BUILD No. 1 / 2015

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BUILD

FULLY EMPOWERED #01

A MAGAZINE FROM ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE NO. 1 / 2015

NEW Y35 COMPRESSORS SPEEDS UP GEOTHERMAL DRILLING BIG SPLASH IN DUBAI PAGE 4 PAVING ON AN ANGLE PAGE 18 GENERATORS IN HEAT PAGE 22

A MAGAZINE FROM ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE NO. 1 / 2015


Contents issue 01/2015

Our products exemplify customer-driven innovation.

CANADA DYNAMIC DUO A demolition robot and a breaker attachment take on concrete balconies (page 19).

Far and wide IT IS MY GREAT pleasure to welcome you to 2015’s first issue of Build magazine. People often ask me what I love about Atlas Copco, and of course I name many things in response. But one I always mention is our global reach. It’s hard to fully grasp the idea that 14,000 kilometers lie between Canada and Australia! We are proud to be working with so many customers across the globe. Different customers, different needs, but all being taken care of by our global network within Construction Technique. You can read stories from all across the world throughout the magazine. Diverse customer needs require a diverse product portfolio. Our construction product portfolio is something we are very proud of; we work across many categories and products, and that makes us pretty unique within the industry. New products have long been the life-blood of Atlas Copco, so it’s especially pleasing to see these products in the market and on the job, making a difference. They exemplify customer-driven innovation. Our mission in Atlas Copco Construction is to continue to take the best possible care of our customers. We have a constant flow of new products, coupled with a never-ending desire to invent better and more innovative ways to serve you, our customers. I hope you enjoy the magazine.

Andrew Walker Business Area President Atlas Copco Construction Technique

Cover:

A DrillAir Y35 gets delivered to Stures Brunnsborrning for a geothermal drilling job at a kindergarten in Orminge near Stockholm, Sweden.

SWITZERLAND THE HIGH LINE Digging tunnels for a new rail track up in the Alps is a complex project (page 9).


SWEDEN DRILLING DOWN A new compressor improves the process for geothermal drilling (page 6).

AUSTRALIA RISING SON Campbell Nunn brings change – and growth – to BAE Systems (page 16).

GERMANY ON THE SLOPES Paving the walls of a water dam requires creative thinking (page 18).

BUILD

A MAGAZINE FROM ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE

PUBLISHER Anna-Karin Stenlund anna.stenlund@se.atlascopco.com EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Daniel Egana, Valeria Lirach, Anja Kaulbach, Anna-Karin Stenlund and Paul Humphreys PRODUCTION Appelberg Publishing Group, Sweden EDITORS Linas Alsenas and Lena Nilsson

AD Ersan Cürüklü COPYRIGHT 2015, Atlas Copco AB, Stockholm ADDRESS Atlas Copco – Portable Energy, Ingberthoeveweg 7, 2630 Aartselaar, Belgium

WEB www.atlascopco.com COVER PHOTO Arne Jennard


A MAGAZINE FROM ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE – NO. 1 / 2015

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NEWS

MEGA LAUNCH

The Empower event, held in Dubai at the beginning of March, was the first time that Atlas Copco’s portable power business hosted an event in this region with dealers, a key channel in the new strategy for generators and light towers. They shared experiences, met with key people within Atlas Copco and learned about the product ranges being launched. “Thanks to the integration of the Gesan line generators and dealer network, we are now able to bring our power and light solutions to a wider range of users and industries around the world,” says Ben van Hove, Vice President Marketing, Portable Energy. Eight new generator ranges and light towers were showcased at the Empower event and Middle East Electricity – making it one of the largest product introductions that the division has ever held.

DOUBLE WIN

Jan Fourie (General Manager Scandinavian Customer Center), Alex Liebert (Project Leader Industrial Design) and Martin Larsson (Manager Product Design Group).

