The pulverizer (also called concrete crusher or concrete cracker) is a hydraulic excavator attachment that crushes concrete fragments into fist-sized pieces while simultaneously exposing reinforcing steel. Unlike the demolition shear, which tears large concrete elements from structures, the pulverizer operates on the ground and crushes already-demolished material for subsequent recycling.
The toothed jaws grip concrete chunks and crush them with closing forces of 30–150 tons. A cutting blade between the jaws severs reinforcing steel up to 32 mm in diameter. The result: clean separation of concrete and steel, ready immediately for the mobile crusher.
Pulverizers reduce demolition waste volume by up to 70% and significantly lower disposal and transport costs. Manufacturers such as Epiroc (BP series), Cat (P series), and Genesis offer fixed-mount and 360°-rotatable versions for excavators ranging from 10 to 80 tons.