Skip to main content

Breaking at the face

Italian customer Marocca Group is using an Indeco HP18000 hydraulic breaker (the heaviest hydraulic breaker on the market at present) for primary demolition at a limestone quarry in Anagni, close to capital Rome. The 40ha quarry produces high grade limestone in 21 different sizes to meet an array of construction needs, and the bespoke fully automated crushing and screening plant is able to process over 500m³/hour of rock. By using the HP18000 in a primary winning application, Marocca Group has also been abl
July 16, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSSItalian customer Marocca Group is using an 237 Indeco HP18000 hydraulic breaker (the heaviest hydraulic breaker on the market at present) for primary demolition at a limestone quarry in Anagni, close to capital Rome.

The 40ha quarry produces high grade limestone in 21 different sizes to meet an array of construction needs, and the bespoke fully automated crushing and screening plant is able to process over 500m³/hour of rock.

By using the HP18000 in a primary winning application, Marocca Group has also been able to significantly reduce operating costs by minimising its use of explosives, which are costly and subject to strict regulations. Many quarry operators are keen to cut their reliance on blasting: this has been particularly apparent in Italy, where regulations have long been much tougher than in other European countries.
Comparative research carried out on rock produced from quarries using breakers for primary winning against blasted stone shows other benefits from using hydraulic hammers. Where breakers are used, the stone produced features less micro-cracking and is said to offer high performance in civil engineering applications as it is less likely to feature crack propagation.

The Marocca Group has been using Indeco breakers in its quarries for five years and in addition to the huge HP18000 it also has an HP2500, an HP7500 and an HP12000. Maintenance for its Indeco breakers is provided by Fratelli Alpassi, while for scheduled maintenance and periodic overhaul, the Bari plant also provides servicing.

The HP18000 is being used on a 120tonne 233 Hitachi excavator fitted with a Lenhoff quick coupler. The breaker is mounted on the quick coupler as Marocca also uses a ripper and a bucket on the excavator when required.

According to Marocca, the HP18000 is able to carry out the work of two mid-sized breakers, and it can break up the hardest blocks of materials, enabling it to clean each seam faster, a critical procedure for safety and for restoring the site.
RSS

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Hydraulic attachments increases the versatility of utility machines
    August 21, 2015
    Utility machines are designed to be highly versatile and able to handle a wide range of duties but using attachments can further broaden the array of capabilities - Mike Woof writes The utility equipment market is a diverse sector of the construction machinery business. These versatile machines can be used in a vast array of duties and are very popular in the rental equipment market. Skid steer loaders, compact tracked loaders, compact wheeled loaders, mini excavators, zero tailswing excavators, wheeled
  • Growth in a versatile workforce
    July 19, 2012
    Some of the biggest names in the construction industry have released innovative new utility machines and equipment in the first few months of 2012. Guy Woodford looks at some of the latest models To mark the 25th anniversary of the Bobcat compact excavaor range, the Doosan-owned company recently unveiled a new limited edition version of the Bobcat E16. The special 1.6 tonne model is said by the company to provide an attractive complement to the also new and enhanced versions of both the E16 and 1.4tonne E1
  • Asphalt plant innovations
    June 14, 2019
    New developments in asphalt plant technology are offering better cost efficiency and materials quality for the industry
  • Sand, gravel and asphalt, building Poland’s roads
    February 24, 2012
    A new quarry is producing top quality aggregates for Poland's massive road construction programme writes Claire Symes. Wakoz Beton's Glazica sand quarry in Poland is a major source of high quality sand and gravels for the Gdansk construction market. The site is modern and only opened in 2006 but Wakoz Beton has continued to invest in facilities to improve its efficiency and output quality. The installation of a CDE mobile washing plant at the site last year is allowing it to provide materials for concrete.