In my 25 years working in the industry, I frequently hear the “true-or-false” questions about hydraulic attachments and I have to tell you: don’t sell your attachments short. Use them to their fullest. Hydraulic attachments offer range of uses, and it is not always about a hammer.
Aren’t hydraulic attachments best suited for demolition?
“Our large and small attachments can be used for installation of new utilities or for repairing older underground utilities, water lines, gas lines, electric cables, sewage, installation and extraction of form work, sheeting, pilings and posts. It’s surprising what applications and projects our Drum Cutters can do – from trench work, soil mixing, demolition and the list continues to grow.”
What makes attachments a good fit for these applications?
“The attachments are hydraulically operated and some have hydraulic rotation also to ease in positioning to be able to properly attack the project at hand. These attachments are typically installed on a carrier that can operate multiple different hydraulic attachments. We offer simple solutions to ensure that each attachment has the capabilities to do the tasks without modification. Easy axle bolt installation for extraction-use only prevents over stretching of the isolators.”
Can hydraulic attachments be useful on skid steers as well as excavators?
“We might be known for our HB Heavy breaker line because they have the highest weight-to-power ratio. But our small breakers stand up against any of the competition. Smaller carriers can get in and out of work environments and tighter spaces much easier than a large excavator. They can do fine work with the bonus of allowing workers to forego the use of manual jack hammers. Small attachments on a skid steer or mini excavator are a great option for a wide range of work.”
Are there any cautions in selecting an attachment?
“Make sure to get the appropriate model that fits your carrier. That may sound basic but check more than the weight. For instance, if you’ll be trenching, look at the plate width to match up with a typical trench size that is most common for you. Check the specific flow and pressure requirements so everything operates at its maximum performance.”
What are some trends?
“We are seeing more multiple-use attachments for compaction and extraction. Higher efficiency motors require less flow with no loss of performance and reduce fuel and maintenance costs, too.”
About the author
Rich Elliott is Product Manager – Epiroc Hydraulic Attachment Tools, North America. He thrives on understanding each customer segment and ensuring that our products meet their unique needs. Rich has been working in the construction, rock excavation and demolition industry for more than 20 years and has extensive experience with hydraulic attachment products, as well as technical and application knowledge.