The Atlas Copco Rammer LT 6005 has won two prestigious design awards this year: the iF Design Award, handed out by the iF International Forum Design GmbH, and the Grand Award of Design in the Public’s Favorite category, decided by public vote and given by the Association of Swedish Engineering Industries.   The rammer design features a slimmer body, increased grip area, a more accessible gas throttle and new plastic engine side covers. All designed to make it easier to use close to walls and posts or in narrow trenches. The rammer is one example of the new design language for light construction equipment being developed by the Group’s Industrial Design Competence Center, in cooperation with engineers at the Construction Tools division.


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STATE-OF-THE-ART HUB

Atlas Copco’s global distribution center in Hoeselt, Belgium, has undergone a massive upgrade, with an investment of EUR 8 million. The site is transforming from a pick, pack and ship facility for products, spare parts and accessories to a total supply-chain competence center that builds logistics networks based on customer needs. Its improvements include: voice picking, 12 additional loading docks, extra storage space and new ergonomic packing stations.

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UPGRADE THAT SAVES

Equipped with Stage IV engines, the Atlas Copco large paver range not only complies with the latest European emission stage, but also contributes to substantial fuel cost savings. Per year, the Stage IV engines potentially save up to 4 200 liters of fuel and reduce CO2 emissions by 11 tons. The Stage IV engines have been fitted in the Atlas Copco large paver range without changing any operating parameters, such as visibility, ensuring optimal paving results at all times.

The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, ranks companies according to demonstrated productivity increases while using less resources. ­Atlas Copco ranked 23rd overall this year, up from 46th place last year, and is number one in the machinery industry.


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A MAGAZINE FROM ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE – NO. 1 / 2015

RELEASING UNTAPPED POWER


A MAGAZINE FROM ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE – NO. 1 / 2015

7 The DrillAir Y35 speeds up geothermal drilling being done by Sturres Brunnsborrning for a kindergarten in Orminge, Sweden.

Drilling contractors can now provide homeowners with geothermal energy faster and more efficiently with the release of Atlas Copco’s Drillair Y35 compressor. TEXT DANIEL DASEY PHOTOS ARNE JENNARD AND DMITRY KARABLINOV

WHEN HOMEOWNERS IN the region around Stock-

holm, Sweden, decide to make use of geothermal energy, they call a company like Lebam Brunnsborrning. Lebam is a family-run operation that specializes in drilling shafts hundreds of meters into the bedrock. These boreholes allow homeowners to tap into the thermal properties of the earth, and with help from heat pumps and refrigerants, to economically heat and cool their homes. Geothermal drilling for such companies has recently become fully empowered and more efficient with the launch of Atlas Copco’s new Drillair Y35 compressor. Equipped with a 16-liter Scania engine, it provides improved fuel efficiency, increased drilling speed and a reduced footprint. As part of Atlas Copco’s pre-release testing of the Drillair Y35, Lebam Brunnsborrning was given the chance to trial the compressor. Peter Dunkhols, who operates the business with his brother, Christian, says there were immediate advantages to the new model: “It’s shorter, and this makes it easier for us to manage when we’re setting up on-site.” The pair use an Atlas Copco WellDrill rig to penetrate the rock. Air drives the down-the-hole hammer and flush cuttings from the hole, and Christian Dunkhols says that in trials the Y35 sped up the process. “The major advantage over the other compressor is that the Y35 fills the drill stem faster, so drilling gets underway faster,” he explains. Dmitry Karablinov, Product Marketing Manager at Atlas Copco Portable Energy, says the faster flushing is due to a technology called Dynamic Flow Boost that increases the flow rate from 34.8 to 39 cubic meters per minute (650 l/s) when flushing and during drill stem refill.


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A MAGAZINE FROM ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE – NO. 1 / 2015

The new compressor is easy to transport; the unit below is on its way to a drilling job for Lebam Brunnsborrning in Svinninge, Sweden.

