C&D Breaks Out New Rammer Hydraulic Hammers Training Course

Sandvik produced a press release covering our new Rammer-focused hydraulic hammers training course. We've reproduced the full release here:

One of the UK’s leading demolition training providers – C&D Consultancy – has introduced a new training course to help companies and their operatives get the most out of their hydraulic hammers.

C&D Consultancy, the demolition training specialist headed by John Woodward - immediate past president of the Institute of Demolition Engineers - has unveiled a new training course aimed squarely at owners and operators of hydraulic hammers.


Built around the Rammer operator training manual and backed by the hydraulic hammer specialist, the new course has been developed to ensure the safety of operators and operatives whilst gaining maximum productivity and working life from the breakers together with reduced owning and operating costs.

“Operator misuse, abuse and neglect are universally accepted to be the single biggest cause of hydraulic hammer failure within the demolition sector,” Woodward says. “Our training course is designed to overcome that problem by demonstrating best operating and maintenance practice to ensure that the operator is safe, that the breaker performs to optimum levels, and that wear, tear and failure are minimised.”

Woodward says that some of the course content is based upon known principles and working methods and is designed to reinforce best practice. “Trying to break off too much material, levering the material with the tool, or hammering in the same position for a prolonged period will all impact upon the life expectancy of both the breaker and the tool. Long impact cycles of more than 15 seconds can cause the impact head of the piston to heat up, causing damage or “mushrooming”. The piston might also start to vibrate inside the cylinder, breaking the lubricating oil film and causing seizure between the piston and cylinder. In addition, the tool can heat up, causing more rapid wear. If the material hasn’t broken after 15 seconds move the tool to another position; stress fractures will have already been created in the material,” Woodward asserts. “The training course will show operators how to approach specific tasks while covering items such as breaker and carrier matching, hammer, carrier and hydraulic hose checks, pre-start site checks, correct greasing procedures and general hammer care. With regular maintenance, you can avoid major, unplanned breakdowns, and ensure that your hammer achieves the highest possible levels of availability and profitability.


For example, operators should know to check the tool bushings condition regularly. If they can insert a pencil between the tool and the lower tool bush, it may need to be replaced, or turned 90 degrees if that feature is available.”

Woodward says that, although the training course is based upon the Rammer training manual, the course is open to companies running any breaker brand and is not limited purely to demolition applications. “Regardless of manufacturer or specific application, the challenges of optimum safety, productivity and reliability remain the same,” Woodward concludes. “By learning correct procedures, it is possible to increase hammer productivity and extend the life of the hammer and the tool substantially . With so many demolition sites, mines, quarries and recycling operations reliant upon a hydraulic hammer, a small investment in operator training can have huge benefits.”