DemolitionNews is celebrating its fourth birthday today.

The story of the site’s conception is one that I never tire of retelling. I was in a bar in Istanbul with current IDE President John Woodward discussing the fact that there was no single place that gathered together demolition news from across the globe. Sure, there are magazines and websites but – by and large – they are tied by geographic boundaries or have specific allegiances to trade associations.

After, perhaps, a Turkish beer too many, I boasted that I could create such a news hub and, on my return to the UK, set about doing just that. The website was built in a few hours and went live a day or two later. By the end of our first week, we had four subscribers and had received 81 views (and I think most of those were myself, John Woodward and, perhaps, my mother).

Today, exactly four years since the site was originally conceived, we’re averaging well over 80 views an hour. Our list of subscribers is more than 1,000 times our first week’s total together with another 3,700 on Twitter and 1,300 via LinkedIn. We have produced just under 4,000 articles and posts, and our video channel has enjoyed over 1.13 million views. And our iPhone/iPad app is now used daily by more than 1,000 demolition professionals around the world.

We are, of course, immensely proud of how our baby has grown. But that growth – which I don’t think any of us could have predicted – is entirely down to you, our loyal and constant readers. Without your input and engagement, your contributions, criticisms and support none of this would have been possible.

So if you’re reading this, have ever viewed one of our videos, added a comment to a story, shared one of our posts with a colleague, or hit the Like button on our Facebook page, please raise a glass to yourselves.

We are eternally grateful.

Sneak preview of exclusive video interview with outgoing IDE President John Woodward

It is just eight days now until the presidency of the Institute of Demolition Engineers passes from the incumbent John Woodward to his successor, Steve Jack.

As part of our commitment to bring you interviews with the top people in the demolition industry, we have recorded exclusive, feature-length video interviews with both the outgoing and incoming IDE presidents, both of which will air on Friday 16 November.

Before then, however, we have also produced a pair of brief “teaser trailer” films. The first (below) features outgoing IDE president Woodward; the second, featuring Jack, will air here on DemolitionNews tomorrow.

Implosion marks end of DuBoistown bridge damaged by Tropical Storm Lee.

A mini-parade erupted in celebration of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Slabtown Bridge. Yet as one bridge officially became up and running, the DuBoistown Bridge fell as work continued.

The state Department of Transportation opened the Slabtown Bridge Tuesday afternoon, less than 14 months after massive flooding from Tropical Storm Lee destroyed it on Sept. 8, 2011.

First to cross the bridge after its opening was the Eldred Township Volunteer Fire Co. Ambulance. It was the last vehicle to cross before the bridge shut down for safety concerns. Christine Katzmaier, EMS captain, drove the ambulance that night and wanted to bring the crew back to welcome the return of the bridge.

Read more here, or view the video below:

Proposed bar and grill demolition opens can of worms.

The former director of Lorain’s Community Development Department ordered payments to a local contractor hired for demolition work even though “release of the payments were contrary” to a contract for the job, according to the Lorain Law Department.

Former Community Development Director Sanford “Sandy” Prudoff ordered staff to pay Don Buchs for demolition work at the Stoveworks site, according to a letter from Law Director Pat Riley.

This information came to the attention of City Council’s meeting last night when Councilwoman Anne Molnar asked why Buchs’ company’s bid wasn’t considered for demolishing Ghoulardi’s Bar & Grille, 700 Broadway.

Safety-Service Director R. Michael Fowler asked council to award a contract to B&B Wrecking Inc. for the Ghoulardi’s job. B&B Wrecking bid $57,300 and council awarded it the job. Molnar wanted to know why Buchs’ American Trucking & Demolition’s bid of $44,444, the lowest of four bidders, wasn’t recommended. Riley then reported on his letter to Buchs’ attorneys that outlined potential problems in dealing with Buchs.

The city is not accusing Buchs of wrongdoing, Riley said. However, he and Mayor Chase Ritenauer recommended council consider a number of factors in determining the lowest and best bid for the Ghoulardi’s job.

Read more here.

Work imminent at closed coke plant as NCM wins the bid.

Demolition of the closed AK Steel coke plant in Ashland could begin as early as Monday, said City Commissioner Kevin Gunderson.

The company has the necessary permits to begin the demolition this week, Gunderson said.

The plant shut down last year, putting about 100 company employees out of work. The closure also impacted about 250 contract employees.

The 85-acre parcel currently has an assessed value of $6,918,700, according to the office of Boyd County Property Valuation Administrator. The property is located along the Ohio River and has access to the river, CSX railroad line and U.S. 23. Company records said the site off Winchester Avenue has 138 acres.

“I think it’s property that can be redeveloped,” Gunderson said. “I would like to get the property cleaned up. I want to see another use for the property. I’m certain the city would offer incentives to develop it. The property already has the infrastructure in place. It’s located across the street from the city water plant.”

The company has signed a contract with NCM Demolition and Redemption of Charlotte, N.C., said Barry L. Racey, an AK Steel spokesman. “The work will begin soon and take until mid 2013,” he said.

Read more here.

Ever wondered what it would look like if the front just slid off a building…?

Here at Demolition News Towers, we have grown accustomed to odd requests from those both inside and outside the demolition business. The most common request from outside is generally “we’d love to blow something up” while the most common from inside is usually “we’d like to blow YOU up”.

