Jet Demolition has also established relationships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and engineering ͤUPV RYHU WKH \HDUV ZKLFK HQVXUHV WKDW WKH VSHFLͤF WRROV LW UHTXLUHV DUH PDQXIDFWXUHG WR H[DFWLQJ TXDOLW\ DQG SUHFLVLRQ VWDQGDUGV ,Q addition, its relationships with international demolition professionals, as well as a keen interest in mechanical engineering, gives it the capability to modify equipment suited VSHFLͤFDOO\ WR LWV UHTXLUHPHQWV

Generally it is very uncommon for any equipment or attachments to be only for a once-off application. Before investing resources into any tool or attachment, Jet Demolition always analyses ways that it can be incorporated into different projects. ̸:KLOH ZH DUH DEOH WR VDIHO\ H[HFXWH WKH same operation using a different method, a decision to purchase or manufacture a VSHFLͤF WRRO WR SHUIRUP WKDW IXQFWLRQ LV generally motivated by the safer, quicker, and more reliable operating performance SURYLGHG̹ 9HUPHXOHQ VWUHVVHV Jet Demolition has its own fully-equipped on-site workshop at its Roodepoort premises. General services are carried out RQ VLWH E\ WUDLQHG DQG TXDOLͤHG PHFKDQLFV While most contractors tend to run their machines into the tens of thousands of hours before considering replacement, the demolition specialist replaces its key machines at about 6 000 hours on average. ̸7KLV LV H[FHSWLRQDOO\ XQFRPPRQ LQ WKH heavy equipment market. We need to be able to ensure that our machines are ready to work under any and all circumstances, and simply cannot afford to have an unforeseen breakdown during critical activities. For this UHDVRQ ZH NHHS RXU ͥHHW UHODWLYHO\ \RXQJ and make a considerable investment in our ͥHHW̹ 9HUPHXOHQ KLJKOLJKWV In addition to basic operator training DQG FHUWLͤFDWLRQ RQ VLWH H[SHULHQFH DQG

A crusher suspended from a crane to crush in-situ concrete walls on silos.

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD FEBRUARY 2020