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Breaking News
The construction economy may be slow, but breaker manufacturers are staying busy by making additions and enhancements to their product lines, reports PDi US Editor Jim Parsons in PDi’s annual breaker feature.
Indian author Eknath Easwaran once wrote that, “Patience can’t be acquired overnight. It is just like building up a muscle. Every day you need to work on it.”
If Easwaran’s observation is accurate, then the world’s manufacturers and suppliers of hydraulic breakers must be a pretty strong and disciplined group by now, given the prolonged economic slowdown.
Still in the bottom
Although indications of a recovery have begun to appear in many parts of the globe, these positive trends have mostly not yet reached their respective construction industries.
“We are still in the bottom of the crisis,” observes Dick van der Starre of FRD Europe, “and we do not know when and to which extent it will recover.”
Manufacturers may be in for a long wait. According to Antonio Cannao’ of Italian breaker manufacturer Promove, “We feel the level of global sales will stay substantially unchanged for the next couple of years, due to general overbuilding activity in the recent years and also due to the effects of the financial crisis on the public balance of many countries.”
Along with developing their capacity for patience, the pervasive uncertainty has also tested the companies’ commitment to the fundamental qualities that have long guided their growth, rather than adopt the short-term “band-aid” measures such as price cuts that may provide immediate cash, but sometimes lead to longer-term stability issues. “Customers’ expectations, in my opinion, have not changed,” Cammao says. “They look for high performing and reliable equipment, with a good level of technical support in terms of fast repairing and deliveries of spare parts.”
Cammao adds, however, that because the breaker market now has an incredible number of competitors from all over the world, “some action and focuses are needed in order to compete in this new jungle. “Great attention to reliability and after-sale support is the only way to retain customers already using our equipment,” he says. “A company must also constantly evolve the technical features and performance of its products, as we have with our XP line of breakers, and keep pricing at reasonable level.”
That kind of resolve has also worked in FRD’s case, van der Starre says.
“From 2007 to 2009, we increased our market penetration for medium-size breakers in Spain, a very depressed market, from 5.9 to 9.9 percent not with substantial price reductions, but by maintaining our philosophy of high quality, low maintenance and good performance in connection with a stable dealer network,” he says. “This gives us great confidence that when market picks up, FRD will come out of the crisis stronger than before.”
And rather than simply waiting for something to happen, many breaker manufacturers have been working activity to improve the quality and efficiency of their products so that as the economy regains momentum and customers are ready to buy, they’ll find equipment well suited to their needs.
Atlas Copco boosts breaker power
For example, Atlas Copco Construction Tools has focused on reducing the total cost of ownership of their hydraulic breakers.
“Only one third of the total lifecycle cost is the investment itself,” explains Torsten Ahr, the company’s Marketing Manager Hydraulic Attachments. “The rest is operator cost, energy consumption, parts wear, and so forth.”
Evidence of Atlas Copco’s efforts can be found in three new heavy hydraulic breaker models. The HB 2000, with its service weight of 2000 kg, offers 10% more power than its predecessor, the HB 200. The new 3100 kg HB 3100 and 4700 kg HB 4700 deliver 5% and 13% more power than their predecessor models.
All three breakers offer an improved power-to-weight ratio, enabling smaller attachments and carrier units to do more work. They are also equipped with Atlas Copco’s PowerAdapt system, which automatically shuts off the breaker in case of an overpowering through the carrier.
“In order to ensure that our customers can make full use of the equipment in terms of efficiency and maximum power, this decision was a logical step,” Ahr says.
Other features of Atlas Copco’s heavy-duty hydraulic breaker line are also found in the three new models. The VibroSilenced System protects operators against noise and vibrations, while AutoControl adapts the blow frequency and impact energy to the rock hardness as well as the integrated automatic lubrication system ContiLube ™ II.
With StartSelect the operator can influence the starting and shutdown behaviour of the hydraulic breaker. The optional DustProtector protects the hydraulic breaker against dust and rock particles penetrating the lower breaker part.
