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Safer repairs

New generation concrete repair tools offer major safety benefits over earlier systems. Minnich Manufacturing says that its new concrete dowel drill delivers high productivity and a safer working environment on concrete patching jobs.
February 14, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
New generation concrete repair tools offer major safety benefits over earlier systems. 286 Minnich Manufacturing says that its new concrete dowel drill delivers high productivity and a safer working environment on concrete patching jobs. These provide far greater output than the slow, hand-held units used before, while operator comfort has also been greatly improved. As well as being more productive, new generation machines are now chassis-mounted, with wheels for mobility. This has last feature boosted both accuracy and productivity, by reducing the effort level required by the operator and these improved tools also have better ergonomics, making them easier to work with for long shifts. Concrete patching contractors no longer have to spend hours crouching or kneeling down while trying to guide a hand-held drill. In addition, the newer models transmit far less vibration to the user, reducing the risk of hand/arm injuries.

Modern hydraulic and pneumatic equipment is often remotely controlled, which further boosts safety as an operator can stand in a spot that affords a good field of view as well as being in a position of safety and away from live traffic or in the cab of the transport vehicle for instance. This technology also means that only one person is required to operate the equipment, as there is no longer a need for someone to locate the drill. As the operator can use the equipment while standing at a safe distance or in a machine cab and as manufacturers now fit effective dust extraction systems, the risk posed by concrete dust is eliminated.

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