demolition magazine - issue 7

DEMOLITION

ISSUE 7

The industry magazine like no other

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i n s i t e

This magazine is supposedly the first edition of 2014.But, based on some of the feedback we have beenreceiving over the past few months from sites up anddown the country, it could just as easily be the firstedition of 1814. Sad though it may seem, I have grown accustomedto reporting on site accidents; hardened to reportingon fatalities within the industry. But I was totallyunprepared for some of the stories we received in theimmediate aftermath of our Demolition is Brokeneditorial on the DemolitionNews.com website(http://tinyurl.com/pzp7pbt). All 120+ comments insisted on remaininganonymous for fear of reprisals from employers,clients and elsewhere. A few even went as far asstarting their messages “without prejudice” to ensurethat their words could not be used against them at afuture date. And, having read some of the tales fromwhat is supposed to be the modern demolitionbusiness, I fully understand their desire for anonymity. Those tales ranged from employers refusing toaccept near-miss reports and accidents beingcovered up or explained away, through employeesbeing moved to other sites or placed “on

EditorialMark Anthony - Mark Anthony [email protected] 456 166

Business DevelopmentJamie [email protected] 777570

Sales ExecutiveDaniel [email protected] 777570

General Enquiries01903 777570

ManagementManaging Director Jim WilkinsonDirector Mark AnthonyDirector Jamie Wilkinson

CirculationSubscription [email protected] 777570

Production, design & reproductionBarry Morgan - Down to a Fine [email protected] 259 737

Printed by Penscord Press, Gwent, UK

Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd - Business IntelligenceEljays44 Ltd. 3 Churchill Court112 The StreetRustingtonWest Sussex BN16 3DA01903 777570Demoliton is published 6 times a year by Eljays44 Ltd.The 2013 subscription rate is £60 per year. Subscription recordsare maintained at Eljays44 Ltd. County House, 3 Shelley Road,Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TT, UK.Articles and informationcontained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd andmay not be reproduced in any form without the written permissionof the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility forloss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs ormanuscripts.

Climate of Fearpunishment” for their“disruptive” safety consciousviews. At least one wasthreatened with violence if hementioned the fact that he had predicted a non-fatalaccident two weeks before it occurred. Such practices should surely have died out about thesame time we stopped sending children upchimneys. Yet here we are in the demolition robotage of laser guidance and microwave technology withparts of the industry still employing work practicesstraight out of the Dickensian workhouse. Pointing out the scant regard for safety on overseasdemolition sites – particularly those in China - hasbecome a stock in trade for DemolitionNews.com;and there is a constant temptation to look downupon the health and safety record of some countries;to regard their working methods with derision. But if some of our own workers are afraid to speakout about work practices and health and safetyfailings for fear of being branded a troublemaker orworse, are we really any better?

Mark Anthony

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s t u f f

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Bored with the so-straight-it-hurts Sochi

Winter Olympics. The switch off the

testosterone-fuelled butch-fest that is the

men’s figure skating and watch something

even more manly instead.

Nothing good on TV? Then feast your eyes

(and ears) on some of the finest demolition

video footage known to man (and woman)

kind:

Oh My God – Breaking a tower block right

next to a busy street packed with cars and

pedestrians. What’s the worst that could

happen? http://tinyurl.com/m7s4j2q

The Eagle has landed - CDI fells refinery

structures at Sunoco’s Eagle Point refinery

http://tinyurl.com/k44ycle

Demolition TV is

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AR stalks its quarry

Yet another epic video from the studios of

AR Demolition http://tinyurl.com/kzv3zg2

Brazilian viaduct implosion

Fabio Bruno masters the art of explosive

height reduction http://tinyurl.com/nk75spw

D&D does Downwell double

It’s like Hitachi central around here

http://tinyurl.com/prdwush

The Rammer hammer symphony

An ode to the Rammer hammer

http://tinyurl.com/mdhfn7b

Demolition TV

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Ustream – Allows you to“broadcast” live to the world or to selected individuals. If you can find a decent Internetconnection, this could be used toallow colleagues to virtuallyparticipate in a site walk aroundor a meeting.

Directr – Want to produce videoon-the-go complete with musicalsoundtracks and cool animationsand transitions? Then Directr is for you. It usesvideo from any other application,adding arty elements to producenear professional quality filmswith no time limits. Great forbudding Spielbergs.

Vine – The success story of 2013,Vine is the video equivalent ofTwitter, allowing you to capture andshare films of just six seconds in length. While it is undoubtedly clever andphenomenally popular, it owesmuch of its success to enthusiasticteenagers and has yet to make anyreal impact in business. Best usedfor cats falling down stairs.

Glide – If Vine is Twitter video, thenGlide is text video, allowing users torecord short videos and share theminstantly with anyone in theirphone’s contact list. Glide could be invaluable whensharing a specific contract challengeor even machine fault with acolleague and is, therefore, our pickof the bunch.

Video Sharing Apps

With the press of a button, smart phones can shoot, capture, edit and share high quality video that can beused for internal communications and even external marketing purposes. But what are the best video appsfor the iPhone and iPad? We trialled the best of the best to bring you our recommendations.

s t u f f

App Happy

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Industry recruitment specialist Number 8 Group iswarning that proposed changes to the definition ofself-employed worker status could result in a 30percent hike in labour costs almost overnight.

Agency warns that proposedchanges to Government

legislation on the definition ofself-employed workers could be“the most significant event” in

the demolition and constructionmarket in a decade.

LabourCostsCouldRocket

While the consultation period will last until February, it islikely that the current set up of agencies andintermediaries supplying temporary self-employed labourwill change fundamentally. Genuinely self-employedpeople will not be affected, but it remains to be seenexactly what the government define as genuinely self-employed within the agency supply market.“It’s fair to say that construction companies of all sizesenjoy the flexibility of hiring self-employed operativesfrom agencies, both from a cost and employment statusperspective. In our opinion, the industry would be inserious trouble if a significant proportion of the agencylabour supplied came with the added cost of holiday pay,sick pay and employers NI not to mentionmaternity/paternity pay,” says Number 8 Group’s TrevorMills. “This could add upwards of 25 percent to theactual cost of hiring in an operative, and this will have to

be borne by either the operative, agency, contractor orend client.” Mills reports that the new legislation is due to take effectfrom April 2014 in some shape or form that will befinalised after the consultation period has ended. “Infour months from now, the way the industry hires intemporary labour could be very different and ultimately alot more expensive,” he continues. “Having said that,there is a huge amount of issues and concerns toresolve, and as the government went through a similarexercise four years ago, the result could still be very littlechange. We fundamentally understand that the recoveryin the construction industry will only continue if a viablesolution to this new piece of legislation is found; asolution that enables contractors to continue workingcompetitively within the new rules dictated by thislegislation.”

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S T U F F

Crisis? WhatMid-Life Crisis?

Objects of Desire

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Have you ever had that feeling? You’re in a top-class restaurant; you are suitably attired; you havebrushed up on your cutlery etiquette; you havelearned the menu in both English and French; andstuffed into your pocket is sufficient money to payfor the meal several times over. And yet, for somereason, you feel out of place; like the maitre d’ willsuddenly twig that you don’t belong and lead youto the door, asking you never to return.

Well, multiply that feeling by about a hundred andyou have some inkling of how I felt climbing behindthe wheel of an Aston Martin Vanquish. It is likebeing handed the front door key for BuckinghamPalace. It is quite possibly the most daunting and yetsumptuously inviting place I have ever been.

Coiled Cobra

In truth, the exterior of the Vanquish doesn’t reallyprepare you for what lies within. For while it is low andsleek, it suggests stripped down, raw power. Don’t getme wrong – It has power to spare. The six-cylinderV12 engine lurking beneath the elongated hood is like acoiled cobra, ready to strike and ready to roar throughall six gears to a top speed of 188 mph. But airline-style dash and flappy-paddle gear controls aside, theinterior could quite easily be from a high endMercedes, such is the level of comfort.

With the industry on the up, wedecided that the time had cometo try out a car from the moreluxurious end of the market.

And even for avowed non-petrolhead Mark Anthony, it proved tobe a near-religious experience.

Even the driving position – sat erect rather than lyinghorizontal – speaks of a luxury car rather than asupercar. Where others make do with bare metal,Aston Martin has leather peeled from cows that havebeen to finishing school.

