Demolition magazine - Issue #40

SSUE 40

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INSITE A time for change I am writing this on the fifth anniversary of the UK demolition industry’s darkest day. On 23 February 2016, the boiler house at the Didcot A Power Station collapsed during demolition, killing four workers. It would be more than six months till the bodies of three of those men were eventually recovered.

Editorial Mark Anthony - Mark Anthony Publicity markanthony@markanthonypublicity.co.uk 07973 456 166 Business Development Jessica McCabe jessica.mccabe@eljays44.com 01903 777 587

That tardy and snail-like response has since been compounded by five years of seemingly endless investigations and bureaucracy. Five years in which the families of the four men have received no resolution or closure. Five years in which the wider demolition industry has received no clue as to what caused the boiler house to collapse in such a devastating and deadly fashion.

Admittedly, the world has been preoccupied with a global pandemic for the past 11 months or so. But that doesn’t hide the fact that four years had elapsed before COVID-19 made landfall here in the UK. Nor does it disguise the fact that even now, 1,826 days later, there is still no end in sight.

General Enquiries 01903 777 570 Management Director Mark Anthony Director Jamie Wilkinson Subeditor Sam Seaton sam.seaton@eljays44.com Design Kirsty Turek Printed by Pensord Press, Gwent, UK Published by Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA 01903 777 570 Demolition is published 6 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2021 subscription price is £30. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA, UK. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.

The issue, it appears, is that the Health and Safety Executive and Thames Valley Police are determined to secure a successful prosecution to justify five years of costly inaction. And they are pursuing that end goal even though it prolongs the anguish of the four families; and even though it ensures that any demolition lessons that might have been learned remain entangled in red tape.

I fully understand the desire to be thorough. I appreciate that neither the HSE nor Thames Valley Police would wish to prejudice a potential prosecution. But surely we are now wise enough to issue at least preliminary findings on the cause of the tragedy without potentially jeopardising any future court case?

It is estimated that there is somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 fossil-fuelled power stations awaiting demolition around the world. In a recent interview with DemolitionNews.com, a US demolition expert suggested – based on recent experience on both sides of the Atlantic – that could mean another 100 to 150 demolition deaths.

The key to preventing those deaths might just lie in a filing cabinet deep within the Health and Safety Executive. And even if it doesn’t, a degree of closure and an end to five years of anguish for the four families most assuredly does.

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STUFF COLLARD BAGS AWARD DOUBLE

R Collard was recognised at the National Recycling Awards R Collard’s reputation as a leader in the UK’s construction waste and recycling sectors has been enhanced by winning in two categories at the prestigious National Recycling Awards.

The waste company, which operates throughout the South of England, was named Recycling Facility and Independent Operator for 2020 during a virtual ceremony at the end of January.

“I am so proud that we have won these awards which not only provide recognition and affirmation of the considerable investment we have made to bring innovative techniques and technology to the waste sector, but also the hard work our

employees put in every day to deliver on our commitments to customer satisfaction and service excellence,” says founder and managing director Robert Collard. Judges for the Awards said R Collard’s concrete recycling plant was the “stand out winner” in the Recycling Facility category and was “a great example of a closed loop solution and a sound operation with good figures to back it up”.

“By investing in R&D, plant and equipment we believe we’ve become the first company to produce a range of BS EN 206 8500 standard ready mix concrete products using recycled concrete aggregates,” Robert continues. “We demolish, process the arisings and return the same material in a different format back to site for an alternative use. This ensures landfill and virgin material cost savings for clients

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and, most importantly, reduces the carbon footprint of their operations.”

In naming R Collard Independent Operator of the Year, the judging panel said the company had demonstrated “a clear plan that has shown growth, been dynamic, adventurous, invested in R&D and is making a difference in the industry”.

R Collard has been providing waste management and recycling services for more than 26 years. Through investment and acquisition the company has grown into one of the largest privately-owned waste management companies in the South of England, employing over 400 people and using 150 lorries, 4,000 skips and eight licensed Waste Transfer Stations to provide end-to-end solutions across five counties.

STUFF COMING CLEAN measuring at various depths ranging from approximately 0.1 to 3.0 metres across opposite ends of the structure.

“The structure itself, the site features and the adjacent areas around the structure also did not indicate the presence of the void or any varying ground levels beneath the ground floor slab. Whilst ground investigation reports had been produced for the site (including physical borehole samples) the results did not indicate the presence of any void. In addition, the underground void was not

AR Demolition’s Richard Dolman, the newly-elected president of the Institute of Demolition Engineers, has proved that he is a man of his word by not just coming clean about an on-site incident, but actively using that incident as an industry learning opportunity.

