Skip to main content

Improved transport for Kobelco Construction Machinery’s demolition boom

The challenge of transporting the front-end equipment of high-reach demolition-spec excavators has been a key driver in the development of Kobelco Construction Machinery’s latest models, the 40tonne SK400D and 55tonne SK550D. Both offer working heights of 25m and 28m respectively from a three-piece boom.
April 25, 2018 Read time: 1 min
Kobelco’s latest demolition boom uses a redesigned intermediate section to reduce its transport height.
The challenge of transporting the front-end equipment of high-reach demolition-spec excavators has been a key driver in the development of 2200 Kobelco Construction Machinery’s latest models, the 40tonne SK400D and 55tonne SK550D. Both offer working heights of 25m and 28m respectively from a three-piece boom.


It is the intermediate boom section that has undergone a redesign, which now benefits from revised hydraulic cylinder positioning. By overlapping the cylinders in a X-pattern, engineers have found a way to fold the boom more tightly than before. This also combines with a much shorter intermediate boom piece, and the resulting transport height falls below two metres.

The firm said that this reduced overall height of the folded boom avoids the need for a specialist low-deck trailer system when getting the machines ready for transport.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Novel demolition machines
    May 9, 2023
    The market for ruggedised demolition excavators has very specific requirements, with three new models now available – Mike Woof writes
  • Long reach equipment simplifies demolition
    February 14, 2012
    Demolition is a highly specialised business, as the machinery required to carry out the work on high-rise demolition contracts can be very site specific. Today's high reach demolition rig is no longer simply a tracked excavator with a long boom, indeed some machines cannot be used as excavators at all. Likewise a machine that is dedicated to carrying a 2.5 or 3tonne shear or hammer will need to be built to take the stresses and strains of demolition life.
  • Long reach equipment simplifies demolition
    April 13, 2012
    Demolition is a highly specialised business, as the machinery required to carry out the work on high-rise demolition contracts can be very site specific. Today's high reach demolition rig is no longer simply a tracked excavator with a long boom, indeed some machines cannot be used as excavators at all. Likewise a machine that is dedicated to carrying a 2.5 or 3tonne shear or hammer will need to be built to take the stresses and strains of demolition life. Many of the ultra long boom machines are designed
  • Bridge demolition easier with modern machines
    February 23, 2012
    The speedy and safe removal of old or unwanted structures is made easier with modern, sophisticated equipment, Patrick Smith reports. The power and versatility of modern demolition tools and machines was demonstrated when a bridge was removed overnight as part of a motorway widening project.