WITH DRILLING OPERATORS constantly looking for

ways to drill faster and more efficiently, Karablinov says the new compressor offers a range of other advantages. For example, it allows contractors to drill 500 meters per day. The unit’s 35 bar of pressure means drilling teams can complete two 250-meter, 4.5-inch geothermal wells in one day – two to three hours faster than is possible with a 25-bar compressor. Atlas Copco’s cooperation with Scania means that the Y35 is powered by an efficient, Stage IV-compliant Scania engine, perfect for sustainable drilling. Fredrik Järild, Key Account Manager at Scania, says a Scania engine in Atlas Copco equipment is a great combination. “At Scania, we’re proud to be working with Atlas Copco.” The compressor’s small, 4.1-meter frame enables drilling contractors to fit the drill rig and compressor on one truck, rather than two. Meanwhile, operators have full control of the pressure being used. DrillAirXpert technology features easy selection of a range of pressures, while XPR technology means that drill operators can choose pressures

” At Scania, we are proud to be working with Atlas Copco.”

as low as 15 bar. This helps to avoid soil collapses due to overburdened drills and also opens the way for the Y35 to be used for foundation drilling.

BENEFITS OF DRILLAIR Y35 ore compact, with faster and more M efficient drilling. 478 kW, Stage IV-compliant Scania engine, perfect for sustainable drilling. DrillAirXpert allows for precise regulation of the air-flow rate. Dynamic Flow Boost means the drill stem can be filled faster, increasing efficiency. Pressure range of 15–35 bar, enabling drilling teams to complete two 250-meter, 4.5-inch geothermal wells per day. Predictable repair and maintenance costs. The standard warranty covers parts within two years or 4 000 hours.


A MAGAZINE FROM ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE – NO. 1 / 2015

OFFPISTE

Building tunnels for a new train track leading up to a small ski resort high up in the Swiss Alps is no easy feat. TEXT AND PHOTOS KIMMO ALAKOSKI

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Where explosives haven’t quite finished the task, an Atlas Copco MB 750 DP hydraulic breaker is set to work scaling the tunnels.

T

HE SCHWYZ region in the heart of Switzerland is also called “Swiss Knife Valley,” thanks to the uniquely versatile tool that local manufacturer Victorinox made for the Swiss army. The same degree of versatility is required from the equipment being used to excavate the tunnels for a new railway leading up to the ski resort of Stoos. Located 1 300 meters above sea level, Stoos offers a wide range of leisure and winter sports activities, and it serves as a base for the ski slopes of two main peaks, the Fronalpstock and the Klingenstock. The village of Stoos is car-free, so tourists visiting the area arrive by cable car from Morschach or on the funicular railway from Schwyz. The funicular train is over 80 years old and will

soon be replaced by one with greater capacity and comfort – but operating on a more challenging route. The new train will make the trip between the lower station and the upper station by crossing three steel bridges and traveling a total of 600 meters through mountain tunnels. The tracks and cars of the old train maintain the same angle throughout the trip; the new railway tracks, however, will slope at different angles at different points on the journey. To counteract this and ensure passenger comfort, the new cars will have four self-leveling cabins. At the start of the trip, the train will cross a steel bridge and enter the first and steepest tunnel on the route. With the tracks mounted on a 110% incline, the train will climb at an angle of approximately 50 degrees. The next stage is another bridge, followed by


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CLIMBING HIGH Altitude of lower station: 562 meters above sea level Upper station: 1 306 meters above sea level Incline of first tunnel: 110% Second tunnel: 90% Third tunnel: 37.6%

G = Gradient L = Above sea-level

“ A special project like this calls for tailor-made machinery and some innovative solutions.” Oliver Erzinger, foreman at Implenia AG

the shortest tunnel, which will have an incline of about 90%. This leads up to an open section and to the last tunnel, where the average incline is 37.6%. The final stage of the journey is an easy ride over open ground and across a bridge to the upper station. Excavating tunnels and constructing a railway in such challenging terrain requires an experienced, well-coordinated team of professionals. Swiss contractor Implenia AG fits the bill. “We have employees who have helped build some of the longest tunnels in the world,” says Oliver Erzinger, foreman at Implenia. “However, a special project like this also calls for tailor-made machinery and some innovative solutions to accomplish the task on time.” Implenia solved the problem of the steep inclines by starting the excavation at the top. Above the upper

G = 19,577 % L = 250,808 m

G = 9,379 % L = 292,66 m

G = 35,506 % L = 149,206 m

G = 72,840 % L = 213,685 m

G = 110, 000 % L = 287,533 m

G = 64,870 % L = 218,342 m

G = 0,0000 % L = 81,234 m

Total distance of tunnels: 600 meters


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A MAGAZINE FROM ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE – NO. 1 / 2015

The excavation boom is equipped with the Atlas Copco MB 750 DP hydraulic breaker.


