Indeco products serve up an ace at the Kooyong Tennis Club and the Rod Laver Arena
Kooyong Tennis Club and the Rod Laver Arena, two household names in Australia, recently underwent some restructuring – with Indeco products taking center stage once again.
Both jobs were carried out by City Circle Demolition & Excavation, one of Australia’s largest demolitio
n firms, and an Indeco Australia customer since 2016, which has a number of Indeco products in its fleet, such as shears, multiprocessors, multigrabs, pulverizers and hammers from the HP 150 to the HP 7000.
Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club
Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club is internationally renowned as the spiritual home of Australian tennis, havin
g hosted the very first Australian championships all the way back in 1927. And this was where the Australian Open was held from 1972 onwards, until the inauguration of Melbourne Park in 1988.
The refurbishment aimed to improve the facilities for members, such as extending the club house and building a new multi-story car park. The job
carried out by City Circle lasted around two months, and involved various hammers and an IRP 29 X for the demolition side, while an IMG 2300 and an IMG 2800 were employed for material handling and sorting.
Rod Laver Arena
Inaugurated in 1988, Melbourne Park is regarded as one of the temples of world sport. Originally kno
wn as Flinders Park, in 2000 the center court of Melbourne Park was renamed the Rod Laver Arena, to honor the outstanding career of one of tennis’s greatest champions, Rod Laver.
The modernization of the Rod Laver Arena is one stage in the Melbourne Park redevelopment project,
for which the federal government has set aside 972 million Australian dollars. The redevelopment will breathe new life into
Rod Laver Arena, delivering improved amenities for visitors, players and artists alike. The demolition and renovation works on five different floors will take a total of 5 years so as to enable various sports events, the Australian Open, concerts and othe
r entertainment events to take place throughout.
For such an ambitious project, City Circle required reliable, productive equipment such as Indeco hammers of various sizes, ISS shears, IMG MultiGrabs and the IMP 45 for demolishing some concrete suspension bridges.
ISS 5/7: a small, yet fast&furious hydraulic shear
The latest member of the hydraulic shear range, the mini ISS 5/7 is a must-have for operators working on demolition or recycling jobs using smaller carriers. Designed with the specific aim of reducing weight and thus increasing maneuverability, it can be used on carriers from 5 tons upwards in boommounted configuration or from 7 tons upward in bucket-mounted configuration.
Despite its compact size, it stands out for its excellent speed and cutting power, the result of an oversized cylinder and recycling valve, features which have earned it the nickname of fast&furious. Like its bigger sisters, it has four reversible and interchangeable cutters, and interchangeable guide blade and a latest-generation piercing tip.
IMH mulching heads – a radical change for all of the models in the range
Without doubt one of Indeco’s most eyecatching innovations at this spring’s trade fairs is the radical makeover of the IMH series of mulching heads, which have a completely new look and substance. Starting from the new more compact, ergonomic design, which gives better overall visibility to the operator, and simplifies access to all parts which might require ins
pection, such as motor, hydraulic connections and bushings. Additional teeth have been added in a new pattern and profile, greatly increasing the efficiency of the unit versus its predecessors. The larger models are multiple V-belt driven, whereas the sm
aller ones feature direct drive.
The cutting system has been completely revamped, with interchangeable teeth in special steel, that are far more efficient and practical than either swinging hammers or the expensive tungsten carbide tips used by many of our competitors. Changes have been made to the size of the teeth, the cutting angle and the layout on the drum of the tooth holders, which now makes all land and forest clearing applications faster and more efficient compared with its predecessors, not least because of the ease and low costs involved in replacing the teeth.
Indeco attachments in action in the Melbourne subway
Indeco hammers of all sizes, multiprocessors and pulverizers all help excavate a new station
The Metro Tunnel – also known as the Melbourne Metro Rail Project – is a metropolitan rail infrastructure project that will make a significant difference to mobility in the city of Melbourne, Australia. The project involves the construction of twin 9-kilometre rail tunnels between South Kensington station (north west of the Melbourne City Centre) and South Yarra (in the south east) with five new underground stations.
Work began in 2016, and then in 2017 sections of Melbourne’s Central Business District (or CBD) were closed for demolition work, to make way for the construction of the tunnel and new stations. This area includes City Square, where the CBD South station known as Town Hall Station will be built, and where Indeco products were used to demolish buildings and
underground parking to make room for the new station.
The demolition was entrusted to City Circle Demolition and Excavation, a Melbourne based company founded in 1981, specializing in excavations, demolition and recycling. Critical issues include the lack of space available and the noise limitations imposed in the Central Business District during working hours. The company therefore started off using small hammers and excavators to create the entrance and thereafter used larger excavators equipped according to the job at hand, either with an Indeco multi-processor or with a hammer, working for about 8 months on 8-hour work shifts. City Circle became an Indeco customer in 2016 and since then has purchased several products from Indeco Australia, which has been supplying the local market since 1993. Their fleet is currently made up of eight breakers, three of which are small (HP 150, HP 500, HP 700), three medium (HP 1200, HP 1500, HP 2500) and two large (HP 3500 and HP 7000), plus three multiprocessors (one IMP 15 in shear configuration, one IMP 35 and one IMP 45) and an IRP 29 X rotating pulverizer. “We are familiar with several Indeco products, their hammers, pulverizers, multiprocessors and shears” say Peter and Tim Skidmore, respectively director and manager of City Circle Demolition and Excavation “Indeco products are always good performers and guarantee excellent production. What’s more, their commercial and technical support are second to none, which is crucial when we have tight deadlines to meet”.
