Demolition Hub Magazine - April/May 2024

Now that was a busy eight weeks.

Since the last issue we began preparing for this one by attending JCB’s World HQ, where Toby witnessed the launch of various brand new and updated machines.

My own travels started by being sent to Coventry to explore the everimpressive Executive Hire Show. Continuing the Midlands adventure, I was invited by Brown & Mason to be at the blowdown of the boiler room of the disused Cottam power station.

This was my first experience of a blowdown and while it was extremely focused and professional, I was treated like a VIP and got some amazing footage for our socials.

It was then over to San Antonio, Texas for my third and the National Demolition Association’s 50th Demolition Convention.

Being close to the NDA means a lot to us and it is the yearly pilgrimage to an as yet unexplored state that really reinforces my love for how they do it across the pond. I was treated to a programme over four days of learning, networking, exploring and witnessing to new kit and technology. They roll the red carpet out for their members and equally for us at Demolition Hub, I am grateful to be so close to such an association as this. Read about the NDA’s 50th annual convention.

I think our reporting of the NDA event, and certainly the numbers on the socials, got us further notoriety as with 72-hours’ notice, I was invited to Berlin for the Fachtagung Abbruch, from the Deutscher Abbruchverband.

For non-German readers, this is the Demolition Convention from the German Demolition Association and it was billed (quite rightly) as Europe’s biggest demolition conference. They wanted Demolition Hub to attend; would you expect any less?

With what I can only describe as German precision, the one-day event was a well organised opportunity for me to sample different ideas when it comes to sustainability within the industry. The full programme of speakers will not feature in this issue as there was a mammoth amount of information and speakers’ notes to go through and I have literally only just got back. Expect a full review in the next issue.

The day before Berlin I was in north Wales as a guest of Total Reclaims Demolition to witness (and by witness I mean the very best and closest view), the blowdown of the 122-m chimney from the old aluminium factory.

You can see my video on my socials and what turned out to be a 12-hour round trip hours before my Berlin flight, was more than worth the effort. A successful and professional job well done.

Also in this issue we have the SUPPLIER TALK with attachments specialist Rotar’s Commercial Director Louis Broekhuizen and our regular DEMOLITION DISCUSSION is with David Clarke from TRU Demolition, formerly known as Clarke Demolition.

We offer more on what TRU Group is up to with a great story that made the national news. Their demolition of the Clearmount Bridge between Junctions 10 and 11 of the M25 – the first full closure of the motorway since it opened in 1986 –came in eight hours ahead of time.

All that leaves me to say is that with the temporary hiatus of our demolition industry mental health fundraiser DEMOLISTEN there can be no other way to address this issue but to state that if you are reading this and are having a tough time, anywhere from Edinburgh to Epsom, please know that there is someone there for you, someone ready to listen. As you’ll have seen printed on every DEMOLISTEN poster, the Samaritans are available 24/7 by calling 116 123. Added to that you can always give me a call.

These last couple of words from me are probably the most important – Thank you.

Publisher, Demolition Hub ben@globalnews.media

PUBLISHER

Ben Chambers ben@globalnews.media

01903 952 648

EDITOR

Toby Wilsdon toby@globalnews.media

01903 952 645

COLUMNISTS

Howard Button

Richard Dolman

Richard Vann

Terry Lloyd

ADVERTISING SALES

Ben Chambers ben@globalnews.media

01903 952 648

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News Media Ltd Suites 5 & 6, Chapel House, 1-6 Chapel Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1EX demolition@globalnews.media

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Demolition Hub is a proud supporter of the National Demolition Association

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Demolition Hub is published six times a year. The subscription rate is £60 per year. Subscription records are maintained at Global News Media Ltd, Suites 5 & 6, Chapel House, 1-6 Chapel Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1EX

CONTENTS

6 NEWS

Tru7 Group demolishes M25 bridge ahead of schedule

Demolition excellence celebrated in style at NFDC Awards 2024

High Court demolishes Gove’s ‘unlawful’ ruling on M&S Oxford Street store

Crooked House owners ordered to rebuild

14 EUROPEAN DEMOLITION ASSOCIATION NEWS

Bulgarian demolition contractor ROSTER joins EDA Updates in the European standardisation for demolition machinery

EDA welcomes Belgian demolition recycling organisation TRACIMAT

EDA participates in the update of the EU CDW Protocol

German demolition contractor MAX WILD joins EDA

Professional development in the industry: new topic of the Working Group

Be a part of the European Decontamination Industry Report 2024

20 NATIONAL DEMOLITION ASSOCIATION NEWS

Bill Moore recounts NDA’s Journey Corrections at the Maine Correctional Center

CONCRETE

The journey from the successful experiment of an Italian company to the Vegas strip

FINGER ON THE BUTTON

Steeling a march, by Howard Button

DEMOLITION DISCUSSION

With David Clarke, Executive Director of Clarke Demolition

CASE STUDIES

Cawarden: Preparing the ground for the UK’s most environmentally friendly school

Total Reclaims Demolition blowdown: Angling the Anglesey Aluminium chimney

44

SUPPLIER TALK

With Rotar’s Louis Broekhuizen, Commercial Director, Attachments

50

RECRUITMENT FEATURE

• Sharpish

• City Site Solutions

• The Labour Desk

• Number 8 Group

• Elite Consultancy Network

58 OUT AND ABOUT

Snapshots of Ben and the Demolition Hub team’s activities between issues

70 EVENT

Review of the National Demolition Association, San Antonio 2024

88 EVENT

Europe’s largest demolition and dismantling conference – FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH Berlin

92

INDUSTRY

Stuart Partners chooses sustainable Sandvik solution for recycling operation

Redistribution of thousands of items by Cawarden empowers Nightlife Outreach charity SENNEBOGEN presents nine machines at IFAT 2024

DEVELON moves onwards with first European dealer conference

102 OPINION

Richard Vann: Remediating hazardous processing environments

Richard Dolman: Are we missing a huge opportunity?

Terry Lloyd: Springing into action

It’s a wrap!

Tru7 Group demolishes M25 London circular motorway bridge ahead of schedule

In partnership with Balfour Beatty, Clarke Demolition Company (part of the Tru7 Group) undertook the demolition of Clearmount Bridge for National Highways between Junctions 10 and 11 of the M25, between Friday 15 and the early hours of Sunday 17 March. This was the first ever planned closure of the M25 since its completion in October 1986 and garnered significant public interest, due to the perceived negative impact on the strategic road network.

The traffic management and media communications were extremely effective and reduced the traffic flow on the M25 significantly, allowing CDC to commence the demolition as planned on Friday evening.

Works consisted of the demolition of the RC bridge deck, the cutting and lifting of supporting beams to ground level for processing and the demolition of both abutments. All concrete arisings are being processed into granular material in accordance with the circular economy principles for construction. In addition to processing arisings into construction materials, all arising steelwork has been sent for recycling; ensuring the scheme maintains its recycling and environmental objectives.

Another safe, well planned, and well executed project, resulting in the motorway being opened a full eight hours ahead of the scheduled time.

Demolition excellence celebrated in style at NFDC Awards 2024

Last Friday the National Federation of Demolition Contractors held its annual awards ceremony at The Landmark London hotel.

Members of the demolition industry’s foremost trade association gathered to celebrate the individuals who best demonstrate the exemplary

standards expected of NFDC members.

NFDC President John Lynch and CEO Duncan Rudall were joined on stage by Welsh Rugby legend and TV host Jonathan Davies.

Awards were handed out for operatives of all levels, from those just starting out on their career as

Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by CITB: Peter Mader – Clifford Devlin Ltd

Labourer or Demolition Refurbishment

Operative of the Year, sponsored by NDTG: Darren Wickham – Tilley & Barrett Ltd

Advanced Demolition Operative or Chargehand of the Year, sponsored by NDTG Scotland:

Wayne Harrison – Connell Brothers Ltd

Plant Operator of the Year, sponsored by

NOCN:

Paul Shambrook – Wessex Demolition & Salvage Ltd

Supervisor of the Year, sponsored by NDTG

Scotland:

Zak Tetley – Total Reclaims Demolition Ltd

Manager of the Year, sponsored by NDTG:

Darren Lynch – City Demolition Contractors (Birmingham) Ltd

Outstanding Contribution to the Demolition

Industry:

John Woodward – C&D Demolition Consultants Ltd

apprentices right up to experienced managers. On top of this, the coveted Outstanding Contribution to the Demolition Industry award was given to John Woodward in recognition of his dedication to raising standards in demolition throughout his career.

See all the winners below:

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High Court demolishes Gove’s ‘unlawful’ ruling on M&S Oxford Street store

On Friday 1 March, the High Court overruled Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove’s decision to block Marks and Spencer’s application to demolish Orchard House, its flagship Oxford Street store, and replace it with a modern, energy efficient nine-storey building.

M&S lawyers had told the court in February that Gove had “misunderstood and misapplied” national planning policy. In her 31-page ruling, Mrs Justice Lieven appeared to agree, saying the Secretary of State “misinterpreted the national planning policy framework, and therefore erred in law”.

She continued: “The Secretary of State relied on a meaning of the national planning policy framework which is simply not open to him.

“There is… some encouragement for the reuse of buildings, but nothing that comes close to a presumption.

“The Secretary of State has not applied the policy, he has rewritten it. This then leads to him applying a test, or policy hurdle, through the rest of [his decision], which is based on his misinterpretation of the policy.”

The original application to Westminster City Council to demolish and rebuild Orchard House came in 2021 and it was also given the nod by the Greater London Authority.

However, the planning decision was “called in” by the Secretary of State in June 2022, with him blocking the application in July 2023, despite a government planning inspector also

approving the plans in February of that year.

M&S Operations Director, Sacha Berendji, said: “Today’s judgment couldn’t be clearer. The court has agreed with our arguments on five out of the six counts we brought forward and ruled that the Secretary of State’s decision to block the redevelopment of our Marble Arch store was unlawful.

“The result has been a long, unnecessary and costly delay to the only retail-led regeneration on Oxford Street, which would deliver one of London’s greenest buildings, create thousands of new jobs and rejuvenate the capital’s premier shopping district.”

An NFDC spokesperson said: “The NFDC is glad to see today’s High Court ruling, though it is unfortunate that the operations of a prime site in one of the UK’s flagship retail districts has been disrupted, delaying its much-welcomed carbon footprint improvements.

“We applaud the team at M&S and everyone involved in the project for championing a sensible mindset to sustainable redevelopment, which

considers the entire lifecycle of the site, rather than applying a one-sizefits-all approach.”

Justine Ayto, Construction Partner at international law firm Mishcon de Reya LLP, said the ruling proved there were strong arguments for demolition rather than retrofitting. “Whilst the original decision made it abundantly clear that it is important to consider retrofitting as part of any development project, this successful challenge demonstrates a judicial interpretation of national planning policy that supports a retrofit-first, not retrofit-only philosophy.

“Retrofit will not always be the answer, and there can be demonstrable benefits to rebuilding. This is especially true when considering the impact a new building can have on the wider community, which M&S has very clearly outlined.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: “We acknowledge the judgment and are considering our next steps.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

Crooked House owners ordered to rebuild

The owners of The Crooked House pub have been ordered by South Staffordshire District Council to reinstate the building to its condition before its “demolition” following a fire in August last year.

The enforcement notice was served to ATE Farms, its director George Adam Taylor and former director Carly Taylor for the unlawful demolition of the building.

The series of events leading to the notice was as follows: A break-in to the pub on 25 June 2023 caused “tens of thousands of pounds” of damage; the sale of the building to ATE Farms Ltd for “alternative use” was completed on 27 July; equipment used for the “demolition” of the pub was hired in the days

preceding the 5 August fire and it was bulldozed two days after the blaze.

The council notice stipulates that the owners must “rebuild the building… so as to recreate it as similar as possible to the demolished building as it stood prior to the start of demolition.” It states that reclaimed bricks from the Crooked House should be used where possible and where additional materials are required “suitable reclaimed bricks should be sourced to match to existing materials.”

Leader of South Staffordshire District Council, Councillor Roger Lees BEM said: “A huge amount of time and resources have been put into investigating the unauthorised

demolition of the Crooked House. We have had great support from the local community, our MPs and the Mayor of the West Midlands and from the campaign group whose aim is to see the Crooked House back to its former glory, which is the key objective of the Enforcement Notice.

“We have not taken this action lightly, but we believe that it is right to bring the owners, who demolished the building without consent, to account and we are committed to do what we can to get the Crooked House rebuilt.”

The owners have 30 days (as of 27 February) to appeal and the notice must be complied with within three years.

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Bulgarian demolition contractor ROSTER joins EDA

ROSTER, a demolition contractor based in Smolyan, Bulgaria, has joined the ranks of the EDA. Established in 1990, it has carried out more than 250 projects. The company made itself known by offering specialised and comprehensive services for dismantling industrial facilities, equipment and machinery.

Among its activities are waste management, asbestos removal, recycling of construction waste and dismantling of industrial facilities.

In addition to its strict measures to ensure quality of work, ROSTER abides by environmental and Occupational Health and Safety

EDA

(OSH) policies. By doing so, it is striving for the prevention of pollution, providing adequate training to its employees, continuing to improve its efficiency and more.

As ROSTER explains: “By expanding the diversity and scope of the entire construction process, while carrying out our core economic activities in accordance with the highest standards, we became the undisputed leader in this field.”

welcomes Belgian demolition recycling organisation TRACIMAT

TRACIMAT is a non-profit Flemish demolition management organisation that monitors materials from demolition/renovation from its origin until the first processor, with the aim of improving reuse and highgrade recycling.

Since its foundation in 2017, TRACIMAT has been providing several services regarding the demolition, decontamination and recycling industry. Among its goals are the inspection and declaration of conformity of the pre-demolition audit, monitoring the material flows and providing support for the different stakeholders during the process.

One of its most prominent features is the certification. The association certifies the quality of pre-demolition audits, as well as the selective demolition process, by issuing a “certificate of selective demolition” for C&D waste that has been selectively and safely collected and subsequently gone through a tracing system.

TRACIMAT pursues quality by daily monitoring demolition sites to identify bottlenecks to which solutions are found through research projects.

Another goal of TRACIMAT is to generate awareness, information and in-depth training for experts

and contractors on the different stages of the recycling route (identification of hazardous waste, high potential recycling waste, demolition techniques, acceptance criteria of recyclers and more).

