Surrey-based Wooldridge Demolition has taken delivery of its largest high-reach demolition excavator – an SMT GB-supplied Volvo EC750EL complete with Kocurek 40m telescopic boom capable of operating a 3t attachment at full height.
The machine has gone straight to work at Woodberry Down, London, for phase three of an urban regeneration scheme that involves the dismantling and processing of an old public house, high-rise blocks and a community centre, in readiness for on-going redevelopment.
“Prior to the EC750EL, our highest reach came from a Volvo EC480DL with a Kokurek 24m boom,” explains John Hickman, operations director of Wooldridge Demolition. “With the evolution of many urban regeneration projects, we needed to go higher.”
Adding the high-reach EC750EL to the fleet gives the firm some spare capacity and the ability to take on bigger projects. The EC480DL was operating close to its limit, where the larger EC750EL can work much more comfortably, and on taller projects.
The firm has been extremely pleased with the performance and reliability of its eight-year old EC480DL, so adding the EC750EL from SMT GB was an easy decision. “We like the build quality, and reliability of Volvo equipment,” says John.
Wooldridge Demolition chose to use Volvo approved supplier Kocurek Excavators for the high-reach conversion, and in doing so, opted to build-in extra versatility with different front-end equipment for the heavy-hitting excavator.
In addition to the high-reach 40m telescopic boom, the demolition contractor requested an 18m TAB configuration to work with an eight-tonne shear for low-level processing. It also requested a short lifting arm, boasting a 25-tonne lift capacity, and all lifting capabilities are managed using a Prolec rated capacity indicator.
The short lifting arm fits straight onto the modular joint. In this configuration, the EC750EL is a self-contained rig capable of unloading its 22-tonne, telescopic boom complete with cradle, and this eliminates the need for a crane to carry out machine installation.
The six-month conversion process saw the EC750EL undergo a series of engineering changes. In addition to construction of the new boom assemblies, each track frame was lengthened by one metre, contributing to improved stability. The undercarriage was also given a telescopic frame, allowing the transport gauge to be increased from 2.75m centre-to-centre of the 750mm track pads, to 4.41m.
A tilting cab assembly was installed, along with safety walkways, and the dust suppression system gave rise to a built-in pressure washer with retractable hose reel to help with machine cleanliness. Activation of the dust suppression system has been integrated into the attachment’s jaw control function, to reduce water consumption by only spraying when crushing.
The result is a high-reach machine that tips the scales at 102 tonnes equipped with its 18m TAB, and 107 tonnes when carrying the 40m telescopic boom – the latter also affords a forward reach of 19m from the centerline of the slew ring to the attachment pin.
Wooldridge Demolition is extremely pleased with the quality and integrity of the entire high-reach package. Importantly, the conversion has a fully integrated aesthetic rather than giving the impression of a third-party modification.
