High Demand for High-Reach Demolition Machine

After examining the new Cat® 340F UHD at Bauma 2016, T & M Abbruchtechnik was confident this Ultra High Demolition hydraulic excavator would be a hit with its rental customers — thanks to special demolition features like extended reach, a quick-change system for work tools and a safety-first cab.

“We specialize in the sale of work tools and the rental business with a focus on demolition, and we have extensive experience here,” says Gernot Tomaschäfsky, owner of T & M Abbruchtechnik, which was the first company in Germany to acquire the 340F UHD. “The new excavator fits in well with our rental portfolio.”

Plenty of reach, plenty of versatility

Demolishing tall structures requires a machine with plenty of reach, and the 340F UHD delivers for T & M Abbruchtechnik’s rental customers. Engineered specifically for high-reach demolition work, it features a 7.1-meter-long boom and a bucket bolt height of up to 21.7 meters. With a horizontal reach of 14 meters, the excavator can handle work tools up to 3.6 tonnes.

ENGINEERED SPECIFICALLY FOR HIGH-REACH DEMOLITION WORK, THE 340F UHD FEATURES A 7.1-METER-LONG BOOM AND A BUCKET BOLT HEIGHT OF UP TO 21.7 METERS. WITH A HORIZONTAL REACH OF 14 METERS, THE EXCAVATOR CAN HANDLE WORK TOOLS UP TO 3.6 TONNES.

In addition to demolition machines, T & M Abbruchtechnik rents the work tools required for the job — and the 340F UHD makes it easier for the company’s customers to take advantage of a wide range of available attachments. A hydraulic quick-change system lets the operator alternate between tools like hammers, demolition shears, sorting grapples, crushers or pulverizers without downtime.

“We want to offer our customers full flexibility when they’re working under deadline pressure, so they can professionally dismantle and dispose of everything from motorway bridges to heavily armored industrial buildings to high blocks of flats,” Tomaschäfsky says.

Safe and comfortable for operators

T & M Abbruchtechnik’s rental customers also appreciate that the 340F UHD is designed to help operators work safely and comfortably all shift long.

In high-reach operations, the cab tilts back so the operator can sit in the optimal ergonomic position, and an enlarged top window enhances upward visibility. Both the top window and the windshield are made of P5A reinforced glass, with parallel wipers to keep them clean. A standard rearview camera gives the operator a clear look at any objects or hazards behind the machine.

For additional safety, the 340F UHD features front and top falling object guard structures (FOGS), as well as the Cat active stability monitoring system — which continuously informs the operator of the work tool’s position within a safe working area. It also provides a warning if the machine approaches tipping limits.

Easy to move from site to site

Ease of transport is another big benefit of the 340F UHD. The machine’s long undercarriage (5040 mm of track on ground) is available in a variable gauge configuration. Retracted to 2390 mm, it’s ideal for transport — and extended to 2820mm, it offers excellent stability.

Converting the boom for transport is quick and easy, too, making it simple to move this long-front machine from one demolition site to another. The hydraulic quick-change system helps shorten set-up times on site as well.

A nationwide network of support

When service or repairs are needed, T & M Abbruchtechnik maintains a several-thousand-square-meter workshop and storage area for machines, work tools and spare parts at its headquarters in Kruft, in Germany’s Eifel region.

With the 340F UHD popular at customer sites across Germany, the company also knows it has a nationwide partner to rely on for support. Cat dealer Zeppelin operates a network of service facilities across the country and is standing by to ensure T & M Abbruchtechnik’s new excavator is always ready for rental — no matter where in the country it ends up working.