Indeco Breakers – Giving Flinders Street Station A Face Lift
Flinders Street Station is among Australia’s and Melbourne’s most recognisable landmarks. The terminus was the first city railway station in Australia and is the best-known railway station in the country. Over the years, Flinders Street Station has become a famous Melbourne landmark, emerging as a symbol of Victoria’s capital city and is an institution in the daily routine of nearly a quarter of a million people.
This is why the reconstruction of dual tram tracks on the corners of Flinders and Swanston Streets was always going to be difficult. This project required the closure of Melbourne’s busiest intersection to enable the replacement of old worn tram tracks and roadway with new infrastructure including electrical conduits, cable pitts and crossovers. Timing was also critical and the job needed to be done fast. This work was crucial to ensure the safety and reliability of Melbourne’s train and tram network system that carries millions of commuters annually in Australia’s second biggest City.
Coleman Rail was formed in 2002 to undertake construction and maintenance contracting in light rail and related activities in Australia, South East Asia and New Zealand; with sub-contractors also employed to carry out demolition and construction work on all major projects. For this assignment, Coleman Rail was the major contractor employed to break out the old tram tracks and out-dated infrastructure, but due to the strict guidelines for Melbourne’s Tram and Road system, reconstruction work had to be carried out over an extremely stringent period of time. They also faced substantial fines if the project was not completed on time.
For this reason up to seven excavators and different contractors were employed to get the job done – and when they turned up, ALL were equipped with an Indeco Rock Breaker. With productivity crucial to getting the job done on time, all contractors were determined to set high standards and quickly set about breaking up the road and tracks. Casabene Excavations and Drainage were one of the major sub-contractor employed, and are also one of the largest Indeco customers in Australia. Located in the Western Suburbs of Victoria, Casabene’s run a fleet of twenty three Indeco Rock Breakers, ranging from HP 150 for small domestic work up to HP 7000 for deep trenching projects. Pip Casabene formed a relationship with Indeco Australia in 1995 and has complimented his excavator fleet with Indeco Rock Breakers for drainage and excavation work in Melbourne ever since.
Working along side each other, each contractor compared notes on their Indeco breakers, but more importantly were successful in meeting the stringent deadline to complete one of the most vital projects the footsteps of Flinders street has seen.
Indeco – Partners In Major Expansion Of Melbourne Airport
One of the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the double-decker Airbus A380, has forced a major redevelopment of Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport. Melbourne has already spent $220 million and is spending another $330 million on upgrading its airstrips and terminals.
Although the Airbus, with its 30-metre-wide wheelbase, can operate on some standard 45-metre-wide runways, many runways around the world – including Melbourne’s – have had to be widened. In Melbourne’s case, the runway had been widened 15 metres – 7.5 metres each side – for a new total width of 60 metres. The widening was done as with accompanying work on the tarmac, taxiways and parking spaces for the aircraft, as well as a major expansion of terminal buildings to cope with increased traffic.
Armstrong Construction was one contractor employed for the removal and replacement of the tarmac. A civil engineering contractor since 1975, Armstrong’s specialise in all aspects of pipeline works: sewer, water, drainage and gas. For over 35 years, they have undertaken construction works for all major water companies, regional water and sewerage authorities, local government, statutory authorities, land developers and other private clients.
With a fleet of existing Indeco breakers, Armstrong’s quickly put their Indeco HP9000’s to work. While the tarmac proved no problem for the HP9000, the timing to complete the runway widening and breaking of new rock was once again significant. Impressed with their existing HP9000’S, Armstrong’s also decided to add a bigger HP12000 to their fleet. The project provided an unusual backdrop to the usual sites around Melbourne, but the main obstacle this time wasn’t the rock, but rather the heavy schedule of planes circling the surrounding runways.
As well as Indeco hammers, an Indeco IFP1250 Pulverizer was also used in the redevelopment and demolition of the terminal buildings, by contractors G and M Aldridge. This was the first Indeco pulverizer purchased by Aldridge but has been working constantly since being contracted. Stage 1 of the terminal redevelopment is just one part of a five-year expansion plan for Melbourne Airport that represents one of the largest infrastructure investments undertaken in Victoria over that period, with approximately 1000 people employed in its construction.
The expansion plans represent the largest upgrade to Melbourne Airport’s facilities since it was built in the 1960s. With 27,450 tonnes of concrete, 2000 tonnes of steel, 20km of cabling, 15km of hydroponic heating pipes, 5900 square metres of tiling and 3800 square metres of glass being used in the expansion, the Indeco pulverizers and other equipment have been kept extremely busy but kept up to the high demand.