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But make no mistake. This car goes. And it keepson going. The car goes from 0 to 60 in roughly thetime it takes to utter the fourth syllable of “DearSweet Mother of God”. It is about the same time ittakes to realise that – in addition to steering andproviding a home for the flappy-paddle controls – thesteering wheel serves a third, equally importantpurpose. It is something to hang onto while 550horses and a huge dollop of G-Force is trying to suckyou out through the rear window.

And that feeling never subsides. With each gearchange comes another burst of whiplash-inducingacceleration that pins you to the seat and squeezesthe air from your lungs. Indeed, I have never feltmore conscious of my chest than I did in theVanquish. The acceleration works like a boaconstrictor on your lungs, and when you apply thebrakes, the seat belt catches like a swift kick to thesternum.

In tests, the brakes have stopped a car from 100 mphin less than 50 metres. This is only marginally lessefficient than hitting a wall. A comforting thought,until you realise that the person driving behind you isunlikely to be similarly blessed in the brakingdepartment.

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Safety Features

That said, facts such as these arereassuring, as are the heaps of safetyfeatures including a hardworking tractioncontrol system that makes the car moreforgiving when you’ve been a little eageron the gas. In fact, although it isunquestionably exhilarating, I feltconstantly secure, safe in theknowledge that this car had mywellbeing at heart. The same cannotbe said of a Ferrari or, as I prefer to callit, a near-death experience.

Does it have any drawbacks? Wellyes, of course it does. First of all, itwould be lousy on a demolition site.

Also, you could buy Walesfor less than the asking priceof the Aston Martin Vanquish but believe me,you’ll never have this much fun in Wales.The Vanquish doesn’t so much use fuel as itinhales it. Then again, if you have spent thatmuch on a car, the hourly visits to the petrolstation probably hold very few fears for you.And think of the Nectar points.

But all these are petty niggles; likediscovering that your supermodel wife leavesthe cap off the toothpaste from time to time.

Then, of course, is the fact that its sleek shape andoutrageous speed scream midlife crisis just as loudlyas a questionable tattoo or an ill-advised piercing.But, as a reformed Porsche owner, I disagree.

Driving a Porsche in your 40s – I now see - is adesperate and vain attempt to be young, carefree andcareless one last time.

A middle-aged man in a Porsche is Rod Stewart,milking past glories long after they ceased to be cool,even in an ironic way. “Do ya think I’m sexy?” NoRod, not for at least 40 years. Driving an AstonMartin speaks of aspirations realised, goals achieved,mountains scaled, a life lived. A middle-aged mandriving an Aston is Keith Richards, still vital, stillrelevant, looked up to by his peers, and yet not caringa jot what others may think.

So yes, it is expensive and yes, it will make you theenvy of just about everyone you meet. But I assureyou that driving an Aston Martin Vanquish is about themost fun you can have with your clothes on.

And if, like me, you’re in your 40s, it is as much fun asa good many of the things you can do with yourclothes off too. So go on, treat yourself – You’ll thankme for it.

S T U F F

In honour of our unrequited love of Twitter, ineach edition we will bring you a Tweet-styleinterview with a leading demolition personality.And they don’t come any bigger than Helina Stil;director of newly-crowned World DemolitionContractor of the Year, Nikau Contractors and thefirst QuickFire participant to mention lipgloss!

What is the one thing you take with youeverywhere? My wallet, phone and lipgloss

Favourite gadget? My iPhone and Beats by Dre headphones

Favourite or dream car? Maserati GranCabrio MC - LOVE IT

Favourite book? Edmonds Cookbook - a kiwi classic

Favourite sports team? The mighty All Blacks of course

Last holiday destination? Wild West Coast, South Island, New Zealand -beautiful

Favourite item of clothing? Everything I have by designer Karen Walker

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Favourite food? Freshly caught Snapper on a hot grill on thebeach

Nicest place you've ever been? Victoria, Canada and Wanaka, New Zealand

What time to you start work? 8am usually LOL

Do you have a morning ritual? Cup of tea, watch news and make children'slunches

If you didn't work in demolition, what would yoube? Either working for the Government or astruggling artist

What aspect of demolition to you most enjoy? The machines

What aspect of demolition would you change? COWBOY CONTRACTORS

What would be the first thing you'd do if youwere King/Queen for a day? Sleep In and turn my phone off

Quickfire

New World

Order

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N e w W o r l d O r d e r

Commentary This starts as a bit of a ramble but trust me;there is a point to it.

When I first became a journalist, back in the80s, publishing companies were still a unionclosed shop. I got my first proper job notbecause I was a gifted scribe and wordsmith butbecause my father worked for the samecompany.

But all of that changed when Margaret Thatcherset about the dismantling the power of theunions. Say what you like about Maggie, buther impact upon the publishing sector wasenormous and it put me on the path to where Iam today.

First to go was the theory that nepotism was asound means of selecting a workforce. I hadsneaked through the back door with my collegeeducation while no-one was looking. A yearafter I started on the now defunct ContractJournal, an internal edict was passed thatinsisted that all future employees should beuniversity graduates. Or, to put it another way,the company now had the opportunity to choosethe best candidates out there, rather than thenephew of the guy that swept the loading bay inthe warehouse.

The demolition industry is at a post-recessionary crossroads. The path it takes now will shape the sector now, and for years to come.

This shift coincided with a wider embracing ofnew technology. In the union days, copy washandled by countless individuals, all with verysmall and very focused roles. Each of myarticles went from me to a sub-editor who wouldmake sure that my spelling was up to scratch.From there it would go to a designer who woulduse that article to make up a whole or part of apage. That page would then be sent to atypesetter who would repeat the process tomake the whole shebang “print ready”, beforebeing passed to a printer who would actually putthe ink on the paper. By contrast, the articlethat you are reading went from me to the printer,and to you.

Obviously, this meant job losses along the way.But with a better-educated workforce usingtechnology to write directly into a print-readydesign, sub-editors had no reason to double-check; typesetters were rendered obsolete. And,most importantly of all, the readers of ContractJournal never knew the difference.

And what does that rambling history lesson haveto do with demolition, I hear you ask? The post-recession demolition sector is standing at a similarcrossroads at which it can either repeat themistakes of the past or carve itself a new future.

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l Over 70 different training courses readily

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C&DCONSULTANCYTRAINING DIVISION

LOOKING FOR WORK?

To its left is a continuation of the road it isalready on. The path is well-trodden, clearlysignposted “boom, bust, repeat”; its every upcountered with an equal and proportionatedown; and it is lined with the corporate corpsesof Armoury Group, Border Demolition,Controlled Group, EDS and Lee Demolition.

To the right, barely visible, is a second road.Few have been here before; it has no signpost toindicate its final destination; and it will requiresome brave and bold companies to pioneer apath to an uncertain future.

The choice is simple: we keep doing what wehave done for the past 20, 30 and even fiftyyears, certain in the knowledge that, regardlessof what we do, boom will lead to bust will leadto boom.

Or we choose an uncharted future in whichtraditional economic cycles may not apply.

So which path do YOU choose?


In career-selection terms, demolition is like thefat, asthmatic kid with the wonky eye, glasses andinexplicably sour odour when you were playingfootball at school: Only picked when all otheroptions have been exhausted.

Our schools are filled with children aspiring to beDavid Beckham, Beyonce, Steve Jobs or OprahWinfrey. Unless they have a father or uncle in thedemolition business, very few five, 10 and 15 yearolds aspire to a career in demolition. The reasonfor this are many and varied, but I believe that forsome it begins at a very early age when theirprimary exposure to the industry is one of fear.

Demolition must attract smarter individuals into its lower ranks if it is toembrace change, fully address health and safety challenges, and build

a sustainable business for the future.

Every demolition site – large or small – carries amultitude of warning signs reading Danger –Demolition in Progress. Many of those companiesthat have embraced community liaison - visitingschools and community centres and interactingwith local children – reinforce that theme, askinglocal children to create their own Keep Out signs.

Of course, children SHOULD be aware of thedangers of a demolition site. No-one wants kidsusing a site as an afterschool playground. Butthe current tone is so wholly and universallynegative that demolition companies might just aswell erect signs that proclaim “Here There beSharks” and “Abandon Hope All ye Who Enter”.

