Bespoke diamond wire saws from Hilti

Hilti offers bespoke diamond wire saws developed for complex decommissioning environments. According to Hilti, their bespoke wire saws have a low risk of operator error and enable even an inexperienced worker to cut complex structures as the system is equipped with Hilti ‘CutAssist'. The machines may be operated remotely and cutting can be dry, without liquids or aerosols. According to Hilti, the machines cutting speed has been increased by up to 70% as the wire speed and tension have been increased with robust components and a double layer vacuum brazed wire. The wire life has been increased by up to 70% by increasing the cutting speed and lowering vibrations and wire contact time. The machines are built with a fixed set up.

Some examples of projects where Hilti’s bespoke diamond wire saws have been used include a project in France, where Hilti built a solution for miscellaneous dry steel cutting in a nuclear power plant with a maximum material size of 2.5m x 2.5m. The bespoke portal wire saw has a cutting gap of 2.5m x 2.5m, and the dry cutting is done with a vortex wire cooling system and closed loop Hilti vacuum brazed diamond wire. For another project in Slovakia, Hilti developed two of the same bespoke portal wire saws for miscellaneous steel cutting in a nuclear power plant. The saws have a cutting gap of 2.5m x 2.9m and can be moved horizontally on rails to move the saw over the work area. Both saws are mounted in containers for contained wet vertical cutting with a water collection and filtration system.

At another project in Germany, a number of steam generators and steel components needed to be cut in situ. Hilti designed a bespoke wire saw for dry horizontal cutting which can be held by an overhead crane. Hilti also designed a modular portal which can cut various steel components with a maximum size of 4m x 4m or 6m x 4m. Lastly, together with a partner in the UK, Hilti developed a bespoke portal wire machine for nuclear decommissioning in Sellafield, one of the biggest global nuclear decommissioning projects. The portal wire saw with its cutting gap of 2.5m x 2m was developed for vertical and horizontal dry cutting. For offshore and civil contractors, Hilti has developed several machines and consumables for underwater operation. Hilti has also built a mobile demo portal wire saw, which will be shown at different trade fairs.