In September last year, Atlas Copco celebrated the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the hydraulic breaker - an innovation that transformed the industry. German manufacturer Krupp Berco Bautechnik, which was acquired by Atlas Copco in 2002, developed the rig-mounted hydraulic breaker and took out a patent in 1963. The first machine, the HM 400, is said to have attracted huge interest at the Hannover fair in 1967, with more than 2,000 units sold. The aim was to save time and labour in demolition and mining operations where, at that time, pneumatic tools were widely used. The new concept meant that one person operating a rig-mounted hydraulic breaker could do the same amount of work as several operators with pneumatic tools. Today hydraulic breakers are in general use, produced by dozens of manufacturers around the globe. The technology has come a long way since its introduction, with manufacturers now integrating advanced features such as high flow hydraulics, variable speed and anti-blank firing systems.
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