Online equipment auction specialist IronPlanet has facilitated the sale of the biggest demolition excavator in the world, which was bought by a buyer based in Arizona, USA, from a Norwegian seller.
According to IronPlanet, the 2009 Rusch Triple 34-25 Long Reach Demolition Track Excavator is a rare specimen of its kind. The main body of the track excavator alone, without engine and panels, weighs 72t – the equivalent weight of 144 cars. The main boom on the machine, which was designed and fabricated by Rusch Special Projects B.V., adds an additional 33.1t. The total machine weight of the behemoth is over 300t, but that is only one of its astonishing credentials.
IronPlanet said that when a machine of this calibre was advertised for sale in August 2016, it was not a surprise that interest from buyers was high. Ultimately, Arizona based demolition company, BCS Enterprise, purchased the machine.
Casey L. Johansen, director of BCS, said: “We have found that the real contenders in the demolition market understand that large, complex demolition projects require equally large, highly specialised and capable heavy machinery. Having this type of machine means that projects can be completed in a cost-effective and timely fashion. By investing in the world’s largest demolition excavator, it allows BCS to better serve its existing customers, attract new customers and reside in a niche market with fewer but more sophisticated competitors.
“No other demolition track excavator across the globe has similar capabilities to this machine. The Rusch 34-25 will provide us with the ability to target large, industrial sites with greater safety and higher production.”
Due to the machine’s size and weight, it also required an extensive transportation plan. IronPlanet said that once the machine was sold, it was dismantled and transferred from Norway to Arizona – a distance of over 8,000km. The machine was transported in multiple cargo ships and heavy transport trucks to its new home in Gilbert, Arizona.
Commenting on the buying process as a whole, Johansen said: “I wanted an online marketplace that I could trust, considering the item that I was planning on purchasing was incredibly large and being sold overseas. Buying with IronPlanet couldn’t have been easier. Using their website, I was able to go through dozens of pictures and videos of the machine, and could also view detailed inspection reports. I was able to get a real insight into the machine’s look, and more importantly – its capabilities. It was these factors which gave me the confidence to call IronPlanet and move the transaction forward. Without this access to a wealth of preliminary information, I may not have been inclined to pursue the purchase.”
The purchasing of the machine was only half of the story. According to IronPlanet the movement of the machine from the ground to the port took 12 truckloads. The main body of the machine was transported in one single load that weighed 72t and was over 4.8m tall on the trailer.
“This world-leading machine will firstly be responsible for taking down a concrete and steel football stadium for Arizona State University in Tempe,” Johansen added.