A MAGAZINE FROM ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE – NO. 1 / 2015

Because the new railway tracks will slope at different angles, the new trains will consist of four self-leveling cabins.

tunnel are a service station and a base camp where the project office and temporary accommodation for workers is located. Most of the construction material is transported by steel wire conveyor from the lower station level up to the service station for tunneling, or onward to the upper station. A tailor-made carriage, constructed by Kolk Maschinenbau on a railcar chassis and equipped with a drill rig and an excavation boom, is being used for the tunneling. An Atlas Copco MB 750 DP hydraulic

To get the job done in one year, the team must excavate one tunnel head per day. breaker mounted on the boom is used for scaling; the boom is also used for loading rubble into a haulage bucket. “The tunneling carriage is connected to a smaller transportation carriage that serves as a platform for the haulage bucket,” says Erzinger. “There are platforms on both sides of the tunneling carriage, where workers can walk safely to operate the rig and boom.” A WORK CYCLE starts by drilling a number of 3-meter-

long holes at the 30-square-meter tunnel head; these are then loaded with explosives. The workers remove the carriage from the tunnel before the blasting

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and then return it to clear the excavated rubble. The haulage bucket is located inside the carriage during loading. When filled, the bucket is taken on a smaller transportation carriage up to the service station for tipping, and back again. As soon as the tunnel is clear of loose rocks, the excavation boom is equipped with the Atlas Copco MB 750 DP hydraulic breaker. The attachment is used to break loose rocks from the walls and to complete the excavation where the explosives haven’t quite finished the task. After scaling, the rubble is cleared from the tunnel again with the bucket. “A much larger breaker could be used for this application,” says Erzinger, “but the structure of the carriage and the long loading boom limit the maximum weight [1 000 kilograms] of the attachment and coupler. “Fortunately, the MB 750 has all the power needed to handle the job. It is also easy on the carrier: Vibrations are low thanks to the MB 750’s energy recovery system and the dampening elements in the breaker box. When the tunnel head is ready, workers bolt steel nets onto the rock surface and spray it with concrete. The next step is to install the temporary railway tracks and run the carriage forward to start the next work cycle. The tracks used for the tunneling machine will later be used as a foundation and reinforcement for the new railway that will be installed after the tunnel is finished. To get the job done in one year, the team needs to excavate one tunnel head a day (although it takes more time at the beginning, until the process becomes a regular routine). When the tunneling team reaches the lower tunnels, the job becomes more difficult due to the steep angle of the tunnel and the longer journey up for excavated rubble. For the companies involved, this project is providing valuable experience in new techniques. For tourists visiting the resort, when the railway is finished, it will mean a faster and more comfortable ride up to the peaks.

IMPLENIA AG Implenia AG is the largest construction company in Switzerland. Headquartered in Dietlikon, the group employs about 8 500 people. On the Stoos project, Implenia has a team of 16 people working in two shifts, five days a week. Some are housed in barracks at the base camp, while others live locally.


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PRODUCTS

FEATHER-LIGHT POWER

The newly redesigned CobraTM petrol breakers – the PROe and TTe versions – are shorter and lighter, and have an additional 25x108 mm shank size. The breakers have an improved environmental footprint, and they can run on alkylate petrol, significantly lowering an operator’s exposure to harmful exhaust. The Cobra PROe (60 joules) is ideal for breaking, asphalt cutting and post driving. It can break silicarich rocks and reinforced concrete. For tie tamping, the Cobra TTe (40 joules) delivers energy high enough to push the ballast back under the ties, but low enough to prevent the pulverization of ballast.

