– Hastings Pier suffered an arson attack in October 2010 and the structure had become a danger to the public. Remedial work was urgently needed to make it safe while awaiting a final decision regarding its future.
‘Tracked Access Ltd’ supplied a Palazzani XTJ42 tracked spider to access the structure to allow demolition experts to remove dangerous sections. T
The Palazzani XTJ42 was chosen because of its exceptional reach and powerful tracked chassis. The wide rubber tracked chassis was needed to power the machine over the pebbles and onto the beach at low tide and race back up the beach before the tide engulfed it!
Tracked Access supplied the specially adapted machine and the skilled operator to complete the task. The weather & sea presented as many difficulties as the actual job itself. Work was carried out, whenever the tide allowed (day and night), at a height of over 40m and taking full advantage of the Palazzani’s exceptional 20-metre outreach. The wind speed was constantly monitored by the operator and the outriggers were supported on a 3m square base of railway sleepers to support the load.
A spokesman from the demolition company stated ‘I have used all types of cherry pickers over many years but have never been so impressed by a machine. The Palazzani did everything we wanted and was amazingly stable.’
