New Method in Hydrodemolition
Clean Sweep Hydroblasting took on an enormous project at the tail end of last year. Not only was the job large in scale, but it required innovation and repeatability. With that in mind, we got to work establishing a new method in hydrodemolition. We are proud to present a brand new method of utilizing existing hydrodemolition technology to safely reach heights up to 120 feet! Read on to learn about how we invented this process and why it means to much to the field of hydrodemolition.
The Difficulties
Previous height restriction of hydrodemolition.
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Height:
When we agreed to do the full coating removal of a 7-story building, we knew that we would need to be creative. Typically, hydrodemolition robots are capable of reaching 20 to 30 feet. That’s not bad but we knew we could do better.
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Time Cost:
Moving the hydrodemolition robot and its accompanying scaffolding requires a lot of time to ensure everything and everyone stays safe in the process. Added time means added cost for everyone involved.
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Safety:
Every time scaffolding needs to be altered, there is added opportunity for injury. Our Hydrodemolition robots weigh thousands of pounds- moving them is no small feat. If we could create a method that didn’t involve continuous change, we could reduce the possibility of injuries.
The Solution
In order to solve all of the above-mentioned problems, we had to create an entirely new method of hydrodemolition. Over the course of three months, we created the first crane-connected hydrodemolition robot. Though the tinkering and perfecting took three months, we established a method that can perform hydrodemolition on 3000 square feet a day. Our new method can be set up in just 2 days and accomplish an extraordinary amount.
Hydrodemolition reaching new heights.
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Crane:
We solved the height problem by first separating the robot body from the tower, then having the crane support the tower. This seemingly simple solution required a lot of engineering but allows us to now reach heights as high as 120 feet. That’s 400% better than it was before!
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Time Saver:
Since the crane is able to maneuver the robot at heights of over 100 feet, the amount of scaffolding that needs to be used and moved has decreased substantially. A 2-day set-up may seem lengthy but is in fact much shorter than traditional scaffolding set-up. Not only that, we changed the Rotolance head to the head of an Aquacutter Ergo, a very small, very precise robot that we married to the frame of a highly capable Aquacutter 710. Precision and dependability? Yes please!
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Safer:
Due to the new pairing of machine parts and the lack of scaffolding dismantling, our new process is safer than ever. One smooth system that doesn’t require added manual labor keeps everyone at the jobsite protected from harm.
To Conclude
Clean Sweep Hydroblasting has established new methods of hydrodemolition, not only out of necessity but out of our drive to further this industry. With over 30 years of experience, we are always looking for ways to improve and progress the industry of hydroblasting and hydrodemolition.
At Clean Sweep, we believe strongly that hydrodemolition is essential in concrete projects and will only gain popularity as the world becomes more efficient and environmentally conscious. Each of our services, from coating removal to full hydrodemolition, is done with industry-leading expertise.
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