Business Directory…

August 10, 2009 General, News

Don’t forget to secure your space on the Demolition News Business Directory.

In typical entrepreneurial fashion, last week we launched the Demolition News Business Directory that is designed to allow manufacturers and product and service providers to display their wares to a highly targeted readership of demolition professionals.

Now launching this in the midst of (a) a global recession and (b) the start of the holiday period is probably not the best idea we’ve ever had. But the feedback has been entirely positive and we also received some very favourable comments at last week’s Institute of Demolition Engineers’ roadshow.

So this is just a short not to remind you to register.

The cost of just £75 + VAT for a whole year, well within the reach of even the smallest manufacturer or consultant.

And registration couldn’t be easier. Just click here, hit the Join Directory button, fil in the very simple form and you’re good to go.

IDE Roadshow sights and sounds…

August 10, 2009 General, Video

Exclusive overview video from last Friday’s Institute of Demolition Engineers’ Roadshow.

We’re still beavering away in the editing suite (well, back bedroom actually) to bring you some more audio and video footage from last week’s Institute of Demolition Engineers’ Roadshow at Mercedes benz World in Surrey.

However, while that’s happening, here’s a very quick overview video featuring some of the highlights of the venue and the day:

How to demolish a giant prawn…

August 10, 2009 General, News

The search is underway for a demolition crew with seafood experience.

Of all the unusual demolition applications we’ve ever come across, the demolition of this giant prawn is probably the strangest.

Although not yet decided, it now appears likely that this famous Australian landmark could soon face demolition, which set us thinking about the skills required to tackle such a unique task.

Equipment-wise, we reckon that you’re going to need some crab-steer wheel loaders, ideally equipped with a clam-shell bucket and boasting plenty of mussel. The winning contractor will be a selfless individual (ie, not shellfish in any way). Upon completion of the contract, the world will be your oyster.

(OK, we’ve run out of seafood-related jokes but please feel free to add your own in the comments area below).

What Price Sustainability…?

August 8, 2009 Audio, General, People

Exclusive audio podcast by Terry Quarmby, president of the Institute of Demolition Engineers.

Terry Quarmby
Terry Quarmby

Anyone with even the most tenuous link to the demolition business knows that demolition contractors are the undisputed world leaders in the recycling and reuse of materials, a fact that has put this industry at the very forefront of the drive for sustainability.

However, as this exclusive audio podcast reveals, this leadership comes at a cost.

What follows is the raw audio recording of a presentation by Terry Quarmby, president of the Institute of Demolition Engineers, in which he suggests that all is not rosy in the sustainability garden. In fact, Quarmby says:

  • Architects and designers are undermining sustainability initiatives by an increasing use of non-recyclable, composite materials
  • Demolition industry waste return figures are combined with those of the construction sector to help bolster the construction sector’s less-than-impressive statistics
  • That the construction industry is unlikely to reach Government targets to reduce waste to landfill.
  • The sustainability is being pursued at the cost of health and safety, forcing the demolition workforce back into more hazardous areas.
  • That the growth in sustainability has been mirrored with a growth in on-site incidents and accidents

The following podcast runs for about 30 minutes but please try to find the time to listen to this either here or via iTunes.

Audio boos from IDE Roadshow…

August 7, 2009 Audio, General

A series of brief audio boos recorded live at today’s IDE Roadshow.

Although the gremlins prevented these from being uploaded live, the Audio Boo system did (thankfully) retain these audios recorded live at the IDE Roadshow earlier today.

Listen!

Listen!

Listen!

Exclusive Audio – Forthcoming Legislation…

August 7, 2009 Audio, General

IDE vice-president John Woodward on forthcoming legislation and its impact on the demolition sector.

In the first of our exclusive audio podcasts recorded live at the last of the 2009 IDE Roadshows (held earlier today at the fabulous Mercedes Benz World in Weybridge, Surrey), IDE vice-president and Demolition News regular John Woodward gazes into his crystal ball at the legislation that is likely to impact upon the demolition industry in the coming months.

NOTE: This was recorded as a video (which may be posted later) but, given the timely nature of the content, we have uploaded this in its raw, audio format).

Bobcat layoffs hit community…

August 6, 2009 General, News

A small US community is feeling the effects of the latest round of Bobcat layoffs.

The entire world is feeling the effects of the current global recession. But it is the small communities that rely upon a local employer for their very existence that are feeling it worst.

Take for example the 800 residents of Gwinner in North Dakota, a town that is built around the local Bobcat skid steer loader plant. As this report from the local Bismarck Tribune reports, the latest round of redundancies at the world-leading skid steer manufacturer are having a major impact, despite the US government’s ongoing stimulus investment.

When crushers collide…

August 6, 2009 General, Photos

What happens when you use one crusher as a battering ram on another.

“…In the red corner, weighing in at an impressive 40 tonnes, the Powerscreen WARRIOR. And in the blue corner, weighing a measly 3.5 tonnes, the Dig A Crusher 900 crusher bucket…”

Word reaches us that a group of vandals broke into a Thames Valley C&D recycling site recently and decided to see which of the two crushers were the toughest: the old heavyweight; or the up and coming lightweight contender. Setting aside the Queensberry Rules, they used the Dig A Crusher as a battering ram against its much larger opponent.

On paper, this had all the makings of the most one-sided fight since Frank Bruno repeatedly head-butted Mike Tyson’s boxing gloves.

But anyone that is familiar with the story of David and Goliath or who has seen the movie 300 should know that size doesn’t always matter in these circumstances, as the following photo clearly illustrates.

Beaten and Bowed
Beaten and Bowed

The aptly-named Warrior lies beaten, reduced to so much mangled metal while the Dig A Crusher….
…well the Dig A Crusher isn’t in the photo because it’s actually back at work having required no repair or maintenance work!

Collapsed Shanghai building being demolished…

August 6, 2009 General, News, Photos

The Shanghai tower block that collapsed recently is now being demolished.

Following a lead from Safedem managing director William Sinclair, we recently reported on the collapse of a 13-storey tower block in the Minhang District of Shanghai in which the entire structure simply laid down, almost entirely intact.

Well, if that wasn’t surreal enough, the demolition of the fallen structure has now begun, giving rise to some very unusual-looking photographs.

Click here for more photos.

Armac joins the Twitter revolution…

August 5, 2009 General, News

Leading UK contractor Armac is the latest demolition company to join Twitter.

Midlands-based UK contractor Armac Group has become the latest demolition contractor to recognise the benefits of social networking and social media, joining the Twitter micro-blog service.

If oyu’re a Twitter user, please be sure to follow them at www.twitter.com/ArmacGroup. And if you’re NOT a Twitter user and would like to know what all the fuss is about, please check out this previous post.