Maryland Tire Plant Topples With Earthmoving Force

The Allegany County Public Works department of the city of Cumberland, MD, selected Earthmovers Unlimited, Kylertown, PA, to perform the demolition of the three- and four-story former Kelly Tire Plant. The building, which covers approximately six acres, was built in 1918 and is constructed of a riveted steel beam construction with wooden floors and a brick facade.Earthmovers is completing the demolition, constructing an on-site drainage system, and refurbishing the adjacent structures all within a six-month period.Earthmovers is using a Komatsu PC1000LC-3 equipped with an AIM attachments thumb and an 8.5-cu.-yd. (6.5 cu m) bucket. The PC1000 is used to demolish the structure with an extension arm that can reach 58.5-ft. (17.7 m) long. After sections of the structure are demolished, Earthmovers use a PC400LC-5 equipped with a LaBounty model 220 shear, purchased from New Jersey-based Binder Machinery, to reduce the larger beams to a length of 4 to 5 ft. (1.2 to 1.5 m). To keep pace with the shearing operation, a PC300LC-3 Komatsu equipped with a LaBounty model 112R rotating shear handles the shearing operations for beams 18 in. (46 cm) or smaller.Once materials are sheared and prepared for delivery to the steel mills, a Barko-160 log loader is used to load the materials into Earthmovers&#8217; trucks for delivery. For its hauling operations, Earthmovers purchased some additional Mack truck tractors and Trail King trailers from its sister company W. W. Engine & Supply Co.In all, Earthmovers is currently shipping approximately 70 tons (63 t) a day of prepared P & S scrap to various steel mills in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. A Caterpillar 826C compactor, equipped with a rake to remove debris from clean bricks, is being utilized to aid in the backfilling operations.A Komatsu 355A-5 and Caterpillar 657E scrapers are used to bring barrow material from adjacent property for backfilling operations.Earthmovers is comfortably maintaining its schedule on this $1-million-plus project.Earthmovers Unlimited Inc. is one of several companies owned by John P. Niebauer Jr. with offices in Kylertown, PA. Earthmovers sister companies include W. W. Engine & Supply Co.; Shaw Mack Sales & Service; Harrisburg Mack; Fire and Rescue Products; and Loggers Equipment Sales & Service. For more information, call 814/345-6010.