Receptive Minds As an industry, we are missing an opportunity toengage with these receptive and impressionableminds on a positive level, preferring instead to“scare the bejesus” out of them instead. Would itreally be so bad if some of that negativity wastempered with some positivity?

Is this not an ideal opportunity to inspire a lovefor big diggers? Could we not explain that thehouse these children live in almost certainly cameabout as a result of demolition?

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The Children

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Should we not be telling them that our recyclingmethods are helping safeguard their future?Construction has Bob the Builder. Where is ourDave the Demolition Man?

Having inspired them at an early age, the industrywould then need to engage with them before theybegin to choose their career paths. And in thisarea, we have much to learn from the ArmedForces. Careers advertising for the Armed Forceshighlights the multitude of roles within eachservice, not just the one that involves marchinginto a dusty country you couldn’t previously findon a map merely to satisfy a politician’s bloodlust.

They highlight engineering, IT and administrativeroles; jobs that don’t involve danger or risk ofdeath. Demolition has all of these in spades.

So sure, maybe we do continue to take schoolleavers that didn’t bother with further education.But that doesn’t mean that future demolition sitesneed to resemble the set of Dawn of the Dead.

That boy who is not too good at science but is amaths whizz - Couldn’t he be moulded into anestimator?

That girl who hates school but is really good atEnglish – Could she not be trained to write biddocuments? That kid that loves computers buthates gaming. Perfect for the BIM departmentthat you’re likely to need going forward?

And that bookish, methodical kid that is alwaysthere, always on time and leaves school withstraight Cs – A risk assessment and methodstatement co-ordinator in the making?

LOOK NO FURTHERWWW.DEMOLITION-JOBS.CO.UK

are our Future


This is the real answer; not hauling a high reachsimulator around educational conventions. If Iam 16 years old and I am presented with a highreach simulator, I am not thinking “hi-diddley-dee”, a wrecker’s life for me.” I am thinking“Sod demolition. Gaming is cool. I am sendingmy CV to EA Sports.”

Limited Resources The training sector within UK demolition haslimited resources, made up of reinvestedtraining fees and grant funding from aGovernment quango that lives under a seeminglyconstant threat of abolition. Against thatbackground, surely it should be playing theaverages.

Clever though it might be (and would it reallyhave hurt to put a cab on it) the high reachsimulator will impact upon – at best – a fewhundred individuals, the majority of whom havebeen operating excavators and even high reachexcavators quite adequately without thistechnological intervention.

There are about 550 demolition companies inthe UK at any given time, and not all of them runhigh reach machines. Let’s say that thesimulator might benefit 500 individuals.

As a whole, the UK demolition industry employsupwards of 10,000 individuals across amultitude of disciplines. Site operatives mustsurely outnumber high reach drivers by about10:1 and, let’s face it, a high reach is of no usewhatsoever on a bridge, a top down contract, anexplosive contract or a multitude of other sitesituations.

With the benefit of hindsight, was it really sucha great idea to invest in a device that – if we’rebeing exceptionally generous – might benefit lessthan five percent of the incumbent workforce ata time when site operative tests are beinggeared to be passable by the semi and fully-illiterate?

Better and Smarter During the recession, many companies wereforced to lay-off members of their workforce(ironic given that the training group thatpurports to serve it was actually swelling in sizeat the same time).

With the economy having turned a corner, theindustry now has the opportunity to rebuildthose workforces with smarter, more articulate,enthusiastic, ambitious individuals; technology-savvy young people that have grown up with theInternet and see it not as a threat but as anintegral part of everyday life; individuals forwhom an iPad is as much a demolition tool as ahydraulic hammer; environmentally-aware youngpeople for whom green issues are the norm, notjust the domain of the tree-hugging community;insightful young people that will question thetraditional processes and procedures and whomight just come up with a better way.

And this is not just about young people(although, as Whitney Houston once sang beforeher ill-fated, one-way trip to the bathroom, “Ibelieve the children are our future.”)

Although they have not arrived in the caravanconvoy droves predicted by the Daily Mail, theUK is likely to see a new wave of migrantworkers from Bulgaria and Romania.

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We can, of course, choose to get all Nigel Farageabout it and bleat about how they will be stealingjobs from British workers, or we can face the factsproven by the influx of Polish workers just a fewyears ago.

In my personal experience, those migrant workerstend to have a better formal education and abetter work ethic than many of their Britishcounterparts. Toolbox Talks, site briefings andsafety notices might be a challenge at first but letus not lose sight of one irrefutable fact. Polish,Bulgarian and Romanian workers have alreadymastered their native language and are nowapplying themselves to learning ours. A goodmany British workers couldn’t even be arsed tolearn their own native tongue, cannot read or writeand now communicate in a series of grunts.

Given the choice between a bi-lingual Bulgarianand an illiterate Brit, I know which way I amleaning.

In short, if we are to take any positives out of arecession that was deeper and longer than anyoneexpected, it is the possibility to rebuild workforces

as we want them to be, not to merely acceptthem as they have evolved. We have the chanceto employ better, smarter more switched onstaff who will push the company and theindustry forward.

Alternatively, we could just call the fat kid withthe lazy eye.

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Down Low, Too Slow

Now here’s a sentence I never expected to write:“The UK demolition industry is missing a chance tomake money.”

If ever there was an industry that defined theentrepreneurial spirit, demolition was it. Never mind“where there’s muck there’s brass” – In demolitioncircles, there’s brass where there’s muck, bricks,blocks, timber, glass, plastic, steel, iron, aluminiumand, coincidentally, brass. The sector was the past-master at finding profit where none had previouslyexisted; at riding the economic lows before being thefirst to seize the subsequent highs.

And yet, this time around, the industry has beenuncharacteristically tardy. The UK economy has beenofficially out of recession for well over a year now.Fuel prices, insurance premiums, Landfill Tax,employment costs and association membershipshave all seen an increase. And yet here we are withtales of suicidal bidding and price undercutting stillrife. Even in the midst of a recession, low-bidding isan act of short-termism and desperation. Tocontinue when the market has picked up is nothingshort of certifiable lunacy.

UK demolition has been uncharacteristically and dangerously slow torespond to an upturn in demand and market sentiment.

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Certifiable Lunacy The comments we received upon the demise of bothLee Demolition and Euro Dismantling Services weresplit into two roughly equal categories.

The first category was wishing the workers well andexpressing sincere hopes that they would findalternative employment having fallen victim tocircumstances beyond their direct control. Thesecond, more vociferous group was the “they had itcoming” category that was quick to detail the fallencompanies’ reputation for “buying work” and (pardonmy French) for “ripping the arse out of jobs”.

Whether any of those comments was based on truthis something that only the former directors of eachcompany and their respective clients will know(although Lee Demolition admitted that its downfallhad been caused by “inaccurate costing and poorproject management”).

Regardless, there are certain companies with areputation – earned or otherwise – for doing things onthe cheap.


We all know who they are, and so do they. So, forthem, let me paint a picture using a footballinganalogy (and my apologies to any rugby fans out there– I don’t know the first thing about the sport and,therefore, have no direct comparison).

Arsenal vs Blackburn Those companies that were among the mostexpensive before the recession were, most likely, themost expensive during the recession and are amongthe most expensive today.

They have a reputation for doing things well and fordoing things right. If the law dictates that they mustdo X, they do X and Y, just to be certain. They createlong-term partnerships with their clients and takegood care of their staff through training and ongoingcareer progression. They invest in the best and areon a course marked “continuous improvement”.

22

In footballing terms, they are Arsenal under ArseneWenger. They may not win everything but they will bethere or thereabouts and will be a genuine joy towatch.

Then there is a second group. In legislation, healthand safety and training terms, they do just enough toget by without fear of prosecution. They do notbelieve in long-term partnerships, preferring the “getin, get paid and get out before anyone asksquestions” style of working.

They see their staff as mere commodities that can bepicked up, put down and treated poorly because,ultimately, they are all replaceable. And they arequite willing to take a financial hit on the chin inexchange for that one fleeting moment in the spotlight. In footballing parlance, they are BlackburnRovers.

