Rock splitter offers safer, quieter alternative to breakers and explosives
The C20 Rock Splitter, manufactured by Brokk's German sister company Darda, offers contractors a safe and quiet alternative to explosives and hydraulic breakers. It increases productivity in industries including mining, quarrying, tunneling, construction and demolition. Brokk featured the C20 Rock Splitter during CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017 in Las Vegas.
"We never stop looking for ways to improve safety with our machines," said Lars Lindgren, Brokk Inc.'s president. "Paired with a Brokk 280 demolition robot and counter weight, the C20 Rock Splitter allows our customers to split rock with all the speed and effectiveness of breakers and chippers, but without the noise, vibration and danger common with that type of equipment."
The C20 Rock Splitter comes in four models; two vertical options ranging from 64 to 72 inches (163 to 183 centimetres) long, as well as two horizontal options, from 70 to 83 inches (179 to 211 centimetres) long. Contractors can use the splitter with Brokk machines ranging in size from the new Brokk 280, if used with counterweights, and up.
The C20 Rock Splitter quickly breaks large boulders and solid rock in mining and shaft sinking applications as well as cross passage work in tunneling. Contractors drill a 3-inch diameter hole into the rock with a separate attachment before inserting the splitter. The attachment expands with as much as 1,800 tons of force, splitting the rock.
The method is quieter, safer and produces fewer vibrations and dust than breakers and explosives. It presents contractors with a productive alternative in areas where potentially disruptive demolition techniques are not allowed, such as near hospitals, plus it works faster than expanding demolition chemicals, which can take hours. It's also a safer alternative to handheld tools, such as pneumatic breakers, that produce heavy vibrations and can cause worker fatigue that leads to injuries over time.
The C20 Rock Splitter, when combined with a Brokk machine, allows labourers to work from a safe distance — typically 10 to 20 feet away — using a belt-mounted remote control box.
