C&D Consultancy is offering a FREE, no-obligation demolition training audit.

Midlands-based C&D Consultancy has announced that it is to offer a free, no-obligation consultation with its training co-ordinator to help clients develop a training plan for their employees. This free “audit” will also include advice about specific courses, the latest legislative requirements, and relevant CSCS/CPCS card schemes.

Click here for further details.

UK demolition contractor wins contract at The Orb Steelworks in Newport.

Lawson Demolition has been chosen to undertake a demolition project at the site of the Orb Steelworks in Newport. The old steelworks, which was once a central part of Newport’s industry, is due to be given a new lease of life as part of a development by Taylor Wimpey South Wales; the first stage of which is the demolition of the current buildings, due to commence at the end of June 2009. The demolition, which is due to continue through to October 2009, is the initial part of the plans by Taylor Wimpey to redevelop the site.

Read the full story here.

Caterpillar announces the launch of its first “retail lifestyle” store.

There was a time, not so long ago, when a person could show their love for their Caterpillar equipment with a simple, understated baseball cap sporting the US giant’s familiar three-letter logo. But then came the worldwide explosion in the popularity of Caterpillar boots and the earthmoving-fashion landscape was changed forever.

But, in a bizarre twist, this is set to continue with the opening of a “lifestyle retail store” in the Dubai Mall.

Given the fact that Dubai, currently the world’s largest construction site, is today the home away from home for Premiership footballers and their “WAGs” (wives and girlfriends), expect to see Caterpillar workwear gracing the terraces of Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford and Upton Park very soon.

Read the full story here.

Edinburgh-based demolition contractor invests heavily in Bobcat equipment.

A C Jardine Demolitions Limited has purchased new Bobcat compact loaders and excavators from Motherwell-based George Colliar Ltd trading as Bobcat Strathclyde, to meet the specific requirements of demolition and refurbishment contracts in Edinburgh, Scotland’s historic capital city.

Cunningham Thomson, the owner of A C Jardine Demolitions, said: “Our purchases followed an exhaustive investigation of the equipment available on the market. The Bobcat equipment was chosen for the high quality of engineering involved, along with the robustness of the machinery; which are definite requirements for our industry, together with the wide variety of specialist tools available. They also meet our goal of increasing the mechanisation of demolition work inside buildings or in confined spaces to meet health and safety requirements for our staff and to improve the efficiency of operations.”

A controlled implosion has removed an unfinished hotel eyesore from the Palermo coastline.

One of Italy’s most notorious eyesores, a huge unfinished hotel complex on a Ligurian island, disappeared Friday after decades of campaigning by environmentalists.

Some 50 kg of explosives was used to bring down the seven-floor building, known as the Scheletrone (‘big skeleton’), overlooking a beach on the island of Palmaria, which forms part of the region’s Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Site.

See the final moments of the “big skeleton” below or click here for the full story.

St Paul’s and RVA Group help revive former West Yorkshire chemical works.

The site of a former chemical works is being brought back to life by commercial property specialist St Paul’s Developments plc, creating future employment opportunities for West Yorkshire.

Despite the recession, the South Yorkshire-based developer is forging ahead with plans to transform the chemical production facility at Common Lane, Knottingley, into a mixed-use site that will potentially include offices and light industrial units as well as housing and associated amenities.

Managing Director (Technical) David Elliott said: “Whilst other property developers appear to be hibernating, St Paul’s is continuing with its site acquisitions and development activities, ensuring ongoing investment in regeneration sites in Yorkshire and beyond, despite the economic downturn.

“Unlocking a site of this kind can ultimately achieve significant benefits for the community. Our re-development of Common Lane over the next five years will create a range of job opportunities to offset losses incurred in recent times.”

The Knottingley plant, which officially closed last summer, provided jobs for the last 70 years in the production of final and intermediate products for the chemical market. Its list of previous owners includes Midland Yorkshire Tar, Croda, Shell, Inspec and Degussa.

Decommissioning the 25-acre plant is however a complex process, not least because it remained a top tier COMAH site until very recently. Many of the chemicals it produced – to aid the manufacturing of antioxidants, sun screen agents, and agrochemicals for example – were of a hazardous nature. The decontamination process required to bring the plant to a ‘known state’ in readiness for demolition, must therefore be strictly regulated to prevent avoidable operative and third party exposure.

For that reason, St Paul’s has brought in leading project managers and construction design management (CDM) co-ordinators RVA Group, to oversee the removal of asbestos and residual waste, demolition, dismantling and complete clearance of the site.

On the site until the end of August, RVA will deliver a bespoke and closely controlled engineering strategy for the decommissioning, decontamination and isolation of process plant, tankfarms, storage facilities, laboratories and offices – many of late 1940s origin.

In addition to bringing down the various low level structures, a 50m chimney stack close to the Aire and Calder Navigation Canal, will be demolished using one of the tallest long reach excavators in the UK. The Hitiachi excavator has a 60m telescopic boom and 120 tonne base.

Commenting on the project to date, David Elliott said: “We have never worked with RVA before but we have been very impressed by the company’s professional and meticulous approach. Work is progressing well.

“Once all structures have been removed, the next step will be to finalise the planning application before commencing with ground reclamation works.”