The email servers at Demolition News Towers lit up recently with photos of an AR Demolition machine that had tracked over and partially into an unseen underground void. No-one was hurt in the incident; but from the outset, Dolman assured us that he would publish full details of the incident just as soon as his team had carried out an investigation.

That investigation took less than a week and a report of its findings has since been made public. According to the report: “Early findings outline that the structure had been constructed on columns with a suspended ground floor slab, creating a tapered void

identified on any site drawings, reports or information. Site inspections prior to the works also failed to identify any normal signs or indication of the presence of

It could have been a lot nastier than it was, but thankfully no-one was injured

voids,” the report says. “Whilst no-one was injured during this incident, the potential is clear. Therefore, the issues and findings can serve as a free lesson across all industry to ensure (or reduced) the potential for incidents of a similar nature in the future.”

“It could have been a lot nastier than it was, but thankfully no-one was injured,” Dolman says in an exclusive video interview with DemolitionNews. “You’ve got a duty to investigate it properly, and our full investigation is still ongoing. But we feel that there’s lessons to be learned from this.”

This honest and transparent response to a near-miss is a further example of Dolman’s openness. He has previously built a forum website to allow fellow demolition contractors to post details of near-misses as a further aid to learning. And he is already looking at resurrecting that concept, this time under the IDE umbrella.

But he is also aware that his honesty leaves him open to criticism. “If you poke your head above the parapet to try and do something, for the good of the industry, there’s always going to be somebody that wants to have a snipe at you. But we have to rise above that that type of behaviour. If not, we’re going to stay where we are, miles behind lots of other industries that accept that people have incidents and that we have to learn from those incidents if we want to professionalise ourselves,” Dolman concludes. “I don’t know if I’m setting a precedent. I don’t expect anybody to do anything. I’d just like to think that by sharing the lessons we have learned, it might save a life.”

the underground void. The area was also inspected by the machine operator, but this too proved to be ineffective.

You can read more about this incident here: tinyurl.com/ccs2mclz

“As a business, we are using this incident as a tool for improvement and a training aid to remind staff of the dangers of underground

Alternatively, you can watch a full and exclusive video interview with Richard Dolman here: tinyurl.com/d1oq24c5

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STUFF A CHILLING WARNING demolition fatalities like those seen at Didcot, Longannet, Killen and countless others that now live in industry infamy.

During the interview, Vendetti also highlights a media misconception over the role of experience. In the immediate aftermath of the Didcot boiler house collapse, Coleman and Company came under enormous criticism and scrutiny because the company had not previously demolished a power station. However, on the other side of the pond where there have been more than a dozen power station demolition deaths, virtually all of them involved companies with previous power station experience.

Does more need to be done to ensure the safety of demolishing power plants? “…There’s 250 power plants left here in the US. There’s 300 in Canada. There’s 300+ in Europe. If we’re going just by sheer averages on the 1,500 or so power plants that are going to be decommissioned and taken down, you’re looking at another 150 [demolition worker] deaths…”

That is the chilling warning from a highly-respected American demolition professional and it should give the entire industry pause.

Following a spate of fatal accidents on both sides of the Atlantic during the demolition of power stations and boiler houses, Joe Vendetti – senior vice president of Industrial Services, Integrated Demolition and Remediation Inc – has expressed his fears and concerns for the future.

In a hard-hitting and exclusive interview, he calls for the creation of guidance on

If the global industry acts now, it could prevent future power station demolition deaths the demolition of power plants and boiler houses, says that clients need to allow sufficient time and money to undertake this work more safely, and urges his fellow demolition contractors to walk away from projects they believe to be unsafe.

Given that this is unlikely in these unsettled times, Vendetti also calls upon the industry to produce a global guidance on the demolition of power stations and hung boilers.

It is tempting to suggest that this is closing the stable door after several horses have already bolted. However, with somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 power plants still set to come down around the world, there remains an opportunity for the global industry to rally and to prevent further

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The global demolition industry has an opportunity to come together and to ensure that those fatalities are not repeated elsewhere. Furthermore, the onus is upon those in the more advanced demolition nations to set in place teachings that can be applied in less developed demolition regions.

If the global industry acts now, it could prevent future power station demolition deaths. If it fails to do so and there are future fatalities – as Vendetti predicts – then it will have no-one to blame but itself.

This article is based upon a full-length video interview with Joe Vendetti. You can watch that video here: youtu.be/JfueApREIok

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STUFF IT’S GOOD TO TALK Hookstone is investing in the welfare of its workers

site and make sure they get home safe and well at the end of every working day.

to demonstrate absolute compliance with health and safety.

Hookstone Group, the fast-growing demolition specialist, has equipped its on-site workforce with market-leading instant communications technology to help improve health and safety in the sector.

