Hyundai CE sees growth potential in demolition

The new HX520A HRD excavator for demolition was part of the line up shown to the European press at a recent event in Belgium.

According to Hyundai, it offers customers the versatility of three machines in one, as it can be used with a conventional earthmoving front end, with a straight demolition boom or as a 27 m working height, demolition rig.

The 52-tonne base machine represents Hyundai’s first in-house created high-reach excavator developed in cooperation with Dutch demolition specialist STC.

Sanho Shin, CEO of Hyundai Europe

Speaking to Demolition & Recycling International, Mr Shin said, “We decided to focus on these specialised applications to drive further growth in the heavy equipment segment,” adding that more was to come.

He continued, “This is the right time to look for additional growth opportunities, particularly in areas that, I would say, Chinese players cannot easily access.

“These specialised applications require a very high level of technology and product development. As part of this strategy, we have already launched some material handlers, and we are planning to introduce additional types in the future.”

The new HX520A HRD uses a modular quick boom connect system with hydraulically operated locking for easy changing between layouts as well as transport racks for both booms and exchangeable bushings.

It sits on a hydraulically adjustable undercarriage that retracts to 3,000 mm for transportation and extends out to 4,000 mm for high reach work.

The operator’s cab can be tilted through 30 degrees to provide an improved view of the working area at height and is equipped with emergency lowering valves.

A camera can be installed on the demolition boom to give the operator a closer view of the working area and a load management indicator (LMI) provides safe working load data in all boom configurations, with an overload warning and an over pressure warning.

A dust suppression system can be supplied, with water pumps and nozzles, for the demolition boom applications.

In ultra-high reach demolition work, the HX520A HRD is equipped with a 13,250 mm main boom, a 2,700 mm middle arm and a 9,500 mm dipper. This combination provides a maximum pin height of 27 m and a forward reach of up to 16 m.

The demolition excavator configuration has a working load of up to 3 tonnes to include a 230 kg quick coupler and a 295 kg adapter plate. When used as an earthmoving excavator, the machine uses a 7,300 mm main boom and a 3,380 mm dipper arm.

The main boom is available in straight and traditional mono boom. Bucket cylinder protection is available in both layouts.

The 50-60 tonne sector and the 60-70 tonne sector are the most active in the European demolition market according to Hyundai, which says it will “increasingly offer a range of dedicated machines for various sectors of the market, working in cooperation with specialists and with customers, to deliver machines that match the market requirement.”