High-quality cutting tools showcased at Eastgate Mall renovation

Concrete cutting and core drilling expert Diamond Core Drilling is part of the team working on the ongoing revamp of the Eastgate Mall, involving about 7 000 m² of speed cutting concrete beams to create more space for shops.

 Diamond Core Drilling Managing Director Mark Vlok explains that the project started in the middle of 2014 and will be completed in 2016. “The project required a team of 20 people from Diamond Core Drilling. We are cutting out the old existing ring beams and are also filling in joints and grinding the floors.”

Diamond Products – a leading specialist in the manufacture, assembly and sale of diamond tools and equipment for industrial applications – is supplying Diamond Core Drilling with a variety of diamond blades and RC35 core barrels.

The partnership between the two companies began over 20 years ago, which Vlok attributes to the quality equipment supplied by Diamond Products. “We are highly satisfied with the quality and service provided by Diamond Products. We have tried competitor blades, but these were not as resilient or productive. ”

For the Eastgate Mall project, a wall saw with an Arix diamond tip blade was used. “The Wall saw is mounted with anchors onto the area being cut. The blade spins at a 35meters/secwhile the operator controls how it cuts the beams remotely.”

Diamond Core Drilling, established in 1996, caters for the construction and demolition industries. It offers services such as concrete scanning and cutting, wire sawing, core drilling, fire sealing and percussion drilling. An established industry leader, it is currently working on several mall projects in Gauteng, including Cresta, Sandton City and the Galileo Shopping Mall.

Tools for cutting, sawing, grinding, polishing and drilling from Diamond Products are designed to deliver speed and long life. “If a tool delivers cutting performance, but wears down too quickly, then the cost of the job is commensurately higher,” Vlok points out.

A major constraint in the construction industry is the tight timeframes for projects, which means that meeting time guarantees is vital to ensure a continued pipeline of work. Rapid delivery is also essential for the coordination of ancillary trades and works.

“This means it is essential for a company like Diamond Core Drilling to use only high-quality products from reputable suppliers such as Diamond Products,” Vlok concludes.