Demolition

Updates in the European standardisation for demolition machinery

2024 promises to be a year full of important updates and reviews and the standardisation of demolition machinery is no exception.

In February 2025, the previous standard EN 4741:2006+A6:2019 will be withdrawn from the Official Journal of the EU. This means that its annex, related to demolition machinery, will lose its presumption of conformity.

Instead

of assimilating it into the new document, the CEN/TC 151 WG 1 responsible for Earth-Moving Machinery – Safety – Demolition

Machinery, has decided to create a stand-alone document related to this issue. This is also an opportunity to improve upon the existing standards.

The document will be published in 2025.

As a liaison organisation that is a part of this specific committee, the EDA is committed to contributing its knowledge and experience in helping to develop this standard.

Aside from its work within the CEN/TC 151, the EDA will keep its members up to date with any possible developments due to its importance to the demolition industry actors.

EDA participates in the update of the EU CDW Protocol

In 2018, the European Commission published its European Construction and Demolition Waste Management Protocol.

This document, crucial for the industry, provides comprehensive guidelines for companies involved in the demolition, decontamination and recycling industries, about the management of C&D waste. It has an important impact on the work of industry professionals by highlighting the best practices within the industry.

Now, after several years and many developments, it is time to review and update this document, alongside another one: Guidelines for pre-demolition and prerenovation audits.

Once again, the EDA took the initiative to come forward in aid of the update of the guidelines.

On 22 February the EDA Technical Committee gathered to review the document with stakeholders from all around Europe.

During the meeting, the participants discussed different sections and annexes. Selective demolition, hazardous substances and identification and statistics and recommended template for waste traceability were among them.

The collective feedback was then submitted to the European Commission for its evaluation.

Those documents are crucial for the work development of the different actors of the industry, of which the EDA and its members are a part. It’s very important for us to always be at the vanguard of the changes happening in the sector and contribute to them with our knowledge and experience.

German demolition contractor

MAX WILD joins EDA

MAX WILD was founded as a family business in Berkheim, southern Germany. Since 1955, the company has been providing numerous services related to construction, demolition and environmental and recycling logistics.

The company offers stability and adaptability to its clients, with the goal being to provide “tailor-made solutions” for projects of any size, and to understand and meet the individual needs of every customer.

Through the years, MAX WILD’s projects have received numerous local and international awards. These include the World Demolition Awards 2023 for the Best Civils Demolition of the Year; and the Baden-Württemberg Environmental Technology Prize 2023 in the Emission Reduction, Processing and Separation category.

MAX WILD puts a great focus on its commitment to sustainability, as is showcased with its sustainability report.

Demolition Hub is the media partner for the European Demolition Association

Professional development in the industry: new topic of the Working Group

Education and training have always been among the EDA’s top priorities and the shortage of skilled labour has been a prominent concern for the demolition industry for some time. To address the issue, the EDA has reactivated its Working Group on Education.

Through 2024, the group will present and share information about how to identify different roles, their responsibilities and the basic job skills and training needed at each level. Later in the year, it will present a special guide on the topic, explore the different career opportunities and offer the possibilities to promote it. The most recent meeting of the Working Group was on 20 March via videoconference.

Be

a part of

the European Decontamination Industry Report 2024

The European Decontamination Institute, EDI, has begun working on the fourth edition of its European Decontamination Industry Report.

This biennial publication aims to collect data of high value for decontamination professionals across Europe, providing an overview of the current situation of the sector.

This study, like the ones that preceded it, includes a series of comparisons with the results of the previous editions, as well as forecasts for the current year.

As Andreas Pocha, coordinator of the Industry Report, explains: “With this document, the EDI intends to provide quality resources that can be useful for the professionals of the industry.”

Participation in the Industry Report is carried out in two separate surveys, one for contractors and one for suppliers. The surveys are divided into countries and are available in nine languages for easier comprehension.

Completing the survey takes around five minutes and touches upon several questions. It allows for the recollection of the general results for the entire continent, as well as specific countries. All the responses to the survey are anonymous.

The surveys will be open for participation until 12 April and the summary of the results will appear in the EDI Special Publication 2024, which is set to be released in May of this year.

As a token of appreciation, all the respondents will be granted full and free access to the study once it is released in digital format. For the rest of the

Demolition Hub is the media partner for the European Demolition Association

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Bill Moore recounts NDA’s Journey

In recognition of the National Demolition Association’s 50th anniversary, it has been connecting with past leaders and other important figures in its history to hear their perspectives on the industry and association. We caught up with Bill Moore, past President of the NDA and long-time member (and former Chair) of the Safety Committee.

What has been your and your company’s involvement with NDA since its founding?

I started with Brandenburg in 1985, after a degree in safety and a 15-year career as a construction safety engineer for an insurance company. Brandenburg was one of NDA’s charter members, and its owner, Tom Little, was President in

the 1980s. I was President in 2001 and Brandenburg’s Dennis McGarel is in line to be Brandenburg’s third NDA president. I was also Chair of the Safety Committee for over 10 years. Although I retired after 28 years at Brandenburg and eight part-time years at ERM, I’m still on the NDA Safety Committee and work as an expert witness for demolition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and safetyrelated legal cases.

Do you remember the first NDA convention you attended? How did your involvement evolve?

My first convention was in Phoenix in 1986, and I went on to attend 27 more consecutive conventions. I also never missed a board meeting while on the board. I was impressed

with all the equipment displayed and how friendly all the other contractors were. The conventions have always been family-friendly and, as a result, have sort of groomed the next generation of industry leaders. My family attended almost all conventions with me and now my two sons are both employed in the industry.

In 1986, the executive board decided to start a Safety Committee and I was made the Chair. One of our first tasks was to revise the association’s existing safety manual using new pictures, adding sections on asbestos and lead, and updating government regulations. Shortly thereafter, along with another NDA member, I joined the ANSI A-10.6 review committee that revised the specific demolition safety regulations. We’ve met every five years since then to update the regulations. We also edited OSHA’s FOM (Field Operations Manual) for demolition.

After the Oklahoma City bombing and the last San Francisco earthquake, we decided that the rescue methods were less than ideal and that the first responders didn’t realise how much more efficient our equipment was in rescue situations. We developed a video, sent it to the 500 largest US fire departments and I presented at an International Association of Fire Chiefs convention. We then held live equipment demonstrations and rescue training exercises in several major cities. I had also met representatives from the US Secret Service, Army Special Forces, ATF and the FBI at a FEMA seminar in Los Alamos years earlier. I arranged for them to practice hostage rescue situations using explosives at one of our steel mill job sites. I think all our efforts paid off because, as an example, four NDA members were already mobilised

and working on the afternoon of 9/11.

We decided that our employees needed initial safety orientation training and developed the “Starting Out Right” video and later videos on lead safety and skid steer safety. We also signed an alliance with OSHA and have arranged to lecture at their classes and take their new compliance officers to demolition job sites for training.

We also decided that the general public’s perception of our industry was that most demolition was unsafe, was done with explosives or a wrecking ball and that everything we wrecked went to landfills. We hired the late actor Ed Asner and developed a professional video along with a “10 Misconceptions” brochure, which we distributed nationwide.

In an effort to recruit more college grads into our industry and educate construction management and engineering students, NDA and several members funded a new demolition programme at Purdue University. A professor was hired, a textbook was written and several NDA members, including myself, guest lectured for over 10 years at Purdue on subjects including risk management, estimating and project management.

Several NDA members also spoke at engineering schools and high schools on “Demo 101” and “Careers in Demolition.” We also helped members hire college interns.

What are the biggest changes you have seen, both within the demolition industry and NDA as an organisation, over the years?

I think the two biggest changes in the demolition industry are the improvements in demolition equipment and our industry’s more positive attitude toward health and safety. We’ve gone from manual

labour and cranes with wrecking balls and clam buckets to huge super high-reach excavators with a variety of attachments that can be rotated 360 degrees and remote controlled equipment. These advances have made our industry both safer and more productive.

As an organisation, our members realise that both their customers and employees really care about safety as well as their insurance companies and, of course, OSHA.

What are your fondest memories of NDA?

My fondest memories of NDA were the family-oriented conventions and the theme parties, including the “Harley” party, wearing a dress as “Klinger” for a MASH party, a bed sheet for the Animal House Toga party and winning the best costume award one year as “Billy Bob”. Also, we always picked great places for board meetings like Ireland, Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, etc.

What do you think the next 5 to 10 years have in store for NDA and the industry?

In the next 5 to 10 years we’ll see larger and higher-reach excavators, more sophisticated attachments,

more remote control equipment, maybe robots, and more use of artificial intelligence and 3D modelling to aid in the pre-planning of complex jobs. There will also be even more emphasis placed on safety, the environment and certifications for employees.

Demolition Hub is a proud supporter of the National Demolition Association

Corrections at the Correctional Center

Located in Windham, Maine, just 30 minutes north of Portland, is the Maine Correctional Center.

Originally built in 1919, the centre has been under construction for the past five years as part of an expansion and renovation plan being carried out by the Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Maine Bureau of General Services (BGS). Chosen for its ability to provide asbestos abatement and both structural and select demolition services, NDA member EnviroVantage was awarded a subcontractor role on this project.

Planning a project at an active correctional facility requires high-

security conditions be in place for the work site and the project personnel. EnviroVantage had the logistics experience of working on federal military sites, but the need for waste disposal trucks to enter and exit through multiple security gates each trip was a new complication. To address this time-consuming complication, EnviroVantage developed a plan in which security fencing would be raised and dismantled as needed to isolate the building scheduled for demolition from the rest of the facility. This solution allowed EnviroVantage to operate alongside the waste disposal trucks, which

were adjacent to the campus but outside the secure boundary during each mobilisation.

A job in three parts

Spanning across three mobilisations and nine buildings of the centuryold, medium-security prison campus, the EnviroVantage crew began work in the autumn of 2022. The project’s strategy required that at each building, the crew would first abate the asbestos containing materials (ACM) from exterior window glazing, floor tiles and mastics, then in crawl spaces on pipe insulations and fittings, followed by the roofing and then finally move on to demolition.

“The crew size on the project varied depending on the phase of the project,” says David Massaro, EnviroVantage project manager. “Some days we would have a crew performing asbestos abatement while another team of heavy equipment operators were working on demolition. EnviroVantage’s first mobilisation targeted the campus’s vocational and dining buildings, as well as one of its security buildings. When demolition started at the first building, previously unknown black mastic was found between the brick exterior and interior walls. The suspect material was quickly identified by the crew, tested and came back hot for ACM. Because the EnviroVantage team is multidisciplined, the crew on-site was able to pivot and perform the necessary abatement activity, which prevented any major schedule delays.

“We pride ourselves on our ability to keep a project moving by having cross-trained environmental and demolition experts on our job sites,” says Matt Preston, President of EnviroVantage. Once demolition was underway, trucking became a particular challenge that had to be overcome. A solution EnviroVantage

Demolition Hub is a proud supporter of the National Demolition Association

employed was to take ownership of concrete processing by dedicating one of its three on-site excavators, the Komatsu PC 400, to the task. The company purchased a dedicated processing attachment, which was able to reduce the concrete down to six-inch (150 mm) minus and be left on site. Working diligently, the team was able to complete the abatement and demolition work on the first three buildings in time to be off site by Christmas 2022.

In January 2023, the team demobilised to begin work on the demolition of the remaining buildings, which consisted of the school building, the administrative building, another security building and the gym. Taking place during the heart of a New England winter, the mobilisation brought with it a new set of challenges.

The first building to be demolished was the gym but after the building came down and demolition of the foundation began, a secondary slab foundation from a former facility building was uncovered. This additional belowgrade work was exceptionally

difficult due to the winter conditions. Temperatures in Windham did not rise above freezing throughout January, hitting a low of -11 degrees, and there was snowfall on 23 out of the 31 days of the month. The EnviroVantage team, with the right equipment and gear, was able to work through the harsh winter weather conditions and keep its schedule. After approximately two months for the second phase, EnviroVantage completed the demolition and demobilised from the project site in March 2023.

The final mobilisation took place in the summer of 2023 with the team being contracted to support the renovations of existing structures with select demolition and abatement of ACM in the dormitories.

One for the books

EnviroVantage finished work in August 2023 and considers the job one of its most successful projects completed in 2023. The value of its multidisciplined labour force was in full effect on this project, which helped to benefit the overall

construction schedule. The security requirements of the site also provided unique and interesting challenges that encouraged EnviroVantage’s team to leverage its culture of problem solving to address them successfully.

With the project at the Maine Correctional Center now complete, the upgrades and renovations have modernised the security measures and improved the facilities for job training and education.

Equipment used

• Two Volvo EC250EL excavators

• One Bobcat T590 compact track loader

• One Brokk 100 machine

• One Komatsu PC400 hydraulic excavator

• Genesis shear with grapple attachment

• Burning setup

Job stats

• Percentage of waste material recycled: 50%

• Duration: 11 months (across three mobilisations)

• Crew size: 6-15

The journey from the successful experiment of an Italian company to the Vegas strip

Pinpointing the exact origins of the world’s most common building material is challenging. It made its first appearance more than 5,000 years ago as the Assyrians and Egyptians understood the versatility of building in the desired shapes. Technique and knowledge were improved during the Roman Empire as their mastery of concrete was beyond doubt.

Throughout the years concrete production and applications have been improved, bringing us to the present day in Abruzzo, a region in central Italy, where the company Sismex uses an MB Crusher BF120.4 crusher bucket for its on-site

crushing and the production of a new material, an eco-concrete.

Eco-concrete, a successful experiment

Sismex SRL began its history as an earthmoving company and over the years it has evolved with other services, including supplying roll-off dumpsters to the construction sites where companies can differentiate waste and rubble, which then they collect and take to their plants.

On site, they also have an MB Crusher jaw crusher, a BF120.4, which they use on their Caterpillar.

“We began to use the crusher bucket to crush debris produced

during demolition to reuse them in road foundations,” said the company owner “then we found out that it could also be used to make a recycled material that is suitable for the production of non-load-bearing concrete.”

Practically, they mix the material produced by BF120.4 with cement and produce blocks of eco-concrete. “Eco” because it does not include raw materials, but thanks to the crusher bucket it is made only of recycled materials while keeping characteristics and performance comparable to traditional natural materials.

