Demolition tool

Demolition tool refers to all hydraulic and mechanical equipment used in the deconstruction of structures, in rock excavation and in tunnel construction to cut, crush or split materials. This includes in particular concrete pulverizers, stone and concrete splitters, combi shears, multi cutters, steel shears, tank cutters as well as supplementary hydraulic power units. In professional use, the precise selection of the tool determines occupational safety, the construction process, emissions, and the quality of the recovered materials.

Definition: What is meant by demolition tool

A demolition tool is a working device that introduces forces in a controlled manner into components or rock to split, cut, or crush them. It is operated on carrier machines such as excavators, cranes or cutting stands, or handheld (e.g., with compact splitting cylinders). Typical operating principles are hydraulic splitting (stone and concrete splitters, rock splitting cylinders), pressing and breaking (concrete pulverizers) and cutting (steel shears, combi shears, multi cutters, tank cutters). Hydraulic power packs provide the power supply when no onboard hydraulics are available or when specific pressure/flow characteristics are required.

Types and operating principles

Demolition tools differ by the type of force transmission, the target material, and the intended effect (splitting, cutting, crushing). The most important types are:

Splitting tools for low-vibration demolition

• Stone and concrete splitters: Hydraulically actuated wedge or cylinder systems generate high splitting forces in the borehole. Advantageous for concrete demolition and special demolition in sensitive areas, as they cause low vibration levels and low noise.
• Rock splitting cylinders: Specially sized for natural rock; ideal for rock demolition and tunnel construction as well as in natural stone extraction. They enable controlled separation joints without overbreak.

Crushers and shears for concrete and metal

• Concrete pulverizers: Crush and reduce reinforced concrete. The rebar is exposed and can be severed with integrated cutting edges. High productivity in concrete demolition and special demolition.
• Combi shears: Universal tools for reducing concrete and cutting sections; useful when the material spectrum changes or for strip-out and cutting of heterogeneous components.
• Multi cutters: Flexible geometries for mixed construction materials (sheet, lines, light reinforcement). Efficient during strip-out in buildings when selective deconstruction is required.
• Steel shears: Designed for massive steel, sections, beams, and thick-walled members. They cut rebar bundles, beams, and pipelines in industrial demolition work.
• Tank cutters: For the safe cutting of vessels, tanks, and pipelines. Used during strip-out and cutting as well as in special applications when controlled separation cuts on thin- to medium-walled steel vessels are required.

Hydraulic power packs as the power source

Hydraulic power packs supply pressure and flow when tools cannot be operated from the excavator hydraulics or when a special hydraulic characteristic is required (e.g., for compact splitters indoors). Important factors are sufficient oil throughput, stable pressure control, temperature management, and suitable hose lengths for the place of use.

Applications and suitable tools

Concrete demolition and special demolition

• Concrete pulverizers for breaking walls, slabs, foundations; exposing and cutting reinforcement.
• Stone and concrete splitters for low-vibration deconstruction in vibration-sensitive environments (attachment-free operation possible; low dust with suitable measures).
• Combi shears and multi cutters for mixed components and switching between concrete and metal content.

Strip-out and cutting

• Multi cutters for lines, sheet, light sections and components with varying material thicknesses.
• Tank cutters for vessel walls, shafts and pipes with defined separation cuts.
• Combi shears for quick switching between size reduction and cutting.

Rock excavation and tunnel construction

• Rock splitting cylinders and stone and concrete splitters for controlled, blast-free rock removal, including confined sections.
• Concrete pulverizers in tunnel construction for secondary breakouts, conversions, and the removal of concrete linings.

Natural stone extraction

• Rock splitting cylinders for clean block recovery with minimal cracking.
• Stone and concrete splitters for precise splitting sequences along planned borehole rows.

Special applications

• Stone and concrete splitters in heritage projects, hospitals or labs where noise and vibration must be minimized.
• Tank cutters for sensitive dismantling of vessels; in practice combined with coordinated protective measures.

