Plant Equipment and Hire July 2019 | Page 34

INNOVATION A high-reach demolition excavator fitted with a hydraulic shear. PIONEERING COLD-CUTTING TECHNOLOGY By Tarren Bolton | All images by Jet Demolition Cold-cutting techniques developed by Jet Demolition introduce a new benchmark for health and safety in the petrochemical industry, which represents a highly volatile and hazardous work environment. T he equipment and methodology pioneered by Jet Demolition has the added ‘green’ benefit of limiting the (generally unavoidable) incidental contamination of natural resources caused by less advanced techniques. This proactive approach has resulted in the demolition specialist having completed more than 100 projects for a leading local petrochemical producer, as well as undertaking work for the bulk of the major players in this sector. Apart from oil and gas facilities, Jet Demolition’s expertise also 32 JULY 2019 encompasses hexane plants, chemical plants, fuel tanks and storage facilities. “Petrochemical demolition forms part of our heavy industrial demolition portfolio. It is critical to pay close attention to every step in the demolition process during petrochemical work, as we normally work in close proximity to live operations with a high degree of danger due to the flammability,” Andre Botes, Jet Demolition project engineer. explains Jet Demolition project engineer, Andre Botes. Botes has worked for Jet Demolition for a decade, and forms part of a close-knit team of engineers. “Most are involved in supporting our site staff on a technical and commercial basis, or after a successful tender, and managing the project itself,” he points out. www.plantonline.co.za