“We continue to expand as a result of repeat business with main contractors which value our ability to deliver a first-class service in complex and challenging conditions.”

“We are delighted to support Hookstone Group as a trusted supplier and an increasingly successful business in this sector.”

The wider construction industry had 40 fatalities and 61,000 injuries last year, significantly higher than other workplaces, according to the Health and Safety Executive.

STORM said its construction industry clients have reported improved safety, increased compliance and reduced communications spend since adopting its technologies. Clients use the Central Command Centre dashboard to control an instant communications system for up to 700 operatives per group.

Leeds-based Hookstone has invested in rugged handsets and software supplied

by STORM Intelligent Communications, a reseller of technologies developed in Israel

by Mobile Tornado plc.

STORM enables Hookstone’s staff to communicate instantly and reliably with site-based operatives and helps manage their safety in dangerous working environments where mobile phones are banned.

Luke Wilkinson, founding director of STORM, said: “With lives and livelihoods at stake, demolition companies must be able

STORM also enables Hookstone to quickly locate operatives in the event of an accident through its Man Down alarm and monitors when workers enter and leave sites. Its stateof-the-art handsets have replaced traditional walkie talkies.

George Johnson, founding director of Hookstone Group, said: “Demolition is complex and dangerous work which requires significant pre-planning and the ability to communicate quickly and effectively. Safety is always paramount in our industry and STORM is helping us to protect people on

Safety is always paramount in our industry and STORM is helping us to protect people on site and make sure they get home safe and well at the end of every working day

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STUFF CLIFFORD DEVLIN PASSES TO EMPLOYEES

Shares of London-based Clifford Devlin have been transferred to an EOT Shares in demolition and enabling works contractor, Clifford Devlin Limited, is now owned by its employees following an announcement that the London-based company has adopted the employee ownership model.

One hundred percent of the shares previously owned by the second generation of the family-owned business established

by Peter Clifford and Alphonsus (“Foncie”) Devlin, have been transferred to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).

An EOT is a special form of employee benefit trust introduced by the Government in September 2014 in an attempt to encourage more shareholders to set up a corporate structure similar to the John Lewis model. The aim is to facilitate wider employee-ownership, albeit via an indirect holding company.

Managing director Tim Clifford believes that the move to employee ownership will help

secure the long-term future of the business: “The EOT route will enable us to transition the ownership structure without the potential disruption a sale to new owners might involve, thereby maintaining continuity of

The EOT route will enable us to transition the ownership structure without the potential disruption a sale to new owners might involve culture and business process which is what our father would have wanted,” says Clifford.

“It is also an opportunity for us to recognise and reward the contribution our staff make to the development and continued success of the company.”

As part of this restructuring exercise the company’s existing Management Board have been appointed as full board members, creating directorships for Liam Hennessy (operations), Martin Doble

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(building works), Derek Aslett (commercial) and Ian O’Connor (HSQE).

The current board believes that this development will also contribute to the seamless continuation of the Clifford Devlin brand and business into the future: “Promoting our management board to senior status will help reduce some of the workload for day-to-day activities on the existing directors and will improve overall governance of the business. It will further enable us to gradually transition our responsibilities over the course of time,” said Tim. Clifford Devlin will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2022. The firm has been a fixture of the capital’s demolition industry since 1962 when the business was originally established in North London, before moving to East London in 1972. The company, which has added asbestos removal and building works to its original core offering of demolition, has remained a family-owned business throughout. Peter Clifford, who passed away in 2010, gradually transferred control and ownership to members of his family, before standing down in 1998.

STUFF DR DEMOLITION BROUGHT TO BOOK The story of prolific industry figure Terry Quarnby has been put onto paper “…As blunt as a wrecking ball; as abrasive as reinforced concrete; and as tough and uncompromising as the industry he helped shape…”

According to the old adage, you can’t judge a book by its cover. Whoever coined that phrase may well have had the new book from Terry Quarmby in mind. For while the front cover features Quarmby’s face and a glare that will be familiar to many, the image does not begin to describe the contents of the book itself. But there is nothing that hints at his journey from a rough and tough upbringing in Yorkshire, via a succession of scraps and scrapes, to the very upper echelons of the UK demolition industry.

A former president of the Institute of Demolition Engineers, Quarmby is a straight-talking, nononsense individual with a reputation for ruffling feathers. But he is also seen as the thinking man’s demolition man; a demolition man with There is something here for everyone academic aspirations; that has ever set foot on a demolition and an authority figure. site, and also for those that have no That is strangely at odds interest in the industry whatsoever with the tearaway teen portrayed in this book; a tearaway who would fight (sometimes literally) authority for much of his life.

