Rammer Provides Healthy Option

A fleet of six Caterpillar 345 hydraulic excavators, each equipped with a 3,900 kg Rammer 5011 hydraulic hammer, is working round the clock as part of a 255 million Riyal ($70 million) contract to build a new health care centre in the Qatari capital, Doha.   Both the excavators and the hammers are on hire from Al Jaber Company and are being used by experienced contractor Amana Qatar Construction to break out extremely hard limestone as part of the deep excavation and foundation process.

Fast-Track
Based in Doha, Amana is the local leader in the design-build construction of industrial and commercial facilities, having erected over 1,500 buildings across the region.   The company, which was founded in 1993, has built its reputation on the ability to offer design-build solutions for extremely fast-track projects.   The company’s key areas of activity include: Design-Build turnkey solutions; Turnkey construction; and Design-Build of steel building systems.
The construction of the Doha health centre is scheduled to take just 76 weeks, with the centre scheduled to open in October, 2014.

Round the Clock
Before that opening, however, the heavy construction works are taking place.   Amana reports that the health centre will be located in an area where the local geology comprises dense and extremely hard limestone.   Furthermore, the project requires deep excavation foundation.   And with the construction programme condensed into such a tight period of time, that excavation has been charged to the 45 tonne class Caterpillar excavators and, more importantly, the Rammer 5011 hydraulic hammers.

Amana reports that the Rammer hammers were selected primarily for their power and productivity but that durability and low noise characteristics have been key considerations.   “Construction is continuing 24 hours per day, and it is not unusual for the Rammer hammers to work 22 hours per day,” the company explains.   “When we’re working through the night, the low noise of the Rammer hammers ensures that disruption to local people is kept to a minimum.”

The company says that the greatest benefit of the Rammer hammers, however, has been their durability and reliability.   “This is a fast-track construction project and we cannot afford any delays.   Despite working around the clock in some very tough conditions, the 5011s have been extremely reliable and productive,” the company concludes.   “The local dealer –Arabian Supply Center (ASC) – is a regular visitor to the site and takes great care of the hammers.   They are playing a key role in a vital project.”