These eco-concrete blocks represent an innovation in the construction industry precisely because they offer a sustainable method to create solid structures, using recycled materials. MB Crusher’s jaw crusher bucket was indispensable for this work; it transformed demolition materials into new recycled material, thus contributing to the reduction of waste and the conscious use of resources.

The journey continues from Italy to Las Vegas. Sin City is the host of the World of Concrete, where MB Crushers’ screener and jaw crusher buckets staged their show reclaiming concrete.

Why use recycled concrete?

The answer is simple. Because it is versatile, reduces the environmental impact associated with the disposal of old concrete and requires less energy for production.

With MB Crusher equipment the process becomes easier. The same machinery used on site, an operator and an MB Crusher jaw crusher are all that is needed to obtain high-quality material. This can be screened on site with the MB screening bucket to be reused for example as a road substrate, for fillings, foundations and many other uses.

Reinforcement is not a challenge Concrete can contain reinforcement, but with MB Crusher this is not a problem.

With reinforced materials, disposal costs and times often skyrocket. The biggest problem is the iron, which can cut the conveyor belt, causing machine downtime.

With the MB Crusher bucket, however, the iron comes out thanks to the force of gravity along with the crushed material. If you then equip the crusher bucket with an iron separator magnet, you can collect the iron from the pile while sitting in the cabin.

Our Roman ancestors hit the nail on the head. They understood that with concrete they could obtain artificial rocks of any shape and they built some of the seven wonders of the world. Imagine what they would have achieved if they’d had an MB Crusher bucket.

finger on the button

Steeling a march by Howard Button

I must begin my column with a moment of sad reflection. As we commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Didcot disaster, which claimed the lives of four of our demolition colleagues, like many others I am left wondering when we will see closure.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has now placed the responsibility for the lack of action squarely on the police, who in turn have issued a bland statement with no indication of imminent closure. Yes, the investigation needs to be thorough and robust, but eight years is a considerable time. I urge everyone in our industry to advocate for action to bring this investigation to a conclusion, allowing both

families and the industry to find closure while assimilating any valuable lessons from the investigation.

Reuse of steel

Since retiring from the NFDC, I have been actively involved in Disrupt II, a project funded by Innovate UK and managed by ASBP, with partners including the Institute of Demolition Engineers. This project focuses on the reuse of steel sections from demolition contracts throughout the UK.

The work began with industry interviews and online questionnaires, completed and reviewed by the team, pointing towards greater client involvement while considering time and cost implications. The carbon agenda has already spurred numerous projects such as Holbein Gardens, 55 Great Suffolk Street, Brent Cross Town Primary Substation, Elephant and Castle Town Centre redevelopment and others, mostly in London.

According to the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) developed by EMR, reusable steel is responsible for as little as 47 kg of CO2e per tonne, significantly lower than the world average of 1,850 kg for new steel and 526 kg for recycled steel. This marks a staggering 98% saving in embodied carbon compared to using new steel.

Economy and Reuse Guidance for Designers, which features an extensive section on steel reuse and recent case studies, as well as the DISRUPT steel reuse toolkit with 11 case studies addressing steel reuse and technical, supply chain and economic considerations for various organisations in the steel value chain. It has been estimated that 45% of structural steel (particularly beams and columns) will be able to be reused by 2050, resulting in 250,000 tonnes of embodied carbon savings.

The ASBP’s new DISRUPT II project is keenly focused on the experiences of demolition contractors, aiming to achieve the UK government’s goals of significantly reducing the carbon impact of the construction industry. The initial questionnaires have slightly altered the project’s direction, shifting from deep dive sessions to an industrywide working group. I have the great honour of chairing this group, which consists of representatives from demolition contractors and consultants nationwide.

Initial concerns have been raised over the additional costs and time required to reuse steel sections, a theme that will persist throughout the project with more in-depth discussion. A clear outcome from the group is the need for straightforward guidance to engage and inform the industry, with case studies and methodologies for good working practices, along with any identified additional training.

Our reuse stakeholder partners are working on data tables to clearly identify the types and section sizes of steel that would be readily accepted. Should you wish to contribute your insights to this important project, please do not hesitate to drop me a line.

Industry guidelines include the Institute of Structural Engineers’ comprehensive guide, Circular

If you have something to say and would like to submit a column for publication in Demolition Hub, please email:

toby@chambers.media

DEMOLITION DISCUSSION

QTell us about how you got into the demolition industry and how that’s led you to where you are now

When I left school, I did an HND in Quantity Surveying at Ipswich College, which was a very steep learning curve. I persisted with

Interviewee: David Clarke

Role: Executive Director

Company: Clarke Demolition Company (CDC)

that for about three years, but having 12 weeks on a sewage farm construction in Dunstable got the better of me so I changed track and industry and believe it or not qualified as an ACII insurance broker. I did that for about 12 years, by which time my father was ready to take a back seat with the demolition business.

My two brothers weren’t interested, so he said, “Do you want to have a go at doing this?” As with a lot of family companies, my qualification was that I was the oldest of three. So, I got asked first. Real industry experience was a bit lacking

then obviously but living in the same family, rubbing shoulders daily with my father and with an uncle who was MD of the demolition business at the time, I had a rudimentary grasp of things. In addition, CDC had been one of my insurance clients, so there had been regular contact through that relationship too.

At that time, CDC was a group of companies consisting of demolition, landscaping, horticultural equipment and actually building golf courses. So, I slotted in behind my uncle on the on the MD side of demolition, succeeding him as MD on his retirement about four years later.

QHow has the company evolved since then?

From around about ‘93 to 2003 we were we were expanding to the point where I was thinking, I’ve got this game cracked. Then after a disastrous contract in 2008, had to effectively relaunch in 2009. Over the next eight years we managed to build up the company to a position where we were a good size and even making a bit of money. As with many companies, succession becomes a real factor in onward progression. With two daughters not the slightest bit interested in demolition, the opportunity came about in 2017 to sell up and become part of the Tru7 Group.

The background to that move started in 2014 when I was diagnosed with bowel cancer, so I was pretty poorly for quite a while. Guy Nicholls, the owner of the group, and I had been friends since he was

nine and I was 15, so we had a lot of history. He also gave me a lot of support when I was ill. As I started to recover, he said one day, “I’ve always fancied demolition.” It would be a good fit into the business, which was heavy plant hire and trucks at the time. Guy’s the type of character that, once he decided he fancied it, I had the option of carrying on with a competitor on my doorstep or selling up, so it seemed a natural progression.

Since then, it has given us the

backing of a much larger group of companies, much more financial stability, and enabled us to really progress, particularly over the last three to four years, where the market pace isn’t necessarily just driven on price anymore. They want to know that you can do a good job with the right sort of kit on programme, and on budget.

We’re changing the name but keeping the logo for the foreseeable future because it’s recognisable and there are people who remember

CDC from 35 years ago. The name will change at Companies House within the next two or three weeks and we’ve started introducing our customers and our supply chain to the new name, but nothing else changes.

QTell us about the working culture

I’ve always tried to treat all the guys the way I would like to be treated if the boot was on the other foot, and I think by and large, we’ve managed to do that.

We do have a good relationship not only with our site managers and our site supervisors, but also the guys who do the work. Many years ago, one of the guys then working on the management side could never understand why my office door was always open. And it is. I’ve always had my office close to the entrance to the office building and it’s never closed to anybody who wants to come in. I think that gives the guys the opportunity to feel more relaxed in hopefully not just a company atmosphere, but almost a family atmosphere. That’s always been my ethos. Treat them like human beings. Treat them like grown ups.

Within Tru7, Guy refers to it as a family company. Turning over a hundred million with 285 people working for us now, it’s a big company but there is still that residue of the family atmosphere.

QAre there any stand-out projects from your career?

When I was still doing quantity surveying as part of the business, we had a contract to demolish a well at Dunwich Beach on the east coast. After a night of storms the land around the well had been washed away and where the day before there had been a 36-foot deep well, standing proud there was now a 36-foot-high brick tower. That was probably one of the one of the weirdest jobs we’ve done.

We’ve done some quite large projects over the years. We demolished 15 bridges for both

Skanska and Balfour Beatty as part of the Channel Tunnel rail link. They felt we could do the job better than our competitors and they paid us more money because they felt comfortable with us.

We were awarded a small job at Bradwell Power station in early 2010 as part of the decommissioning works there. We performed well and became the framework contractor for all small works up to £300,000 and worked there until the end of 2013. Their idea of small jobs helped us pick up a lot of work in terms of revenue over that period.

And we’ve actually been working quite a lot on HS2. I tried to get on the HS2 supply chain directly, but they told us we weren’t local, so we couldn’t be on it. Subsequent to that we had a phone call from a main contractor who we’d demolished bridges for asking me to give them a budget to demolish a bridge on one section of HS2. We got the order, that was three and a half years ago and we’ve been working there constantly since.

QDoes CDC have any particular specialisms?

We’ve done in excess of 140 gas holders both above ground and below ground. And we started demolishing bridges in the early 80s as part of the electrification of the London to Norwich railway line and we ended up doing 26 bridges there.

On the first bridge I think we had a couple of Massey Fergusons and a Hy-Mac, and we bashed this bridge down with machines and buckets. If you look back now you think, “What the hell were we doing?”

To date we’ve completed over 200 bridges up and down the length and breadth of mainland Britain. And that’s over bridges, under bridges, road bridges, rail bridges, bridges over rivers…

QHow do you acquire business?

The vast majority of work is still based on getting on the supply chains to enable you to receive

the tenders, primarily from main contractors in our case. The problem there is that there could be two or three main contractors tendering for the job and a couple of those may not ask you to tender. Having said that, once you’re on the supply chains for these contractors, you build up a reputation for the type of work that you do. We do pick up work from consulting engineers and architects, but the vast majority of our work comes through the traditional main contractor route.

QTell us about CDC and training

We have always been a supporter of the National Demolition Training Group and I was chairman of the NDTG between 2006 and 2009. That is the main route for gaining industry-specific training, all the training is affiliated to the CSCS scheme and also the NOCN scheme now.

We’ve always tried to directly employ our labour. I think that’s one of the reasons why we haven’t grown as much as we could have done. My opinion, probably very old fashioned, is that using agency labour is a high-risk strategy, so we’ve always endeavoured to use only directly employed people, although we do have to top that up at times with a few agency staff.

In maintaining a direct labour force, you’ve got to do something to make sure you keep them and that is to train them. If you’re investing in them and you’re trying to help them get trained, skilled and certificated, they repay that by staying with you for a long time and working damn hard.

QTell us about your involvement in the local community

As our workforce get older, they end up in relationships, get married, have children, so we sponsor quite a few local junior football teams – I think there’s about seven or eight teams running around with our logos or the Tru7 logos on their shirts in the

Suffolk area. We do schools’ career fairs and those sorts of things but trying to encourage youngsters into the demolition industry is difficult.

QAnd how about your efforts regarding sustainability?

In our yard here we are able to generate almost 100% of the electricity that we use on site because we have installed solar panelling on the roofs. For all of the cleaning of our machines and trucks we now have a grey water collection system to steam clean the vehicles.

We’re a construction industry company. We use three million litres of diesel a year as a group and you can’t get round that. We looked at HVO green diesel, but the price differential between that and regular diesel has got to the stage where you just won’t win any jobs if you try to put HVO in all your machines. It’s not financially sustainable and there isn’t enough HVO around for everybody to use anyway.

We purchase carbon credits for all of our fuel – three million litres, the fund we pay into is internationally recognised and we have evidence of where that credit is spent. It’s not carbon reduction and it’s not carbon capture, but it is credit, which as far as we are concerned is the only way we can see things going in the short term.

Electric excavators are still a bit of a pipe dream. The reality at the moment is that for larger excavators, 20 tonnes and above, electric isn’t really an option. I know JCB are pushing down the hydrogen route and knowing JCB they’ll probably be the ones who make it friendly to the marketplace, but those days are a while off.

One of the advantages in relationship to sustainability with CDC being a part of the Tru7 Group is that we have the buying power so all of our machines have the lowest emissions on the market and are almost entirely under two years old.

QSo anything notable in planning?

We did the first bridge on the M25 two weeks ago. I’m sure my competitors would say it wasn’t a real bridge, it was only an old horse bridge, or whatever. But the next two bridges on the M25, which will be towards the end of the year, are main roundabout bridges, three and a half thousand tonnes each of concrete over the M25, which will have to be demolished in a similar vein over a weekend full road closure.

Due to our location, we are optimistic that we will pick up quite a bit of work around Sizewell C. There’s lots of ancillary or bolt on projects there where we’d like to think we’ll be involved over the next 5 to 10 years. We’re also looking at a number of potential motorway bridge demolitions, all over the UK.

There are many other real opportunities that we are excited about for the future but I’m sure you’ll understand we will keep those under wraps.

AND FINALLY

Who’s your favourite artist? Tedeschi Trucks Band – an American husband and wife, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks

What would be your desert island (permanent exile) luxury?

An unlimited supply of good red wine [we’ll throw in the cut glass – Ed]

QAnd how about the future for you?

I’m now sixty-six and Guy has told me on more than one occasion that I’m not allowed to retire. I still have a passion for this industry but I also enjoy my holidays. At the moment I’ve got the best of both worlds and I don’t see it changing in the foreseeable future, to be honest. No plans to retire.

I am an Honorary Life Vice President of the NFDC. Being an HLVP is a bit like being a grandfather; you get the opportunity to go in, get involved, perhaps get the other council members excited and then you can withdraw and let them get on with it, which is very enjoyable and helping me to give something back to this brilliant industry.

What’s the most expensive non-essential you’ve ever bought?

An AMG Mercedes

What’s your bucket list activity?

To play Pebble Beach golf course in California

Tipple of choice

Tanqueray gin with a Fevertree slimline tonic

Case study

Project Title: St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Derby

Structure Type: Burned out school structure

Contractor: Cawarden

Client: Tilbury Douglas

Start Date: November 2022

Completion Date: December 2023

Techniques: Enabling and demolition; civils and construction; earthworks

Future Use: Education (school)

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Helping to rebuild St Mary’s as the UK’s most environmentally friendly school

and groundworks for a new school, to be constructed by building and fit-out company, Tilbury Douglas.

Notably, this is the first biophilic school in the UK, designed to enhance the connection between students and the natural environment. Cawarden takes great pride in its contribution to this prestigious project, which has been dubbed the greenest primary school in the country and forms part of an innovative pilot scheme for the Department for Education.

