by MARY M. COX
Manufacturer List
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In the often intricate business of construction and demolition (C&D), it is certainly prudent to acquire the equipment that will complete a job in the most efficient manner possible. One piece of equipment that is often involved in the C&D process is the portable shear. The shear is a powerful assistant to the user and there are quite a few factors to consider when choosing the type of shear that will be most appropriate for any given application.
“When purchasing an attachment, there can be many challenges involved, especially if there are limitations in the flexibility of the product. Not all manufacturers build adaptability and mounting flexibility into their products like we do,” said Sal LaCorte, scrap and demolition products sales manager, Allied Construction Products. The company offers the AMS Series of mobile shears.
LaCorte suggests that buyers consider ease of maintenance and lowering operational “life” costs when purchasing attachments. “Allied has addressed these factors in the AMS Series by simplifying the consumable blades system and by increasing the durability of the overall structure to handle higher lifetime duty cycles. To learn what is needed in an attachment, we listened to advice provided by end-users. The result of that allows us to offer the best product in the market place.”
LaCorte offered these tips when selecting any attachment: 1) Choose the correct attachment for the job. Properly size the attachment to the carrier to be used. 2) Properly set-up the auxiliary circuits to the manufacturer’s flow and pressure specifications. 3) Provide the operators with training and manuals so they understand the carrier, attachment, maintenance intervals and signs of incorrect operation and premature failures. Seek training and advice from the manufacturer on operations, safety and service requirements. 4) Know the substances contained in the materials being handled. Know what your carrier and attachment is capable of processing before you start the job. 5) Prior to operation, survey the job and materials to be processed. If possible, sort the material prior to operation to avoid processing of material that is incorrect or too large. 6) Daily maintenance increases accuracy of clearances for blades and knives.
Iron Ax recently introduced a new shear to the market. “The name of the product is Big Mouth, due to the larger jaw opening in relation to the shear’s weight, when compared to any other shear we have ever built.,” said John Kitchens, vice president.
“This shear has a unique blade design that sets it apart from all other shears being produced in America. All the blades are the same size. It uses 12 of these blades, and the piercing tip is in two pieces. These two pieces are symmetrical and can be used from either side or either end, and allows a user to flip the tip without rebuilding it. This is a huge advantage and greatly reduces downtime. Also, there is a spacer at the point of the tip that keeps material from entering in between the two halves of the tip. Each of the symmetrical blades provides eight cutting edges per blade. This shear has been tested in our operation for the past year and has proven to be much lower in cost to operate and superior in performance, when compared to any other product on the market. The new, patent-applied-for design of the Big Mouth will also set this shear apart from any similar products now offered,” Kitchens said.
Iron Ax owns and operates five scrap yards. They’ve been in the scrap business for 45 years and have been producing shears since the 1980s. “Over 20 years ago we started making products for use in our scrap operation. It was a natural transition to introduce our products in the marketplace. We are in the exact same business that our customers are, and we know what they need to get the job done. It gives us a very unique perspective that our customers seem to really appreciate,” stated Kitchens.
Pemberton® manufactures a mobile shear called the PES 100R for skid steers, loader backhoes and excavators. It can be mounted as a second member (replacing the excavator dipper stick), or as a third member (attached to the end of the dipper stick), or on a skid steer with Quick-Tach hookup. Two circuits are required for the shears. Shear circuit: 2500 to 5000 psi full flow, rotation circuit: 1200 psi (max) 4 to 6 gpm. For machines not equipped with a double auxiliary circuit, Pemberton offers a diverter/rotational circuit operating from the shear cylinder circuit.
Continuous 360° powered bi-directional rotation is standard. The units feature four-way index-able blades, meaning that when the cutting edges begin to dull, the blades can be rotated to bring a new edge to bear. Each blade has a total of four cutting edges that can be used, one at a time, until the entire blade needs to be reconditioned or replaced. The shear will “stall out” hydraulically if an attempt is made to cut something beyond its capabilities. This prevents damage to the shear if the operator should inadvertently try to cut high-tensile hardened steel like that found in axles or railroad rails. “Our shears are used in demolition and scrap recycling applications for both ferrous and nonferrous metals. We always like to note that shearing versus torch cutting is safer, more economical and faster,” explained Mike Duffy, lead sales representative.
He added that “It is important to shear correctly, to get the most life from the unit, and of course, to shear safely. Shearing correctly involves positioning the jaws as close as possible to 90° in proximity to the piece being cut, and also positioning the piece as deep in the throat as possible. Shearing is inherently dangerous because pieces of the material being cut can fly off. OSHA requires that an operator’s cab be equipped with a front window guard and an overhead guard. Also, personnel must remain at least 75’ away from the shear or in a protected area while it is in operation.”
Duffy believes that as the economy continues to improve, there will be an increasing need to demolish old structures and recycle used materials. As a result, he expects that shear sales will continue to increase.
Published in the February 2015 Edition of American Recycler News