“The aim is not only to reduce the time and cost of demolition projects, but also to reduce the environmental impact, says Kate Bester, Project and Contracts Manager at Jet Demolition. The company has an extensive fleet of 33 demolition excavators, ranging from 1.4t to a 102t high-reach excavator. High-reach excavators can reach up to several storeys high and can easily tear down high-rise buildings, bridges and other large structures. They are sufficiently robust to handle heavy loads and can be fitted with various attachments.
“The risk of personnel working at heights is one that every demolition company faces,” comments Kate. “Our specialised high-reach demolition excavator is compatible with our range of imported and proprietary demolition tools, enabling the safe and controlled demolition of tall structures, without exposing our personnel to risk.”
Backbone
Excavators are extremely versatile and form the backbone of Jet Demolition’s fleet. Telescopic handlers are ideal for handling materials and providing safe access to elevated structures. Skidsteer loaders are compact, versatile and can manoeuvre in constrained spaces and be fitted with various attachments to increase their flexibility. Front-end loaders focus on material handling, while tool master loaders are designed for specialised tasks. Rounding out the fleet are the standard rigid dump trucks and articulated dump trucks seen on any construction site.
“Our approach on a typical demolition project is to deploy different sized modified excavators according to the scope, spatial constrains and project duration,” explains Kate. For example, a demolition excavator may be equipped with a hydraulic hammer for concrete demolition, or a hydraulic shear might be called for to demolish steel structures. Mechanical grapples load scrap steel while buckets convey rubble generated by demolition activities.
Hydraulic shears
For larger industrial projects, Jet Demolition deploys boom extensions and pulling tools to safely demolish structures that are out of reach for conventional excavators. Hydraulic shears weighing up to 10t are used to process and demolish heavy steel members, avoiding conventional hot-work methods. Furthermore, hydraulically driven magnet attachments can recover small steel sections from rubble efficiently. “Our flexibility allows us to tackle unique challenges and optimise our demolition processes.”
What sets Jet Demolition apart is that it owns all its equipment. “We invest heavily in our fleet, and always have direct access to whichever item of equipment we require, without being dependent on external providers,” Kate concludes. Core equipment was traditionally replaced at the 6 000-hour mark, but advancements in technology and higher-quality consumables have extended machine retention up to 10 000 hours.
Technical foundation
Jet Demolition has been undertaking industrial demolition works since 1994, and is the leading, largest, and most technically advanced demolition company in Africa. It is a technically based company, with various staff members holding MSc, BSc, and BTech Degrees, as well as National Diplomas, in various engineering fields.
This expertise gives it the technical foundation to successfully engineer solutions for large and complex demolition projects, and furthermore fuels its drive to deliver quality projects safely. The company strives to offer its clients innovative and technical solutions to demanding demolition challenges.
