53
may 2014
international
construction
DEMOLTION&RECYCLING
Cutting-edge techniques
L
iebherr hasmodified anR 974C demolition specification excavator to allow it to carry a
13,410 kg LaBountyMSD 7500R shear for French contractor Brunel Demolition, which
will find use during the demolition of power stations. In addition to the usual tilting cab
and extending undercarriage, the newmachine features amechanical quick coupler system
for the boom that allows an attachment change in just 10minutes. Liebherr says that the
demolition versions of its excavatorswill be deliveredwith a Stage IIIA/Tier 3 engine until the
end of 2015.
Tool carrier
Liebherrmodifies excavator for 13 tonne shear
said at the time there were no plans to bring these machines to
Europe, although it added that it is continuously evaluating its
options.
Explosivedemolition
As popular as mechanical demolition, usingmachines like high-
reach excavators, has become, there is still a place for techniques
using explosives. Contrary to the images the phase ‘explosive
demolition’ may conjure up in the minds of those outside the
industry, projects like these are precisely engineered exercises.
Fabio Bruno’s triple blow down in Niterói, Brazil is a good
example of howmodern explosive demolition is carried out. It
took place on2November, 2012, and the success of the contract
saw the project go on towin the 2013WorldDemolition award
for explosive demolition.
The job involved the implosion of three reinforced concrete
buildings with seven, six and five storeys respectively in the city
of Niterói.The buildings belonged to the former SantaMonica
Hospital that had been out of use for over 10 years and the close
proximityof otherbuildings, electrical cables and structures on all
sides raised concernprior to the implosion.
Work began onOctober 1 2012 to ‘soft strip’ the buildings of
any timber andother non-structuralmaterialswhich couldbe re-
used. Itwas also easier to removematerial at this stage, rather than
Kobelco’s 38m
reach SK1000
DLC high reach
demolition
machine
at March’s
ConExpo-Con/Agg
exhibition.
Brokk’s updated
400 remote-
controlled
demolition robot
features a larger
undercarriage
for enhanced
stabilitywhen
operating
with heavier
attachments.
>
Contractor Fabio Bruno Pinto carried out the implosion of three
reinforced concrete towers inNiteroi, Brazil, where all had to
fall within their own footprint.
