Unexploded ordnance discovered in imploded building.
Demolition crews responsible for the destruction of Building 82 in Charleston, West Virginia in the US left unexploded ordnance behind after they imploded the building on March 28. The South Charleston landmark, the former headquarters for Union Carbide, was blown up in a public ceremony to pave the way for development by the University of Charleston.
However, Sgt. Keith Vititoe, head of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad, said firefighters and other emergency responders on a training exercise immediately following the destruction of the building found unexploded charges inside.
New figures from the US suggest that less than half of arisings are recycled.
Just a few days ago, we reported on the fact that a UK contractor had almost achieved a 100% rate of materials recycling on a project in Scotland. Compare that to the latest statistics from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which suggest that less than half of all the US’ 170 million tonnes/year arisings are recycled.
New EPA figures show that the US increased its output of debris from construction and demolition debris by 25 percent from 1996 to 2003, while also recovering 48 percent of this waste.
The data is viewed as an estimate because only eight states release both their disposal and recovery data for construction materials.
It is true that the recovery rate was just 25 percent in 1996, meaning although the US is producing more of this waste, there are increased efforts to reuse and recycle these materials. However, it appears that the US still has a long way to go before it catches up with its greener European counterparts on this side of the Atlantic.
Demolition News is launching its first-ever photographic competition – So grab your camera!
Photo courtesy of Jack WestwoodDemolition News was recently contacted by someone who was keen to show off their photographic skills. The first couple of shots that came through were very good indeed and further investigation proved that the person responsible was a very accomplished photographer with a keen eye for the demolition industry.
Imagine our surprise then when we discovered that the photographer was a 14 year old boy with no links to the industry whatsoever! The person in question is Jack Westwood who comes from Walsall in the UK’s West Midlands.
Well, young Jack has inspired us to run our first-ever photographic competition with the winner receiving a 1:50 scale model of a Komatsu PC 450 LC high reach excavator for their troubles. The winning photo will also be featured here on www.demolitionnews.com.
So what are we looking for?
Quite simply, we’re looking for the most dramatic or downright unusual photograph depicting demolition. The subject matter might be men, machines or structures. It can be new or old, black and white or colour, and feature the very latest techniques or hark back to the ball and chain of days gone by – we don’t mind so long as it’s artistic.
Photos can be submitted, ideally in high resolution format, to manthony@markanthonypublicity.co.uk Closing date is 1 May 2009.
And don’t forget; young Jack Westwood has set the bar high (and Jack, if you’re reading this, you ARE allowed to enter!!)
Caterpillar will use the Intermat exhibition to launch a compact radius demolition excavator.
The Caterpillar 328D Medium Size Hydraulic Excavator is the first compact radius excavator specially equipped for demolition in urban or restricted areas. The machine was designed and prepared for demolition purposes by the French Caterpillar dealer Bergerat Monnoyeur.
“There is a growing interest towards the compact radius machines in the demolition industry. They are safer and practical, particularly when used in demolition projects where space is often confined. That is why we’ve built this machine; to offer our customers something that is currently not available in the market,” explains Jacques Gavillet, Demolition Manager at Bergerat Monnoyeur.
The concept of the 328D for demolition is simple. The standard reach boom of 6.15 metres was modified in order to allow two positions; boom cylinders can now be mounted either underneath or in the normal guide. In order to offer the maximum working height Bergerat Monnoyeur designed and built a special stick of 5 meters enabling a maximum reach of up to 14 metres.
Thanks to the boom cylinders, the 328D can work either with the demolition stick or the normal stick depending on the work carried out – a change from one stick to another is simple thanks to a quick release. This adds to the versatility of the 328D significantly. Moreover the 328D can be equipped with a blade.
“This is a good alternative also from the financial point of view. We’ve used a standard 328D excavator on which the modified boom and the demolition stick can be added with small adjustments. Compared to a true demolition machine, this is a very economic option,” Jacques Gavillet adds.
Italian manufacturer Promove will unveil a new heavy-duty breaker at next week’s Intermat show.
The Intermat 2009 exhibition in Paris will provide the international launchpad for a new heavy duty hydraulic breaker from Italian manufacturer Promove.
Designed for carriers in the 60 to 120 tonnes operating weight class, the new XP7000 weighs 6,800 kg and develops a blow energy of 17,700 Joules at the 210 mm diameter tool for optimum performance in a broad range of hard breaking applications.
According to Promove, the new mass-breaking hammer has been extensively tested prior to this official launch, and has already demonstrated positive features in terms of productivity and noise and vibrations level to the lowest level on the market.
In keeping with other models in the company’s XP range, the new XP7000 incorporates a number of proven features including combined gas and oil working principle, blank-firing prevention system, auto-greasing pump, adjustable frequency/energy, full “square-section” percussion body with tie-rods completely encased for extra long life and reducing risk of damages in the case of their breakage, high back pressure allowed, underwater operation kit as on option.
Work is underway to dismantle the controversial “B of the Bang” sculpture in Manchester.
B of the BangRegular visitors to this site will recall that the controversial “B of the Bang” sculpture had been earmarked for demolition following problems with the deadly-looking steel spikes.
Manchester’s Key103 radio station is reporting that work is now underway on the dismantling of the piece. Click here for full details.
A Scottish prison demolition project, managed by contractor Carillion, has beaten its own recycling target of 98 per cent by hitting 99.5 per cent. Less than half a per cent of waste from the site was sent to landfill meaning the project was very close to achieving Scotland’s zero waste aspirations.
Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) to unveil a new high-reach excavator at Intermat.
Visitors to the Intermat exhibition in Paris later this month will be able to view the latest demolition offering from Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) N.V.
Key among the new products will be the ZX470LCH-3 equipped with a 27 metre, three-stage high reach boom and can carry a 2,400 kg tool. In standard 25 metre high configuration, the unit can wield a 3,000 kg tool.
The company will also display an articulated demolition/excavating front end equipment (pictured). This versatile equipment can be used for medium high reach demolition (16.5 metre) and tough foundation demolition and normal excavation duties. This unit can be used with tools of up to 4,500 kg.
