KEMROC EKT Rotary Drum Cutter in Trenching Project.
JCB 220 X SLC with KEMROC EKT 100 | Cutting Limestone Rock in Pula, Croatia.
Higher productivity, reduced maintenance and reusable excavated material: KEMROC cutting technology delivers practical advantages for contractors working in hard rock.
The Challenge: Trenching in Extremely Hard Limestone
In Pula, Croatia, a contractor faced a demanding trenching project involving limestone with a compressive strength of approximately 150 MPa (21,756 psi). Excavating rock of this strength requires equipment capable of delivering controlled cutting performance while maintaining productivity and managing operating costs.
The contractor’s priorities were clear: achieve higher productivity, minimise maintenance requirements, maximise equipment utilisation and produce fine excavated material suitable for reuse as backfill.
The Solution: KEMROC EKT 100 on a JCB Excavator
The contractor selected the KEMROC Rotary Drum Cutter EKT 100, mounted on a JCB 220 X SLC excavator, for the trenching operation. The attachment was chosen to address the challenges of hard-rock excavation while supporting the contractor’s operational and economic objectives.
For contractors evaluating excavator-mounted rock-cutting equipment, selecting the appropriate attachment is essential. Equipment categories such as drum cutters, excavator drum cutters and hydraulic drum cutter systems serve different excavation and profiling requirements. KEMROC EKT 100 was selected specifically for this project’s trenching application.
Greater Productivity and Equipment Utilisation
Higher productivity was one of the contractor’s main reasons for choosing KEMROC over alternative solutions.
The EKT 100 excavator attachment offered a cutting approach suited to demanding limestone conditions. Combined with the mobility and versatility of the JCB excavator, the attachment supported the contractor’s objective of maintaining productive trenching operations.
Reduced maintenance requirements and higher equipment utilisation were equally important purchasing considerations. For contractors operating in abrasive or high-strength rock, these factors directly influence machine availability and overall project economics.
Fine Excavated Material: An Additional Economic Advantage
Beyond cutting performance, the contractor identified the production of fine excavated material as a significant advantage.
Where material quality and project specifications permit, suitable excavated material can be reused as backfill. This can reduce the need to purchase and transport additional filling material while limiting the volume of excavated rock requiring disposal.
For long-term trenching operations, such efficiencies can contribute to lower material-handling costs and more sustainable construction practices.
Conclusion: The Right Cutting Technology for Demanding Rock
The project in Pula demonstrates why attachment selection matters when excavating limestone with a compressive strength of 150 MPa.
By choosing the KEMROC Rotary Drum Cutter EKT 100, the contractor prioritised productivity, reduced maintenance, higher equipment utilisation and the potential to reuse excavated material. In demanding rock conditions, the right cutting attachment does more than excavate, it supports productivity throughout the entire project.
KEMROC Distributor in Croatia: IKT