SMALL BUT BRIGHT

Each QLB 60 features four high-efficiency LED floodlights, 350 watts each. (That’s equivalent to four 1 000-watt metalhalide lamps.) Special optics maximize its light coverage – about 200 lux within 10 meters, 100 lux up to 25 meters, and 50 lux up to 35 meters. The QLB 60 is distinctive for having one of the smallest footprint on the market; thanks to its compact dimensions, 22 units can be loaded on a 13-meter truck. The light tower also features an Lc1003 controller, fuel autonomy of 260 hours, low fuel consumption and the most reliable power pack in its segment.


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TEXT: LINAS ALSENAS PHOTOS: ATLAS COPCO

ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE

The Atlas Copco Construction app, available for free on Apple’s App Store and Google Play, brings a wealth of information and f­ unctionality to your smartphone and tablet. Currently with seven language ­options, it’s a one-stop catalog of all the products and services on offer, easily navigated with the help of filters. Users can find and c­ ontact the nearest customer center based on their current location. They can also share information by email or engage in social m ­ edia, view selected images in 3D, check out the variety of video playlists, or request more information. All ­product and service information can be downloaded for use when a n ­ etwork isn’t available.

DYN

LINK

IT’S TIME FOR TELEMATICS

Machine fleet management is getting easier and smarter thanks to technological advances in track-and-trace systems. With Atlas Copco’s Dyn@Link and Dyn@Link Advance systems, keeping an eye on the machines becomes easier. “Dyn@Link tracks operation time and travel distances,” says ­Sonja Boettcher, project leader for the Dyn@Link program. “Its geofence ­feature has email notifications that let managers know when a unit enters or leaves an area, saving time and protecting the equipment.” Boettcher also

says that the system’s maintenance overview allows for service notifications to be automatically sent to a ­registered email address, ensuring that parts are ordered and technicians are booked in time. Taking it a step further, Dyn@link ­Advance makes it ­possible to do remote diagnostics. “All CAN-bus failures are sent to the portal,” says ­Boettcher. “So the expert is ­informed directly about equipment problems, reducing the need to drive to the jobsite.” The Advance system also tracks parameters such as fuel consumption, engine

load and idling versus working hours, making it possible to optimize the fleet performance. Dyn@link can be installed on all ­D ynapac equipment, as well as other branded equipment. Both systems include the hardware with a SIM card, webpage access and a 12-month GSM connection package, which can be extended after a year. “At the moment, Dyn@Link ­Advance can be installed on every SD paver and the Dynapac mobile feeder, though ­further equipment will follow soon,” says ­Boettcher.


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A MAGAZINE FROM ATLAS COPCO CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE – NO. 1 / 2015

HIGH QUALITY = HIGH EFFICIENCY Since 2012 Campbell Nunn has steered BA Equipment Group, an Australian breakers and attachments company, to a market-leading position. TEXT DANIEL DASEY PHOTO SIMON ALEKNA

YOU COULD SAY Campbell Nunn has the heavy equipment

business in his blood. In 1987 Nunn’s father, Ross, founded Transmin, a mining engineering-solutions company. Campbell Nunn was 11 at the time. “I started working at Transmin when I was 14, mowing the lawns and doing clean-up work,” Nunn recalls. “Later on, before I did my degree, I worked as a fitter in the workshop and did some drafting, as well as project management on manufacturing projects.” Some 25 years on, Nunn has more than proven his own ability in the sector: He’s Managing Director of breakers and attachments company BA Equipment Group. Since Nunn became head of the group in 2012, the company has attained a market-leading position in three Australian regions. Nunn now has big plans to further grow the business, which currently operates on Australia’s east and west coasts selling and servicing breakers and fixed hydraulic boom systems for the mining and construction sectors.

