The demise of Dutch firm Rusch Special Products in February should be mourned by the demolition industry, because it was a pioneering and innovative player with its ultra high-reach excavators, culminating in the modular RS 4500, the costly development of which proved just a step too far, commercially speaking. But while this specialist may have closed the gates of its workshop for the last time, the mainstream plant manufacturers continue to bring more commercial product to market that is either aimed specifically at demolition contractors or highly valued by them when modified for the application.
Volvo has introduced three new highreach demolition excavators: the EC380DHR, the EC480DHR (pictured below) and the EC700CHR, with reaches of 21m, 27m and 32m respectively. Operating weights are 49, 61 and 89 tonnes respectively.
All Volvo HR machines can be fitted with either high-reach equipment or a standard boom-and-arm configuration. With a hydraulic modular joint, it takes 30 minutes to change from the demolition version to a standard attachment. All the demolition options in Volvo’s package are ‘bolt-on’, so no welding is necessary if anything needs to be replaced due to wear or damage.
Standard features on all three HR models include:
- Bucket and boom cylinder guards to protect rods and cylinders from falling object damage
- Swing ring protection guard to protect the swing ring bearing seal and grease piping from damage
- Frame-mounted, falling object guard (FOG). Bars on the front of the guard are set at angles to improve visibility
- Micro-mesh screens on doors and engine cowl to keep out fine particles that could result in the engine overheating
- Double thickness side doors on both sides of the superstructure to protect pumps and coolers in the event of collision
- Bolt-on side impact protection system to defend the superstructure from damage
- Enhanced 8mm under-guarding (10mm under the slew ring)
- Full-length track guards to repel demolition debris and prevent rebar or other sharp objects from lodging in the tracks.
Technology includes a camera system and a total movement indicator (TMI) that sounds and flashes a warning in the event of overload.
New from Liebherr this year is the R 946 Demolition crawler excavator, which is based on the standard R 946 introduced last year but has a more robust steel structure for machine protection and an integrated double Likufix quick-change system. The first Likufix is mounted on the end of the standard dipper stick and forms the connection with the second dipper stick. This has the second Likufix attached to the outer end. The double Likufix enables the second dipper stick to be discarded in less than a minute, so that the excavator can, for example, perform traditional civil engineering tasks with a backhoe. Tools that can be attached include sorter grab, hydraulic hammer, shears or pulveriser. With a 4.3m-long boom, 3.3m dipper stick and a second 3.0m dipper stick, this special-purpose excavator can reach up to a height of 13m.
Hitachi reports that its new Zaxis-5 range of medium excavators is proving popular in the sector. Dealer HM Plant says that a high proportion of ZX250LC-5 to ZX470LCH-5 models supplied in the past year have gone to demolition contractors. Balicrest and Gilpin Demolition have each bought three ZX350LC-5s; Syd Bishop & Sons has taken a pair of ZX290LC-5s; and a further ZX290LC-5 is now with Bromley Demolition.
The first company to take delivery of a ZX470LCH-5 – along with two ZX250LC-5s – was Hampshire-based Hughes & Salvidge. Both models were used on a challenging job in Havant shortly after delivery in October (pictured below).
The larger model, equipped with a pulveriser attachment, was used to crush reinforced concrete, and a ZX250LC-5 fitted with a grapple attachment handled and processed materials, and loaded them into skips. For productivity, the ZX250LC-5 to ZX350LC-5 models have a new three pump TRIAS hydraulic system, while the ZX470LCH-5 has the HIOS IIIB hydraulic system.
Hughes & Salvidge managing director Martyn Burnett says: “I bought my first Hitachi excavator in 2002 and it was extremely reliable. That’s the number one reason why I buy Hitachi.” He has plans to invest in a further four of the Hitachi 470 units this year.
“The most important advantage of the new Zaxis-5 models for my business is the reduced running costs. The new Stage IIIB engine of the ZX470LCH-5 uses less fuel than the previous model and results in a saving of tens of thousands of pounds,” he says.
Nick Winter, an operator at Hughes & Salvidge, has worked with Hitachi excavators for 30 years. He also likes the new models. “I’ve operated the ZX460LCH, the ZX470LCH-3 and now the ZX470LCH-5,” he says.
“Every model is better than the last. The technology has been enhanced on the latest model, it’s also comfortable, and the fuel-efficient Stage IIIB engine is another improvement.
“Demolition is a hard life for machines, working 12-hour days,” he adds, “but Hitachi excavators just keep going.”
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