Quarmby recalls demolition projects from his career in vivid detail. He describes them – and the characters, co-workers and mortal enemies he met along the way – in typically blunt fashion.

There is something here for anyone that has ever set foot on a demolition site, and also for those that have no interest in the industry whatsoever.

You can buy Dr Demolition exclusively via Amazon using this link: amzn.to/380ym02

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ON SITE USACE FULFILLS A TALL ORDER A New York smokestack has been safely removed The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New York District, continues to demonstrate its unique engineering and construction capabilities in providing tangible, real-world solutions for some of the nation’s toughest challenges. The latest example involves the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Over the years, the lab has been on a mission to remove old buildings on its property that contain legacy radioactive material that was a result of past work. One high-profile structure has remained – a tall smokestack.

Now, it is being safely removed by the New York District.

To perform this work, the Army Corps is partnering with contractor Olgoonik-FPM Joint Venture and its sub-contractor, ICC Commonwealth, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management, which is responsible for the environmental remediation of the High Flux Beam Reactor (HFBR) Stack at Brookhaven National Lab. The lab is in the Town of Brookhaven on eastern Long Island, roughly 100km east of New York City. Since 1947, this multipurpose research institution – known for its seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries – has performed pioneering research in physical, biological, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies, computation, and national security.

The lab’s 5,300 acres of property sits on the former site of the U.S. Army’s Camp Upton. Near the center of the site, standing like a beacon, is a 97m tall, red-and-white concrete stack. The stack marks where the 13-acre High Flux Beam Reactor (HFBR)

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ON SITE

Removing this stack is a significant milestone for Brookhaven National Lab’s overarching environmental restoration program Complex sits that was used for research purposes up until 1996.

The complex includes two research reactors – the HFBR and the Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor (BGRR). The BGRR was decommissioned and dismantled over a decade ago; the HFBR has been similarly dismantled except for the reactor vessel, which will be removed in the future. These reactors performed outstanding work in their day.

The stack, which is almost eight metres in diameter at its base, was used to discharge cooling air from the BGRR and later to ventilate equipment and rooms in the HFBR and other support buildings on the complex.

This exhaust included radioactive material.

This hazardous material contaminated the interior of the stack, up to three-fourths of

an inch in depth. In addition, the red-andwhite paint on the stack’s exterior contained asbestos and lead. Removal of the stack is one of the last remaining actions related to the cleanup plan for the complex. USACE offered the Lab and DOE a safe and efficient alternative solution to do this, using the latest demolition technology.

First, the contractors removed the contaminated paint. A hydro-blasting technique was applied that uses high pressure water to remove the paint from the concrete. The paint is then vacuumed up at the point of removal from the stack’s surface and contained in a closed system.

This procedure minimised the release of any hazardous material and eliminated the need for workers to directly handle the contaminated waste.

Next, the contractors began dismantling the stack using what is called the MANTIS Demolition System – an unmanned, remotely operated hydraulic machine used to dismantle large chimneys. “With this system, the equipment actually sits on top of the stack and walks its way down as it chips away. Each piece of concrete is broken out, the rebar supports are cut, and it all falls inside the stack for removal. By the stack

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collecting its own waste, it keeps workers and the surrounding area protected from hazardous material,” said Matthew Creamer, project manager, New York District.

Additional safety measures are in place to protect workers and the surrounding environment. Water sprayers were installed on the MANTIS equipment and at the bottom of the stack to suppress dust from the concrete.

In addition, air monitoring samples are being continually taken to make sure there are no contaminants in the work area, and silt fencing was set up around the work area to prevent contaminated water from running off the site.

All contaminated soil, debris and material is being removed and transported to approved off-site waste disposal sites. When the project is completed, a final survey of the site will be performed, and the land will be graded with clean soil. The project is expected to be completed this summer.

“Removing this stack is a significant milestone for Brookhaven National Lab’s overarching environmental restoration program that supports the health and wellbeing of our community and environment,” says Peter Genzer, manager, Media & Communications Office, Brookhaven National Laboratory.

ON SITE EPIROC GOES BACK TO SCHOOL Ottl Abbruch & Rückbau GmbH chose the CC 3300 to help demolish a former school In Taufkirchen (Vils), Ottl Abbruch & Rückbau GmbH was responsible for selectively dismantling an old school building. The location in the middle of the residential area primarily required low-noise, low-vibration work. And the demolition specialist was happy to secure the support of the proven partner Epiroc for this challenge. A new CC 3700 combi cutter supplemented the existing pool of Epiroc attachments in this application and impressed across the board.

partner who delivers high-quality and efficient excavator attachments. “We found this partner in Epiroc,” says Herbert Schiefer, technical manager at Ottl.

infill. Due to its height, a compromise had to be found between excavator and attachment tool. In this case, Otll opted for a Hitachi ZX 800 long-front excavator, combined with the CC 3700 Epiroc demolition crusher, which it

More than 27,000m3 of building space in total had to be demolished and restored.

