Another record breaker from Atlas Copco

The title of ‘world’s biggest volume-produced hydraulic breaker’, held for over 10 years by Atlas Copco’s HB 7000, changed hands earlier this year with the launch of the HB 10000.

The new 10-tonne breaker is designed for use with carriers in the 85 to 140-tonne class, where it represents a major step towards a new market segment – the use of hydraulic breakers as cost-efficient production machines for primary breaking as a true alternative to drilling and blasting.

‘As early as the prototype phase, it was clear the HB 10000 was going to be a hit,’ said Atlas Copco hydraulic attachments product line manager Torsten Tregar. ‘We received several concrete inquiries from operations where our prototypes had been tested even before the production model went on sale.’

Dublin-based Howley Civil Engineering were one of the companies selected to test the prototype. Managing director Michael Howley said: ‘We used the HB 10000 to break white granite in place of our own HB 7000 hammer. The results were excellent with the new breaker delivering a 50% higher performance than the 7000.’

The new hammer has a working tool diameter of 240mm, offers an impact frequency of 250–380bpm and is equipped with a full package of Atlas Copco technical features, including: StartSelect, which allows the breaker’s start-up and shutdown behaviour to be adapted to current conditions; AutoControl, which reduces blank-firing force and controls energy recovery; PowerAdapt, which shuts down the breaker automatically if the oil pressure is too high; DustProtector II, a system that prevents rock dust and other contaminants from penetrating the lower breaker section; and ContiLube II, which ensures optimal lubrication of the breaker at all times.

Atlas Copco Construction & Mining Ltd, PO Box 79, Swallowdale Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP2 7HA; tel: (01442) 222100; fax: (01442) 234467; email: [email protected]; website: www.atlascopco.com