“Biophilic design is a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions”

Demolition

For the first stage of the project, Cawarden’s team focused on clearing the site to make way for the new construction. This process included the demolition of the existing concrete slabs and foundations. The team worked diligently to ensure that all existing areas were removed safely and efficiently to prepare the area for the next phase of construction.

Earthworks

Cawarden carried out a thorough excavation and filling process on the site, which involved removing excess material and bringing in recycled and primary aggregates from elsewhere. To ensure precision in its work, the contractor used a 3D model that was loaded into the machinery. This allowed it to establish a stable foundation to work from for the duration of the project.

Drainage

The demolition, recycling, reclamation and site remediation contractor Cawarden was responsible for installing all the internal and external drainage systems, starting from the connection to the existing sewerage network. The external drainage system varied in depth from one to three metres and Cawarden took all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its workers. This included the use of temporary works designs and proprietary ground support for the deeper excavations. It also installed a plastic crate attenuation tank system to prevent the discharge of water into the network during severe weather events, which could potentially lead to flooding in the local area.

Foundations and slabs

A total of 120 tonnes of steel and 1,100m3 of concrete was used to construct five FM2 standard groundbearing slabs and foundations with a polished finish.

Services

Cawarden was responsible for installing all the service ducting on the site, including connection pits for the statutory providers to make their connections to the site. The scope of the project included power, communication and water connections. Additionally, it installed the foundations and pipework for the 5,000-litre sprinkler tank system, which was crucial for ensuring the safety of the school.

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Hard and soft landscaping

All the planting beds located between the winding footpaths and the woodland walk area were constructed by Cawarden. During the earthworks phase, it screened the soil and later installed the site-won topsoil into these areas. The client planted the beds according to the landscape architect’s specifications while Cawarden paved the areas around the buildings, including the timber sleeper retaining walls and tarmac footways to create a level threshold for the students and teachers. Cawarden helped in redesigning the car park, making it more user-friendly and reducing the amount of material off-site by modifying the levels. It prepared and surfaced these areas and finished them off with the lining package.

Key challenges

• A major challenge was working adjacent to a live school. As a result, logistics planning and limiting deliveries to between 09.30 and 14.30 kept nearby pupils safe and minimal disruption was caused,

• At the peak of the construction project, 150 individuals were working on site – all effectively collaborating where needed to ensure the successful delivery of the project.

Added value

• Liaison with the client and its design team to ensure a seamless approach from design to construction,

• Proactive focus on Health and Safety and the implications of work on other trades.

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How Cawarden’s integrated service made a difference

• Success depends not only on the services offered but also on their delivery. Cawarden worked closely with the principal contractor to provide the best all-round solution for the package of works,

• The “destruction to construction” solution included efficient synchronisation of services. Cawarden’s approach involved a single programme and an integrated team, ensuring smooth delivery and the highest standards of safety, quality and environmental care. This encouraged transparency, open communication and collaboration to achieve the best results,

• Cawarden’s team of experts thoroughly evaluated the project risks, site constraints and scope of works to develop an efficient programme, methodology and value for money.

• As the specialist subcontractor, Cawarden took full responsibility for delivering its scope of works in-house using our specialist teams and resources, avoiding the need for multiple trades operating under multiple contracts.

Speaking for Cawarden, Commercial Director Oliver Crooks said: “It’s an honour for Cawarden to have contributed to the project through the delivery of our integrated services and to help create a sustainable and eco-friendly environment for future generations.”

A spokesperson for Tilbury Douglas said: “I have just worked with Cawarden on the first Biophilic net-zero school in Europe at St Mary’s School Derby. There were extremely challenging ground and weather conditions through which they kept persevering to maintain programme and deliver their £1.4m package on time.”

See for yourself

From the earthworks at the beginning of the project back in November 2022, to the completion of the foundations/slabs, groundworks and externals in December 2023, see the remarkable progress made by Cawarden’s team through the power of time-lapse footage

https://youtu.be/nhLPIEBT6UM

If you have a case study you would like to submit for publication in Demolition Hub, please email:

Case study

Project Title:

Anglesey Aluminium

Structure Type:

Steel frame storage sheds and concrete chimney

Contractor:

Total Reclaims Demolition Ltd

Client:

Stena Line

Start Date: 13 November 2023

Completion Date: 22 March 2024

Techniques:

Explosive demolition following preweakening. TNT-based Perunite, with approximately 156 holes each filled with 125 g of explosive, a total of around 20 kg

Future Use:

Prosperity Parc Freeport

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Coming down in smoke

Exactly 14:00, on Wednesday 20 March 2024 marked D-day for the 122-m high chimney of the former Anglesey Aluminium plant near Holyhead, Anglesey. Dropping the chimney with a controlled explosion marked the end of the 15-week enabling works contract at the former aluminium smelting plant that was once one of the region’s largest employers, employing up to 540 people.

Following the Welsh mining tradition, on the day of its closure the departing employees laid their boots at the entrance of the site as

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a silent testament to their courage, superstitions and dangers.

The concrete chimney with an internal steel flue, which was also known as the Carbon Baking Stack, had stood for more than 50 years was and one of the tallest structures in Wales prior to its demolition.

Up until its closure in 2013 Anglesey Aluminium produced up to 142,000 tonnes of aluminium every year and was the biggest single user of electricity, circa 255 MW, in the United Kingdom.

Total Reclaims Demolition Ltd was contracted to clear the remaining smelting and storage sheds along with the chimney in late 2023, with the works starting in mid-November to facilitate the development of the Prosperity Parc Freeport.

The four storage sheds and smelting works were primarily steel portal frames, clad in aluminium. The sheds were run of the mill type of work, although at 480-m long and 22-m wide they were vast. They generated around 6,000 tonnes of scrap ferrous and non-ferrous metal, sheared and brought to the ground in sections for the arisings to be removed off site for recycling.

Following weeks of planning and liaison with our partnering organisations such as Mike Kehoe of C&D Engineering Consultants, Network Rail, the Royal Air Force, Fire and Police Authorities and Traffic Wales, the initial date of 1 March was highlighted as the preferred date. However, as this fell on St David’s Day it was considered inappropriate, therefore, the next available window of opportunity was Wednesday 20 March.

Owing to the RAF air space, the adjacent Network Rail passenger and freight lines and the required temporary closure of both the A5 and A55, we had a 15-minute window of opportunity. Although, in the planning for several weeks prior, the physical pre-weakening and preparation work started the day before the blowdown.

Due to the height of the chimney

it was constructed with a significant amount of reinforcement and for the chimney’s trajectory to be accurately predicted a large section of the reinforcement was cut on the northwest face. This, along with the locations of the existing openings in the chimney’s base that conveniently formed the “hinges”, determined the angle that the chimney would fall and its subsequent resting place.

A window was formed in the south-east face, in the direction of fall and 156 holes were diamond drilled in a set pattern.

On the morning of the blast at 10:00 a briefing was held, assigning the roles and responsibilities of those on the day and setting out the procedure for the day ahead. It was imperative that the exclusion zone was established and monitored

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hours before the intended detonation.

Explosives experts packed the 156 holes each with a 125-g charge of TNT, a combined weight of 20 kg, sufficient to completely demolish a house and damage surrounding properties.

These charges were grouted and connected via approximately 120 m of denotating cord back to a central point at the bottom of the chimney. The ignition along the length of the cord travels at around 6,400 metres per second. That’s the equivalent of travelling from Holyhead to New York in 13 minutes.

After all the requisite exclusion zones and closures were in place, including of the train line, A5 and A55 at around 13:55 the final checks were completed and firing lead connected. Tension was quite rightly palpable as the intended blowdown had reached the press and social media bringing thousands of onlookers.

Once the 10-second countdown began an eerie silence fell across the airwaves at the count of six, as the final five seconds were counted in silence to keep the radio frequency free in case of an emergency.

The detonating position some 500 metres away from the chimney was connected to the detonating cord via a firing lead. Once detonated it takes around a quarter of a second for the impulse to reach the detonation cord. The impulse then takes 18.75 milliseconds to travel across the 120 metres of detonation cord, giving an instantaneous appearance.

From the initial detonation to the chimney stack coming to rest at its intended final location took 13 seconds.

Although Total Reclaims’ scope concluded with the demolition of the chimney, it will take several more weeks for the arisings of the chimney to be processed

by Rock Civils, the groundworks contractor.

Total Reclaims Demolition Ltd is a family owned and operated business based in Nottinghamshire and operates throughout the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands. After trading for more than 30 years, the company’s Managing Director, Melvyn Cross is immensely proud to see his son Ewan Cross now the third generation of the family to be learning the ropes on such a challenging project.

Melvyn would also like to extend his thanks and appreciation to Mike Kehoe and the team at C&D Engineering Consultants for their assistance.

Speaking on behalf of Total Reclaims Demolition Stephen Fisher said: “We are proud to have been an integral part of this transformative project and wish every success to the ongoing development of the Freeport.”

SUPPLIER TALK

Interviewee: Louis Broekhuizen

Role: Commercial Director, Attachments

Company: Rotar

QTell us about yourself. How did you start out in the industry, what attracted you to it and how has your career developed to where you are now?

From the outset, my passion for international business steered me towards studying and pursuing it as a career. During my final year of study, I was offered an interview at Rotar and took the job. I was working as an assistant in the German market and my career has grown from there.

I was initially surrounded by technicians but had zero experience. I learned the technical side and really enjoyed it. Grasping the technical aspects proved challenging yet rewarding, offering insights into both the attachment industry and the global business landscape. I particularly enjoy the international side of the business. I’ve ended up as Commercial Director and co-owner now, so am proud of my achievements so far. This year I am proud to celebrate 30 years at Rotar.

QGive us some background on Rotar Rotar’s origins trace back to Holland in 1980, when a local road contractor pioneered a cleaning bucket for paving stones. The concept stemmed from Jac. Pleysier & Sons, a road contractor seeking a more efficient alternative to the laborious and costly process of cleaning paving stones with traditional scratching tools.

Hendrik Pleysier, the inventor of the system, was only interested in the use of the machine in his own company, so it was his son-in-law who applied for a world patent and introduced the Rotar Cleaner into the marketplace.

Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Rotar expanded its offerings, introducing a comprehensive range of demolition and sorting grapples. In 1997, the company adopted its current name, Rotar International.

1998 saw the creation of a production plant in Poland, which today is a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant with an ISO 9001 certificate – equipped with CNC machines and a robot welding division.

Today Rotar offers a wide range of hydraulic attachments to the demolition and recycling industry, which are all designed and manufactured in house and are distributed worldwide through an extensive network of established dealers.

QTell us about the products and services Rotar provides for demolition contractors and how your relationship with clients works

Rotar is a leading manufacturer of premium hydraulic attachments for the demolition, recycling and scrap metal industries. Types of attachments available include shears, pulverisers, processors, grabs, concrete cutters, washing buckets and segregator buckets.

We have a created a worldwide distribution network. In the UK it is Worsley Plant that is our dealer. We not only supply the attachments but provide an installation service on site, and full aftersales servicing to all our customers.

We are also committed to going out and meeting our customers on road shows, exhibitions and seminars.

QWhat makes Rotar different?

The easiest way is to explain our DNA. Our DNA has arisen completely organically, it’s the outcome of 40 years of innovation and improvement – listening to clients, collecting feedback, transforming ideas into innovation.

The six principles used for our attachment design are:

1. Use of the best materials,

2. Hydraulic benefit – to obtain the most efficient use of the attachment,

3. Changeable wear parts to avoid downtime,

4. Simplicity for ease of assembly,

5. Premium components – only working with the best suppliers,

6. Excellent documentation – high quality parts and workshop manuals.

Due to our DNA, Rotar guarantees maximum performance and durability at the lowest fuel consumption and CO2, and promises the long lifetime or seals, wear parts and components.

QTell us about your team and working culture. Is there a fundamental company philosophy or ethic?

Our operational structure is flat. We are a small close-knit team with a hands-on approach. Teamwork is key and we are all responsible together. We all have a passion for the job whatever department that is in. Regardless of department, be it engineering, sales or accounts, we share a common passion for our roles, united in our commitment to Rotar’s success.

QAre there any standout developments from Rotar’s history?

In 2023 Rotar won the prestigious World Demolition Award at the World Demolition Summit in Toronto. The RCC45 Concrete Cutter with Ramplifier technology (700 bar) and Fully Integrated Oilquick OQ90 adapter, won the Innovation – Tools

and Attachments Category against strong competition.

At Rotar we believe we should always innovate. Standing still is not an option for us. We maintain a close connection between our engineering team and the frontline, engaging in ongoing dialogue with customers. This ensures that we consistently uphold our status as the preferred choice of operators.

QHow has the scope of Rotar’s business developed over time and is Rotar in the process of developing its range?

We started with screening, then sorting and demolition grapples. The demolition attachments came next. We still have a lot more on the wish list. We are constantly innovating for the industry. We want to extend the sizes of our attachments to suit bigger and smaller excavators. We take every opportunity we can to improve. For instance, we frequently attend Technic shows which highlight hydraulic and component innovations, manufacturing efficiency, and lean and mean methodologies. Additionally, we participate in seminars held by our steel suppliers in Sweden. This approach ensures

we keep abreast of new technologies and developments in the supply industry. We want to stay ahead of the competition.

QHow do you gain business and spread the word about Rotar?

We always aim to have a big visibility at key trade shows, such as BAUMA, and are members of a range of US and European Demolition Associations. We have distributors across the globe who we work closely with. We have recently updated our website and maintain a strong presence on social media and in industry magazines.

QHow does Rotar bring new recruits on board? Is there a good pool of potential new recruits?

In Holland we have our engineering and marketing functions and have a good availability of people keen to join the company. Demolition is sexy!

In Poland it is harder to find people to work in our factory. We have been running recruitment campaigns, which have included advertising on big billboards to fill roles such as welders and CNC engineers.

QHow do you develop existing employees?

At Rotar, we prioritise the growth of our employees by offering comprehensive on-the-job training opportunities. Whether individuals aim to enhance proficiency in SolidWorks and 3D software, learn more about marketing design packages, or deepen their understanding of accounting practices, we provide tailored internal and external training programmes to cater to individual needs. We are committed to fostering a culture of teamwork and this helps us achieve our employee retention strategy.

QWhat are the biggest technological developments you have seen in your industry?

