The high reach demolition excavator sector will see a new record-breaker next year, when Dutch specialist contractor Euro Demolition takes delivery of a three year old Cat 5110B modified to carry a 90 m (295 ft) three stage telescopic boom. This is 25 m (82 ft) taller than the current holder, Kobelco’s SK3500.

The boom will be designed and developed for Euro Demolition by Amsterdam-based Rusch Krantechniek and will feature a two stage upper. Each telescopic section will overlap its neighbor by 3 m (10 ft) when fully extended to provide the necessary strength and stability.

Even more impressive, however, is the weight of the tool that will go on the end. Most big high reach machines currently available can only carry a 2 or 2.5 ton tool. The new machine will carry 5 tons to full height and a 10 ton tool to 70 m (230 ft)!

The 5110B will be heavily modified to carry its giant boom, with additional counterweighing, a lengthened and widened undercarriage and additional hydraulics. Euro Demolition told D&Ri that the final combination should weigh in at 250 tons when completed by the end of 2007.

This big Cat is just one of several major investments the company has committed to in recent months. Four weeks ago, it took deliver of a Hitachi Zaxis 870 LCH with a 50 m (164 ft) three piece straight boom that is already working on its third job. It also has a new Etec 888 UHD 27 m high reach unit (based on a Doosan Solar 470 LC-V) from H J van Vliet, and plans to order two more from the company in the near future.

In addition, it also has plans to fit a second 5110B with a 27 m (89 ft) boom that will be capable of carrying an 18 ton demolition shear – just imagine the sight the two 5110s working together would make.

In addition to this extensive suite of high reach machines, the company also uses crawler cranes in the demolition role. It is due to soon take delivery of its most recent acquisition, a 200 ton Liebherr HS895 HD crawler crane.

Euro Demolition specializes in working with other contractors around Europe and beyond, using its high reach excavators and cranes to bring down large scale multi-story buildings, chimneys and industrial buildings.

Source: D&Ri