Choosing the right demolition tool

Selection follows the material, the environment, and the emission limits at the place of use. Key criteria are:

• Material and member thickness (concrete strength, rebar content, rock quality, steel grades).
• Carrier machine (weight class, hydraulic drive power, reach, mounting interface).
• Tool performance indicators: cutting or splitting force, jaw opening, cycle time, oil flow, operating pressure.
• Emission requirements: vibration, noise, dust; splitting technology is usually particularly low in vibration.
• Deconstruction objective: selective removal, reuse/recycling, minimization of secondary breakage.

Technique and workflow

Concrete pulverizer in structured deconstruction

1. Survey of existing conditions: check structural system, rebar layout, and load paths for temporary states.
2. Isolation of utilities: lines, cables, systems safely switched off.
3. Create relief cuts or openings to enable controlled breaking.
4. Apply the concrete pulverizer, reduce the component step by step; cut rebar with the cutting edges.
5. Source-separated sorting of the fractions (concrete, steel) for recycling.

Stone and concrete splitter in interior applications

1. Plan drilling patterns: adapt hole diameter, depth, and grid to member thickness and the desired fracture line.
2. Drill and clean the holes and insert the splitter centrally.
3. Hydraulic pressurization: increase splitting force in a controlled manner until cracks form.
4. Remove the loosened segments, repeat along the planned line.
5. Accompany with suitable dust and noise reduction measures.

Performance indicators and calculation notes

For practical work, the following indicators are decisive:

• Splitting force in kN: determines the maximum achievable crack propagation; to be considered together with borehole spacing and material strength.
• Cutting force in kN: decisive for separating rebar, structural steel sections and sheet.
• Oil flow and operating pressure: influence cycle time and sustained force; hydraulic power packs must be sized appropriately.
• Opening width/jaw gape: limits member dimensions that can be gripped without pre-cutting.

Emissions, safety and health protection

Demolition work requires a careful hazard analysis. Principles:

• Minimize vibration: prefer splitting technology when the structure, neighboring buildings or sensitive systems must be protected.
• Reduce noise through tool choice, work sequence and damping.
• Limit dust through extraction, water mist or adapted methods; pay particular attention to concrete with quartz content.
• Control cut and crushing hazards at crushers and shears through safety distances and training.
• When working on vessels and pipelines with tank cutters, upstream inspection and safeguarding measures are standard; the specific approach follows applicable rules and is defined project-specifically.

Material separation and recycling

Selective deconstruction increases the quality of the fractions. Concrete pulverizers support rebar exposure, enabling source-separated concrete and steel. Splitters produce large, low-contaminated concrete pieces or natural stone blocks with defined edges. This improves processing, recycling rate and logistics.

Maintenance and operation

• Wear parts such as blades, teeth, and wedges should be inspected and rotated/replaced in good time.
• Hydraulic care: monitor filters, oil condition, tightness and hose protection; operate power packs within the permissible temperature range.
• Grease mechanics and pin/bolt connections regularly and check for play.
• Function check of safety and shut-off devices before the start of each shift.

Typical failure patterns and how to avoid them

• Unsuitable tool choice (e.g., shears in heavily reinforced head regions) leads to higher loads; concrete pulverizers or pre-splitting sequences can help.
• Excessive borehole spacing during splitting causes uncontrolled crack paths; adapt the grid to member strength.
• Insufficient oil flow prolongs cycle times and reduces forces; size hydraulic power packs correctly.
• Poor dust control increases health risks and wear; plan suitable mitigation measures.

Planning and documentation

Thorough planning includes component surveys, method selection, emission concepts, and the definition of work sequences for each area of application. For concrete demolition and special demolition, combinations of concrete pulverizers and stone and concrete splitters have proven effective to balance structural quality, schedule certainty, and material separation. In natural stone extraction and rock excavation, splitting cylinders allow predictable fracture edges, while in industrial demolition work steel shears, tank cutters and combi shears support the controlled separation of metallic structures.