North East Link - Lower Plenty Cut & Cover
Eliminating manual reo cutting on D-wall breakout works
Supplying a specialist excavator and rotating shear configuration to support diaphragm wall breakout works during tunnel shaft excavation.
- Location
- Lower Plenty, Victoria
- Project type
- Major Infrastructure / Tunnelling
The problem
During diaphragm wall breakout works, crews needed to cut reinforcing steel high up on the wall face inside a constrained shaft environment.
Traditional methods would have required multiple personnel working from the ground using oxy cutting equipment. This created additional safety exposure, increased labour requirements, and would have significantly slowed the works package.
The project also required a machine configuration capable of reaching the upper sections of the wall while complying with North East Link induction and safety requirements.
Demolition guarding was mandatory to protect the operator, and the setup needed enough hydraulic performance and reach to safely cut reo at height.
The solution
Focus Machinery engineered a specialist attachment package built around a Kobelco SK225 excavator paired with Embrey EDS12 rotating shears and a 25-tonne hammer configuration.
The configuration was selected specifically for its combination of:
- Hydraulic power
- Reach capability
- Site access suitability
- Compatibility with demolition guarding requirements
Focus also coordinated:
- Commissioning of the rotating shears
- Machine and attachment inductions through Chekrite
- Supply of a certified rock screen to meet induction requirements
- On-site operator training delivered by the Embrey representative
This allowed the package to arrive fully prepared for immediate use on site.
The results
The engineered shear configuration allowed crews to cut reo directly from the excavator rather than relying on manual oxy cutting methods from ground level.
Project Outcomes
- 357 machine hours completed
- 100% uptime achieved
- Zero compliance events recorded
- Programme maintained without delay
- No breakdown events during works
Rather than adapting the works around conventional cutting methods, Focus configured a machine and attachment package specifically suited to the shaft conditions, reach requirements, and North East Link compliance standards.
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