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Kevin Linnér is the CEO of KPJ Bergarbeten AB

The requirement for noise reduction created new opportunities for Kevin

In conjunction with a tender process, Kevin Linnér was faced with a new requirement: The purchaser wanted all drilling to be performed with noise reduction. After careful consideration, Kevin decided to invest in two drill rigs equipped with noise reduction kits – now he has more work than ever.

It is early in the morning in the old, working-class district of Majorna in Gothenburg. The only thing that can be heard are children on their way to school and the familiar ringing of the number 11 streetcar leaving the stop at Mariaplan. A few minutes walk, Ärlegatan winds up and over Gråberget, and along the way there are barriers, fencing and warning signs warning of ongoing blasting work. This is where 13 000 cubic meters of rock will be blasted away to make room for 52 condominiums spread over two buildings.

 

At the top of the hill that will soon be transformed into gravel stands Kevin Linnér, CEO and founder of KPJ Bergarbeten AB. His company specializes in complicated projects and works almost exclusively in this type of heavily populated areas in central Gothenburg.

 

“Everything that is easy to build in Gothenburg has already been built. Only the more difficult areas remain, and we are glad to take on these types of projects with high technical requirements. Roughly 90 percent of the jobs that we do are these types of projects.” says Kevin Linnér.

Close-up of the drill foot of a FlexiROC T30 R

Cutting the sound level in half using noise reduction kit

Apart from the unbelievable view over the Gothenburg Harbor, at first glance, the location looks like any other construction site. But there is one detail that is noticeably different from other construction sites. KPJ’s equipment fleet includes two Epiroc FlexiROC T30 R with noise reduction kit, which makes the sound level unusually low for this type of work site. While the drill is running, it is encapsulated in hydraulically controlled aluminum shutters, which reduce the sound level by up to 10 dB – corresponding to half of the experienced sound level.

 

“It is unbelievably nice to work with the noise reduction kit, and our operators are overjoyed. Honestly, I think that noise reduction should be a requirement for all jobs that are performed in densely populated areas,” says Kevin Linnér.

Noise reduction requirement – increasingly common

He made the decision to invest in drill rigs with noise reduction kits in conjunction with a larger project, where the ground will be prepared for the construction of 500 apartments and 50 small houses. The project consisted of blasting 40,000 m³ of rock and drilling 6000 m² of line-drilling. The purchaser had one clear requirement: only equipment with noise reduction would be accepted.

"It is a competitive advantage that allows people to choose us over somebody else."

Kevin Linnér ,CEO and founder of KPJ Bergarbeten AB
“Prior to this, I had never come across this requirement, but it seemed interesting. I did a lot of calculations. It was a good job, but I would also need to buy two completely new machines to be able to take it on. After a lot of consideration, I ultimately decided to make the investment, and I have not regretted it for a second."

Happy reactions to equipment with noise reduction

Another advantage with the new drill rigs is that customers who did not have a noise reduction requirement are always positively surprised.

 

“Everyone appreciates less noise, so obviously our customers are very thankful when we arrive with these types of machines. There have even been people walking by who have commented that they appreciate that there is not so much noise."

Are there any disadvantages with nose reduction drill rigs?

“Of course it is a bigger investment. The size of the machinery made things somewhat ungainly at first because this type of solution means a slightly larger feed. For tight jobs, it is easy to hit the shutters, but because they are made of aluminum, they can take a beating. But it is also a matter of getting used to working with the equipment. On the whole, it's not really a big downside. I will never purchase a drill rig without a noise reduction kit again.

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