However, in the history of quirky calls, this one just about takes the biscuit.

We have been approached by an artist who is looking to create a sculpture based around a disused industrial or domestic building. Made from reclaimed brick and salvaged architectural features, the facade of a building seemingly slides out of its upright position to reveal the upper interiors of a domestic or commercial property.

The UK Brick Development Association have expressed their support for this project and the model alone has already been shortlisted for their annual award to celebrate the most innovative use of brick products in British architecture. Ibstock Brick, one of the UK’s leading brick manufacturers, will offer their support through financial and technical contributions. Furthermore, Smith and Wallwork Engineers will manage the structural engineering to ensure safety and stability.

“I require absolutely no financial or technical backing to execute this project; I simply request your help to find an unused building that would be otherwise redundant,” says artist Alex Chinneck. “I am very flexible about the type and location of the property but ideally it would have some space at its front and not be too isolated. Permanence is not imperative and therefore a building scheduled for future demolition would be perfect.”

Before you dismiss Chinneck’s ambitions out of hand, know this. His previous installation – at a factory in East London – has been viewed online over half a million times and has attracted press coverage around the world.

So, if you have a building awaiting demolition that you think might be suitable, please drop us a line at manthony@markanthonypublicity.co.uk and we’ll pas it on to Alex.

Are you sure that’s a good place to park a high reach?

We have just been sent this video of the explosive demolition of the Sun Hotel in bat-Yam in Israel. We have no further details at present, but while we’re searching, check it out below:

Grangemouth contractor announces highest ever end of year figures.

Masterton is on course to achieve a turnover of £16 million by the end of 2012 – a significant increase on last year’s turnover of £10 million.

The announcement follows a period of major investment and restructuring for the Scottish company which handles large scale decommissioning projects for clients both in the UK and across the world.

The restructuring programme has seen the appointment of a new managing director, Steve Forster, formerly of Keltbray, and the creation of 12 new managerial positions. Together these will allow the company to further its expansion into new specialist sectors such as city centre and international demolition. In addition, Masterton has invested £1 million in new plant as part of the company’s on-going commitment to securing the latest and safest technology.

The investment programme has helped Masterton gain a number of prestigious new contracts over the last 12 months. These include a further large scale project with client of 29 years Ineos Grangemouth. Masterton is currently deconstructing four redundant 330 tonne capacity crude oil storage tanks, 44m in diameter and 10m high, for its longest standing client and neighbour.

Other new contracts include:
· a £1.3 asbestos removal project for Ineos ChlorVinyls at Runcorn
· a £600,000 contract to remove asbestos from Rolls Royce’s aeroplane engine factory in East Kilbride.
· Rack dismantling and asbestos removal at Diageo’s Glenochil bonded whisky warehouse in Menstrie, Clackmannanshire.

Masterton’s impressive expansion programme was supported with a move to a new 16-acre site in Grangemouth earlier this year, providing much need additional capacity for its fleet maintenance, recycling and waste transfer operations. With sustainably being a high priority for the company, the new purpose-built headquarters has been specially designed to help Masterton further enhance its environmental credentials. The company already recycles 99% of waste materials arising from its decommissioning activities and is now able to heat the company’s premises by burning waste wood in the headquarters’ biomass boiler.

The new site is home to over 30 staff, including 20 Masterton employees plus 12 personnel from Masterton’s parent company – Blackwell. A further 80 staff are employed in the field. Meanwhile to fulfil demand from its overseas clients, Masterton has established a new global division – Blackwell Masterton International (BMI) – which provides the same expertise and quality of service that Masterton has become known for in the UK but supported by locally managed offices and local labour.

As Masterton nears the end of its current financial year, the company’s sights are set firmly on the future with further expansion planned and a projected turnover of £25 million for 2013.

Cheltenham demolition company cited for illegal asbestos removal.

A Cheltenham demolition company has been prosecuted after exposing its own workers to dangerous asbestos fibres and illegally removing asbestos waste from a property in Gloucester.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted DA Environmental Services Ltd at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court today (5 Nov) for three breaches of regulations relating to asbestos removal.

The court heard HSE found the firm undertook an asbestos survey before demolishing the building showing it contained a quantity of Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB). The report identified that this would have to be safely removed in a controlled manner before demolition went ahead.

However, during a six-week period in August and September 2011, the building was demolished and asbestos boarding removed by DA Environmental Services’ employees, exposing them to potentially significant quantities of asbestos fibres released during the work.

The company did not hold the necessary licence to carry out the asbestos removal and failed to take adequate steps to prevent both exposure to and the spread of asbestos fibres generated by the work. The investigation also found the asbestos debris was not disposed of correctly, potentially extending the risk of exposure and spread of danger into the waste chain.

DA Environmental Services Ltd of Maida Vale Business Centre, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 8, 11 and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006. The company was fined a total of £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,452.

Read more here.

EDS underlines growth goals with ambitious recruitment drive.

EDS Group, one of the UK’s biggest and best-known demolition companies, is on the expansion trail and is seeking staff across a number of key roles ranging from quantity surveyors and contracts managers to excavator operators and operatives.

The details of the positions vacant are shown on our sister website, Demolition-Jobs.co.uk.

Please be sure to follow the response process carefully to ensure that you are considered for these key roles.