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LOOK NO FURTHERWWW.DEMOLITION-JOBS.CO.UK

In the 1994-95 season, backed by a huge personalinvestment from steel stockholder Jack Walker,Blackburn Rovers won the Premier League title beforecommencing a slow, inexorable decline. During thatsame period, Arsenal amassed three Premier Leaguetitles; four FA Cup trophies and four Community Shieldwins.

At the time of writing, Arsenal are at the top of theEnglish Premiership; Blackburn Rovers are 9th in theEnglish league’s second tier.

Demolition contractors can choose to take theBlackburn Rovers approach for one shot at the bigtime; or they can up their game; be an Arsenal; andenjoy long-term success.

Knee-Jerk In truth, the industry already has its fair share ofArsenals; those companies that do things so well andso right that even their competitors treat them with agrudging respect. Unfortunately, they are greatlyoutnumbered by Blackburn Rovers companies. Andsuch is the disparity between the two that the industry– even the better parts of it – are being tarnished with awhiff of Rovers.

When the recession hit, much of the demolitionindustry switched into default mode and cut priceswithout a second thought. That knee-jerk reaction hasnow come home to roost.

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There is an entire generation of clients out there nowthat believe that those prices quoted during therecession are the norm.

More worrying still is the fact that there areindividuals within UK demolition companies thatbelieve the same.


Over the course of a working year, I am given amultitude of reasons that people within thisindustry won’t or can’t speak to me.

There is the rare “we don’t speak to/trust thepress”. There is the (rare outside ofSilverdell circles) “no comment”.

There is the (more common thanyou might think) “we have beentold by a higher authority that weare not allowed to speak to you”.

And then there is the biggie – aninability to speak up for fear ofreprisals.

You might think I am joking but Ican assure you I am deadlyserious. In the 24 hours following theonline publication of an articleentitles Demolition is Broken(http://tinyurl.com/pzp7pbt),

I received over 50 emails and text messages andall but two demanded anonymity.

Two even went as far as to start their messagewith the phrase “without prejudice” to ensurethat their words could not be used against themin the future.

What kind of industry has its employees so fearfulof speaking up that they remain tight-lippedbefore, during and after fatal accidents?

What kind of industry has its employees so fearfulthat they dare not “rock the boat” for fear ofrecriminations?

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Name & ShameThe demolition industry must

embrace openness andtransparency if it is to shake off itsreputation for cloak and dagger

deals and staff too scared to voicetheir valuable opinion.

What kind of industry repeatedly acquiesces tothe unreasonable requests of clients - eventhough that request is contrary to best practice– for fear of being blacklisted? I’ll tell you.That is not an industry; that is a police state.

Speak Up The issue, of course, is one of supply anddemand. Although there are exceptions,demolition companies are generally afraid tospeak out against clients for fear of being

replaced on a current contract and future works.Likewise, demolition workers are afraid ofspeaking out to employers who see them asexpendable and easily replaced.

That such a climate of fear even exists in thisday and age is, however, a scandal. It would beeven more of a scandal if it were allowed tocontinue.

25


The time has come to make a stand and tospeak up, anonymously if necessary. And sinceno-one else seems willing to take up the mantle,we (Demolition magazine andDemolitionNews.com) will be your mouthpiece ifyou wish.

If your employer is asking you to do somethingthat you believe to be unsafe, report it to usanonymously and we will investigate it andreport it.

If your client is insisting that you do a job in away that goes against best practice and yourown gut feel, report it to us anonymously and wewill investigate it and report it.

And if you have lost out on a contract basedpurely on price, report it to us anonymously and we will investigate it and report it. For therecord, there is no point in investigating lostcontracts out of spite and sour grapes. But if acompany has won a contract by bidding, say, 20percent less than the next lowest bid, we wantto hear about it.

Cuts Both WaysIf the industry is to embrace transparency,however, it MUST be a two-way street; we mustengage in the same levels of honesty andintegrity with which we would like to be treated.

Case in point. I recently had cause to visit theFederation website and was a little surprised tofind that around a dozen of its current memberswere listed as suspended, non-compliant or yetto complete a site audit.

Now I was working with the Federation when thesite audit scheme became a pre-requisite ofmembership and so I know that non-compliancecomes in many forms.

Sure, there are still sites that auditors find to bebelow par from a health and safety, riskassessment standpoint. But there are alsothose that do not comply for little more thanpoorly maintained site paperwork. And there are those smaller companies that fallfoul of the scheme simply because they do nothave an auditable site in the prescribed time-frame.

26

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That, however, is not my gripe. For while adozen companies had a black mark against theirname for non-compliance.

I knew of at least two that were under ongoinginvestigation over a site fatality but whose namewas accompanied by a nice big tick ofcompliance. And there were even more that Iknow to be investigation for non-fatal accidentsalso wearing their tick of quality.

If, as the Federation would have its membersbelieve, the website is a shop window for clientsand their buddies in the UK Contractors Group,then surely a heads up on a fatality orquestionable safety records would not be out ofplace.

As it stands today, the website seems to suggestthat a failure to comply with Federation rules isa worse crime than killing or maiming a worker.

Of course, the Federation cannot pre-empt orprejudice the findings of a criminal court, andnor should it. But maybe, just maybe, this is atime to accentuate the positive rather thanfocusing on the negative.

Instead of painting a red cross on the entry of acompany that has suffered a site accident anddeclaring them “unclean”, what about scoringcompanies on the number of man hours workedwithout a reportable incident.

Of course, any such system would need to begeared by, say, per 10,000 man hours to ensurethat smaller companies were playing on a levelplaying field with their larger, multi-sitecounterparts.

Yes, a system like this WOULD favour the likes ofErith Group and Cantillon, both of which haveamassed more than one million man hourswithout a reportable incident.

But if the UK demolition industry is seriousabout safety, would that be such a bad thing?And if other companies want to compete, thenthey will have no choice but to invest in trainingand safety; not the worst imaginable outcome.

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My increasing age has brought with it a growingtolerance. I no longer suffer from road rage; I canusually read the newspaper without the urge to huntdown and kill a politician. And even the latest WestHam defeat is generally greeted with a shrug oflearned indifference.

There are, however, some things that still rankle.Radio presenters that use the term “the N word” liketheir listeners are four years old; TV newsreaders thatare incapable of tying a tie properly; and – mypersonal bugbear – the culture of blame in whicheverything is somebody’s fault (usually so that afinancial claim can be made).

We live in a world where someone stupid enough totrip over a paving slab can blame and then sue thelocal authority responsible for the path’s upkeep. We live in a world in which, apparently, inclementweather can be attributed directly to someshortcoming at the House of Commons or theEnvironment Agency.

A growing blame culture hasbeen allowed to take a foothold

in the UK demolition industry.And it has been largely to the

detriment of the sector. Mark Anthony reflects.

Taking ResponAnd we live in a world in which employees within thedemolition industry have become so mollycoddled thatthey have largely surrendered responsibility for theirown personal safety, content in the knowledge that anyaccident that befalls them will almost certainly beaccompanied by a cash pay-out.

Why else would they need to be constantly reminded towear hard hats, high visibility jackets and vests, safetygloves and glasses, all of which are for their OWNpersonal protection? Why else would demolitioncontractors be issuing sunscreen to workers during thebrief British summer time?

Why else would demolition contractors be investingthousands in on-site health checks to fill the gaps inthe medical care of their workers? And what dodemolition contractors get in return? They get the kindof loyalty that sees staff heading for the exit if they areoffered another £5 per week by a competitor.

If the problems of self-responsibility are bad at thebottom end of the business, they are considerablyworse (and Government-backed) at the top whereclients are legally absolved from all liability even if theychose to use a “demolition contractor” who is actuallya plumber by training and who then causes an accident.

Clients claim to judge bids based upon a variety offactors, only one of which is cost. And yet by somestrange quirk of coincidence, the lowest bid invariablywins. And why shouldn’t it?

29

If a low-ball bidder wins the work and then can’tcomplete it at the price, the client might face a minorinconvenience or time delay.

Meanwhile, the demolition contractor that won the bidwill be forced to cut corners to make ends meet andcould be driven out of business while the losingcontractors that were better equipped to do the workare left in the cold.