Atlas Copco has also introduced a new four-model range of handheld hydraulic breakers with improved vibration characteristics. Using a design feature of the company’s pneumatic breakers, the heavyweight spring-mounted handle is suspended in a dampened pivot pin to decrease vibration emissions, improving operator comfort.
FRD FX breakers offer quieter operation
FRD has introduced the five-model FX series hydraulic breakers, which feature a newly designed monobloc cylinder without through bolts, easy exchangeable wear parts, and more power, all with a reduction in noise levels.
The FX series owe their quieter performance to FRD’s collaborative research with the Technical University of Tokyo. An entirely new impact mechanism minimizes the discharge of vibration to the excavator, which in turn reduces vibration stress experienced by operators. In addition, the combination of a redesigned body, fully closed frame with rubber plugged service points and new, worldwide patented rod arrangement considerably reduce sound levels. All FX series models are available with Standard, Silent, and Extra-Silent frame designs.
Designed for mini-excavators from 0,5 to 7 tonnes, FRD’s FX series hydraulic breakers have an operation weight of 66 to 300 kg. All are equipped with an adjustable flow and pressure device, which secures the optimum interaction between attachment and excavator at all times. The FX series is also equipped with easy exchangeable, long-lasting parts. Both the front bushing and rod are easily accessed for quick replacement.
Versatility defines Doosan’s DXB hydraulic breakers
The new DXB range of Doosan hydraulic breakers can be used on mini- through large excavators from Doosan as well as other manufacturers.
Designed for demolition, construction and mining applications, the DSC36, DXB170, DXB190, and DXB260 models offer a simple, robust design that provides economical and reliable performance, low maintenance costs, operator comfort and carrier protection. The superior power-to-weight ratio of the DXB breakers provides very efficient reduction of rock, boulders, concrete and other demolition waste, as well as excellent excavation work.
The DXB170 and DXB260 models, the first to be introduced to the European market, are intended for applications such as demolition, highway and road projects, mining, and general construction projects. The DXB170 is suitable for 18 to 28 tonne excavators, while the DXB260 is designed for 27 to 37 tonne excavators.
Doosan’s DXB technology ensures the carrier is protected through the reduction of pressure peaks. The breakers’ energy recovery and patented valve systems increase overall performance. Other features include a high-quality piston and cylinder manufactured to precise tolerances, and an advanced dampening system that protects the breakers against blank firing. The close tolerances of the parts used in the breakers also result in lower maintenance costs.
Compact breakers from Sandvik
Sandvik’s revolutionary range of compact breakers combines simplicity and cost effectiveness, with a class-leading power-to-weight ratio. The BR111, BR222 and BR333 are designed to be matched with carriers in the 0,8 to 4 tonne range.
All three have a streamlined and lightweight design that makes them ideally suited to applications in confined spaces, while constant blow energy maximizes the impact energy regardless of oil flow. Capable of accepting a wide range of oil flows, excellent back pressure acceptance and flange top mounting, the new models possess the functionality to be easily installed on a wide range of mini-excavators, skid steer loaders, and other compact carriers.
With no tie rods, and only two moving parts, the new Sandvik compact breakers minimize maintenance, ownership and operating costs. The models require no periodical gas recharging, and can be resealed in just 45 minutes. The integrated single lower tool bushing can be replaced in just 10 minutes for faster servicing and increased operational uptime.
Durable Montabert Blue Line breakers
To address the needs of entry-level hydraulic breaker users, Montabert has added the Blue Line range that features a simple, cost-effective design offering high performance and efficiency, durability and easy serviceability.
The high performance offered by the Blue Line breakers is based around a patented main valve and an energy recovery system. The main valve and the nitrogen chamber accumulator control the movements of the piston, increasing the overall performance and efficiency through optimisation of the strike power of the breaker. The energy recovery system increases the strike power by using the energy generated by the piston rebound. This system allows an automatic increase of the breaker’s frequency when used on hard materials.