Indeco’s Testing Improves Productivity And Reliability
Elfie’s Plant Hire owner David Alford has been contracted by BORAL for approximately 10 years for secondary breaking requirements at their Colac Quarry. Equipped with Indeco HP5000 and 9000 whisper breakers, they have proved to be very productive and successful.
With Indeco’s constant pursuit to improve performance and reliability, David has also been testing the new ABF ( anti-blank firing ) system and range of retaining axles specifically in secondary breaking applications. His testing over a period of nearly two years has now enabled Indeco to provide customers with a proven and far superior product.
“The introduction of the Indeco Anti blank firing (ABF) system has been a huge development” said Elfie. “I have always been happy with the productivity and power of my Indeco’s, but the ABF has without a doubt helped improve the reliability and wear and tear on my hammers. It has been fantastic and will certainly prolong the life of my equipment”.
The ABF system eliminates the necessity to install a dump valve on the return to tank oil line in certain applications. Without the ABF system, oil in the line can fire the Rock Breaker after it has broken through the rock, resulting in blank firing. If this happens regularly, it can have a detrimental effect on the life of the breaker.
Elfie has also found with the improved components and ABF fitted to the Indeco larger breakers, maintenance of his hammers has been significantly reduced. “The improvements in turn have actually increased my productivity and have enabled me to maximise the breaker to its full potential” said Elfie.
Indeco also believe that they have also developed the optimum retaining axle for increased longevity and reliability. Having the right combination of specially selected metal and heat treatments has significantly extended the working life of the retaining axles in a secondary breaking application. This has also reduced maintenance costs and possible downtime in a quarry application, again where blank firing has been a major concern.
Another improvement has seen Indeco equip automatic greasing units on their breaker fleet enabling them to be easily fitted to excavators that don’t have an existing greasing system. This has also been very successful, saving the operator from manually greasing the breaker, guaranteeing chisel lubrication as well as preventing premature wear on the top and bottom bush. “Anything that saves me time or can help with the maintenance of my hammer has to be a good thing” says Elfie. “and we couldn’t agree more.
Indeco HP12000 Breaks New Ground
Indeco Australia continues to break new ground with its HP12000, the biggest hydraulic breaker on the Australian market today. Standing 4 meters high and weighing in at 7.8 tonne, this monster has a 215mm chisel and a power rating of 18,900 joules; a destructive potential that is far and away the best of any breaker on today’s market.
Despite its size, the Indeco HP12000 is still extremely versatile, achieving a strike rate up to 550 blows per minute. While the market has seen an influx of “so called” innovations that have brought no real advantages with them, Indeco have concentrated on what really matters to the customer. Performance, reliability and running costs. How much the breaker actually yields.
One happy customer currently using the Indeco HP12000 is Azzona Drainage Contractors. Established in 1980, Azzona is a well respected market leader in the civil construction industry, specialising in a diverse range of projects from earthworks to sewer and stormwater drain construction. With over 28 years experience, Azzona has constructed thousands of kilometres of pipelines throughout Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs. They have worked extensively on new estate developments in the Northern and Western Suburbs to the current excavation at Laurimer Estate in Doreen.
Ezio Di Giandomenico from Azzona has been operating the Indeco HP12000 and has been very impressed by what he’s seen. “The rock here has been really hard, but the Indeco hammer has handled it without any problem at all” said Ezio. “Normally with rock this hard we would have needed to pre-drill and blast it, but not with the new breaker”. As well as its performance, Azzona have also been amazed by the increased productivity of the HP12000. “The work rate has increased dramatically; it has taken the new Indeco hammer one week to do what our previous big breaker would have taken one month to do.” said Ezio. “It has significantly increased our productivity which in turn has lead to a huge saving in both time and money”.
In addition to the HP12000, Azzona is also operating a fleet of other Indeco equipment including 14 rock breakers and 5 compaction plates. “We’ve had Indeco hammers for years. We know how good they are and they’ve never let us down” says Ezio. “As well as the performance, Indeco’s back up and service is also excellent”.
Indeco’s development of the HP12000 breaker is another example of the company’s commitment to introducing truly innovative products that bring real advantages to their customers. But a high quality product still needs to be equally complemented with high levels of service, support and back-up; and this has been the real key to Indeco’s long established and continued success in Australia.
Indeco Crusher Mounted
Indeco have designed, manufactured and installed a Hydraulic Power Pack, Arm Assembly and Breaker for Hanson Quarry, Hobart. This unit can be operated from the safety of the operators cabin using electric joy stick controls.
The unit was specifically designed for this installation to enable the Breaker to reach into the crusher as well as clear any blockages on the feeder or in the hopper.
Indeco fitted the latest series HP 700 Whisper Breaker offering exceptional power with reduced sound levels.
Hanson chose Indeco having operated an Indeco 5000 Breaker on their 30 tonne excavator for 5 years.
The Indeco 5000 have proved its productivity and reliability in this extremely hard rock which proves that in extremely hard rock Indeco’s automatic power and speed variation boosts production which other competitive Breakers cannot match.