Is the demolition trade media serving the industry it purports to cover?

First of all, a quick lesson in how trade magazines work. For every page of “news” that you read, there is about a page of advertising, the revenue from which pays the wages of the editor together with the cost of the paper and postage required to bring his/her words to your desk.

OK, so now you understand the inter-relationship between the news and the commercial side of international trade magazines, perhaps you’ll have a better understanding of why these magazines (and, increasingly, websites and forums) have continued to put a positive spin on an industry in turmoil.

Sure, there are reports about equipment manufacturers cutting workforces and reporting financial losses. But, in truth, these are merely a symptom of a wider and largely unreported problem within the global demolition industry; a problem that is most polarized in the world’s largest demolition market: The United States of America.

For months – in fact, since the recession first sank its rabid teeth into the raw flesh of this industry – Demolition News has continually reported on the fact that US contractors were submitting suicidal bids merely to keep men and machines working; that demolition projects were attracting the unwelcome interest from non-demolition companies seeking to do likewise; that city officials were celebrating when these low bids left money on the table….money that should rightly have been in the pocket of the demolition workers risking life and limb to undertake the work.

And yet, the trade media – the same parasitic trade media that grows fat on the growth of the industry during the good times – has stood idly by and watched as that same industry has imploded. Low bids and ridiculous bid spreads have gone unchallenged, as have a recent spate of accidents and aborted implosions, and industrial action in Nova Scotia.

An unwillingness to upset their paymasters or to undermine the commercial confidence of its potential advertisers has rendered the demolition trade media toothless and devoid of influence at a time when the industry needs guidance, perhaps, more than ever before.

There may be victims along the way but the demolition industry will survive the current recession.

If, however, the demolition trade media does not make it out of the recessionary woods, they will have no-one but themselves to blame.

Oscillation option provides greater coverage from larger DustBoss models.

Dust Control Technology has announced the introduction of a 180 degree oscillation option on its two largest designs, effectively quadrupling the coverage area of each machine. With this breakthrough, the company is now able to deliver effective particle control over more than 80,000 square feet of area from a single location with its flagship model, the DustBoss DB-60, allowing users to cover nearly two full acres with a powerful dust-trapping mist.

“These new options mean that customers can suppress dust and odor particles over a far greater area without having to move the equipment,” commented DCT president Edwin Peterson. “That contributes to even greater payback, either by reducing the number of machines needed for a given job or avoiding the need to relocate the DustBoss to cover additional areas.”

When equipped with the expanded oscillation option, the revised designs require that engineers change to a center water feed to accommodate the increased range of motion. They also install a larger motor on the DB-60 or its cousin, the DustBoss DB-45, to handle the additional work. The machines will have four different settings, and users can select from 45, 90, 135 or 180 degree options to suit the specific job requirements on any given day.

US Department of Energy requests proposals for £$907 million of work.

The US Department of Energy today released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for demolition and remediation works with a total cost ceiling of $907 million.

With proposals requested by December 15, 2009, the unrestricted RFP is open to small and large businesses and will include:
· Environmental Remediation Services
· Deactivation, Decommissioning, Demolition, and Removal (DD&R) of contaminated facilities services
· Waste Management Services
· Regulatory Services

Further details here.

Final moments of casket company smokestack captured on film.

After surviving one of Oneida’s fiercest fires in recent memory and the demolition of the old National Casket Company factory, the 90-foot smokestack on North Warner Street finally came down Tuesday morning.

Read the full story here or watch the video (with exceptionally poor sound) below.

Missouri Department of Transportation says Miami River Bridge will fall Thursday.

Explosives will be used to partially demolish the Miami River Bridge later this week. Explosive charges will be strategically placed along sections of the bridge to maximize clearance of the steel structure without damaging the concrete piers. The piers will be used to support the new bridge once constructed, MoDOT officials said.

Last year explosive charges were used successfully in the demolition of the Glasgow River Bridge, which was a project nearly identical to the Miami Bridge project.

Further details here.

Discussions over methodology and TV coverage push back demolition of Executive Inn.

NEWS 25 reported on Monday that the subcontractor, Advanced Explosives Demolition, had until today to decide on how they will implode the hotel.

AED Director of Operations Mark Wilburn told us the decision has been delayed.

Read more here or view the video below:

Message from US contractor highlights the issues facing an industry in turmoil.

What you are about to read is a message from a US-based contractor who has broken ranks to talk about the current plight of the US demolition industry. He has chosen to remain anonymous but, in our opinion, that does not undermine the force of his feelings:

“…Given your recent articles concerning the inimitable bid results in the United States, I thought I would share with you the following results faxed to our office this morning. What I see reflected in those numbers is an economy that exists in the hallo of a coma; vital signs are apparent, cerebral comprehension, departed.

I see little in the market which would suggest that this will end anytime soon. Local municipalities have caught on and see blood in the water; public bidding has warranted great financial gain/savings for towns/cities – nearly every paper across the US cites a public official being “very pleased” that the bid(s) came in under estimated cost. ..”

So will the demolition of Illinois’ AT&T building attract more low bids…?

Danville city officials will open bids today for the long-awaited demolition of the vacant and deteriorating AT&T building, as well as bids for the possible demolition of the upper deck of the two-story Walnut Street parking garage.

Doug Ahrens, public works director, said about eight to 10 companies attended the pre-bid meeting for the projects. He expects to take winning bids to the city council for approval next month. He also expects demolition to begin this winter and to be completed by the end of the year or January, weather permitting. Crews started last week on asbestos abatement, a contract that was bid separately from the demolition.

If it’s within the city’s budget for both the parking garage and AT&T demolitions, Ahrens said, the parking garage deck will also be demolished.

“But we may not do it at all. It depends on the bids,” Ahrens said.

So, based on all that has gone on in the US recently, hands up anyone who believes the winning bid won’t come in WAY under city expectations….

Read the full story here.

Presence of bats hamper work to demolish homes in monkey-hanging capital.

Housing Hartlepool has altered plans to demolish 72 homes in Easington Road to protect a roost of bats found in 12 of the properties.

Demolition of most of the properties will go-ahead as planned and is set to see workers from Sirius Remediation on site this week. But the clearance of 12 properties will be postponed until early May next year after pre-work inspections discovered the pipistrelle bats, which are a protected species.

This marks an incredible U-turn in the wildlife conservation fortunes of a town that once famously hanged a monkey as a French spy.

Read the full (bat) story here

Louisiana bridge to be blown next Wednesday.

A bridge that connects Livingston and East Baton Rouge parishes in Louisiana is scheduled for demolition after over 80 years of existence.

Once the center span collapses into the Amite River, inspectors will check out the remaining bridge and the new one to make sure there are no issues.

Read the full details here.