In the attachment industry it is undoubtably booster technology. Amplifying pressures and achieving a higher output improves cycle times, leading to lower impact for the excavator.

Another big development is fully hydraulic quick couplers. The hydraulic connections and hoses are included in the design. Full integration of attachment to the quick coupler means the excavator knows what attachment it is

taking on and the hydraulics are adjusted to meet the requirements. Any additional work and time to install the adapter plate and hose connections are eliminated, saving time and service costs.

Rotar’s Engineering team have launched a Fully Integrated Quickcoupler Adapter OQ90 with the RCC45. OQ90 is suitable for 40 to 70-tonne excavators.

Rotar also offers original fully integrated adapters for Steelwrist and Lehnhoff Variolock full hydraulic quick couplers.

QHow do you see the outlook for the demolition plant sector generally?

It is a growing sector and will remain a strong industry. Nowadays, younger buildings are being destroyed and there is a shorter lifetime for structures. There is a need to adjust the mindset of how architects work, which will influence the demands of the demolition sector. Architects increasingly find themselves compelled to integrate existing structures into their work. This necessitates the reuse of the building’s structural framework in their designs for the particular site.

QTell us about any engagement Rotar has in the community, or social responsibilities? How is Rotar engaging with sustainability and the net zero agenda?

We adhere to the 6S quality system throughout all our factories and we are preparing for ISO14000 certification. Through the adoption of 6S principles and practices, we produce high-quality products with lower budgets, minimise waste generation and optimise time efficiency.

We are engaging in product development to investigate how to get the lowest impact to excavator to lower CO2 emissions. We want to keep hydraulics as big as possible to optimise infrastructure, so the impact of tool to excavator is as low as possible.

“At Rotar, we prioritise the growth of our employees by offering comprehensive on-the-job training opportunities”

The company continually strives to evolve its technology so that it not only offers maximum productivity, but ensures all their equipment is sustainable and durable, with ease of service and maintenance being a key consideration. All the attachments are manufactured with efficiency in mind, enjoying less fuel consumption and reducing the impact on the environment.

QHow do you envisage Rotar in five to 10 years?

As a family-owned enterprise, Rotar is poised for continued growth and success. I anticipate that over the next five to seven years we will experience exponential expansion, doubling in size through enhanced market penetration and product diversification. Our strategic focus will involve the development of innovative tools and products to meet evolving market demands. There is a lot of big money getting involved in the industry and this will slow the larger companies that will need to grapple with increased involvement from major investors. This influx of capital is likely to result in heightened regulatory scrutiny and slower operational processes for these larger organisations.

QAnd how about you in a few years?

I have no interest in any other job. I love Rotar. I hope to still be here for many years to come. It’s changed a lot in 30 years. Our product range has grown and we’ve won some prestigious awards.

Products

QTell us about one of your key demolition-relevant products

In 2023 we won a World Demolition Award in Toronto. The Rotar RCC45 concrete cutter with Ramplifier 2.0 technology and fully integrated Oilquick OQ90 won the Innovation – Tools and Attachments category against strong competition.

QOutline the key functions of the product

The RCC45 Concrete Cutter is designed for primary demolition. Built for heavy industrial demolition, it will be used by larger demolition companies for jobs involving reinforced concrete such as bridges, parking garages etc. The RCC has a huge jaw opening and a tremendous cutting power. It is ideal when a client just wants to cut concrete down before it is moved onto other stages of demolition, for example, to be pulverized or taken away to be crushed elsewhere.

Its features include:

• Replaceable crush teeth – saves downtime and thereby reduces costs. The formulated steel alloy castings are very wear resistant and easy to replace on the jobsite,

• Longer cutting blades – our rebar cutter blades have extended length and are more user friendly for the driver to cut – all in a straight line for better access into the jaw’s throat,

• Simplicity – a minimalistic design that includes only what’s needed. No need for complexity,

• Oversized main pivot – designed to be properly adjusted for longer life and lower operational costs,

• Recurring components – parts used from other ROTAR product ranges with proven quality and performance,

the RCC45. OQ90 is suitable for 40 to 70-tonne excavators.

This innovation is OEM manufactured using the original components in close collaboration between the engineers of both parties – in this case, OilQuick Germany. Any additional work and time to install the adapter plate and hose connections are eliminated, saving time and service costs.

QHow is it critical for demolition contractors?

• Large infrastructure of hydraulic lines – less resistance needed to open and close the jaws. Lower oil temperatures mean longer lifespan on sealing components, less fuel consumption and less back-pressure.

Younger buildings (typically those built after the 1980s) have higher quality concrete and rebar so are harder to demolish. There is a need for stronger tools but customers

and productivity.

QCan you quantify any of these benefits?

RAMPLIFIER 2.0 is installed on the RCC, offering a higher cutting power – in a split second it can double the input pressure to a maximum 700 bar.

QTell us about the development of this particular product. Was it evolution or revolution?

It was revolution as we introduced brand new technology to the market. We were working at an advanced level and introduced replaceable wear parts. It was a team effort and

I’m proud of the entire Rotar crew, for all their hard work to bring this innovative piece of equipment to the marketplace.

The company continually strives to evolve its technology so that it not only offers maximum productivity but ensures all its equipment is sustainable and durable, with ease of service and maintenance being a key consideration. All the attachments are manufactured with efficiency in mind, enjoying lower fuel consumption and reducing the impact on the environment.

This award-winning piece of equipment continues to keep the Rotar brand at the forefront of its industries.

QHow have you found takeup among demolition contractors? How do you push this product out to them?

We have been pushing this product out to larger customers and key accounts, for whom it is an ideal tool. A lot of our customers trust in Rotar, so we got out the news out there with the big players and got interest for people to start asking questions.

Qinterview

Tell us about the feedback you receive

We’ve been receiving some fantastic feedback. The cutting force is outstanding and the machine is very quiet in both noise and vibration while the attachment is in use. There are no vibrations to both the excavator arms and machine, ensuring a smoother operation.

Customers have also commented on the fact that you can easily change wear parts, meaning that maintenance on site is easy and downtime is reduced.

QHow do you see its development?

I believe it’s a tool with immense potential for the future. Our customers are requesting various sizes and expressing a need for a broader range and more significant differentiation in jaws. We’ve experienced exceptional demand so far and anticipate this trend to continue.

AND FINALLY

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

I love to go and watch football with my son every Saturday morning. I’ve been getting up for it every weekend since he was three. He’s now 17 – I never miss a game.

What do you do for fun?

I’m a big fan of winter sports. I love skiing – I enjoy going to Austria and being with my family.

When and where are you happiest?

When I’m surrounded with family at home. On Sundays I love having everyone round and making food for them and drinking good quality wine.

What’s your favourite food?

Asparagus with ham and egg and a Pinot Grigio to wash it down.

Sharpish RECRUITMENT FEATURE

In today’s rapidly evolving construction and industrial sectors, optimising efficiency is not just a goal – it’s a necessity. Every moment lost equates to potential setbacks and financial implications. Addressing this crucial need for streamlined operations, Sharpish steps forward as a transformative force. Designed as a cutting-edge web and app platform, Sharpish is revolutionising

how companies recruit and how drivers find opportunities in the realm of plant operations, encompassing a diverse range of equipment from diggers to dumpers of all sizes.

Enhancing operational efficiency

Sharpish is more than just a tool; it’s a solution designed to optimise every aspect of plant operations. The platform leverages cutting-

edge technology to facilitate seamless communication and coordination between companies and drivers. With intuitive interfaces and powerful features, Sharpish empowers users to streamline workflows, minimise downtime and maximise productivity.

Features tailored for plant operations

At the heart of Sharpish lies a suite of features crafted to meet the unique needs of companies and drivers in the plant industry:

• Job Scheduling and Dispatch: Efficiently post jobs and find qualified drivers to fill roles on specific sites, minimising idle time and optimising resource allocation,

• Real-Time Tracking: Monitor the location and status of workers through the app to ensure they are clocking in and out at the correct location,

• Digital Documentation: Replace cumbersome paperwork with digital logs and documentation, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulatory requirements,

• Maintenance Management: Schedule and track maintenance activities for equipment, reducing the risk of breakdowns and prolonging asset lifespan,

• Safety Compliance: Promote a culture of safety by providing access to relevant safety guidelines, training materials and incident reporting tools.

User-friendly interface

One of Sharpish’s key strengths is its user-friendly interface, which caters to both companies and drivers alike. Companies can easily manage their operations, track progress and communicate with operatives, while drivers can access

job details, navigate to job sites and report issues with minimal effort. With intuitive design and seamless navigation, Sharpish ensures that users can focus on their core tasks without being bogged down by complex software.

Seamless integration

Sharpish is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing systems and workflows, ensuring minimal disruption during implementation. Whether it’s integrating with fleet management software, accounting systems, or ERP platforms, Sharpish provides flexible integration options to meet the diverse needs of its users.

The Sharpish advantage

What sets Sharpish apart is its relentless focus on innovation and customer satisfaction. With regular updates and enhancements based on user feedback and industry trends, Sharpish remains at the forefront of technology, continually evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of the plant industry.

In an industry where time is money, Sharpish emerges as a beacon of efficiency and productivity. By leveraging advanced technology and intuitive design, Sharpish empowers companies and drivers to optimise their operations, minimise downtime and drive growth. With its comprehensive suite of features and unwavering commitment to customer success, Sharpish is poised to revolutionise the way plant operations are managed.

Visit www.sharpish.co to learn more and experience the future of plant management first hand or download our app directly from the App Store or Google Play.

City Site Solutions

City Site Solutions set up in early 2000, operating out of a single office close to London Bridge with the intention of supplying quality trades and labour across all sectors of the construction industry.

Since then it has grown steadily and now has six offices, in London, Essex, Surrey, Heathrow, Oxford and Glasgow with more than 45 staff operating in all sectors of the industry.

Every office has a dedicated team consisting of a branch manager with at least ten years’ experience, a resourcer and at least two recruitment consultants.

Demolition has always been a sector City Site Solutions has thrived in, working across all aspects from small retail unit strip outs to multi floor mixed use buildings. Its reputation has grown over the past two decades as a result of constantly improving its service; every office now has trained face fitters who can attend site and fit operatives with ffp3 masks, and refresh training on asbestos awareness and manual handling.

Over the years projects have been diverse, with highlights including working on Manchester town hall, helping remove 35 miles of steel book shelving and helping to move over one million books, some of which date back to 1500, and working on John Lewis stores nationwide with intensive 24-hour fast-track shifts.

City Site Solutions has adapted to airport and London underground strip out project frameworks, which were again labour intensive and prone to last minute changes where labour could sometimes be stood down or increased at short notice.

It has not just been standard strip out or demolition projects as the company has worked on removing non licensable asbestos, decommissioning works in water treatment plants and blast furnaces and dismantling and enabling works. It has undertaken a few projects on a price-work basis, the last being the removal of a large industrial roof and retaining walls to a unit in Greenwich.

Over the past eight years City Site Solutions has supplied thousands of CCDO operatives and now has a good database to draw upon; whether you need green, red or blue carded operatives, supervisors or topmen, you can be confident it has them. And with nationwide coverage, it is here to help should you need a full demo team or some quick cover to get you over the line.

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The Labour Desk

In the fast-paced demolition industry where precision and timeliness are paramount, The Labour Desk emerges as a revolutionary force, redefining recruitment by leveraging cutting-edge technology. Its

innovative approach ensures demolition contractors can swiftly connect with a skilled workforce, underscoring its commitment to enhancing project efficiency and compliance through technological excellence.

The Labour Desk: A technological marvel in recruitment

Dubbed the Uber for labour hire, The Labour Desk is not just about providing immediate access to top-tier talent; it’s about offering a seamless, tech-driven experience that addresses the unique challenges of the demolition sector. The platform stands as a testament to how technology can transform recruitment, making it smarter, faster and more reliable.

Key technological benefits for demolition contractors

• Automated timesheets: Gone are the days of manual tracking. The Labour Desk’s platform automates timesheet management, saving precious time and minimising errors. This efficiency is crucial for meeting the tight deadlines characteristic of demolition projects.

• Pre-induction processes: The Labour Desk streamlines the onboarding of new hires with digital pre-induction, ensuring workers arrive on-site ready and fully briefed on their roles, safety protocols, and project specifics.

• Compliance and safety reminders: Contractors are alerted to workers’ certification expiries, ensuring continuous compliance and safety standards are maintained without lapse.

RECRUITMENT FEATURE

• Enhanced communication: The Labour Desk platform facilitates direct, efficient communication between contractors and their workforce, enabling real-time updates, adjustments and coordination.

• Data collection and insights: The ability to gather and analyse workforce data offers contractors insights into productivity, helping to inform future staffing and project management decisions.

• Bespoke service: Beyond just recruitment, The Labour Desk offers a personalised service

that adapts to each contractor’s unique project requirements, from temporary to permanent placements.

Why choose The Labour Desk for your demolition projects? Its dedication to leveraging technology sets The Labour Desk apart, offering demolition contractors a suite of tools designed to enhance operational efficiency, ensure compliance and facilitate seamless project execution. This commitment to innovation, paired with deep understanding of the demolition

sector’s needs, positions

The Labour Desk as an indispensable partner for contractors aiming to stay ahead in a competitive landscape.

A case study in efficiency

A prime example of its impact is The Labour Desk’s collaboration with a leading demolition contractor faced with an urgent need for skilled operatives. Within 48 hours, The Labour Desk’s platform not only identified and deployed the required team but also ensured they were pre-inducted and ready to integrate seamlessly into the project, keeping it on schedule and upholding the highest safety standards.

The future of demolition recruitment

As The Labour Desk continues to pioneer the integration of technology in recruitment, it invites demolition contractors to experience how its solutions can streamline their operations. From automated timesheets to enhanced compliance monitoring and efficient workforce communication, the platform is designed to support the success of your projects from start to finish.

Embrace the tech advantage with The Labour Desk

In an era where time is of the essence and efficiency is the benchmark of success, The Labour Desk stands ready to propel demolition contractors into the future of recruitment. By choosing it as your recruitment partner, you’re not just filling positions, you’re embracing a technologydriven approach that brings unparalleled value to your projects. Let’s revolutionise your recruitment process, demolishing the old ways and building towards a more efficient, compliant and successful future.