The first model in the Blue Line range is the 1.7 tonne XL1700 breaker, which provides blow energy of 3400 J, a frequency of 600 blows/min and a tool diameter of 137 mm. The XL1700 can be used with excavators providing a minimum to maximum flow range of 100 to 150 l/min, and an operating pressure of 180 bars.
Allied Hy-Ram hammer boasts efficiency, automatic functions
In the hydraulic hammer category, Allied Construction Products has introduced the Hy-Ram® HR Series hydraulic impact hammer. Based on the same proven design of other Allied products, the Hy-Ram offers a host of features for improved efficiency, including its innovative oil and gas operation.
The Allied design of gas-assist using low pressure nitrogen improves the tool’s efficiency by reducing demand on the carrier’s hydraulic system. This eliminates dependency on hydraulic accumulators, which are used solely to eliminate hydraulic “spikes.” Pressurized oil is always present at the bottom of the piston, which prevents internal cavitation.
Allied Hy-Rams can also be equipped with an optional AutoLube mounted on the hammer housing. This automatic system dispenses lubricant by the hammer’s vibration. The AutoLube uses a high-grade chisel paste in handy replaceable cartridges
The Hy-Ram’s long-stroke design minimizes recoil, reduces vibration and eliminates mechanical springs. Medium and large models in the Hy-Ram series also have an automatic Auto-Stop feature that prevents blank-firing once the demolition tool has penetrated the material being broken, and downpressure is no longer applied.
The Allied Hy-Ram hammers also feature a durable housing design that suspends the internal working body inside a full-box enclosure to protect the tool, reduce noise and minimize vibration and wear to the carrier. The durable housing design is enclosed at the bottom, and incorporates a heavy-duty Hardox rock claw. Shock-absorbing polyurethane acoustical inserts increase carrier endurance
The Autocontrol feature in Hy-Ram models HR150 through HR 1200 automatically regulate blow energy and frequency , while the Autogrease system in models HR 200 through HR 1200 eliminates the need for manual greasing. The Hy Ram HR 75 and larger models feature an Accumulator that reduces stress on hydraulic components.
The large, medium, small and mini-size Hy-Ram models are available in 12 different models, ranging from working weights of 265 to 8,375 pounds and tool diameters of 1.77 to 6.88 inches. Allied offers more than 2,500 installation kits to fit the Hy-Ram to virtually every make and model of carrier.
FRD’s XCENTRIC Ripper
Another new hydraulic hammer is FRD’s excavator-mounted XCENTRIC Ripper, which was developed in cooperation with the Spanish engineering and manufacturing company Grado Cero.
The XCENTRIC Ripper is designed to perform excavation and demolition in less time, for lower cost and with a minimum of noise. The tool features a patented reaction power accumulation technology, making it more productive in most applications then any hydraulic hammer available in the market.
What’s more, the XCENTRIC Ripper can work in the most severe of conditions in tunnels, foundations and under water without the need for special modifications. A wide range of XCENTRIC Ripper models will be available, with 10 different sizes for excavators from 2 to 85 tonnes.
The first three models to be introduced are the XR 6 G0 for 5-9 tonne excavators and backhoe loaders, the XR 25 G0 for 19-25 tonne excavators, and the XR 35 G0 for 30-39 tonne excavators.
Hilti redefines pneumatic breakers
Many equipment companies have also upgraded their pneumatic breaker products. “The electro-pneumatic breakers hit the market a little over 15 years ago, greatly in response to the market’s request for breaking concrete in a manner with fewer accessories (compressors and hoses, etc.) that the hydraulic breakers and air tools need to operate,” says Bret Baldwin, Hilti’s Building Construction Trade Manager. “Additionally, for indoor work, electro-pneumatics became the tool of choice.”