“ In Western Australia we’ve improved our market share by over 30 percent.” Nunn attributes a key part of his success to his decision in 2013 to become an Atlas Copco distributor, ending an 18-year relationship with a different manufacturer. “I wish we’d done it sooner,” he admits. “We’ve since been able to gain a leading market share in Queensland and the Northern Territory, and in

Western Australia we’ve improved our market share by over 30 percent.” Nunn’s career has always been closely linked to the mining and construction sectors. After cutting his teeth in the family business, he earned a bachelor of mechanical engineering and held a number of jobs as a consultant engineer. In 2007, he returned to Transmin to work in the company’s business of supplying products and service solutions to mining, processing and bulk materials customers. Headquartered in Perth, the company employs 90 people and has an annual turnover of AUD 50 million. It was decided in 2012 that Transmin’s breakers and attachment arm should become BA Equipment Group to allow it to better meets the needs of this market. Nunn assumed the role of Managing Director of the business and immediately began a process of rationalization, which included switching to Atlas Copco equipment. “On the east coast, Atlas Copco had been outselling our previous breaker brand by about 25 percent for a long time,” Nunn explains. “It became obvious that the reason was that Atlas Copco was a better product.” In 2013, BA became the distributor of Atlas Copco hydraulic breakers in Queensland and Western Australia, immediately improving its sales performance. Transmin, too, has made Atlas Copco its supplier of hydraulic breakers: “They switched after seeing the efficiency we achieved,” says Nunn. “With any attachment you put on an excavator, you want to achieve as much power for as little weight as is possible,” he says. “The Atlas Copco breaker provides the same power as competitors, but with less weight. This allows us to step up a model, essentially, so an equivalent weight unit has a lot more power.” Customers have reported enormous efficiency gains by switching to Atlas Copco breakers. “The feedback we’ve had is fantastic,” Nunn says. “One customer changed over after a four-month trial and said, ‘This makes a massive difference to our production.’”


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FAST FACTS Name: Campbell Nunn Age: 38 Position: Managing Direction, BA Equipment Group Family: Wife, a daughter, 7, and a son, 5 Hobbies: “I like road cycling, although I’ve been a bit busy for it lately. I did the 250-kilometer Around the Bay event in Melbourne and have done a few overseas trips, including through the Malaysian mountains.”


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SMART SOLUTIONS

ROLLING IN THE STEEP A German road construction company paves the slope of an enlarged water dam. TEXT DAVID BENNETT PHOTO KIMMO ALAKOSKI ENERGY COMPANY E.ON is enlarging the c­ apacity of its Waldeck 2 pumped-storage hydroelectric station on Lake Eder in Germany. When asphalting the inside of the newly raised edge of the water dam, road construction company Strabag AG, Cologne, faced a challenge: The paver had to be operated at a 34–41 degree angle with the material fed into the hopper from a ledge just 2.8 meters wide on the edge of the dam. “Even for a highly experienced construction company like us, this is an unusual jobsite with new challenges,” says Dieter Seelig, Construction Manager, Strabag AG. The company’s remarkable solution involved two Dynapac pavers and a mobile feeder with an additional swingable conveyor. The primary paver, a DF145CS, needed some some minor steelwork modifications for the operators to be able to work at a 34-degree angle. The material hopper was equipped with an extra chamber to

keep the material flow constant and avoid all the material accumulating at one end. During paving, the DF145CS was held in place on the slope of the wall by the counterweight of a second Dynapac paver that traveled in tandem along the ledge on top of the wall. Its only function was to hold the primary paver! The active paver was also attached to a hydraulic cylinder. If the paver strayed due to fluctuating material load in the hopper, then the cylinder pulled the paver in the right direction. Even at such a steep angle, the DF145CS paver effortlessly laid the relatively thick layers of special asphalt. To get the material into the hopper over the edge of the dam, a feeder was needed that could feed sideways, yet was still sufficiently narrow to operate within the limited space on
the dam edge. The Dynapac MF2500CS mobile feeder with an additional swingable conveyor, SwingApp, worked beautifully.

