Crush, Break, Pulverize with These 15 Demolition Attachments

Editor's Note: This story was updated August 1, 2024, with new products.

When it’s time to break up pavement, cut out rebar and scoop up the remains, these 11 attachments are designed to do the job.

Caterpillar’s rotary cutters are designed for demolition in confined spaces. Not as loud as other breaking tools, rotary cutters create a more controlled breaking with high precision making them ideal for working in confined or urban areas. The RC20 is intended for 20- to 34-ton excavators, and the RC30 fits the 28- to 50-ton excavators. Both can be connected with pin-on, S-type, Cat pin grabbers or CW couplers. Unlike hydraulic hammers, the cutters can be used underwater without modifications to the tool or excavator.

NPKNPK’s V250R crusher pulverizer is made for primary and secondary demolition, including reinforced concrete, and can handle high-reach applications. The attachment features 360-degree rotation and is compatible with excavators ranging from 24 to 25 metric tons. It has a 35.4-inch jaw opening and a 22-inch jaw width. Max crushing force is 229,500 pound-force. The crusher requires hydraulic flow of 26 to 66 gallons per minute. NPK says it integrated its Hydraulic Booster into the V250R for extra crushing power and faster cycle times.

MontabertMontabert’s line of Silent Demolition Tools includes processors and fixed and rotating pulverizers – all featuring 360-degree rotation. Combi-, multifunction and scrap-metal multiprocessor jaws are available for carriers from 8 to 65 tons and have speed valve cylinders and exchangeable Hardox 600 crushing teeth. Pulverizers are available in fixed model or rotating models and have Hardox 400 bodies, exchangeable and reversible blades, and exchangeable wear plates and teeth.

National AttachmentsNye’s concrete pulverizers are primarily designed for crushing operations. They can also be used as secondary processors for precision picking and sorting of reclaimable materials. Precision meshing incisors allow the operator to accurately separate reinforcing rod from concrete, the company says. A forward-loading design enables it to act as a shovel to scoop up and sort through debris piles. Offered through National Attachments, they have a life expectancy of 20,000 hours, the company says.

Werk-BrauWerk-Brau’s wide-mouth box-style grapple for demolition can handle materials of various sizes. The attachment is compatible with excavators ranging from 12 to 60 tons, and it is available with a variety of tine and width configurations. It can even be custom designed to match contractors’ specific needs. For example, the number and spacing of tines can be altered for a wider or narrower pickup stance. The company says the grapple is ideal for gathering demolition debris, sorting materials and other demolition tasks. 

Genesis AttachmentsThe GRP 480 Rebar Processor from Genesis Attachments is a hydraulic mobile shear designed exclusively for processing rebar. The excavator attachment features bolt-on, weldable lower tusks and weldable, replaceable piercing blades to sort and separate rebar bundles. The processor’s jaw opens to 24-inches and has a jaw depth of 26 inches. The 11,900-pound attachment is compatible with excavators weighing up to 48,000 pounds when mounted to the boom and those weighing up to 90,000 pounds when mounted to the stick.

Hydraulic breakers

DevelonDevelon’s HB-Series hydraulic breakers, the HB06H and HB15FH, have a simplified design that allows for easier maintenance and use in a variety of demolition, mining and general construction projects, the company says. The HB06H is designed for excavators with hydraulic flow of 10.5 to 18.5 gallons per minute. It weighs 750 pounds and delivers 500-900 blows per minute. The HB15FH requires 21.1 to 29.1 gallons per minute of flow. It weighs 2,129 pounds and delivers 350-700 blows per minute.

TakeuchiTakeuchi says its seven-model lineup of hydraulic hammers offers sound suppression and is compatible with compact excavators ranging from .8 to 20 metric tons and compact track loaders ranging from .6 to 8.7 metric tons. The line consists of compact, medium and large models. Features include fully enclosed body casing that seals against dust and debris and reduces noise; vibration dampening tie rods; and dual greasing channels for upper and lower tool bushings. They also have only two moving parts for easier maintenance. 

Ignite AttachmentsIgnite Attachments offers nitrogen breakers for compact track loaders and skid steers. The breaker line consists of light, standard and heavy-duty models. They come standard with a moil and a chisel, a gauge tool and mounting frame. They are designed for working on small excavation projects or demolition jobs and can break hard rock and reinforced concrete, the company says. All the hoses are sheathed in nylon to protect them. The breakers use a universal quick-attach interface, with a dual-mount option available.

MecalacMecalac has introduced a new line of hydraulic breakers to pair with its excavators. Mecalac says the breakers address “a multitude of needs” from occasional to intensive use. The compact and lightweight MB30, MB40 and MB50 are designed for excavators from 5 to 12 metric tons. The hammers feature a no-load protection system for added comfort and reduced noise. The MB80 is designed for excavators from 9 to 16 metric tons. It has a system to prevent dry strikes and a soundproofed cradle equipped with suspensions. 

BobcatBobcat’s nitrogen breaker attachment is designed to obliterate concrete, rock and asphalt surfaces faster. It features a long piston stroke to increase impact energy and reduce recoil. It requires minimal maintenance and reduces wear on the carrier, the company says. Grease points are within easy reach. Its unique valve design reduces pressure fluctuations and strain on the carrier’s hydraulic pumps, Bobcat says. The single lower bushing is designed to simplify repairs on the job. It is compatible with Bob-Tach and X-Change mounting systems.

DanuserThe Danuser Hammer Model CB40 Concrete Breaker is designed to demolish parking lots, foundations, sidewalks, curbs and more. It has a 40-inch drop hammer design that breaks up to 9-inch-thick reinforced concrete. It achieves a full stroke with every cycle, delivering 82,000 pounds of impact force, the company says. An anti-dry fire feature prevents unnecessary firing. The CB40 Breaker Kit can be added to convert to a concrete breaker. It includes a 500-pound breaker attachment and additional hardware for assembly.

EpirocEpiroc says its premium SB/SBU series hydraulic breaker attachments are the industry’s only breakers to come standard with an integrated water port for dust suppression, for complying with federal silica dust rules. SB/SBU series breakers are developed for use in construction, tunneling, dredging, demolition and pile driving. They are designed to reduce noise and vibration. They are compatible with carriers of 0.7 to 24 tons for compact excavators, backhoes, skid steer loaders or demolition robots. 

Hydro Ram HammersHydroRam Premium Series Hammers feature long piston strokes to increase impact energy. They also include an underwater-enabled port for underwater operation. The Auto-Lube and grease channel provide grease to bushings automatically to ensure proper lubrication. Stroke and blow speed can be controlled by cylinder adjuster. An anti-blank firing system is standard on the Premium Series. The power cell is fully enclosed for protection, and the hammers are constructed of wear-resistant materials. 

KomatsuKomatsu’s JMHB-V breakers are compatible with the company’s excavators, from the PC210 up to the PC490. They are 100% hydraulically fired and their impact force and frequency can be adjusted to up to 16 working positions. The breakers are also fitted with an energy-saving recovery valve that recuperates energy to drive efficiency. The breakers also match the piston stroke and length to the material’s hardness for energy efficiency. Standard features include automatic greasing, advanced blank firing protection, swivel hose couplings and heavy-duty housing.