And what if the client’s “price is everything” mantraresults in an accident or worse, a fatality? Well,apparently, that is the contractor’s fault as well. I cannot recall a single case in which a client’swillingness to buy its demolition services “on the cheap”have been cited as a contributory factor in an accident.And yet we all know that it can play a key role.

Somehow, the demolition sector has landed the role asthe construction industry’s whipping boy; the doorstepat which all blame is laid. And it is here where thewider industry has demolition over a barrel.

If ever the industry were to set aside its differences andunite outside institute and federation lines, it would beaccused of collusion.

Is there an answer? Well, at staff levels, there certainlyis. With the introduction of tighter contracts ofemployment, demolition contractors could certainlyprotect themselves – to a degree – from the lack ofloyalty and crass stupidity of their staff.

Unfortunately, thanks to the Nanny State in which wenow live, this would almost certainly mean a mountainof paperwork, bureaucracy and, of course, cost.

Can anything done about clients’ willingness to putcost above all other factors? There is a temptation to“name and shame” clients that consistently take thecheap option, but then there is the fear of earning areputation as a whistle-blower and being blacklistedfor future work.

But if “proper price” contractors are already beingexcluded by a skin-flint client, would they really makeso much of a difference?

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O n S I T E

The £90 million Friars Walk retail and leisurescheme started with a very loud bang on Sunday12th January, when team of demolition expertsconsisting of Cuddy Group, IndEx Ltd , SESContracts Ltd, Stellabrook (Drilling Contractors) &Bingham Hall (Structural Engineers) took theCapitol Car Park in Newport City Centre down bythe use of controlled explosives.

A Sunday morning blastchanged the Newport ci tyskyl ine as Cuddy Groupdemolished a famil iarmult i-storey car park.

Cuddy Makes Parking Space

30

Situated in the shadow of Chartist Tower, the nine-storey Capitol Car Park was built in the 1960's butclosed in 2010 after a period of rapid deteriorationto the fabric of the building.

The demolition crew drilled 750 holes in strategicpositions all over six floors of the car park. Acharge was inserted into each hole, over 35Kg ofdetonating cord explosive in all, and delaydetonators set off over a one second period.

After a series of warning sirens and a rocket, it fellto 13 year old Ellis Moore from Blackwood, topress the button.

"I was nervous", he said, "But it was very exciting tosee the building come down".

Cuddy Makes Parking Space

31

The design of the collapse was to pull the car parkaway from the remaining attached structure andthe live gas main which was just seven metres fromthe building. The corner nearest to the gas mainwas left to ensure that the vibration wasminimised.

Councillor Ken Critchley, Newport City Council'scabinet member for infrastructure, said: "Theremoval of the car park represents a significantstage in the demolition programme andconstruction of the eagerly awaited Friars Walkleisure and retail development will begin shortly." Cuddy Group won the contract for the demolitionwork on John Frost Square following a tenderprocess and the removal of Capitol Car Park is thefinal piece of work to be completed on thedemolition.

"Demolition is a very serious business and safety isalways the number one priority. It may only take asecond or two for the building to fall but theamount of preparation and co-ordination that goesinto an event like today is vast. We were keen toensure minimal disruption for local businesses andthe surrounding community and have ensuredthere has been ongoing consultation at every stagein our planning and preparation,” concludes Cuddymanaging director, Mike Cuddy. “I am delightedthat the explosion went according to plan and thatthe clean down programme can now begin inearnest."

To view a video of the implosion, please visit:http://tinyurl.com/pwd2zd5

32

o n s i t e

ThoroughlyModern Metro

We all know what to expect from a typicaldemolition site office: health and safety reminderson the wall; muddy footprints; a discarded copy ofThe Sun still open at Page 3; and a collection ofcoffee-cups-cum-penicillin-experiments gentlyfermenting in the corner.

The health and safety posters are on the wall ofMetro Deconstruction’s cramped Wigmore Streetsite near Marylebone in Central London. But theother industry staples are strangely absent,replaced by an almost clinical cleanliness; a singlelaptop where the discarded newspapers should be;a dust, vibration and noise monitoring stationoccupying the small area of floor space usuallyreserved for muddy boots.

Culture Shock

And if the company’s sitemanagement style is asurprise, then the finishquality of its internal strip-out activities on the siteare a full-on culture shock.Despite the fact that theretained buildingsthemselves are severalhundred years old, insidethey are pristinely cleanalmost to a builder’s finish ona new build. “Thedemolition industry isextremely competitive,

33

ThoroughlyModern Metro particularly around London and the South East of

England,” says managing director Mark Taylor. “Wehave built and maintained our reputation by goingthat extra mile to ensure that our customers are notjust satisfied, but delighted by the standard of ourwork.”

It is a policy that is paying dividends. In addition tothe tricky and complex contract at the WigmoreStreet site, Metro has a further 6 operational siteswithin a short walk. And the current Wigmore Streetproject – part of the Howard de Walden Estate’splanned upgrade of most of Marylebone - actuallyabuts another Metro Deconstruction contractcompleted last year.

Metro Deconstruction is embracing new technology and transparencyto enhance its efficiency and to win and retain the confidence of its

clients. Mark Anthony reports.

34

O n S I T E

However, while Mark Taylor now knows thisparticular part of London like the back of his hand,nothing could have prepared him for the accessheadache presented by the Wigmore Streetcontract.

The site is fully enclosed, bordered along all fouraspects. To the front there is a four-storeyconcrete framed residential block and a busy pubthat is to remain open for the duration of thedemolition works. To the rear is a new hotel thatis also to remain open andundisturbed. Along oneside is a building occupiedby a firm of solicitors.And to the other side is arow of terraced retailoutlets withaccommodation above tothree storeys where Metrohas flexed its strip-outmuscles. The only wayinto the site was a smallundercroft leading to anequally small courtyard,but this was scarcely largeenough to accommodatea mini excavator, let alonea full-scale demolitionmachine.

Frontal Assault

The only viable solution open to Metro Demolitionwas a front assault, using top down methods toremove the four-storey concrete framed residentialblock alongside the pub facing the busy WigmoreStreet elevation of the site. “We looked at thechallenge from every angle but taking out theresidential block to gain access to the main site

was the safest and most efficient alternative,”Taylor says. “But even this came with itschallenges. We had to liaise with the local counciland the Highway Agency to agree a temporaryroad closure to allow us to crane the miniexcavators onto the roof.”

Even with the mini machines in place, thecomplexity of the contract remained. “We had noway of taking material off site and we are notallowed to crush here either,” Taylor explains.

“So as the mini excavators gradually brought thebuilding down, skid steer loaders were pushing thematerial back towards the rear of the site.”

In other circumstances, this approach would beakin to removing one obstacle and replacing it withanother.

But Metro’s approach had taken this into account.As soon as the four-storey block was down toground level, a complicated temporary worksscheme was designed and installed by Metro toback prop the slab and allow the larger excavatorsonto site to begin the real demolition work. Theselarger machines were also used to bulk move thedebris, arranging it as a working platform fromwhich to demolish the remainder of the structures.

“Even though we had very little choice, I am veryproud of the method that we developed for thiscomplex little contract,” Taylor adds. “Workingthis close to busy, neighbouring properties, weneeded to keep disruption to an absoluteminimum. And our top down approach achievedjust that.”

Transparency Policy

Mark Taylor believes that a key to his company’ssuccess on this project and others is its policy oftransparency and communication with localresidents and stakeholders. “Before work evenstarted, we met with local residents to tell themexactly what we were planning to do and the likelyimpact this would have on them,” he recalls.

“Then, from the moment theproject started in earnest, wehave produced a weeklynewsletter which keeps theminformed and warns them of roadclosures and noisy workingperiods. And to date, we have notreceived a single complaint.” The company is equally

communicative with client Howard de WaldenEstate. “In addition to the standard council noisyworking restrictions that allow us to work fromeight till ten, 12 till two and four till six, we have anadditional set of restrictions at the pub end of thecontract where we are only allowed to work fromnine till 12 and three till five,” Taylor says. “Noise,dust and vibration is all monitored on a live feed tothe site office and back to our head office,together with GPS-based building movementmonitoring on the party walls. Once a fortnight,this information is compiled into a report for theclient.”