Although the school buildings generally had the same design, they differed in terms of the height and type of roof construction, among other things, meaning that suitable specialist equipment was required.

used here for the first time. “That was exactly the right decision. The concrete had no chance against the CC 3700.”

The main building consisted of a reinforced concrete skeleton construction with masonry

Several German school buildings from the 1970s had to make room for a new building. A specialist was commissioned in the form of Ottl Abbruch & Rückbau GmbH for the dismantling and the associated challenging work in the heart of the residential area.

The former gymnasium, on the other hand, had a flat roof construction as a special feature, which had to be taken into account in particular during the dismantling work.

That was exactly the right decision. The concrete had no chance against the CC 3700 Here, a Hitachi ZX 300 track excavator with the CC 2500 Epiroc combi cutter and a CAT 336 with a CC 3300 were successfully used for the demolition work. And because of the impressive quality, Epiroc multi grapples and hydraulic breakers were also used on the large construction site.

With a mix of experienced and highly qualified employees, as well as a wellmaintained machinery fleet, Ottl is one of the leading demolition companies in the greater Munich area. And as such, the company needs a reliable, high-performance

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ON SITE

The system, which is being used in Denmark for the first time, is tackling the delicate demolition of an 88m tall silo that has stood sentinel at the worldfamous Carlsberg factory for decades

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ON SITE ITALIAN SYSTEM RISES TO DANISH CHALLENGE Famous Carlsberg silo succumbs to “probably the best top down demolition method in the world” At a time when most of us are stuck at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, the TopDownWay system developed by Italian demolition giant Despe is on its travels again.

The pioneering system was used by Dundee-based Safedem to great effect in the demolition of the ‘Gallowgate Twins’ a few years ago. And now the system has been deployed as part of a demolition project in Copenhagen that is being scrutinised by Danish authorities and beer lovers around the world.

Contractor Peter Anker Olsen reports that TopDownWay was selected because of the nature and location of the silo structure.

“There are houses, shops and a school near the Carlsberg silo,” he says. “It was important that we minimized noise and dust as much as possible.”

Technically speaking, TopDownWay is an auto-descending machine with a hydraulic drive system and is controlled by an automated set-up that handles its movements and security systems, and can be adapted to suit individual buildings.

It is installed on top of the structure and

encapsulates the top three storeys, allowing the removal of the windows, the demolition of the floors and the containment of the debris.

As the works proceed, the platform descends to the next level by means of controlled mode operations. The building is demolished storey by storey, until it reaches ground level. The demolition is expected to take between four and six months.

A Danish-language video showing the TopDownWay system in action can be found here: tinyurl.com/156fpupd

The system, which is being used in Denmark for the first time, is tackling the delicate demolition of an 88m tall silo that has stood sentinel at the worldfamous Carlsberg factory for decades.

The demolition is part of an on-going project to replace that silo with a new tower block to provide much-needed housing.

©Angel L/Shutterstock.com

Built in 1961, the silo was used as a warehouse in connection with the Carlsberg beer production until 1996. It was later converted to house the Carlsberg headquarters. But following the reloaction of that headquarters in March 2020 to new location in J.C. Jacobsens Gade, the decision was made to demolish the silo and to replace it with housing.

The contract to demolish the tower was awarded to local contractor P. Olesen, which then reached out to Despe to utilise the Italian company’s TopDownWay technology.

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ON SITE

PERRY BAR PULVERISED Removing this flyover is a significant achievement in the wider scheme The dismantling of the Perry Barr flyover in north Birmingham has successfully been completed, marking a major milestone in Phase 2 of the A34 Perry Barr highways improvement scheme.

Well over a year in the planning, the 50-year-old structure was safely removed

in just a single weekend to make way for an improved road layout that will incorporate a new dual carriageway, cycle paths and improved public transport services. The highways scheme forms part of a £500m+ regeneration project to transform Perry Barr and surrounding areas.

Working alongside specialist subcontractor S Evans & Sons Demolition, principal contractor, Tarmac employed seven

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excavators to remove the flyover. More than 300 lorry loads of materials were removed from the site, with all of the waste steel and concrete set to be recycled.

The Tarmac team was able to help further minimise disruption for the public by removing the flyover abutments as well as the spans in one go.

