DSM invests in 70-metre high reach

United Kingdom-based demolition contractor DSM has collaborated with Finning UK & Ireland, Cat OEM Solutions and bespoke excavator specialist Kocurek to create a high reach that tops out at 70 m (229 ft).

Designed to allow for three machine configurations, the demolition spec Cat 6015B weighs 225 t, including an attachment weighing up to 2,500 kg (5,512 lb).

By reducing the boom size, it can operate a 7,000 kg (15,432 lb) attachment at up to 38 m (125 ft), at the same weight, with its final 32 m (105 ft) configuration allowing the 230 t unit to use a 12,000 kg (26,455 lb) attachment.

This has been made possible due to extensive design changes and bespoke engineered components, including lengthened track frames, the addition of a hydraulically extending undercarriage and the modification to four hoist cylinders.

To turn the machine into a typical demolition specification, a tilting cab with complete FOPS (falling object protective structure) guarding has been added, with full machine walkways for access and safety. The addition of a counterweight, including a bespoke removal mechanism to allow it to be stored onto the trailer, completes the main machine changes.

But to carry out its operations, bespoke booms were designed to support the three different configurations. By having an interchangeable combination, including intermediate booms, dippers and triple articulating booms, each configuration could be set up on site by the team from the trailer.

“This project is what true industry collaboration is all about,” said DSM director Des Kelly.

“What we really wanted was to create a step change for the industry. So our vision was to invest in a much more versatile machine that could cope with both high reach demolition and very heavy duty hammer or processor work, to speed up the clearance of a site for our customers.

“In practical terms, what we now have is a machine that has safety and versatility built into its design. This allows us to sit one unit on a project that can take down a high structure, reconfigure itself once the high rise work is done to speed up the demolition process and reconfigure itself again to complete the below the ground works using heavy duty hammers.

“It really is the Swiss army knife of the demolition industry. It was definitely not a simple task, as many hours were put into delivering the final product, but now we have tested the unit out demolishing the White Hart Lane football stadium in London, we can see the difference it will make to the business and our customers.”