Italian manufacturer Indeco has used Intermat to launch a new series of guidebooks advising on best practice for using the company鈥檚 construction and demolition applications.

Indeco鈥檚 first 鈥淔ocus On鈥� guide has been written with Bari Polytechnic, and gives case studies on a range of construction methods, including using hydraulic breakers for excavating tunnels.

Michele Vitulano, marketing manager, said, 鈥淲e鈥檝e realised that the experience we鈥檝e gained over the past 40 years working in Italy alongside a variety of excavation firms could be a great treasure for demolition operators around the world. We have had to develop flexible solutions with our hydraulic breakers for contractors who have to deal with Italy鈥檚 geology.鈥�

Professor Alessandro Reina, who wrote a section of the guide, said choosing the correct tunnel-digging technology was critical for contractors to achieve a balance between costs and benefits. He added that using an analytical hierarchy process (AHP), research teams established a construction process selection criteria to assist contractors working on tunnel projects.

Indeco engineer Alessandro Ciccolella said that while tunnel boring (TBMs) machines were the most common solution for excavation of tunnels, alternative equipment may sometimes be required.

He said, 鈥淭here are some situations, such as unusual size and position of the tunnel, curve radius or logistical challenges, where using a TBM would be either impossible or inadvisable, due to its lack of flexibility.

Ciccolella added, 鈥淏y contrast, the hydraulic breaker is a versatile, economical and efficient method that has proven to be an ideal complement for excavating tunnels whose geomechanical profiles and sizing make drill and blast difficult or uneconomical.鈥�

The Indeco focus on tunnels guide will be made available free on the company鈥檚 website.