National Pile Croppers (NPC) has been proud of the fact that the company is continuously looking at ways to improve the quality and performance of its equipment. The launch of the latest version of the NPC MultiBar Cropper – now available in three sizes to fit customer requirements – continues this development program, which has seen the company continuously invest in R&D and product development.
“Although the first multi bar croppers were the original precast pile cropper, over the years we have continually refined and developed the NPC MultiBar Cropper and now are pleased to announce the release of the very latest in state-of-the-art multi bar pile cropping,” said company director Lee Aston.
“This all means that it’s small enough to be highly manoeuvrable but has the substance to deal with the toughest of precast piles with four or more reinforcement bars (rebar).”
Lee Aston, National Pile Cropper
“The latest iteration is not just our own work. We’ve worked closely with some of the biggest civil engineering companies in the world to add features that makes the MultiBar safer, more efficient and more productive than ever. I also need to thank our technicians in the field as they’ve channelled feedback directly based on their real-world site experiences. It’s this unique partnership that has enabled us to deliver high quality manufactured solutions with the features that are really required when cropping in the field.”
How it works
Although it has gone through many development stages, the MultiBar pile cropper still works in the same efficient and uncomplicated manner. It is lowered over the concrete pile, which is then reduced at 250 millimetres (mm) intervals, enabling broken pile sections to be removed. The key to productive and efficient use is to ensure that the last bite at the finish level is of at least 250 mm to ensure a good cut is obtained.
“The cropper is best used by an excavator of at least six tonnes, and depending on the variant chosen, weighs either 450 kilograms (kg), 550 kg or 600 kg. This all means that it’s small enough to be highly manoeuvrable but has the substance to deal with the toughest of precast piles with four or more reinforcement bars (rebar),” said Aston.
The redesign brief
To provide an even more efficient cropper, NPC used the feedback from customers and technicians and identified that the MultiBar needed to have a reduced footprint and operating weight. “We believe we have not only done this, but our redesign has also enabled the new MultiBar shape to evolve allowing easier operation around piles in close proximity whilst also providing protection for the hydraulic cylinders and hoses to avoid damage. At the same time, we have made it easier to repair,” said Aston.
“The MultiBar further benefits from a new range of specifically in-house manufactured chisels, designed with the purpose to not only penetrate the pile, but to leave a perfect finish with little or no tidying up. The new chisels effectively break up the concrete into pieces, and furthermore, the cropped unit can then easily be lifted off the pile enabling the removal and recycling of the cut-away concrete in a safe manner.”
The new MultiBar has already been subject to extensive field testing, which it has passed with flying colours. The new MultiBar is now available for hire or purchase throughout the U.K. and will be introduced globally in the coming months. The NPC MultiBar Cropper is intended to update the entire product range over the next 18 months to meet ever-developing customer requirements.