Element Six has upgraded the D Power road pick
A new tougher steel surround has been developed to match the life of the polycrystalline diamond (PCD) tip. D Power road picks are now expected to give 50 times the overall life of standard machine milling picks, beating the figure of 40 claimed for the previous model.
Synthetic diamond company Element Six is a member of the De Beers Group. Element Six’s materials are used in applications such as cutting, grinding, drilling, shearing and polishing.
The improved head design incorporates tungsten carbide to provide greater protection to the steel pick mount. Element Six decided to develop the new design as it found that the PCD tips were showing almost no wear, even when the steel mounts had worn down. The improvements in the latest model result in an extension to the overall tool life while obtaining the full benefit of the PCD tip.
The greater wear resistance will enable road contractors to improve the lifespan of the entire road pick which, in turn, will help reduce stoppages and downtime still further, according to Element Six. “The latest D Power road pick range will enable our customers to stay ahead of the competition thanks to the reduction in their project costs and improvement in completion times,” said Element Six executive director, hard materials Kalle Hildebrand. “Use of these Element Six flagship products has enabled them to differentiate themselves from their competition – a major benefit in this very competitive industry.”
“Kai Löben, technical manager at Fräsdienst Enrico Feind (Germany), added, “I think it’s fair to say that PCD Road Picks are changing the way we do things for the better.”
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