The highest praise from Metro Deconstruction’sclient is the autonomy with which it is allowed towork on such a high profile development. “Wehave established an excellent rapport with ourclient and they trust us to work safely, efficientlyand to not disrupt our neighbours, most of whomare Howard de Walden Estate tenants,” MarkTaylor concludes. In fact, they generally negotiatethe subsequent construction contract while we arein the demolition phase because they trust us tohit our deadlines and leave the site fullyconstruction-ready.”

35

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O n s i t e

J Freeley chalked up £1.0million of school contracts in

under two years with thecompletion of its latest project.

School's Out for Freeley

The Manchester-based companydemolished the former StamfordCommunity High School in Ashtonunder Lyne, Tameside, GreaterManchester – its sixth contract in thesector since spring 2012.

The client was InspiredspacesTameside, a company set up to deliverthe government’s Building Schools forthe Future programme in the borough.

The demolition was delayed for a yeardue to the discovery of a bat colonyin one of the school blocks andbecause the site had been booked for the filming of episodes of TV comedy drama Shameless.

Once the work finally got under way,however, Freeley completed it in 18weeks, a fortnight ahead ofschedule.

“Education is a strong growth sector for the businessand we are delighted to have successfully completedanother major contract for a key public sector client,”says managing director John Freeley.

Freeley worked with ecologists to ensure thedemolition work did not endanger the bats. Bat boxes were put up in trees around the schoolgrounds to provide a safe shelter before demolition,and the company arranged for high-intensity lighting

School's Out for Freeley

37

O N S I T E

to be installed and focused on all sides of the buildingto deter bats from roosting inside. Four buildings were demolished as part of the scheme,with only an electricity sub-station retained on the site.

Restrictions in place covered the protection of cablesfrom the sub-station, and the monitoring of noise. At the height of the works, Freeley had 12 people onsite. The firm mainly used mechanical means todemolish the buildings, with some hand demolitioncarried out using a Genie Z45-25 cherry picker toseparate the live sub-station from one of the blocks.

Excavators with selector grabs and pulverisers wereused for most of the dismantling while a 50-tonneexcavator with a shear was used on the steel-framedbuildings.

38

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The excavators were aKobelco 480, a Komatsu210, a high-reach HitachiEX270LC and a CAT 320.A Pegson XR400 crusherwas used to crushconcrete and masonry on-site, which produced15,000 tonnes of recycledaggregate.

Freeley removed 34 tonnesof asbestos materials fromthe site before starting thedemolition.

40

o n s i t e

ColemanTargets Safety

41

Midlands-based Coleman & Company Ltd initiallyordered a single JCB 135 skid steer loader to workon its intricate demolition projects where space isconfined - such as within tight city centre sites - orwhere there are weight restrictions on suspendedfloors.

The company was so impressed with the machinethat it has since purchased a further four JCB skidsteers - a 155 and three 135 models.

All have been put to work on high profiledemolition projects across the country includingDidcot Power Station, St David's Shopping Centrein Swansea and Birmingham New Street RailwayStation.

As well as the performance of the machines,Coleman & Company highlights the health andsafety features of JCB skid steers compared tocompetitive models as fundamental to thepurchasing decision.

"We work in increasingly hazardous spaces, soensuring our operatives can work in safe conditionsis of primary importance. As such, we continuouslylook to manage and mitigate risk where possible.The JCB skid steer models have a number ofpositive safety features that impressed us," saysColeman & Company contract support manager,Malcolm Hurst. "These include far better all-roundvisibility and safer access to the cab which in turnallows a demolition guard to be fitted at the frontof the cab. This is something unique to JCB'sdesign, it is very different to any other skid steeron the market. We are also very impressed withthe build quality along with the flexibility of the JCBskid steers. Given the complex, technicallychallenging and high-risk nature of the workColeman & Company undertakes, we felt JCB wasbest placed to meet our needs.

Following an extensive study,Coleman & Company plumped forJCB skid steer loaders to tackle amixture of tricky and mammoth

works.

ColemanTargets Safety

42

o n s i t e

The machines have excelledin these conditions and thesupport we receive from ourdealer Gunn JCB is superb. We are also proud to support afellow Midlands and UK-basedfirm."

As the only manufacturer to produce a single-sidedPowerboom loader arm, JCB provides operatorswith a full opening door on the side of themachine. This means that there is never arequirement to climb over large,cumbersome attachments or tools,improving safety for the operator.This design also enables the JCBmodels to be fitted with a level ofcab protection that surpasses anyother skid steer.

The Coleman & Company skid steerloaders have been further adaptedto the demolition environment withadditional features including: analarm that is triggered if the dooropens whilst the engine is running,solid puncture resistant rubbertyres and a grapple bucket that'clamps' a broad range of materialsmoves from its sites.

The skid steers will be used on a wide variety oftasks and locations including: working in tight andcompact areas such as confined spaces in varietyof environments where Health and Safetyconsiderations are paramount.

43

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Typically the machines are usedin the early stages of thedemolition process removingsoft strip materials from withinbuildings. It is essential they aresafely manoeuvred in andaround confined spaces wherefloor loading needs to be keptto an absolute minimum.

To view an exclusive video ofone of Coleman & Company'sJCB skid steers in action,please visit:http://tinyurl.com/qejrz6u

o n s i t e

The demolition will clear the way for Genr8’sproposed new mixed use retail and leisuredevelopment in the heart of the town centre closeto the new Transport Interchange which opened inNovember 2013, and town centre Metrolink stop,which is on track to open in spring.

The task of demolishing the structures that havedominated Rochdale’s skyline since the 1970s willfall to Connell Brothers Ltd, of Salford, whichexpects the project to take around nine months tocomplete.

44

Preparatory works have been taking place over thelast few weeks, and Connell Brothers is nowgetting the site ready for the main demolitionworks. Work to remove the two ramps to the carpark above the old bus station will start in lateFebruary ahead of the main demolition worksstarting in early March.

When the main demolition gets under way theMulti Storey Car Park and old Bus Station will bethe first area to be demolished followed by the oldMunicipal Offices. The demolition of the old blackbox will be a delicate task for Connell’s which willhave to first internally strip out the building beforecovering it with scaffolding and dismantling it fromthe top down because of its proximity to Metrolinkand other buildings in the town centre, as well aspavements and roads.

Hoardings which are being placed around thedemolition site will soon be decorated withcolourful designs promoting the town centre andgiving people directions to key locations.

Rochdale town centre is set totransform beyond recognition in

the coming months now thatcontractors have beenappointed to start the

demolition of the old MunicipalOffices and Bus Station.

Connellon theBuses

The webcam which was previouslystationed on top of the old municipaloffices has now been moved to theNumber One Riverside to givepeople a unique insight intothe next stage of work in thetown centre. The webcamimages can be viewed at:www.rochdaletowncentre.com

As part of the transformation,work will also soon begin on a new entrance for The WheatsheafShopping Centre on Baillie Street

which is expected to be completedby the end of November 2014.

“This is a big step forward in the regeneration ofRochdale town centre,” says Councillor PeterWilliams, Cabinet Member for EconomicDevelopment at Rochdale Borough Council. “It’s the end of an era for many well-knownbuildings but is also a much needed move into the21st century which I’m sure will be welcomed bymany.”

This is a view shared by Connell Brothers’operations manager, Steve Balyski. “The teamwho will be working on the Rochdale project hasbeen responsible for the virtual re-modelling oflarge parts of the city centre of Manchesterincluding Mosley Street where we successfullydemolished Elisabeth House, the former RoyalBank of Scotland and Eagle Star House,” heconcludes. “We have a wealth of experienceworking in restrictive city centre environmentsthroughout the UK. This experience means we’rein a really good position to make the huge changesrequired in Rochdale while minimising disruptionfor the public and keeping them safe.”

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k i t ta l k

Photo: Las Vegas New Bureau

Viva Las Vegas

According to the legend, “what happens inVegas, stays in Vegas”. While that might betrue of visits to seedy clubs and gamblinghorror stories, the same cannot be said of theexhibits at the ConExpo exhibition. In fact,what happens equipment-wise in Vegas tendsto set the tone for what happens across theentire demolition plant world.

