Breaking New Ground with the Rotar RDP50

Skillings Crushing put the Rotar RDP50 to Work on a Major Power Station Demolition

At the former Skelton Grange power station near Leeds, Skillings Crushing is tackling one of the largest reinforced concrete demolition projects currently underway in the UK.

Working on behalf of Howard Group, the Burnley-based demolition specialist has deployed a significant portion of its fleet to process thousands of tonnes of reinforced concrete as the former power station continues to be dismantled.

With tight deadlines and demanding production targets, efficiency on site is critical. Every attachment change, every delay and every interruption to production have the potential to impact overall progress.

That is why Skillings Crushing has become one of the first UK contractors to put Rotar’s new RDP 50 demolition processor to work.

More significantly, the attachment’s development was influenced by feedback from Skillings Crushing who use demolition equipment day in, day out on some of the country’s toughest projects.

Solving a Common Demolition Challenge

For most demolition contractors, reinforced concrete structures often require two stages of work.

A primary demolition attachment is used to bring down the structure before a secondary attachment is brought in to separate concrete from steel reinforcement and prepare material for crushing and recycling.

The process works, but it also means changing attachments, moving machines and potentially disrupting workflow.

The Rotar RDP 50 has been designed to bridge that gap.

Capable of carrying out both primary demolition and secondary processing, the attachment allows operators to move from breaking down structures to processing material without changing tools.

For contractors working to tight programmes, the benefits are obvious.

Less downtime, fewer attachment changes, and more time spent processing material.

A Relationship Built Over More Than a Decade

Skillings Crushing’s relationship with Worsley Plant began in 2013 when the company purchased its first Rotar RDP 42.

Over the years, both companies have worked closely together to ensure Skillings has the right attachments for its expanding demolition fleet.

That collaboration has gone beyond simply supplying equipment.

As Skillings Crushing continued working with Rotar attachments across demanding demolition projects, the business identified opportunities for further improvements in performance and productivity.

Those observations were fed back through Worsley Plant to the engineering team at Rotar in the Netherlands.

The result is the RDP 50.

“This wasn’t simply about creating a bigger attachment,” explained Worsley Plant Managing Director Adrian Nixon.

“Through discussions with customers working in real demolition environments, the focus was on developing an attachment capable of delivering the versatility and performance modern contractors need. Power, Speed and Performance”

Built for Real-World Demolition

Replacing the established RDP 45, the new RDP 50 weighs approximately 4,950kg and is suitable for carriers up to 70 tonnes. It also boasts class-leading opening and closing times thanks to its integrated speed valve, allowing more crushing cycles per minute and helping to maximise productivity on site.

While the increase in weight over the previous model is relatively small, Rotar has completely redesigned the attachment’s geometry to improve performance throughout the demolition cycle. The revised geometry increases crushing force at the mouth opening tip from 105 tonnes on the RDP 45 to 117 tonnes on the RDP 50. Crushing force has also been improved, rising from 199 tonnes on the RDP 45 to 215 tonnes on the RDP 50.

The result is an attachment that delivers greater force throughout the crushing process, enhancing both primary demolition performance and secondary material processing capabilities.

The attachment features a revised jaw design with a central set of teeth to improve material processing and reinforcement separation, while removable Manganese wear components help simplify maintenance and reduce downtime.

The changes go beyond simply achieving a higher headline force figure. The RDP 50 has been developed around how the attachment needs to perform throughout primary demolition and secondary material processing.

For Skillings Crushing, another important feature is the integrated OilQuick headstock.

Having already worked with Rotar attachments equipped with integrated OilQuick systems, Skillings’ operators benefit from a more compact overall package while retaining the ability to change attachments quickly when required.

The complete attachment was supplied ready for installation by Worsley Plant, allowing it to go straight to work upon delivery.

Proving Itself on Site.

One of the first tasks for the new attachment has been demolishing and processing a substantial reinforced concrete inlet channel that once supplied water from the River Aire to the power station.

Mounted on a Liebherr R 956 excavator, the RDP 50 has been placed in the hands of experienced operator Craig Payton.

For Payton, the attachment’s strengths became apparent quickly.

“We’ve found the Rotar to be a very productive addition to the fleet,” he said.

“The integrated OilQuick headstock makes it that little bit shorter than some of our equivalent attachments, which always helps, and it’s a powerful tool.

“The concrete we’re dealing with here isn’t as heavily reinforced as originally expected, but it is extremely hard. The Rotar handles it easily and separates any rebar we do find, leaving it clean and easy to process for recycling.”

Support Matters

For Skillings Crushing, equipment performance is only one part of the equation.

Reliable aftersales support is equally important when operating on high-profile demolition projects.

“The RDP 50 is a great addition to the fleet, and we know from experience that the support and service we receive from Worsley is first class,” said Site Manager Liam McCarthy.

“We had a minor issue with a hose shortly after arriving on site and resolved it ourselves within minutes. Even so, Worsley still sent a fitter out to inspect the machine and make sure everything was exactly as it should be.

“As far as I’m concerned, you can’t ask for more than that.”

From Site Feedback to Site Performance

For Skillings Crushing, the arrival of the RDP 50 represents the latest step in a partnership spanning more than a decade.

For Worsley Plant and Rotar, it demonstrates the value of listening to the people who use demolition attachments in the real world.

The challenges faced on projects such as Skelton Grange helped shape the development of an attachment designed to increase productivity, reduce downtime, and simplify the demolition process.

In an industry where efficiency can make the difference between profit and loss, the concept is straightforward.

One attachment. Two jobs. Less time lost changing tools and more time getting the work done.

Looking to improve your demolition or crushing operation? Contact Worsley Plant on 01606 835 544 to find out how Rotar attachments can support your next
project.

Media By:

Paul Argent