Number 8 Group

Hiring-in temp labour to manage varying workforce requirements is now the accepted norm in construction and demolition as well as in a multitude of other sectors. However there is still an underlying perception in some quarters that the use of temp workers is a convenient breach of compliant commercial practice to avoid tax and employment status issues. Without doubt there are businesses that push these boundaries, however, it is impossible to comprehend a workable solution that provides the flexibility and efficiency of a managed workforce that does not include access to temp workers via an agency.

Unfortunately not all agencies are created equal and many intentionally operate in the shadows of these adverse perceptions where ethics and compliance have no place. This is where the sole objectives are profit at any cost for both the labour supplier and user and in many cases the collateral damage falls on the temp worker as a result of exploitation or even abuse.

So the big question is, “Should

we care about how our temp labour is resourced and whether the suppliers of this labour should operate ethically and provide a genuinely compliant service?” Or is it ok to bury our heads and turn a blind eye to the obvious and what in many cases falls outside the published standards of most organisations. There is no doubt that there are often personal and commercial benefits to both individuals and the businesses involved that can complicate or even halt any genuine attempt to eradicate substandard practices.

At Number 8 Resourcing we have made the very clear decision to establish and maintain a focus on providing a compliant and ethical service to both our clients and the workers we engage with. This at times has been commercially detrimental when ultimatums or conditions have been imposed that ultimately impact our supplier status. However, we have managed to grow and build strong relationships with clients and workers who value our standards and have confidence in the way we operate.

For Number 8, ethical practice goes well beyond just avoiding the “brown envelope” culture. The insidious presence of exploitation and human trafficking is an unfortunate reality where the potential financial benefits are so large. The signs can often be hard to spot so vigilance and a zero tolerance approach to the telltale signals that point to potential exploitation, is critical.

Right to work is also an area that often gets conveniently pushed to the background in a pursuit to resource sites with labour that is notoriously hard to find or even just to cut costs. Again, detecting fraudulent activity is difficult and even for the most vigilant can prove complicated at times. Number 8 employs a best practice approach that generally picks up any obvious breaches, however, at times the sophisticated capabilities available to the desperate can make it difficult to detect false documents. If breaches occur our focus is on immediately mitigating any impact on us but more importantly our clients.

Thankfully ethical practice is not all about avoiding fraudulent or even criminal activity. Our ethical approach at Number 8 has opened a number of doors where we can focus on positive, socially responsible resourcing opportunities. As traditional labour pools have been reducing we have been able to gain trust and establish very strong working relationships inside the Ministry of Justice and with a number of category C and D prisons, with a long term view to promote career opportunities in demolition that will ultimately provide ex-offenders a strong platform to turn their lives around. We are currently partnering with the

RECRUITMENT FEATURE

NDTG to provide CCDO and other related training opportunities inside the prisons in preparation for release as well as post release training with the assistance of the Department for Work and Pensions.

The NFDC has also joined the initiative and will be actively promoting the use of ex-offenders to all members. Duncan Rudall and the team at NFDC HQ are motivated to use this initiative to promote a career in demolition to a resource pool desperate to make positive life changes and avoid the temptations or influences that took them down a path that led to imprisonment.

We have spent many hours inside a number of prisons talking to people who just want a chance to prove to society and themselves that they are better than what ultimately led to their incarceration. Working with progressive contractors like Clifford Devlin, we have been able to achieve some incredibly rewarding results and with the recent success of Peter Mader (ex-HMP Hollesley Bay) who won Apprentice of the Year at the NFDC national awards in March 2024, we are confident that with the support and commitment of all NFDC members we can continue to attract quality new blood into the industry.

Number 8 Resourcing wants to be known as the labour supplier with a commitment to providing an ethical and compliant service to clients and workers. We want to continue to push boundaries and expectations that focus on socially responsible initiatives. Our future targets will be to attract more women into entry level roles that have traditionally been dominated by men. We have also identified a number of roles that could offer physically challenged workers an opportunity to work in a progressive and socially aware industry. We hope that all demolition businesses will be open to some or all of these initiatives and want to join us and the NFDC/NDTG on this rewarding journey.

Elite Consultancy Network

Elite Consultancy Network is a division of Executive Network Group. We are a team of specialist recruiters who are committed to matching the most suitable candidates to the roles we are working, taking both candidates and clients on a wellinformed journey from start to finish.

At Elite Consultancy Network, we put people first. Our consultants are dedicated to offering a first-class service to job seekers, candidates and clients who are looking for roles in sales, engineering or operations.

Our mission is to provide an effective service to candidates and clients throughout every step of the recruitment process. We work closely with all parties to ascertain all of the information needed to place the right candidates into the right positions. We believe strongly in our philosophy of doing the job once and doing it correctly, reducing the risk of recruiting the wrong candidate and also the risk of taking the wrong job.

Over the last 17 years, we

have built an extensive network of clients and candidates. We now work with some of the world’s leading brand names. We have found candidates for new employment in more than 60 global locations. We have developed long-standing and trusted relationships with key players across our sector that other recruiters simply do not have.

Whether it is your dream job, a better opportunity, a step up or just a new challenge you are looking to find we can help. We can put you in touch with the people who make the decisions across a wide range of industries, across a number of destinations, including machinery and equipment.

Snapshots of Ben and the Demolition Hub team’s activities between issues

OUT and ABOUT

OUT and ABOUT

OUT and ABOUT

OUT and ABOUT

OUT and ABOUT

National Demolition Association, San Antonio 2024

by Ben Chambers

The National Demolition Association celebrated its half centenary in style with yet another successful four-day convention in San Antonio Texas.

As guests of the NDA for the third year in a row, we were able to witness the growth of members and interest taking part in each separate element of the global must-attend demolition week.

Split into four days of events (five to six if you are a member of the NDA council or taking exams), we begin with a cocktail reception where almost immediately I bumped into some rather exclusive personalities, NFDC CEO Duncan Ruddell, EDA President and Despe supremo Stefano Panseri, who like me had brought family and allowed it to be a relaxing start to the week’s demolition festivities.

The second day, probably my favourite, is the trademarked Live DEMOlition Event and as in previous years, we were taken

roughly 30 minutes away from the town to a remote wasteland to see the very best kit in action. Our videos and images are available on the socials, but it really is a sight to be seen and this part has at least doubled in size since my first foray three years ago. The highlight was probably the debut of the new Komatsu high-reach demolition excavator.

Day two is a traditional trade show in the mammoth convention centre, where nonmoving equipment is spread about in various sized booths with an excellent opportunity to make a connection or indeed several…

All this was after a leisurely breakfast and the keynote speaker. This year it was Mikel Bowman, President at Bowman Legacies, who actually had a similar trade as an explosives expert in mining, turned motivational speaker. Mikel is quite the captivating orator and I have since spoken to him a fair bit.

Day three is the second day of the trade show and if like me you had no time to go around all the booths, then a great opportunity to ensure everyone is spoken to before the casual NDA party the same evening, which was just as brilliant as my photos show.

Finally, there were the awards on the final evening, where individuals and contractors who deserve recognition get it to standing ovations time after time.

A brilliant convention once again from an association that sees the benefit of working closely with us, clearly looks after its members and represents its region so well. Thank you NDA and I cannot wait for next year together in the Big Easy.

With Demolition Hub now staking a definite claim to currently working closely with the  European, Indian, German and North American associations in a partnership and with us actively promoting them –who’s next?

Attendees of the National Demolition Association’s (NDA’s) annual convention in San Antonio gathered for a special panel discussion featuring esteemed past presidents on 8 March in the exhibit hall. Demolition San Antonio marked the association’s 50th anniversary, inviting a reflection on its evolution and the visionary leadership that shaped it. Moderated by James Milburn, current NDA President, the panel delved into pivotal moments, challenges and aspirations for the future of the NDA.

A living legacy

Leonard Cherry, whose tenure as president spanned from 2001-2003, opened with heartfelt acknowledgment of old acquaintances and the influx of new faces. He emphasised the vitality of the association, evident in its continued growth and rejuvenation.

Uniting for progress

Raymond Passeno, recipient of the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award, reminisced on the collaborative efforts that transformed the association. Reflecting on his term from 2009-2011, Passeno highlighted the unity between vendors and members, a synergy that invigorated the association’s core.

“We fought for the exhibit hall to be a place for people to gather and learn. There’s a better vibe and it’s great to see. It brings more togetherness with the vendors and the members. It’s something we really wanted,” Passeno said.

Weathering storms

John Weber, President from 1982-1983, recounted the association’s early struggles with asbestos regulations. Facing citations and legal battles, NDA rallied behind its members, exemplifying resilience in the face of adversity.

“Within the first two years of our organisation, we got a surprise when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) came up with all the asbestos regulations and started issuing citations to demolition contractors for not removing asbestos,” Weber recalled. “One of the board members, John Adamo from Detroit, was cited and came to the board and was like, ‘What do we do?’ The board decided to take care of the legal fees for him to not pay the fine and claim not guilty. The first cases were lost but appealed, and the Supreme Court took on Adamo Wrecking Co. v. United States and ruled in our favour. Adamo beat the US EPA.

“The government doesn’t like getting beat, but Bill Baker being the kind of guy who would rather get along than fight, started working with the government agencies for the benefit of all our members. We got an OSHA grant that allowed us to pay for the first ever demolition safety manual. It costs a lot of money to sue all the way to the Supreme Court, so we were broke after only existing for two years. At the convention like this, we passed the hat. The members contributed what they could to keep us going to the next convention in Las Vegas where we could make enough

money to move forward. It was about a three-year process of legal battles.”

From reactive to proactive Don Rachel, who led the association from 20112013, emphasised NDA’s transition from reactive to proactive engagement. With a strengthened lobbying presence, the association now anticipates challenges and advocates for industry interests.

“There’s been a lot of change since this organisation started,” Rachel said. “We’re out lobbying to cut things off before they happen. We’re in a better position than when we started.”

Embracing change

As the demolition industry stands on the cusp of transformation, panellists deliberated on the association’s role in navigating the next decade. Passeno stressed the importance of corporate leadership engagement, echoing sentiments of adaptability and foresight.

“It’s a lot to pull something like this off and provide members with what they need,” Passeno said. “The hallmark of an organisation like this is serving the membership. If you don’t do that well, the membership goes away. We’ve always strived to show that demolition is a vital part of the construction industry. It’s a unique part that deserves its place. In the 1990s, everyone just thought we blew up buildings, and we worked so hard for so many years to professionalise this organisation and to see where we’ve come is very exciting.”

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Geotechnical Tests: In-situ site tests for verifying pile mats, formation layers, subgrades and other materials. These include; Plate bearing tests, CBR tests, shear vane tests, dynamic cone penetrometer test and light drop weight tests.

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What’s keeping you up at night?

The NDA’s 2024 convention, held in San Antonio on 6-9 March, included a panel discussion where industry leaders discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the demolition sector. Moderated by Richard Adamo, the panel comprised Drew Lammers, Brian McKinney, LaJuan Counts, Michael Rutt and Kerry Nazario.

Addressing workforce challenges

Brian McKinney, CEO of Gayanga Co. underscored the pressing issue of workforce dynamics. As seasoned professionals age, there’s a dearth of younger talent to fill crucial roles. Engaging the next generation is paramount.

“We’re in an industry with amazing talented professionals, and as they get older there aren’t as many young people to fill those roles,” he said.

“How do we engage them?”

McKinney highlighted the importance of understanding their preferences, emphasising quality of life and work-life balance.

Drew Lammers, Vice President of Outside Operations at Cohen USA, echoed McKinney’s sentiments, stressing the significance of prioritising employees’ health and safety. Lammers emphasised the need for consistent safety training, not just at work but also in employees’ personal lives, to prevent

accidents and ensure continuity in the workforce.

“The majority of accidents happen [at] home, not in our workplace, because we do such a good job of training and putting good stuff in their head. But as soon as they get in their truck and go home, they don’t think about it,” Lammers said.

Navigating regulatory challenges

McKinney also touched upon regulatory hurdles that keep industry leaders awake at night. Regulations often lag behind industry advancements and fail to account for the practicalities and costs of compliance. Finding a balance between safety regulations and operational efficiency remains a constant challenge.

Maintaining integrity and public trust

LaJuan Counts, Director of the Construction and Demolition

Department in the city of Detroit, brought a unique perspective as a departmental owner. Counts emphasised the dual responsibility of ensuring job sustainability while upholding public trust. His department’s mandate to “work themselves out of work” necessitates strategic planning to transition employees post-project while prioritising public safety and trust.

Adapting to changing conditions

Kerry Nazario, Vice President of Operations at Target Contractors LLC, highlighted the importance of adaptability in a rapidly evolving industry. As conditions change, preparedness and effective communication become critical. Ensuring teams are well-equipped to identify and respond to changes is imperative for project success.

The importance of collaboration

Michael Rutt, Superintendent at Remedial Construction Services, L.P., emphasised the collaborative nature of the demolition industry. Success hinges on effective teamwork and communication. Rutt stressed the importance of timing in operations, cautioning against rushing processes to avoid complications.

Embracing technology and collaboration

Panellists acknowledged the role of technology in streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency. McKinney advocated for the adoption of artificial intelligence and business intelligence to automate tasks and improve decision making. They emphasised the need for sharing best practices and lessons learned to drive industry-wide improvement.

Engaging the next generation

Bridging the gap between generations and attracting younger talent emerged as a recurring theme. Counts emphasised the importance of exposure and community engagement to showcase demolition as a viable career path, particularly to under-represented demographics. Panellists emphasised the need for mentorship programmes and incentivisation to groom and retain talent.

Maintaining industry excellence

The panel discussion at Demolition San Antonio illuminated the multifaceted challenges and innovative solutions within the industry. From workforce dynamics to regulatory compliance and fostering the next generation of talent, industry leaders underscored

the importance of collaboration, adaptability and integrity in navigating an ever-evolving landscape. As the demolition industry continues to evolve, embracing technological advancements and prioritising safety and sustainability will be pivotal in driving progress and maintaining industry excellence.

events

Deutscher Abbruchverband

by Ben Chambers

The convention crasher himself continued his run of being invited, involved in, promoting and attending yet another global demolition event at the end of March and this one was from one of Europe’s leading demolition associations and my very first foray into northern European demolition events.

This time it was the turn of the Deutscher Abbruchverband and its brilliant FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH event, an annual industry event and billed as the largest demolition gathering in Europe.

