Attachments transform demolition robots into multi-purpose machines

A demolition robot using a drill attachment
From planers to rock drills to shotcrete guns, a demolition robot can become a true multi-purpose machine.

An arsenal of attachments allows demolition robots to take on any task

By Jeff Keeling, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Brokk Inc.

For interior and top-down demolition, many contractors rely on remote-controlled demolition robots. 

The machines provide impressive power-to-weight ratios and the smallest models fit through standard doorways and are light enough to transport using a passenger elevator, making them ideal for demolition in tight spaces. 

For optimum performance, manufacturers design their demolition robots starting from the tip of the breaker to calibrate hydraulic flow.

This increases efficiency and breaking capacity, but also results in less wear and tear on the carrier for a hardier unit overall. 

However, solely relying on a breaker is selling these machines short.

A range of attachments are available from manufacturers, allowing operators to tackle a variety of tasks, such as material handling, excavation, surface preparation and more. 

Selecting the right attachments is key to unlocking the full potential of these machines.

Here are four attachments to consider for optimum efficiency with remote-controlled demolition equipment:

Concrete crushers

Next to hydraulic breakers, crushers are probably the most common attachment used by demolition contactors. These attachments reduce noise and vibrations, so they can be used in several sensitive environments. 

Where breakers use force to knock down a wall, crushers simply chew up the concrete, leaving rebar exposed. To do this, crushers require access to an exposed edge of the structure being demolished, either on the top, side or end, in order to break it down. For top-down applications where noise and vibration constraints are primary concerns, crushers allow contractors to work during the day, in some cases without the neighbours even noticing. 

Recently, a Canadian contractor was able to remove 38 stories using crushers and remote-controlled demolition robots. The company’s primary focus was mitigating disruption to the local area with the dust and noise that accompanies any demolition project. After erecting a hoarding system around the top of the building, the demolition area was essentially hidden from the ground and neighbouring buildings.

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The contractor worked down through the building’s floors, systematically crushing concrete and cutting reinforcement steel. Working with two demolition robots, crews were able to complete one floor every three to four days, taking down the entire 38 stories in nine months. Curious residents, unable to see or hear what was going on, questioned if the project was actually progressing until the protective hoarding structures were removed and the top of the landmark structure had disappeared.

In addition to “silent demolition” crushers also make material handling easier. The resulting debris is a uniform size, and steel is separated for recycling during the initial demolition instead of having to remove it later. 

For maximum efficiency, pay attention to the jaw opening and crushing force. To easily take on concrete slabs measuring 44 to 56 cm thick, a crushing force from 44 to 54 tons is best. Wear-resistant, replaceable steel alloy crusher tips and cutter blades, as well as a full 360-degree rotation are also recommended. 

Metal and combi shears

Shears are another attachment that, when paired with demolition robots, may increase safety and productivity on a demolition jobsite. As with breakers, crushers and grapples, manufacturers have taken advantage of the maneuverability and precision available from demolition robots to optimize their shear attachments, reducing the need for larger crews and handheld torches in several applications. 

Due to floor load limits or other access restrictions for larger equipment, contractors have traditionally relied on handheld torches for metal cutting tasks on interior demolition projects. The use of hand tools for cutting concrete reinforcement, sprinklers, conduit, wire and cable comes with potentially life-threatening risks for workers. 

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Using a remote-controlled tool carrier with a shear attachment eliminates many of the associated risks. Shears pierce or cut through material, rather than burn through it like a torch. By removing heat from the equation, operators are also eliminating sparks, flying embers and fumes.

Additionally, compact demolition robots can access confined spaces and areas with low floor loads. Using shears in these situations offers a mechanical solution that keeps operators safely on the ground while providing a good view of the work area. 

Look for shears with a high power to weight ratio. This allows for optimal cutting power in a smaller package, making it easier to maneuver the shears in tight spaces. Additionally, a hydraulic 360-degree rotary drive provides pin-point accuracy. 

Multi-purpose grapples

Perhaps the most underutilized demolition attachment is the grapple. This versatile tool is ideal for soft demolition, separation and sorting applications. It can also be used for support tasks before, during and after the primary demolition. 

Grapples function like a rudimentary hand with two fingers and a thumb for pinching, pulling and sorting. When paired with a remote-controlled machine, the grapple can provide significant time and cost savings over manual demolition methods in tight, confined spaces. In many cases, it removes the need for harnessed workers on ladders or scaffolding. For example, the 

highly articulated attachment can be used to grasp structural elements such as drywall, ceiling sections, piping, steel drums and HVAC ducts, which the remote-controlled machine can then easily pull down. Remote operation also means workers can position themselves away from any falling debris while maintaining a good view of the work.

 Grapples are not just for demolition. Grapple attachments can also be used for lifting, moving and support during construction. Depending on the jaw opening and carrier size, these tools can lift materials up to 75-cm in diameter. When paired with a demolition robot with exceptional reach, this means operators can remain safely on the ground and out of the drop zone for a few overhead tasks. 

Additionally, once materials have been pulled down, the precision and flexibility of the remote-controlled demolition machine with the grapple attachment makes it easy to pick up and sort even small debris. 

Here again, jaw opening is important for overall productivity. Additionally, a 360-degree hydraulic rotation circuit should be considered for fast and accurate positioning. For picking, sorting and material handling, boltable grip plates allow operators to complete those tasks without switching attachments.

Buckets

Finally, no suite of robotic demolition attachments would be complete without a bucket or two. These multi-purpose tools increase efficiency for confined applications such as excavation, digging trenches, material handling, sorting, separating and loading debris.

Since they are primarily designed to optimize breakout forces for hammering above and in front of the machine, the demolition robots’ boom design provides ample power for digging in rocky soil and heavy clay. It also provides increased reach and maneuverability compared to most similar-sized mini excavators. 

As well, an innovative a three-part arm allows demolition robots  to work closer to the carrier body, minimizing the need to reposition. Compared to the two-part excavator boom, the demolition robot’s flexible three-part arm also requires less height to extend, making it ideal for confined spaces.

Most models only require 183 to 213 cm of height clearance for excavation, allowing operators to work in several situations with low overhead clearance, such as tunnels and utility applications. Smooth, precise movements and a remarkable range of motion mean operators can dig both toward and away from the machine by simply switching the direction of the bucket. 

Using a bucket and remote-control demolition robot also provides increased safety compared to an excavator. Remote-control operation keeps employees safely on the ground and outside the immediate work zone, protecting them from dust and flying debris. 

Manufacturers offer customized buckets to fit an operation’s specific needs for maximum efficiency.