It will come as no surprise to anyone that thefocus of this year’s show is the switch up to Tier 4engine technology; and the major manufacturerswill be falling over themselves to highlight howthey have embraced the new emissions standard. But there will be plenty to see for those moreinterested in the power, productivity andprofitability end of the equipment with the likes ofCaterpillar, Doosan, Hyundai and Bobcat unveilingentire new ranges of machines.

So regardless of whether you’re planning to attendthe show or if you have decided to give Sin City aswerve this time around, check out what webelieve to be the show highlights over the comingpages.

Stage IV Cats The new Caterpillar 374F and 390F hydraulicexcavators, which replace their D-Seriespredecessors, feature fuel-efficient Cat ACERTengines - the C15 in the 374F and C18 in the 390F- that meet EU Stage IV emissions regulations. Viva Las Vegas

From 4 to 8 March 2014, the eyes of the demolition equipment worldwill turn towards Las Vegas and the year’s largest equipment exhibition– ConExpo 2014. Mark Anthony picks out some of the new machine

highlights that will make their global debut at the show.

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With maximum operating weights of 75,170 and92,020 kg respectively, the 374F and 390F featureheavy-duty main structures, a choice of frontlinkages and work tools for optimum versatility,and available grade-control and telematicssystems.

Clean and Green

With respective net power ratings of 352 kW and391 kW (ISO 9249) the C15 and C18 engines usea combination of proven emissions-controltechnologies, including electronic management offuel-injection/intake-air systems and Caterpillar-designed exhaust after-treatment systems.

Compared with Stage IIIA predecessor engines,374F and 390F are more fuel efficient than their D-series predecessors, thanks to a 10 percent fuelconsumption decrease on 374F, and 390Fimproved productivity performances.

Two power modes - standard or economy - allowthe operator to select an engine operating speedto match the application, resulting in further fuelsavings. In addition, an on-demand-power systemadjusts engine speed to match the machine'soperating load, and an engine-idle-shutdownsystem stops the engine after it idles a pre-setinterval.

These systems not only save fuel and reduceemission, but also significantly extend serviceintervals.

The 374F and 390F implement hydraulic systemsare designed with major components in closeproximity, an arrangement that allows shorterconnecting tubes and hoses to reduce frictionallosses and pressure reductions, resulting inreduced loading on the system for added fuelsavings. New for the F-Series models is the CatAdaptive Control System valve, which electronicallymanages flows and restrictions to exactly matchhydraulic response to joystick movement.

This fuel-saving feature smoothes hydraulicfunctions and adds to overall hydraulic efficiency. The new models can be equipped with auxiliary-hydraulic circuits, allowing the use of poweredwork tools that can be easily attached with ahydraulically activated coupler.

For further fuel savings, electrically controlledregeneration systems in the boom and stick circuitsmove oil between the cylinder ends to reduce theload on the main hydraulic pumps.

Structural Strength

The 374F and 390F are available with a range ofbooms and sticks fabricated with heavy, premium-steel plate and using high-strength castings andforgings in high-stress areas. All are stress-relievedfor durability and inspected ultrasonically forquality. Heavy-duty reach boom and GeneralPurpose boom are designed for general excavatingand loading, and a mass-excavation boom delivershigh production in large-scale earthmoving andheavy-material applications.

A choice of sticks is available to match booms formeeting required digging depths, reaches andbreakout forces.

Structural durability is ensured by the provenheavy-duty construction of the mainframes andundercarriage, with the upper frame incorporatingspecial mountings to support the heavy-duty cab,and the lower frame heavily reinforced for long-term durability. A long-track, variable-gaugeundercarriage—featuring massive track rollerframes and high-tensile-strength-steelcomponents—provides a wide, stable workingbasis, while adjusting to reduce shipping width. Anew counterweight removal device is available toallow easier and more cost efficient transports.

Routine maintenance points - grease fittings, fueland oil filters, fluid taps - are conveniently groupedon the F-series and safely reached behind wideservice doors from wide, slip-resistant catwalks.

In addition, a fuel-tank drain cock simplifiesevacuating water and sediment to protect the fuelsystem, and an integrated fuel-level indicatorreduces the prospect of overfilling.

Spec Check

374F 390F

Engine Cat C15 Cat C18 Net powerISO (kW) 352 391 Max dig depth (mm) 9,650 11,800 Max fwd reach (mm) 14,230 17,250 Max Operating weight (kg) 75,170 92,020

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Clean & GreenDoosan The Doosan stand at the CONEXPO-CON/AGGexhibition will provide the launch-pad for thecompany’s latest excavators and wheel loaders.The line-up of new Final Tier 4/Stage IVcompliant machines on the Doosan Booth No1501 will be revealed on the first day of theshow, but the Doosan booth will also feature anumber of recently launched interim Tier 4/StageIIIB compliant excavators and wheel loaders beingshown for the first time at CONEXPO-CON/AGG,including the new DX140LCR-3 crawler excavator,the DX190W-3 wheeled excavator and the DL200-3 wheel loader.

Reduced Radius

The DX140LCR-3 reduced swing excavator ispowered by the Cummins QSB 4.5 common rail 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine featuring thelatest evolution in maintenance-free DieselOxidation Catalyst (DOC) after-treatmenttechnology to meet Stage IIIB engine emissionregulations. The engine runs at 2200 RPM and delivers 11percent more power (81 kW) and 10 percent moretorque (49.8 kgf.m) compared to the previousStage IIIA compliant DX140LCR model.

Arm and bucket forces have been increased by upto eight percent along with the travel speed whichcan now reach 3.2 and 5.3 km/hour in the low andhigh range, respectively. Owing to theincorporation of a 400 kg heavier counterweight(3,500 kg), the lifting capacities for the newDX140LCR-3 excavator have also been boosted

by up to seven percent.

Performance Increase

With operating weights varying from 18.4 to 20.3tonnes, the new Doosan DX190W-3 wheeledexcavator is a true 18-19 tonne class machine.

Powered by the well-proven Stage IIIB compliantDoosan DL06KB 6-cylinder ‘common rail’ dieselengine, fitted with a waste gate turbocharger withintercooler as standard and developing 129.4 kW at1900 RPM, the DX190W-3 model offers more powerthan other machines in this class.

This is combined with a huge hydraulic capacity toproduce the highest arm and bucket forces togetherwith the highest traction force on the market.

The new DX190W-3 wheeled excavator providesmuch higher performance than the Stage IIIA model: l Engine power sharply increased by nine percentwhile torque is up by 4% l Traction force increased by six percent while swingtorque is boosted by 16% l Digging forces increased by three percent (bucket)and 13 percent (arm)

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on the mode selected and the work being done.

Operator Comfort

Like all Doosan new generation machines, theDL200-3 wheel loader features a new cabdesign offering better visibility thanks to awider front glass section and an extendedwiper blade area. Now that the reservoir for

the wiper water is located on the outside of thecab, space inside has been increased, providingmore foot room. The air conditioning system isregulated automatically by a temperature sensor.

A new instrument panel has an integrated VCU(vehicle control unit). The control panel has beenredesigned for more convenience, allowing theoperator to choose the information they wish tohave displayed. Using the Main Menu, the operatorhas access to several functions and machineinformation. Data such as pressure, temperatureand engine speed can be monitored in real time.The operator and service staff are able to getdetailed information via the Special Menu. New ZFlimited slip Type II differential axles provide moredurability and a longer lifetime. Rolling resistance for the axles is reduced, improvingtraction and decreasing fuel consumption. As anoption, customers can choose ZF axles with ahydraulic differential lock. This function is engagedvia the operator pedal or in automatic mode,depending on the torque resistance in 1st and 2ndgear. The hydraulic lock system offers less rollingresistance than the limited slip system.

Powered by the Doosan DL06K ‘common rail’ 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine delivering 119 kWat 2,100 RPM, the DL200-3 wheel loader combineshigh engine power with a number of new features tominimise fuel consumption and provide betteroperator comfort, exceptional performance, ease of

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l Lifting capacities are sharply up in both themonobloc and articulated versions l Monobloc – Three percent increase over thefront, 24 percent over the side l Articulated – 53 percent over the front and 22percent over the side l In-cab noise levels reduced to 71 dBA (from74.9 dBA) l Up to 12 percent fuel consumption reduction The DX190W-3 model is also a very efficientmachine, with factory tests showing up to a 12percent reduction in fuel consumption, depending

Case Unveils Large Loader Case Construction Equipment will use ConExpo tointroduce the new CASE 1221F wheel loader, thenewest and largest model in the company’s FSeries wheel loader line. Designed with an 11.9-litre Tier 4 Interim-certified engine that delivers upto 265 kW, the CASE 1221F is built for heavyloading applications. Enhancements to the engineand transmission at maximum travel speed allowfor increases in productivity of at least 18 percentand fuel efficiency of at least eight percent.

