Tough tools

A pioneering Estonian demolition contractor is utilising the power and versatility of a Rammer RD 32 cutter crusher on a unique project to demolish and recycle a 4 km conveyor belt. Supplied by local dealer AS Balti Ehitusmasin - Baltem, the unit is mounted on a 34 tonne Komatsu PC340LC-7 excavator and will process as much as 100000 tonnes of reinforced concrete over the course of the contract in Sillamae, in the North East of the country.

Specialist contractor Baltic Demolition OU takes an unusual approach to the demolition sector, demolishing disused and derelict buildings primarily to sell the crushed materials. This is precisely the work that the company is undertaking on a large contract at Sillamae, where several structures built during the country's Soviet occupation are to be demolished. In addition, the contract requires the controlled demolition, crushing and reselling of the 4 km conveyor that linked the site with the nearby harbour at Sillamaki.

“We have enjoyed excellent performance from the E 65 hammer and with the dealer located just 25 km from the site, we knew we could rely upon the parts and service support,” the company reports. “Product reliability and aftersales support are key factors for us. The RD 32 is the most important item of equipment on the site and has clocked up 3700 hours in just nine months.”

The reliability and quality of back-up from Sandvik was also a key factor for Construction & Demolition Waste Services Pty of Brisbane, Australia. When the company won the contract to demolish a 1 million m³ slab of reinforced concrete it opted for an RD 32 R with pulveriser jaws - the &R' denotes the full hydraulic rotation.

Company principal Kevyn Anderson chose the Rammer unit over a conventional pulveriser because the hydraulic rotation assembly removed twisting stresses to the excavator and makes the unit more productive.

“Having the hydraulic rotation allows the operator to easily pick the material from the pile, and when crushing, it automatically self aligns for faster processing times,” he said. “The Rammer cutter crusher has helped us reduce the amount of material going through the crushing plant as I can sell it straight from the pulveriser stage after screening.”