Rock Fall Contracting (RFC), a major civil engineering and earthmoving specialist contractor based in Doha, Qatar, has boosted its fleet of Chicago Pneumatic rig-mounted hydraulic breakers with the addition of new RX8 and RX54 units.

The breakers are destined for use in demanding applications within the programme of infrastructure projects culminating in Qatar’s hosting of the IAAF World Athletics Championship in 2019 and World Cup in 2022, said a statement from Chicago Pneumatic.
 
Hosting of these prestigious sporting competitions has spurred Qatar to not only build new eco-friendly stadiums but also undertake a total upgrade of its infrastructure. This includes major construction ventures such as an integrated road and rail network, as well as new drainage systems.

These initiatives, plus the new Hamad Port and the expansion of Hamad International Airport, are all part of scheduled upgrades to accommodate the anticipated vast increase in tourists and passengers in and around Doha.

Shaukat Ali, the chief operations officer for RFC in Doha, said: "Many of these critical projects have benefited from enhanced government spending to ensure they are delivered on time. Our own ongoing investment in tough, reliable and easy-to-maintain construction equipment, such as RX breakers from Chicago Pneumatic, has helped us to cope with increased demand arising from these major civil engineering projects and boosted our reputation as an earthworks industry specialist."
 
RX breakers have already proven essential in excavation operations along a 47-km stretch of Qatar’s GTC 600 project that is connecting four mega reservoirs with the aim of irrigating the northern half of the country, he stated.

According to him, RFC used a combination of RX26, RX46 and RX54 breakers to excavate a width of 6-10 m and depth of 4-10 m, and has successfully completed 2.2 million cu m of earth works in a record 16 months.
 
RFC has also deployed RX breakers in the execution of the New Orbital Highway-3 (NOH3) project, which will lead to the construction of a 56 km super highway comprising six light lanes for car and 3 heavy lanes for trucks, as part of the development programme for the 2022 World Cup.

This project is specially designed to keep heavy trucks out of Doha city to avoid traffic jams during rush hours and international events.

“RX breakers have helped us reach daily production levels of 8000 cu m and will be in operation until the end of the project in 2018,” he added.   
 
On the latest order, Edmerlito Gonzales, the regional business line manager (Middle East) for Chicago Pneumatics’ Construction Equipment unit said: "RFC has been in the business for over 21 years."

"As a long-term customer, we knew they were looking for solutions offering a long operational lifetime even in extreme operating conditions, that were easy to maintain and service through ready availability of interchangeable parts, and that would be supported with guaranteed after sales support. Chicago Pneumatic ticked all the boxes."
 
Designed and robustly constructed for challenging dismantling, demolition and excavation duties, the key benefits of RX-series breakers include a power boost feature that harnesses recoil energy to achieve greater breaking performance without requiring additional hydraulic input, stated Gonzales.

"They also feature energy efficient gas/oil hybrid technology and advanced noise and vibration damping systems. In addition, for even greater durability in demanding applications, the latest models include a reinforced breaker box design with rock claws for better wear protection," he added.-TradeArabia News Service