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BYE-BYE, BALCONIES

Two machines combine to demolish concrete structures 18 stories up. TEXT MELISSA DAVIDSON PHOTO PAUL KING IN TORONTO, Canada, there was concern over the condition of an aging apartment building: The concrete was spalling and debonding from rusted steel reinforcement joists. The only solution was to completely demolish and replace the building’s 168 16-by-five-foot concrete balconies. The building’s tenants would remain during demolition, so the work had to be done as quickly as possible, and quietly. With demolition being carried out 18 floors above the streets, a typical solution would have required a lot of manpower behind many handheld jackhammers – with a high risk of injuries and inadvertent damage. King Restoration, a Toronto company that specializes in concrete restoration and brick demolition, proposed an alternative solution that promised increased safety, minimal disruption and a shorter time frame. Owner Paul King was confident that, with a Brokk ­50 re-

mote-controlled demolition robot and an Atlas Copco Solid Body (SB) 52 hydraulic breaker attachment, his crews could complete the project in just six months. (Other competitors’ bids on the project had projected two years using traditional handheld tools.) “This duo did the work that three of my men could do with handheld jackhammers, and they could do it all day long,” King says. Since the Brokk machine’s footprint is small, using it on a mast climber was no problem. Likewise, the Atlas Copco SB breaker has an outstanding power-to-weight ratio and is quick and easy to position. A demolition crew began at the top of the building, so the balconies below would catch any debris that might fall. The workers moved from one balcony to the next with a mast climber, using the Atlas Copco breaker’s maximum 2 175 psi to demolish an average of 10 balconies per day.

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SMART SOLUTIONS

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGE An international rental company turns to Atlas Copco to help provide ecological generators for rent around the clock. TEXT LINAS ALSENAS PHOTO ATLAS COPCO POWER SOLUTIONS offers generators to rent

for wide variety of applications all over the world, from small projects to multi-megawatt temporary sites. The purpose-designed fleet can be mobilized rapidly in ­response to planned and emergency demands 24 hours a day. When adding to its fleet, Power Solutions imposes strict product requirements in terms of efficiency and sustainability. These include reduced consumption of consumables and low maintenance. Each generator must be compact, have low noise emissions and be fully compliant with the Stage IIIA emission regulations. Lastly, the company requires a low cost of ownership for all equipment. Atlas Copco QAS and QAC generators live up to these demands. The units are constructed from quality components, including a galvanized steel canopy for protection. They are

easy to transport with integrated fork lift slots and a lifting hook, and they comply with strict environmental regulations. Thanks to the ­versatility of options available for the QAS, ­Atlas Copco was able to deliver 38 generators in sizes ranging from QAS 60 to QAS 500, plus 25 QAC 1250 generators that met the ­customer’s specifications. “At Power Solutions we provide flexible, professional and responsive services for customers requiring ecological temporary power,” says Arnold Oostveen, CEO, Power Solutions. “We chose Atlas Copco to strengthen our fleet, as they understand the importance of minimizing our impact on the planet without sacrificing performance.” The Power Solutions order of Atlas Copco QAS and QAC generators will be used in major power projects all over the world.

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FIRST TIME, EVERY TIME

For an Australian generator rental company that services communities in need, reliability is paramount. TEXT DANIEL DASEY PHOTO GENPLUS

WHEN A BUSHFIRE or a violent storm leaves a community in southeastern Australia without power, it’s probable that Richard Doggett gets a call. The CEO of generator rental company GenPlus Hire, Doggett says the bulk of his business involves providing emergency power during unexpected outages. GenPlus also supplies Atlas Copco generators to hospitals, energy providers and government departments requiring backup power. Doggett says his company grew organically out of his previous electrical contracting business about 12 years ago. “We were sick and tired of hiring generators that would break down, so we bought one or two of our own,” he says. “We then found that many of our clients were in the same boat and needed reliable generators, so we kept buying more.” Today the business has seven full-time

e­ mployees and serves customers within a fivehour driving radius of Canberra. Doggett explains the company’s philosophy “it has to be right first time, every time” has led it to rely exclusively on Atlas Copco genuine spare parts. “The advantage of using genuine parts is that they fit the first time, every time,” he says. “They don’t leak, and they’re reliable. I saw one generator operated by a government ­department that had a non-genuine fuel filter on it; it started leaking and actually caught fire! It had been serviced with non-genuine parts, and the O-ring had blown out.” GenPlus keeps Atlas Copco replacement part kits on its shelves and turns to the Parts Online portal when ordering additional items. “I can see where the item is, the price and how long before it arrives,” Doggett says.

