There used to be a candy factory at 35th and 4th Sunset Park in Brooklyn, N.Y., but in August, there will be a new high school there instead. Darcon Construction Inc. is laying a concrete foundation for Sunset Park High.

A 100,000-lb. (45.359 kg) Kobelco SK480LC excavator is helping Darcon with its foundation work.

“[The Kobelco] has tremendous breakout force, yet operates very smoothly,” said Angelo Caiazzo, principal of Darcon Construction Inc.

Darcon used the excavator to rip out concrete during the demolition of the existing foundation.

“It’s able to rip and pull the foundations out without hydraulically breaking it with a hammer,” Caiazzo explained.

The Kobelco brings Darcon’s fleet of earth moving machines up to 14.

“It’s the first time we’ve dealt with a Kobelco machine and it seems to be a favorable piece of equipment,” Caiazzo said.

He bought the Kobelco from All Island Equipment in West Babylon, N.Y.

“They had good pricing and a special financing package,” he said.

Caiazzo said he got excellent service from Tom Porterfield, his sales representative at All Island Equipment.

“I recommended [the Kobelco] because the loading time is so much faster than other machines in its class,” Porterfield explained. “We fit the Kobelco 480 into Darcon’s needs for the school job. The machine fit like a glove with its high-breakout force and faster swing speeds.”

Darcon’s work includes excavation, sheeting and shoring, concrete work and foundation work. They also will pour the concrete slabs on the upper floors of the school and are responsible for utilities.

Approximately 800 cu. yds. (612 cu m) of concrete is being poured for the walls and approximately 1,000 cu. yds. (765 cu m) of concrete is being poured for the slabs. Approximately 200 beams are being placed and about 1,000 ft. (305 m) of shoring is being completed.

“It’s a new school for the NY construction authority. It’s one of many that are being done right now,” Caiazzo said. “It’s part of the student capacity program for the city.”

Approximately 45,000 cu. yds. (34,405 cu m) of material is being excavated from the site, according to Caiazzo. All of the concrete will be taken off site to a recycling plant. The specifications for the project do not allow recycled concrete to be used on the job site. Only natural stone can be used. All of the dirt on the site is being shipped to area landfills.

“The soils are hard, but because of the breaking force of the machine, it’s easy with this piece of equipment,” Caiazzo said.

The project started on May 1, 2006, and is scheduled for completion August 1, 2007. So far the contractors are on schedule, according to Caiazzo.

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