Andy Brown, director of Tarmac’s Infrastructure business, said: “The dismantling

ON SITE of the A34 flyover is a critical milestone in the long-term regeneration of Perry Barr. To have successfully and safely completed this phase of works ahead of

The dismantling of the A34 flyover is a critical milestone in the long-term regeneration of Perry Barr schedule and under a tight programme is a testament to the dedication, skill, and expertise of our team. We are extremely proud of the work undertaken and were able to open the road an hour and a half ahead of schedule.”

Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, Councillor Waseem Zaffar said: “It’s a great credit to all involved that such a complex operation was carried out safely, speedily and with minimum disruption.

“We are now able to turn our attention to completing the new road layout, which will provide better access to public transport and improved facilities for walking and cycling.”

With strict timings and only one weekend allocated for the work, careful coordination of traffic management was critical to the successful completion of the job. Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), working closely

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with Tarmac and the City Council, led in the organisation and communication of statutory diversion routes.

The network was closely monitored through the Regional Transportation Coordination Centre to keep local residents, businesses, commuters and visitors informed of live traffic updates, road closures and alternative methods of travel.

Phase 2 of the A34 Perry Barr highways improvement scheme is set to complete in May, with Tarmac now turning its attention to lifting pre-cast sections of a new bridge onto the redesigned Birchfield Junction nearby within the next few weeks.

ON SITE

IRONBRIDGE REVISITED

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ON SITE Demolition Services’ recent project at power station didn’t come without its challenges Demolition Services Ltd has started 2021 pretty much how is finished 2020 – with a bang! The company recently celebrated another explosive demolition event at the Ironbridge Power Station.

Extensive asbestos removal works in the Boiler House have recorded the removal of around 865t of asbestos containing materials over a 22-month period and utilising 20,800 man hours.

The organisation has held an asbestos removal license for more than 30 years, but Ironbridge Power Station is undoubtedly the largest single project that the team, headed up by CEO Jenna Romani, has completed – a testament to the team and continued growth of the business.

The Tank Bay structure demolition was achieved working in partnership with Explosives Engineers, SES, headed up by

Extensive asbestos removal works in the Boiler House have recorded the removal of around 865t of asbestos containing materials over a 22-month period and utilising 20,800 man hours Ian Beasley who had worked with the team to see the successful explosive demolition of the Bunker Bay in July 2020 and the four Cooling Towers in December 2019.

same time as they would typically demolish the Turbine Hall.

The back legs – typically hinged as part of the collapse design – were absent in this structure. This meant that less rotation of the structure was expected and more of a gravitational collapse would be seen.

The collapse design of the Tank Bay itself was complicated in that it relied upon only one set of legs, following the separation of the structure from the remaining boiler house – an uncommon approach, as rival competitors can be seen to have demolished tank bay structures at the

Demolition Services took the decision not to use explosives in the demolition of the Turbine Hall and instead employed high reach mechanical methods that saw the impressive cutting capabilities of their Fortress shear in action.

©simon hark/Shutterstock.com

The Tank Bay structure is the front section of the Boiler House, measuring 58m tall and 120m wide. The steel structure is substantial enough on its own; but the ultimate challenge will be the demolition of the remaining section of the boiler house that is expected to follow in the coming weeks.

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The Turbine Hall demolition was completed over a 12-week period which, to the benefit of the programme, allowed progress on site to continue whilst essential asbestos removal works were ongoing in the boiler house.

The separation of the Tank Bay and its ultimate collapse relied upon the use of both cutting and kicking charges that resulted in another incident-free explosive demolition event for Demolition Services.

KIT TALK MICK GEORGE FIRST FOR DOOSAN

These new Doosan DL-7 wheel loaders have received rave reviews

wheel loaders are backed up by a 6000-hour service package provided by Pioneer Plant.

The Mick George Group has taken delivery of the country’s first new Doosan DL-7 wheel loaders. As well as four new DL420-7 models, the order includes two DL580-5 and a DL300-5 wheel loader all now working at quarries within the Mick George Group, with a further new DL320-7 wheel loader arriving in mid-January 2021.

The story behind the new wheel loader order for the Mick George Group began when Pioneer Plant offered a demonstration of the Doosan DL580-5 wheel loader at the company’s very busy limestone quarry at Wakerley in Northamptonshire.

The new wheel loaders have been supplied by Leicester-based Pioneer Plant Ltd, the new authorised Doosan dealer for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and the PE and NG postcode areas of South Lincolnshire. Providing increased peace of mind for the Mick George Group, the reliability and quality of the new

decision to buy the Doosan machines.

All the new wheel loaders are being used for loading and stockpiling duties at quarries in the Mick George Group.

“In the four days we had the demo machine it proved to be good on fuel, comfortable for the operators and kept up with the crushing plants and loading lorries,” says Michael Plant, quarry manager at Wakerley.

