What is the maximum reach of a long reach excavator?

In the world of construction and heavy machinery, efficiency, versatility, and precision play pivotal roles in the success of various projects. Among the diverse arsenal of equipment available, the ability to extend the reach of operations without the necessity of relocating the machinery itself is not just an advantage; it&#;s often a project requirement. Enter the long reach excavators, the undisputed titans of the construction realm, designed to stretch the boundaries of what&#;s possible in construction and excavation work.

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Renowned for their elongated arms and booms, long reach excavators stand out for their remarkable ability to perform tasks that lie beyond the reach, quite literally, of their standard counterparts. These mechanical behemoths are engineered to maximize reach and depth without compromising on the stability and efficiency that construction projects demand. Whether it&#;s dredging rivers, demolishing buildings from a safe distance, or excavating sites with difficult access, long reach excavators are the go-to choice for contractors and construction companies.

&#;Just how far can a long reach excavator reach?&#; This is a fundamental consideration for project planning and execution. The answer to this question can influence decisions regarding the selection of equipment for specific tasks, project timelines, and even the overall approach to a construction or excavation project.

Type of excavator

A long reach excavator[1] is a type of excavator where the arm has been extended to reach farther than a normal excavator would. It is often used in demolition of buildings, but it can also be used in other applications.

History

The term long reach excavator was probably first coined by Richard Melhuish, the Chairman of Land & Water. During the s Land & Water operated the UK's first hire fleet of these new and innovative long reach hydraulic excavators. In fact they still operate the largest fleet of long-reaches in the UK. Land & Water's first long reach excavator was the Hymac 580 BT All Hydraulic 360 &#;Waterway&#; machine, designed for work on waterways.[2] These early machines from Hymac came to be widely preferred to the more traditional drag lines designs.[2]

Around the same time Priestman (and later Ruston Bucyrus) VC (Variable Counterweight) excavators started to become more popular. However, the work VC machines could achieve was slightly constrained by design limitations compared to fully hydraulic "long reach" machines, especially with the arrival of more reliable machines from Japan built by manufacturers such as Hitachi and Komatsu. These Japanese designed machines hardly ever leaked hydraulic fluid.[2]

Applications

Long reach machines are not suitable for the high side twisting forces that can be exerted by demolition attachments and many demolition machines are unstable at large radius &#; so they are often assisted with electronic cut off devices that restrict the operating radius of the machine. Long reach machines are particularly useful in dredging operations.[2]

Related machines

The high reach excavator is a development of the excavator with an especially long boom arm, that is primarily used for demolition. Instead of excavating ditches, the high reach excavator is designed to reach the upper stories of buildings that are being demolished and pull down the structure in a controlled fashion. It has largely replaced the wrecking ball as the primary tool for demolition.

Ultra high reach demolition excavators (UHD) are demolition excavators with several tens of meters of reach.[3][4] Reaches of up to 48 metres (157 ft) are in operation as of . As of there are UHD machines that can reach 67 metres (220 ft).

Trivia

The long reach excavator imported to New Zealand for demolitions of tall buildings following the and earthquakes has been nicknamed Twinkle Toes. It is the largest excavator in the Southern Hemisphere.[5][6]

References