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SERVICE TIPS

BEATTHE HEAT As the seasons shift and hot temperatures start making their way onto the weather forecast, make sure your portable energy equipment is ready. Here are some handy tips for smooth and efficient operation when the mercury starts rising. TEXT LINAS ALSENAS PHOTOS ATLAS COPCO

TO PREPARE

1. C lean your unit. Coolers and radiators are best cleaned with water and a detergent.

2. K eep cooling liquids in tiptop condition. Check both the ­quality and the quantity.

3. Replace the air filters before the start of the summer season.

4. R eplace oil filters, as well. Oil quality deteriorates at higher temperatures and leaves ­deposits behind in the filter.

5. C hange the oil before the heat arrives. Use oil that is suitable for high temperatures, such as Paroil S Xtreme and Paroil E Xtra. The levels should be just right; don’t over- or under-fill. 6. M ake sure there are no obstructions in the unit such as rags, books and tools. They restrict the airflow. Loose panels or foam should be fixed in-place again.


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WHEN RUNNING THE UNIT 1. Keep the compressor out of the sun.

2. A lways keep the canopy closed; running a unit with open doors has a negative effect on its c­ ooling performance.

SIZE MATTERS

3. Don’t place the unit too close to a wall or obstacle, which can obstruct the cooling flow.

4. D on’t place machines too close to one another. Avoid situations where exhaust gas or cooling air blown out of one piece of equipment is used to cool another unit.

Choose the right compressor. Don’t undersize, but also avoid oversizing. A unit that always runs at 100 % will overheat easier, so, as a rule of thumb, try to oversize the compressor by 20–30 %. For example, if the application needs 10 m3/min then the ideal compressor would deliver 12–13 m3/min. A too-big compressor leads to low load of the unit. This can result in issues, including: water condensation in the compressor and oil and soot deposits in the engine.

5. U se the emergency stop only in case of emergency. When stopping the unit, let the unit go through its cooldown phase. The correct starting and stopping procedure is described in the instruction book.


LAUNCH PAD EASY TO ID

The entire Atlas Copco fluids and lubricants portfolio has a fresh look. The new visual identity designs make it easier to identify the correct lubricant. Developed to match maintenance specifications, original fluids and lubricants help protect equipment, keeping it productive and improving its resale value.

GETTING PRACTICAL

The new, application-oriented QES range of generators, available for worldwide order now, was designed to offer ease of use and straightforward service. The range is currently comprised of five models, from the QES 9 (9 kVA rated power) to QES 40 (42 kVA rated power). Additional models will follow shortly. The units are both compact and stackable, thereby reducing storage and transport costs.

PAVING THE WAY

Atlas Copco is the first manufacturer to produce a highway-class 8-foot paver with Tier 4 Final emission norms. Designed specifically for North American customers, the Dynapac F800T paver’s engine reduces exhaust emission of particulate matter and nitrous oxides by 90 %. The ECO Mode reduces the fuel consumption significantly over previous-generation engines.

AIR TRAVEL

The new XA(M,T,H,V)S 367–287 compressor range is easy to maneuver and transport, featuring a per-unit weight of less than 3 500 kilograms and large ground clearance. The models are driven by a Stage IV MTU diesel engine, making them compliant with the latest emission regulations. The units are specially designed to run a full shift without the need to refuel, saving time and money.

The Dynapac CP1200 pneumatic-tired roller offers new features designed to produce perfect compaction results. The new, flexible steel ballast system allows easy weight adjustment, improving performance in any job site. To achieve the same ground pressure on front and rear tires, the ballast is distributed evenly, whether water, sand or steel is used.

PMI 3492 0275 01

BALANCED SOLUTION


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