I can’t lie, I have trouble not just spelling it but saying it, and out

of respect to the very hospitable German hosts I have left it in their native language – for the rest of us, this was the DEMOLITION CONVENTION from the German Demolition Association.

This year the conference programme theme covered sustainability in demolition and for a man more inclined to network, stretch my legs and explore rather than sit and listen to speeches and seminars, I was amazed at my own patience even whilst wearing the English language headset, clearly showing how captivating the chosen speakers were and how tuned in I was.

We have all the information from the DA as well as all the speakers notes, however as this very last minute (how inconvenient when we have a publishing schedule), we will want to do our normal due diligence and have them all signed off by the speakers themselves, with their own personal twist on the event exclusively for Demolition Hub Magazine – all in the June/July issue.

For now enjoy the images and official comment from the DA and the wunderbar FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH 2024.

Danke,

Ben

events

FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH 2024 events

On 22 March 124 exhibitors and over 1,200 participants attended Europe’s largest demolition and dismantling conference, and for the first time, the event had a thematic focus: “Sustainability in demolition”.

The FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH took place for the fourth time in the former Postbahnhof at STATIONBerlin. On a net area of over 1,180 square metres, 124 exhibitors and over 1,200 representatives from the demolition industry and related companies had the opportunity to find out about products and services relating to demolition, pollutant remediation and recycling. A new feature was a panel discussion in the morning with renowned experts, entrepreneurs and scientists, followed by an audience discussion.

Sustainability is a welcome opportunity for the demolition industry Conference visitors had access to STATION-Berlin at 8 am. As soon as they arrived, they had the opportunity to visit the exhibition area to network and exchange ideas with exhibitors and other visitors.

DA Managing Director Andreas Pocha opened the event with the words “The topic of sustainability is a welcome opportunity for the demolition industry. It is of central importance for a functioning and coherent circular economy in construction.”

He added: “Without our secondary materials from demolition, a genuine circular economy will not be possible.” This was the starting signal for the panel discussion and a series of other presentations.

Innovation, sustainability and recycling in demolition

In his opening lecture “Sustainability in demolition – status quo and visions”, Johannes Harzheim gave a review of 20 years of common recycling practice in the demolition industry, an insight into the legal framework and an outlook for the future.

The demolition industry is still at a very high level in terms of innovation, sustainability and recycling, but the external image must be further improved with regard to sustainability, CO2 balance, urban mining and labour recruitment.

Conserving resources as top priority

Sustainability experts Professor Christian Berg, Thomas Hagedorn, Sybille Mai and Johannes Schlenter then discussed the topics raised in the introductory lecture in the newly created panel discussion. Moderator Kristina zur Mühlen led the discussion and then guided the audience through the entire lecture programme.

Together with the participants, she addressed, among other things, the thesis put forward by Professor Berg that all other options should first be carefully considered before demolishing a building. The primary goal for the entire economy is to conserve resources, which, according to Thomas Hagedorn, no other industry does better than the demolition sector in view of the over 90% recycling rate of mineral building materials. However, it would be important to replace the word waste, for example, and to use a more positive term in order to raise the public profile of recycled materials and the demolition industry.

Although acceptance has

increased somewhat since the Substitute Building Materials Ordinance came into force, the public sector must play an even greater role and fulfil its exemplary function. It should therefore also be mandatory to include recycled materials in tenders and not just primary building materials. Overall, Professor Berg believes that more needs to be done to raise awareness of the issue of used materials. Sybille Mai advocates including the construction products industry in the cycles. She sees future collaborations with manufacturers and recycling companies as an opportunity for the industry, with the aim of bringing many high-quality materials into the cycle. Whether reusing or recycling – according to Johannes Schlenter, both should be equally valued, because the main thing is that the materials remain in the cycle.

New approaches to R-concrete, digitalisation and the EU Taxonomy Regulation

This was followed by six further presentations with subsequent questions from the audience, including from Lena Näßl and Michael Appel from PST Spezialtiefbau Süd GmbH, who presented a test series with concrete with 100% recycled aggregate in their presentation “Urban Mining in perfection” in order to make the production of concrete more sustainable.

Katrin Bahlo explained the advantages of digitisation for the demolition industry and presented the functions of the Madaster platform, which can provide information on the amount of secondary material, material recycling and the dismantling of existing buildings, for example.

Buildings are key to climate

events

protection, which is why Dr Christine Lemaitre from DGNB GmbH believes that sustainability doesn’t just start with new construction, but also with demolition. This is why the DGNB now has a new certificate for the end of life of buildings in the initial application phase. The aim of the certificate is to close material flows in current demolition projects and promote existing building fabric. The aim is to create incentives for reuse, recycling and the networking of demolition and new construction.

Demolition material can store CO2. Valentin Gutknecht from neustark AG spoke about the opportunities this also presents for the demolition industry. Environmental Adviser Katrin Mees from DA e.V. explained what opportunities the EU Taxonomy Regulation offers for the demolition industry.

Finally, members of the Professional Committee Blasting Technology in the DA presented best practices of controlled blasting of buildings and highlighted the challenges that the individual contracts pose for blasting technology. The topics of resident and species protection and resource conservation played just as much a role as the technical aspects of blasting.

The Dialogue Evening, which also took place at STATION-Berlin after the actual conference, offered trade visitors and exhibitors further networking opportunities. The exhibition remained open throughout the evening.

Outlook for 2025

Interested parties can already make a note of the date for the FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH 2025, which will once again take place at STATION-Berlin, on 14 March 2025.

Stuart Partners chooses sustainable Sandvik solution for recycling operation

Playing its part in the drive towards a more sustainable future, Stuart Partners Ltd has recently invested in a Sandvik QE342e hybrid scalper for its recycling operation and will soon see the benefits both in terms of lower operating costs and a reduced carbon footprint, in addition to the operational benefits of the latest model.

Originating in the 1940s, Stuart Partners Ltd is a family run company located in Devon. It has evolved over the years from a cattle haulage business into various industry sectors, including landfill, recycling, skip waste, as well as renewable energy.

Based at the original Hill Barton Business Park in Exeter, the inert waste recycling sector of the business grew in the 1990s, when the company started to clean aggregate to make crushed concrete. This is

when it first purchased a screener. The process has developed over the years to today where the wash plant is required to operate all year round.

Most of the material brought on to the site is now recycled, including the processing and sorting of over 80,000 tonnes per year of inert waste. Upwards of 70,000 tonnes per year is re-usable and sold as quality recycled aggregates.

Needing to upgrade its existing plant, Stuart Partners got in contact with Retec Equipment, UK and Ireland distributor for Sandvik mobile crushers and screens, to discuss its requirements. A QE342e hybrid model was proposed and seemed the ideal fit for Stuart Partners’ recycling operation.

The QE342e is one of the most versatile and reliable heavy-duty midsize scalpers available on the market today. The ‘e’ hybrid variant offers a

plug-in option to operate either in electric or diesel mode to suit the customer’s preferred energy choice. Purpose designed for durability, its crusher-style chassis incorporates a wear resistant rigid hopper and is compatible for two or three-way split configurations, as well as having the ability to interchange side conveyors.

Its heavy duty 4.7 x 1.45-m screen with high speed and aggressive throw is built for tough applications and can handle high volumes of infeed material. It offers user friendly features for ease of operation, including an electrical control system that improves both operational effectiveness and machine safety, as well as two-speed tracking for faster mobility on site. The unit also comes fitted with My Fleet telematics as standard to optimise the machine performance and maximise productivity.

industry

A quality and reliable brand

Tom Stuart, Site Manager at Stuart Partners’ recycling site said: “We have a long history with Sandvik. We know the brand produces quality, reliable machines, which are exceptionally functional and hold an excellent resale value. This time we opted for a dual-power machine to suit our future requirements.”

Stuart Partners has been granted planning permission to build a new gasification plant, which will produce renewable energy on site. This will incinerate waste for electricity rather than sending it to landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and recovering valuable energy.

To be able to produce its first energy from waste plant, running on a neighbouring site, will mean that it will be able to power the wash plant and then also the Sandvik QE342e using renewable energy, “so the reliability, flexibility, range of options and re-sale made the QE342e the obvious choice,” Tom said.

Tom says they are currently operating the QE342e through an external generator and using it to separate larger fractions of material, which would be too large to go through the company’s wash plant (60 mm plus), from the smaller fraction (0-60 mm). It is used as the

main feed and regulates the speed of throughput of the wash plant.

The smaller fraction is fed into the wash plant. The larger material is then processed through a crusher and sold as a crushed concrete, or 6F5. Once the screened material is processed through the wash plant, the aggregates are used by a wide range of customers, such as utilities, commercial builders and even farmers for the sand. The larger material that is crushed is mostly used by commercial builders.

Lower operating cost, higher uptime

In addition to the sustainability of the hybrid drive, the QE342e offers many additional benefits in terms of lower cost of ownership and higher uptime. With fewer moving parts and filters, less time is required for maintenance, meaning the machine can be operational for longer.

The unit is fitted with the latest generation Stage V engine for maximum performance, reduced fuel consumption and lower environmental impact. The hydraulic system is optimised and reduced engine RPM lowers fuel consumption, while a wellproportioned fuel tank maximises intervals between refueling. There

is also a 50% hydraulic fluid saving with extended service intervals from 2,000 to 4,000 hours.

All mobile units leave the factory in Northern Ireland with HVO renewable fuel in the tank, contributing to cleaner operation and a lower CO2 footprint.

Tom said: “We have been really pleased with the machine so far. We have noticed a big step forward from our previous model (2008) in terms of electronics managing the RPM of the engine. The plug-in electric will be a big step forward when we have the infrastructure in place.

“The ease of removing the midsize conveyor and the ability to reconfigure to our requirements has also been a real positive.”

Tom says he wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Sandvik, the QE342e and their supplier, Retec Equipment Ltd. “We have had a great experience so far from Sandvik and Retec and the expertise from Sandvik technicians has been second to none, helping us to fine tune the machine over the first few months of operation.”

Sandvik Mobiles is proud to be selected as preferred supplier for Stuart’s recycling operation and looks forward to continuing its business partnership.

Redistribution of thousands of items by Cawarden empowers Nightlife Outreach charity

Specialist contractor Cawarden, based in Derby, has salvaged and subsequently donated thousands of unwanted items from its project on Edmund Street in Birmingham city centre to Nightlife Outreach, a mental health and addiction support service located near the project.

In a heartening display of community collaboration, Cawarden has stepped forward to make a substantial contribution to the Birmingham-based charity to help enhance its facilities for mental health and addiction support. The donation includes essential items including thousands of carpet tiles, various types of lighting, hundreds of roof tiles and even a fully equipped kitchen complete with appliances

and serving counters.

The items have been carefully saved from a 10-storey former headquarters-style office block that is currently undergoing a full shell and core strip-out by the Cawarden team to prepare the building for future redevelopment by the client.

Since its establishment in 1986, Cawarden has always prioritised reclamation, reuse and recycling in its operations, diverting at least 97% of materials from landfill.

Nightlife Outreach, known for its commitment to providing a safe and inclusive space for the most vulnerable members of the community, is currently in the process of relocating its community centre. The support from

Cawarden comes as a timely boost, significantly enhancing the facilities and resources available to those seeking assistance.

With more than 3,000 items donated, it is estimated that the donations have saved the charity more than £10,000. Not only this, but the environmental savings are in the region of 13.122 tCO2e deferred and more than 13,000 kg of potential waste diverted from landfill.

The donation of carpet tiles and roof tiles is expected to play a crucial role in not only enhancing the physical comfort of the space but also contributing to its aesthetic appeal. These elements are essential in creating an environment that promotes a sense of wellbeing, aligning with Nightlife Outreach’s holistic approach to mental health support.

The lighting is anticipated to have a multifaceted impact. Beyond its functional aspects, appropriate lighting is known to influence mood and ambience; contributing to the overall atmosphere of the new community centre.

The fully equipped kitchen and serving counters, along with all the appliances, are hailed as a game-

With Nightlife Outreach CEO Olivia Rhoden

changer for Nightlife Outreach. This addition not only facilitates their daily operations but also enables them to expand their services. The kitchen becomes a central hub, allowing the organisation to extend its support more comprehensively, fostering a sense of community and care.

Nightlife Outreach operates on the belief that positive change is best achieved through community involvement. Its philosophy of being run by the people, for the people, aligns with Cawarden’s longstanding commitment to community support. The donation reflects a shared vision of creating a supportive environment where individuals facing mental health and addiction challenges can find solace and assistance.

Stephan Turner, COO of Nightlife Outreach said: “Cawarden’s contribution to Nightlife Outreach exemplifies the power of community collaboration, where corporate entities actively participate in creating positive change. As we prepare to unveil our new community centre, the impact of Cawarden’s donation will undoubtedly be felt by those seeking refuge and support in challenging times.”

Samuel Crooks, Contracts Director at Cawarden said: “We are delighted to have been able to assist Nightlife Outreach in such a significant way and contribute to their goal of relocating their community centre. This collaboration is a prime example of our dedication to supporting local communities. It also emphasises our ongoing commitment to becoming more sustainable by promoting the reuse of materials from our projects. This approach is vital for achieving a more circular economy, reducing waste and emissions and giving materials a second life. By doing so, we help organisations like Nightlife Outreach save money on purchasing new materials and they can instead focus their funds on other critical areas. We eagerly anticipate visiting their new space in the near future.”

Carpet tiles were carefully saved for redistribution

The Cawarden team carefully dismantling the kitchen and serving counters

Truckloads of items were collected by Nightlife Outreach to refurbish its derelict community centre

SENNEBOGEN presents nine machines at IFAT 2024

Recycling is one of the biggest challenges of our age. SENNEBOGEN is taking up this challenge and presenting its efficient and sustainable solutions for material handling in the recycling industry at IFAT 2024 in Munich on 13-17 May. Discover the newest members of the SENNEBOGEN family at its more than 400 m2 booth, no. 451/550 in Hall C5, and at the VDMA outdoor demo area.

more efficient.

The additional demo area between halls C5 and C6 will feature the 825 Demolition for recycling construction materials, which enables simple and costeffective transportation thanks to its discardable counterweight.

The 825 Electro Battery with Powerhand and Vario Tool complements SENNEBOGEN’s recycling family at the trade fair stand. The battery-powered

flexibly with the same machine and can be changed quickly and easily by the driver from the cab.