“Since receiving the machines and putting them to work across the Group, all feedback coming from the operators has been positive – they believe they have speeded up loading times of HGV vehicles, they are burning less fuel and the traction the machines put into the ground has stopped wheel spinning which is going to save us money on tyres by increasing their life span on the machines,” Michael concludes.

“The excellent performance of the demo machine and the fact that all the Doosan wheel loaders could be supplied very quickly and put to work immediately made it an easy

Doosan’s new line-up of Dash-7 wheel loaders was the subject of a recent live video hosted by Mark Anthony. View the video here: youtu.be/Fi54vzDzaSg

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KIT TALK

MY GENERATION Cat excavators get a next-gen makeover Some of the largest machines in the Caterpillar excavator line-up have received a makeover. The Cat 395, 374 and 352 models, together with the demolition spec Cat 340 UHD, have all moved to a Next Generation format and classification.

Caterpillar claims the Next Generation Cat 395 excavator offers up to 10% more production, two times more structural durability, and up to 20% less maintenance costs than the Cat 390F, the model it replaces.

A key driver to the 395’s production is a new dedicated hydrostatic swing circuit — a feature found only on larger Cat mining shovels like the 6015B.

Three modes of operation are available: Power, Smart, and ECO. Power mode is maximum power at all times. ECO mode lowers engine speed and cycle times while maintaining breakout force. Smart mode takes the guesswork out by automatically matching engine and hydraulic power to the actual digging conditions — all to reduce fuel consumption and optimize performance.

for the life of the machine. Booms have increased top and bottom plate thickness; sticks have increased side, bottom, and bracket plate thickness; and frames have increased base frame and counterweight mounting plate thickness. The reinforced car body, track link, track rollers, and boom, stick, and bucket cylinders ensure long-term, trouble-free performance.

The cooling system features a new ondemand fan that’s designed to operate only when required, which helps save fuel. An available auto reverse function assists with cleaning debris from the cooling cores, which enhances operating efficiency.

Like the new Cat 395, the Next Generation Cat 374 is packed with new technology. Cat Payload helps operators increase loading efficiency with on-the-go weighing; realtime payload estimates can be calculated without swinging to help prevent overloading and underloading trucks.

Booms, sticks, and frames are claimed to be twice as strong as those on the previous model, to give owners reliable performance

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Cat Grade with 2D gives operators visual guidance to grade via the standard

KIT TALK touchscreen monitor so they can make more accurate cuts.

The system is readily upgradable to Cat Grade with Advanced 2D or Cat Grade with 3D for enhanced accuracy. Advanced 2D includes an additional touchscreen monitor to enable in-field design. 3D adds GPS and GLONASS positioning for pinpoint accuracy.

Like the new Cat 395, the Next Generation Cat 374 is packed with new technology

Lift Assist is a new safety feature that helps prevent the excavator from tipping. It quickly calculates the weight of the actual load being lifted and compares it to the excavator’s rated capability. Visual and auditory alerts show and tell the operator if the excavator is within a safe working range.

Whether equipped with a bucket or hammer, standard 2D E-Fence prevents the excavator from moving outside operator-defined points. This helps protect the machine and other objects from damage and reduces the risk of fines related to zoning or underground and above ground utility damage. It also helps prevent operator fatigue by reducing over-swinging and digging.

Auto Hammer Stop prevents unnecessary wear and tear on the attachment and machine. A warning message appears on the monitor after 15 seconds of continuous firing; the hammer will automatically stop after 30 seconds of continuous firing.

Optional Work Tool Recognition saves time and energy when changing attachments. A simple shake of an attached tool confirms its identity and automatically adjusts the hydraulic system to the parameters the operator set for that specific tool. Like the two larger models, the Next Generation Cat 352 benefits from extended maintenance intervals.

The new Cat air filter with an integrated pre-cleaner and primary and secondary filters provides double the dustholding capacity of the previous design. The new Cat hydraulic return filter has a 3,000-hour service life — a 50% increase over previous filters. Fuel system filters are synchronised for service at 1,000 hours — a 100% increase over the previous filters. The fuel system’s water and sediment drains, and hydraulic system’s oil level check are positioned close together at ground level, making routine daily maintenance faster, easier, and safer.

All three Next Generation models are operated from a Deluxe cab that is designed to provide operators with maximum comfort and safety. Performance-enhancing features like keyless pushbutton start, large touchscreen monitor with jog dial keys for control, and a sound-suppressed rollover protective structure (ROPS) come standard.

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KIT TALK CAT UNVEILS NEW DEMOLITION RIG

Discover the features of the new 340 UHD The new Cat 340 UHD (Ultra High Demolition) excavator offers more than 13% additional pin height than the previous 340F UHD, allowing it to reach up to eight storeys.