The Case 1221F is powered by a cooled exhaustgas recirculation (CEGR) engine with DieselOxidation Catalyst (DOC) and Diesel ParticulateFilter (DPF). This provides clean burning power andincreased torque compared to previous models.Improved side panel air flow and cleaner direct airflow combine to ensure extended service intervalsand component life. A new power shifttransmission with transmission mode settingsallows the operator to set the transmission to thespecific application for optimalproductivity and performance.

The 1221F wheel loader has anoperating weight of 30,300 kgand comes with a range ofbuckets from 4.8 to 5.9 m3. Witha 4.8 m3 bucket, the breakoutforce with tilt cylinder is 25,278 kg.The machine is available instandard Z-bar and extended-reach(XR) configurations.

Other key features include:

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l Four programmable power modes to save fueland increase available power. A dual-modeshutdown feature helps maximize fuel economyand monitor vital engine components. l Standard four-speed transmission with manualkick-down for maximum traction, as well assuperior bucket penetration. Also available is afive-speed transmission with a lockup torqueconverter, open-differential axles and advancedsystem programming for additional fuel savings. l Open rear-axle and locking front-axle foroutstanding traction.

A new coupler system that pulls the bucket closerto the machine for enhanced breakout force. Italso includes the CASE SmartFitTM bucket toothsystem that provides stronger, more durable teethand adapters, and hammerless reusable lockingpins to improve digging performance.

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Bobcat Bobcat’s first Tier 4/Stage IV final compliantcompact loaders will be making their official globaldebut at ConEXpo 2014.

The new Tier 4/Stage IV 500 platform loadersfeature a non-diesel particulate filter (DPF) enginesolution and provide operators with all of the sameperformance benefits of the previous interim Tier4/Stage IIIB models launched at the start of 2013. The Tier 4/Stage IV Bobcat non-DPF solution wasachieved by designing an ultra-low particulatecombustion (ULPC) engine.

The ULPC is accomplished through a speciallydesigned engine combustion chamber thatsignificantly reduces the amounts of particulatematter created during combustion.

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Another new feature of the skid-steer and compacttrack loader line is cold weather protection.Whenever the engine temperature is too low, theloader will temporarily limit the maximum enginespeed (rpm) to prevent premature componentwear or failure.

Engine idle speed is also raised slightly to help theengine reach its operating temperature faster. Assoon as the engine warms up to a predeterminedtemperature, the protection mechanism willdeactivate.

HyundaiHyundai has announced the introduction of itsnewest crawler excavator, the R220LC-9A. Thisnew mid-size excavator provides operators with acertified Interim Tier 4 engine upgrade, improvedhydraulics, increased operator comfort and addeddurability.

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In addition toeliminating the needfor a DPF, theengines used in thenew 500 platformloaders provide a 4to 12 percentincrease in torque.This increase intorque is produced over a wide rangeof engine rpm,allowing operatorsof all skill levels tobetter utilise themachines’maximum performance.

The new Tier 4/Stage IV S510 and S550 skid-steerloaders have a radius lift path, providing operatorswith the reach and visibility they require fordumping over a wall, backfilling or loading flatbedtrucks. The new S530, S570 and S590 skid-steerand T590 compact tracked loader models featurea vertical lift path, providing operators with theability to lift heavier loads higher, making it easierto clear high-sided truck boxes and hoppers, aswell as placing pallets

The new Tier 4/Stage IV compliant loaders featurea machine protection system that monitors,manages and shuts down the engine if needed. This system monitors engine coolant and oiltemperatures and will manage engine systems toreduce the potential of these fluids reaching apoint where the machine has to be shut down. Thisminimises potential damage to the engine, stopsunnecessary engine wear and keeps operatorsworking.

This model is ideal for mid-sizeexcavating projects, road and utilitywork and demolition. The R220LC-9Awill join Hyundai’s new line of 9A seriesexcavators, all of which meet Tier 4Interim standards.

Powering the R220LC-9A is a lowemission, low noise, 117 kW CumminsInterim Tier 4/Stage IIIB, QSB6.7 engine.

This engine is complemented by apatented VGT Turbocharger, whichcontinuously varies the airflow boost toprecisely match engine RPM and loaddemands for optimal performance.

The engine also features the CumminsDirect Flow™ air filter which delivers betterperformance with faster cycle times and improvedfuel economy over previous models.

The R220LC-9A’s variable speed fan clutch, two-stage auto decel system and the economy modehelp to conserve fuel and reduce environmentalimpact.

Plus, operators can choose between three uniqueengine modes – Power, Standard and Economy –which enable the machine to switch between fullpower and reduced fuel consumption according tothe user’s preference.

The R220LC-9A boasts an operating weight of 22.5tonnes, a maximum dig depth of 6.2 metres and abucket breakout force of 13.6 tonnes.

To achieve optimum precision, Hyundai redesignedthe R220LC-9A’s hydraulic system to provide theoperator with super fine touch and controllability. Improved hydraulic valves, precision-designed variablevolume piston pumps, fine-touch pilot controls andenhanced travel functions make for smooth operationregardless of the operator’s experience level.

Other innovations include a new auto boom andswing priority system for optimum speed, a newauto power boost feature for additional powerwhen needed and an improved arm-in and boom-down flow regeneration system for added speedand efficiency.

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Genesis Attachmentshas announced theintroduction of thenew GXT 335 and

GXT 995 straight androtator models.

With the number of models now at12, the XT Mobile Shear line fits 12to 82 tonne excavators. Shorter inlength and height and lighter inweight, the GXT features a centreof gravity that is closer to theexcavator, enabling models tomount on excavators thatpreviously could only carrysmaller, less powerful shears.

The GXT also features an apex,where most cutting is done, thatis closer to the back of the jaws,improving material gatheringand increasing cuttingperformance and efficiencywhile reducing maintenance.

Additional GXT models areplanned, and the completeline will fit excavators in the9.0 to 113 tonnes operatingweight range.

GenesisExpandsRange

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Make an Impact.

www.bretec.com

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Liverpool-based Sloyan Doyle Demolition recentlycompleted the demolition of a 24,000 m2 concretemulti-storey structure, formerly the Blackburn CentralMarkets. This was a high profile project, located in thetown centre and made more complex by a very tighttimescale, with the first phase of the project beinghanded over just eight weeks into the overallprogramme to allow construction of a new busstation. The contract also required the protection ofan 8 metre wide culvert running down the centre ofthe site, carrying the River Blakewater underground.Sloyan Doyle also had to contend with an unusual 32metre span concrete shell roof covering the mainmarket hall, comprising precast, pre-stressedhyperbolic parabaloid units.

The project was set to take 17 weeks in total tocomplete but was completed in just 14 weeks thanksto the purchase of a new piece of equipment whichhelped make the job easier, saving money andallowing their team to move on to the next job earlierthan previously planned. Sloyan Doyle’s latestinvestment is a brand new Rotar RDP42 pulveriserthat are sold in the UK exclusively by Worsley Plant.

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58

Sloyan Doyle Demolitioncompleted a 17-week project in

Blackburn in just 14 weeksthanks to the purchase of a

Rotar RDP42 pulveriser to useon its Volvo EC700 excavator.

Rotar in a Rush

With over 28,000 tonnes of concrete to process,recycling was key to the success of this project. Bypre-processing, crushing and screening on site, SloyanDoyle was able to produce high quality sub-basematerial suitable for re-use in follow-on constructionworks, eliminating over 3,000 lorry movementsthrough the busy town centre.

As with all their projects, Sloyan Doyle looked to re-use or recycle as much as possible of the materialsarising from the works, reducing the amount of wastegoing to landfill and maximising the reclamation ofmaterials. By careful stripout, processing andsegregation, over 95 percent of demolition arising onthis project was recycled.

demolition magazine - issue 7

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