Water jetting at a distance

NLB Corporation has introduced the Automated Remote Manipulator (ARM) semi-automated water jet system that is designed to improved operator protection that at the same time reduces downtime. The new design sees an operator manipulate a range of accessories from the safety and comfort from the climate controlled cab of a compact excavator, using joystick control to position the tools and control the flow of high pressure water (up to 40,000 psi or 2,760 Bar at 600 hp).

The new machine can be used for a wide range of applications, such as tube bundle cleaning and hydrodemolition. A unique quick coupling system allows the operator to easily make accessory changes. It has a vertical reach of 3.7 m (12 ft) and a horizontal reach of 5.2 m (17 ft), with a wide water jet pattern to maximize coverage. This allows the operator to well away from the nozzle to not only reduce risk but eliminate the fatigue of manual water jetting and the possibility of inconsistent results from operators with different skill levels.

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