The 825 E, with a reach of 14 metres and an operating weight of 30.4 tonnes, works without restrictions thanks to the Dual Power Management both in battery mode and with cable-operated power supply and is therefore highly practical for the recycling industry.

The recently launched 824 G is also celebrating its trade fair premiere. With a reach of 12 metres and an operating weight of 26.3 tonnes, this is not only

a real visual highlight, the recycling material handler is a real all-rounder. In addition to the impressive performance data, the MaxCab comfort cab, which can be raised by 2.8 metres, ensures a pleasant workplace with the best all-round visibility.

See the power of SENNEBOGEN for yourself

SENNEBOGEN will be presenting four more machines at the show.

See the 830 Demolition and 340 G machines in the Crushing Zone for building materials recycling and marvel at experts demonstrating their skills on the 825 Electro Battery and the 822 G.

DEVELON moves onwards with first European dealer conference

Under the theme of ONWARDS

2024, DEVELON held the company’s first European Dealer Conference in Valencia in Spain in late February 2024. This was also the first European conference under the DEVELON name since rebranding from Doosan Construction Equipment last year.

The 2024 event had 161 attendees, 116 of which were personnel from DEVELON European dealers from 23 countries. These were joined by several members of the HD Hyundai Infracore executive team from Korea, as well as managers from various areas of the company.

Keynote speech celebrates successful 12 months

Oh Seung-hyun, CEO of HD Hyundai Infracore, opened the meeting with a keynote speech about DEVELON‘s strong performance since rebranding in 2023. He spoke about the company’s achievements, new product and engine introductions and the continuing expansion of the company facilities and its dealer

network in Europe. Alongside these developments, DEVELON continues to produce new innovative technologies designed to shape the future of the construction industry and how work is done.

Mr Oh also described the global market outlook and the strategic direction of the company. He confirmed record high global production levels in 2023 for DEVELON excavators and wheel loaders plus record high sales of mini-excavators in Europe.

Since the brand’s launch last year, DEVELON has expanded its product portfolio and invested in extensive dealership facility rebranding, which has further strengthened the established sales network throughout Europe. The collaboration and hard work of dealers ensured the brand transition has been a smooth process without any major disruption to operations.

Collaboration and dealer awards

The Valencia conference provided a platform for invaluable insights, collaboration and opportunities to

continue the collective success of both dealers and the manufacturer within a very competitive construction equipment industry. In recognition of their achievements in 2023, a number of performance awards for dealers across Europe were presented including:

Best Customer Care

Grausch y Grausch (Poland)

Best Pioneer

Somatec MTPI (France)

Top Sales Performer

Centrocar (Iberia)

Top Compact Performer

Kellands Plant Sales (UK)

Best Brand Ambassador

Real Machinery (Finland)

Special Achievement Award

Atlas Hannover & Ebag (Germany)

Best Product Expert

Garnea (Czech Republic)

Best Aftermarket Enhancement

Anema Arum (Netherlands)

The conference was followed by a gala dinner with the third day involving a regatta sailing event on the Valencian coast with 13 yachts taking part, providing a very positive contribution for team-building and motivation among all of the participants.

“A platform for invaluable insights, collaboration and opportunities to continue the collective success of both dealers and the manufacturer”

Further expansion for DEVELON in Europe

Since the rebranding to DEVELON was announced in January 2023, the company has continued to expand in the European market. Notable developments include the opening of a new European Training Centre at Nantes in the west of France and work commencing on a new company owned store in Germany, targeted for opening in the second half of 2024, offering direct sales, customer support and training and a parts warehouse. The expansion and relocation of DEVELON’s Parts Distribution Centre from Germany to Belgium has also been announced, again aiming for completion in the second half of 2024.

Continuing to grow after more than 80 years

Under the ONWARDS theme, the European Dealer conference showed participants that DEVELON is building on the success of the new brand. Derived from the words, DEVELoping and ONwards, the DEVELON brand is fostering the achievements in Europe dating back more than 40 years and throughout the world for well over 80 years. DEVELON will continue to produce new innovative technologies that will further solidify its status as a global leader, providing equipment and solutions for the global construction industry.

Remediating hazardous processing environments

by Richard Vann, Managing Director at RVA Group

A demolition project doesn’t end as soon as a structure is brought to the ground. By their very nature, processing environments harbour inherent hazards that can pose significant risks to both the environment and human health. Site restoration is therefore a crucial facet in finalising any successful decommissioning exercise.

While it signifies the latter stages of a site’s operational lifespan, this phase also opens doors for the space to be revitalised for a range of possible uses. But remediating contaminated land often represents just as many uncertainties as the earlier phases of an asset’s lifecycle. So, how can contractors ensure a seamless transition from demolition to regeneration?

Plan for different outcomes

Knowing there’s rarely only one possible route map, conducting feasibility and option studies – when undertaken by an experienced demolition professional – empowers clients to make more informed decisions throughout every stage of the project, including remediation.

A number of strategies, from interviewing former operators to reviewing historical sources and public records, will help determine the past uses of a site, for example. This is important when redeveloping land previously used by a chemical or industrial plant, where a number of contaminants could be present.

Having a firm grasp on the materials used during construction and throughout operation, as well

as knowing the condition of the site, for example, could uncover the presence of hazardous waste such as asbestos, or pollutants like arsenic and mercury. Manual intervention can help deal with the challenge at source, without breaking containment. However, if it is revealed after testing that such hazards have also impacted the integrity of soil or groundwater, targeted remediation strategies will be required to ensure the safety of surrounding ecosystems and communities.

Of course, planning for every eventuality is virtually impossible, not least when dismantling assets the size of a power station, with decades-old infrastructure and often limited documentation. As such, the process must remain dynamic and flexible at all times.

Foster collaboration at every stage

At RVA Group, we’ve long talked about the importance of a tripartite alliance between client, contractor, and someone like us, acting as the independent consultant. Recognising that no single party possesses all-encompassing knowledge, this alliance fosters collaboration and innovation throughout the project lifecycle. However, it’s especially crucial during the remediation phase, where regulators and landowners assess the standard of environmental cleanup efforts before a project can be deemed complete – without incurring unnecessary penalty costs.

By assembling a skilled remediation team and supervising this phase, a consultant will ensure pollution is eradicated and the

restoration of land is completed to an agreed state and within budget, paving the way for an exciting future for the site. Meanwhile, a contractor may introduce innovative technologies that streamline the project timeline and enhance safety measures, accelerating the restoration process. Alternatively, they may offer specialised expertise in waste management strategies, further bolstering the environmental sustainability of the remediation methodology employed.

Ultimately, collaboration means ideas are harnessed from the outset and plans are continually validated and adjusted as needed.

Prioritise safety and compliance until the final hour

Once an asset reaches the end of its operational life, decommissioning, demolition and remediation will form part of a phased programme of closure of works. When complete, the operator will apply to surrender a number of environmental permits –depending on factors such as the site’s former use and local legislation – to confirm that it has been returned to a satisfactory state and is ready for further operational use, where possible.

In cases where the land is leased rather than owned, additional conditions may also be imposed on the remediation process. Meeting ever-evolving and increasingly stringent compliance requirements is crucial to prevent costly fines that could financially burden the project.

Keeping health and safety in sharp focus until absolute conclusion is vital too, something we’re constantly talking about at RVA Group. Frameworks such as the EU Directive 57/92, as well as the compliance with Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) in the UK, exist to regulate management until the final hour. However, in reality, many legislative requirements only establish the minimum benchmark for site safety protocol. Therefore, regardless of the phase of works,

adherence to best practices remains imperative to ensure the safety of personnel and surrounding communities.

Think long-term

It is crucial to be cognisant of the future use of the site during the remediation process where possible. If it is going to remain industrial, for example, the remediation regime will be different from if it is destined to be developed for residential or leisure use.

With long-term vision and strategic planning in large-scale remediation projects, clients can realise tangible benefits for both industry and society. A decade-long project amounting to 1.2 million safe work hours recently drew to a close in collaboration with petrochemical giant SABIC, whereby RVA Group supported six different contractor firms to demolish, decommission and remediate the firm’s 54-hectare site on Teesside.

A staggering 58,500 tonnes of scrap have been salvaged for reuse or remanufacturing since the project began, achieving a 98% recycling rate, with 44,000 tonnes of additional waste including 8,750 tonnes of asbestos managed responsibly in line with the waste hierarchy.

With the equivalent of 270 football pitches now cleared, the facility paves the way for potential industrial development, contributing to Teesside’s regeneration, attracting investors and creating job opportunities. SABIC’s dedication to safety also translates into charitable contributions, benefitting local causes and reinforcing its commitment to the community.

If you have something to say and would like to submit a column for publication in Demolition Hub, please email: toby@chambers.media

Are we missing a huge opportunity?

by Richard Dolman

Struggling with attracting the right person for the job with the level of skill required?

So why do we find it so difficult to recruit for a skilled role in 2024? Routes into the industry are now more varied and openly available than in previous years and there are highly skilled people available for work due to the unfortunate increase in company closures.

We are still suffering from a poor image, a lack of investment in apprenticeships, a lack of awareness of all opportunities for young people, an aging early-retiring workforce and this is compounded by a rising need – CITB states nearly 225,000 extra workers are required to meet UK construction demand by 2027, despite the economic uncertainty.

I am a huge advocate of education, particularly training our workforce in the skills required to enable them to perform their roles, assisting them in gaining the proficiency and experience needed to progress their careers.

I have spoken many times about the skills gap in our industry – the need to invest in our people, spend time training our workforce and to promote the education routes available to young people into our varied, skilled and rewarding industry.

But are we missing something? There is a huge pool of talented people that we need to engage with and address any of their concerns. The Office for National Statistics reports just over 15% of the construction workforce are women, up slightly on pre-pandemic levels. Recently we all celebrated Women in Construction Week and International Women’s Day. This is the perfect springboard to launch our campaign to encourage women to join the industry.

A survey conducted by Randstad questioned what barriers prevented women from joining the industry: 13% of women surveyed reported flexible working hours as a barrier, 11% wanted equal growth

opportunities between men and women and 48% commented on the lack of female role models, while 49% of women working in construction stated that they were unaware of company initiatives to help them into senior positions.

We offer flexible working, career progression, training and opportunities for all – we simply need to promote this. At AR, where I am CEO, we work with local schools and colleges to support their career curriculum, talking about the variety of career opportunities available, the routes into the industry and support them in preparing their students to move from education into work. Providing this support is hugely rewarding for us, beneficial to the students and it promotes our industry to the next generation of our workforce. We need to modernise the image of our industry, as it is not all dirty, physically difficult work with career paths for men only – we must work together to address the skills gap and promote the benefits and rewards the industry has to offer to everyone – for the benefit of us all.

If you have something to say and would like to submit a column for publication in Demolition Hub, please email: toby@chambers.media

Springing into action

by Terry Lloyd, Head of Vendor –SME Lending Division, Paragon Bank

As we approach the springtime and the days become longer many of us are starting to feel more confident about the year ahead.

We’re seeing and hearing that more construction and demolition companies are now back on site and as the weather gets warmer and drier there are fewer delays due to adverse conditions. This is good news for many after the slowdown we saw in the construction industry in 2023.

Now, as we approach the spring and summer months, it’s the time of year that many in the industry look forward to.

As I reflect upon my last article on what the construction industry is going to hold for 2024, with many optimistic about what the new year will bring, it’s been a positive start to the year for many.

On 13 March the Office for National Statistics released the data on construction output in Great Britain for January 2024. It’s been positive to see that following the estimated decrease in construction output seen at the end of 2023, it increased by 1.1% in January, following an uplift in new work and repair and maintenance1

While this is encouraging news when it comes to new work starting on site and it gives construction companies, suppliers and lenders an idea of what we can expect in 2024, we remain cautiously optimistic about what this year will bring, especially as we wait to hear more about inflation figures and the Bank of England interest rate, which will undoubtedly shape the year ahead.

However, the spring and summer months can’t come too quickly for many. This is an exciting time for the construction industry, with the prospect of upcoming industry events such as Hillhead making it still more so.

Like others, we at Paragon look forward to these large industry events, not only to see the innovative equipment that suppliers will be showcasing at the show, but also to catch up with long-standing clients, suppliers and other lenders, as well as to provide the opportunity to meet new companies who we may be able to support.

Industry exhibitions like Hillhead are also a great chance for new and growing businesses to meet lenders, suppliers and other industry contacts. It can provide inspiration when looking for new equipment, the opportunity to discuss industry topics and provide solutions to problems they may be experiencing.

To all of those who will be attending the show, we look forward to seeing you there.

1Construction output in Great Britain: January 2024: www.ons.gov.uk

If you have something to say and would like to submit a column for publication in Demolition Hub, please email: toby@chambers.media

IS YOUR SITE SECURE?

6 REASON’S WHY CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION SITES SHOULD HAVE SECURITY.

1. Deter Thieves and Vandals

In 2020 it was reported that the construction industry loses an average of £800 million per year as a consequence of theft and vandalism and the associated repair, replacement and insurance premium costs.

2 Protect Site Workers

We are probably all aware that construction sites are high-risk environments in which accidents can easily occur Hiring security guards who have undergone SIA training and who understand emergency procedures are, therefore, invaluable when health and safety are at risk We recommend hiring someone who is also First Aid trained, as you never know when you might need them and they could end up saving a life

3. Protect Against Fire

Most building sites tend not to have pre-installed fire safety systems, leaving it up to site workers to report on any fire hazards or incidents However, qualified security guards must be trained in monitoring the site and evacuating workers in the case of an incident, while attempting to keep fire damage to a minimum

4 Control Access

Construction sites are busy and staff across several different areas typically require access, often making it difficult to keep track of who is authorised to be there Investing in dedicated site security staff to monitor and control who enters will minimise the risk of unauthorised persons gaining access to your construction site, thus reducing the likelihood of theft, vandalism or squatting

5. Prevent and Resolve Conflict

With large numbers of workers on any given construction site, tensions and conflicts are bound to arise at some point. Site security staff who are SIA trained are obligated to understand how to effectively manage such problems. This includes reducing the risk of conflicts between site staff and, where they do arise, effectively implementing good communication and problem-solving strategies to resolve the issue.

6. Save Money

Theft, fire and vandalism can end up costing you an extremely large amount of money. A site security guard’s job is to reduce and prevent such risks from occurring, which is why hiring someone for this very reason may be one the smartest decisions you make for your construction business.

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