The latest iteration in that technology is Hilti’s new TE 3000-AVR Breaker, which boasts the power of an air tool, at the same weight level, without the need for an air compressor to deliver explosive breaking power and exceptional mobility.
Weighing 65 pounds, the TE 3000-AVR delivers 50 foot-pounds of impact energy to break up to six tons of material per hour, at rate comparable with a 60- to 65-pound air tool. The TE 3000-AVR also offers contractors easy, flexible operation from anywhere on the jobsite. Because it does not require an air compressor, the TE 3000-AVR allows contractors to have their tool set up and working before the compressor is even towed to the location and hooked up. For maximum versatility, the TE 3000-AVR accepts standard 1-1/8 inch chisels, same as air-powered tools.
In addition, the TE 3000-AVR incorporates Hilti’s sub-chassis active vibration reduction (AVR) system to dramatically cut the vibration passed along to the operator during operation, reducing fatigue and allowing them to work longer. An active cooling system reduces wear and tear on the motor, electronics and hammering mechanism. And, the TE 3000-AVR features a brushless SR motor that eliminates the need to replace carbon brushes — allowing longer intervals between service and twice the expected motor life.
For smaller applications, there’s Hilti’s new TE1500-AVR. Ideal for everything from concrete foundation removal to digging in clay, to penetrations for pipes and electrical boxes, The TE1500-AVR also offers extended durability.
With 22 foot-pounds of impact energy generated by a 1,800-watt motor, the TE 1500-AVR delivers up to 1,950 blows per minute to efficiently break up floors, slabs or foundations. However, all that power doesn’t come at the expense of operator comfort. The TE 1500-AVR offers a best-in-class weight-to-power ratio, along with Hilti’s sub-chassis active vibration reduction (AVR) system that dramatically cuts the vibration felt by the operator. This advanced design allows the operator to work longer and be more productive.
Hilti also extended the definition of durability with the TE 1500-AVR. An active cooling system reduces wear and tear on the motor, electronics and hammering mechanism. Three-chamber sealing keeps dust out of the tool for longer life with fewer breakdowns. Also, the TE 1500-AVR features a brushless SR motor that eliminates the need to replace carbon brushes — allowing longer intervals between service and twice the expected tool life.
For versatility, the TE 1500-AVR is compatible with a variety of TE-SP polygon self-sharpening chisels, which provide strong breaking power and stick less in concrete and masonry. Also compatible with the new breakers is the Hilti TE DRS-B Dust Removal System, which reduces cleanup time and captures dust for a better working environment. Hilti’s TE 1500-AVR is also backed by Hilti Lifetime Service, a unique service agreement that includes two years of no-cost coverage. Baldwin adds that for 2010 and beyond, “the market is asking for more, mainly a method for breaking concrete that is more productive, and a tool that is easier to use and maintain, and that cost less overall to operate.” Hilti’s response is the launching of its TE 3000.
Chicago Pneumatic provides handheld performance
Chicago Pneumatic has launched the new CP 0112, CP 0112 S and CP 0112 EX handheld pneumatic breakers, all of which feature an upgraded valve system that produces a 15% increase in performance compared with company’s previous CP 0111 series.
The CP 0112 range builds on the proven features of its predecessor in many other ways. The forgings are made of alloy steel to increase durability, while the four-bolt back head withstands rugged use. An integral oiler provides continuous lubrication. In addition, the CP 0112 series are the lightest handheld breakers in the Chicago Pneumatic range, weighing from 13.5 to 16 kg. They are especially well suited to situations where easy handling and weight restrictions are important issues. The CP 0112 can be used in light demolition applications (e.g., floors, pavement, frozen ground and masonry walls). The more specialized CP 0112 EX boasts an extended handle, making it ideal for light trenching applications. Both feature the 1 x 4 North American hexagonal shank. For applications where a quieter tool is helpful, the CP 0112 S is a silenced version of the new series featuring the 25 x 108 mm standard ISO shank used outside Northern America. The CP 0112 S breaker is also CE-approved.
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