The Atlas Copco heavy-duty high performance Combi Cutter and Multi Grapple are the silent demolition tools of choice for the TW Group in Secunda, Mpumalanga.

According to CEO Billy Te Water, the Group has been using the Atlas Copco CC 2500 and CC 3300 Combi Cutters since 2014. Impressed with the performance of the equipment, the company ordered a third Combi Cutter (CC 1700) as well as an MG Multi Grapple from Atlas Copco in October 2015.

The TW Group started as a family business with farming as its main activity. After purchasing trucks to serve the farming’s transport needs and thereafter machines to handle the materials, the business rapidly expanded in to different sectors in the construction industry.  The company’s strong focus on and close involvement in the construction industry, opened even more doors; TW Stene, a brick works, was established in 2006 and a neighbouring asphalt plant was purchased two years later. According to Billy, moving into the earthworks and civil construction sectors was thus simply a natural progression. “Yet again our fleet of materials handling equipment that we had been steadily building equipped us to meet these market needs.”

“We do not make use of rental equipment and believe in keeping good stock to ensure that we have the right machine or equipment to meet any job requirement,” continues Billy. “So whenever we see quality equipment available at a good price, we buy. We also have the facilities and acumen to build some of our own equipment. When the construction industry opened the door to industrial demolition and rehabilitation, we saw a perfect opportunity to add value with our demolition equipment - enter the Atlas Copco Multi Grapple and Combi Cutters.”Atlas Copco’s range of purpose-built silent demolition hydraulic tools covers the whole demolition process, from breaking and crushing to downsizing, cutting, sorting, cleaning and loading. These tools make light work of reinforced and non-reinforced concrete, steel structures, etc. while respecting the working environment through minimised noise and vibration during demolition work. “Our silent demolition tools combine high and constant cutting forces, short cycle times and high availability and turn mechanised demolition into a fast, cost effective and precision process to ensure sustainable productivity for our customers,” says Amanda Roets, Area Sales Manager for Atlas Copco Construction Technique.

The Atlas Copco MG Multi Grapple is designed and engineered to handle light demolition work such as soft masonry, brickworks, roofs, and wooden structures but is equally efficient at sorting and loading demolished materials. The tool offers a low operating weight with high gripping volume to deliver maximum loading operation and high gripping force for increased demolition performance. “The rotation ability of this versatile tool makes it a winner,” states Billy. “It can grip like a hand, grab a lot of material at a time, pull soft materials like masonry apart and even effectively extract cables from the ground. In addition, we can set the Multi Grapple to remove soft masonry in one go without pulverising which facilitates materials removal and loading. This demolition tool is all about speed, efficiency, safety and productivity for our business.”

The powerful Atlas Copco Combi Cutter can be used for practically any kind of heavy duty industrial demolition work. The robust tool’s bigger bite and high force enables it to cut rebar and steel profiles. The cutting jaws and wear parts are quickly and easily replaced on site to minimise downtime. The CC Combi Cutter range is available in eight models ranging in weight from 320 to 6.500 kg.

The company is intensely focused on safety and Billy says that mechanical demolition is the answer for this dangerous work as it keeps people away from the danger areas. “Quality, reliable high performance equipment with the required capabilities to do the job, operated by trained and skilled personnel ensures fast, efficient, productive and above all, safe demolition.”

Billy confirms that he deals with Atlas Copco because it is one of very few reputable suppliers that can offer a fully comprehensive after-market service and back-up. “Dealing with agents who only represent a brand is extremely risky because when you require parts or service a few years on, you often find that they are no longer in business.” When it comes to equipment quality and reliability, Billy believes that there can be no compromise. “The two go hand in hand. Our equipment is not used every day but when we need the tool to work, it must work well. Atlas Copco’s quality equipment is surpassed only by their equally high service levels and this ultimately gives me peace of mind.”

Bulk and demolition pulverizers, bucket crushers and hydro magnets as well as a range of lubricants and fluids complete Atlas Copco Construction Technique’s range of equipment for the silent demolition and recycling industries. Atlas Copco finance packages are also available to assist customers with their capital equipment purchases.