DDS Demolition opt for Atlas Copco heavy-duty breakers

Sandhurst supply HB series units for use at major factory demolition project in Kent  

THREE Atlas Copco HB series breakers – supplied by Sandhurst to DDS Demolition – have been put to work in tearing down reinforced concrete structures during a rebar mill clear-up at Sheerness steel works, on the Isle of Sheppey, in Kent. 

The HB2200, HB3600 and HB4200 units were purchased to suit the contractor’s Komatsu excavators working on site, ranging from the PC290 and PC350 machines to the PC450 and PC490 models.  

Steel was first produced at Sheerness works in 2003 but production furnaces and a large rolling mill on the 53-acre site has been left untouched since the specialist rebar steelworks was closed in 2012. A decision was finally made to redevelop parts of the site and demolition work commenced in 2016. 

DDS Demolition predominantly used hydraulic shears and grabs to remove much of the steel building fabrication and steel-making infrastructure – during phases one and two – each lasting 18 weeks.   

Phase three, scheduled to take 26 weeks, involves the serious challenge of breaking and removing thousands of tonnes of heavily reinforced concrete machine plinths, push walls and reinforced foundations. DDS decided additional high-productivity hydraulic breakers were needed to help deliver the project on time.

While Sandhurst operate one of Europe’s largest rental fleets of Atlas Copco breakers, DDS decided, on this occasion, to purchase the new attachments. 

Lee Pooley, group buyer for DDS, commented: ‘We faced some very heavy breaking on this job and wanted proven breakers with the capability of efficiently punching into heavily reinforced structures. We’ve hired Atlas Copco breakers and attachments for years from Sandhurst and I know we can rely on them as an attachment supplier, along with the efficiency and performance of the Atlas Copco products.’