Earlier this year, Atlas Copco Construction Tools shifted the title of what it claims to be “the world's biggest volume-produced hydraulic breaker” from its 10-year-old HB 7000 to a new candidate. The HB 10000, unveiled at bauma 2007, carries a service weight of 10 metric tons compared with the 7-metric-ton HB 7000. The company maintains that it is up to 50% more productive than its predecessors. The HB 10000, according to Atlas Copco, represents a major step toward a new market segment, using hydraulic breakers as production machines for primary breaking and as a legitimate alternative to drilling and blasting.

Requiring a carrier that weighs 85 tons or more, the HB 10000 would seem destined for a very small market share, particularly in the quarry/small mine sector where 85-ton-class and larger excavators are fairly rare, but Atlas Copco insists it sees a bright future for the breaker.

The HB 10000 is equipped with a full package of Atlas Copco's technical features, including StartSelect, which allows the breaker's start-up and shut-down behavior to be adapted to current conditions; AutoControl, which reduces blank-firing force and controls energy recovery; PowerAdapt, which shuts down the breaker automatically if oil pressure is too high; DustProtector II, a system that prevents rock dust and other contaminants from penetrating the lower breaker section; and ContiLube II, an automatic lubrication system.

To offer a glimpse of the size increase offered by the HB 10000, its technical specs are listed below, comparing them to those of the HB 7000. Atlas Copco says the HB 7000, despite being eclipsed in size by the HB 10000, will remain part of its product line. Atlas Copco