Design updates have increased transportation simplicity of the 340 UHD excavator. The hydraulically actuated variable-gauge undercarriage is built to deliver both outstanding stability and efficient transport by offering a 4,000mm extended width that retracts to only 3,000mm with 600mm track shoes for transport. A new one-piece cradle design, compared to two-piece on the 340F UHD, reduces UHD boom transportation height to less than 3,000mm. 340 UHD with fixed undercarriage has a reduced transportation height of 3,403mm.

The new 340 UHD allows for the sticks to be configured with either a Cat CW, S-type

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or pin grabber coupler to optimize machine versatility and productivity. With two UHD front options available, the 22m front offers a maximum 3.7t weight at stick pin and maximum horizontal reach of 13.55m at stick nose over the front and side of the machine.

Working with a 3.3t maximum weight at stick pin, the 25m front offers a 13.33m maximum reach at stick nose over the front and side of the machine.

Rated at 232 kW, the EU Stage V emissions standard-compliant Cat C9.3B engine powering the new 340 UHD excavator runs on either diesel or biodiesel fuel up to B20 to meet jobsite requirements. Three engine power modes – Power, Smart and ECO – match the machine to job needs to significantly lower fuel consumption over the 340F UHD. Smart mode automatically matches engine and hydraulic power requirements, providing maximum power output when needed and reducing power on

KIT TALK less demanding tasks to save fuel. A new high efficiency, hydraulic, reversing fan cools the engine on demand to also help reduce fuel consumption.

The 340 UHD features a 30° tilt-up cab design for more productive demolition and a comfortable sight line without neck strain when working on eight-floor buildings. For better visibility of the tool when working at height, the UHD front is work tool camera ready. The demolition cab is equipped with Falling Object Guard Structure (FOGS), and front and roof P5A, 10mm laminated glass for safety. The windshield and roof glass feature one-piece, parallel wipers with three intermittent settings with washer spray.

Standard rearview and sideview camera provide enhanced visibility of the operating area on the in-cab monitor. A 360° bird’s eye view camera system is optional.

Design updates have increased transportation simplicity of the 340 UHD excavator

CAT CONTINUES COUPLERS The company’s couplers are said to be industry-leading

attachments when needed and use more task-appropriate attachments when needed.

Caterpillar has increased its presence amidst the quick coupler fray. Hydraulic Connecting S Type (HCS) couplers cover a wide range of machines from 311-340 tracked and M314-M322 wheeled excavators.

The internal quick disconnects average 10 times better life when compared to leading competitors. The quick disconnect design prevents contamination of the hydraulic system, while the coupler design protects important hoses and components from damage inside the coupler.

According to the manufacturer, HCS couplers average 37% better flow capability when compared to leading competitors. They are designed for high-flow performance suited to hydro-mechanical tools in demolition and in city earthmoving applications. The lower hydraulic restriction results in better machine fuel efficiency. With the minimal amount of time to transition between attachments, operators will be more inclined to switch

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HCS couplers feature industry-leading sensor technology and multiple measures to keep attachments connected in the event of a hydraulic pressure loss. The coupler also gives visual and audible cues, as well as confirmation on the machine’s in-cab screen of a successful connection to the attachment.

KIT TALK

MCCUSKER BACKS BOBCAT

A telehandler and excavator join the kit of the company in Northern Ireland Belfast-based McCusker Demolition Ltd has purchased the company’s first Bobcat machines from Northern Excavators, its local authorised Bobcat dealer. McCusker has added a new top-of-the-range Bobcat T40.180SLP 18m telehandler and a Bobcat

E62 six-tonne mini-excavator. The Bobcat machines have joined an already impressive fleet of equipment at McCusker, which operates on behalf of a host of high-profile clients throughout Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain, specialising in a wide variety of demolition and dismantling projects.

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Conor McCusker, contracts manager at McCusker Demolition, said: “Some of our operators have worked with the machines in the past and, in part, it was their recommendation that influenced our decision to invest in them.”

Working on projects in urban and city centre areas and in sectors that range from

KIT TALK domestic, industrial and commercial, to healthcare and education, only the best and most reliable equipment will do, and McCusker has been very impressed with the Bobcat machines.

“You couldn’t ask for better,” Conor McCusker added. “They have been performing brilliantly on site; they are very versatile, reliable and robust machines.”

According to Conor McCusker, the Bobcat T40.180SLP provides top-class performance for high-lift jobs. The easyto-use compact stabilisers ensure that it is simple to exploit the machine’s full capabilities in the most confined working areas. In addition to safe working practice, the stabilisers are a big advantage when the machine needs to get close to a building without losing reach.

Conor continued: “We purchased the T40.180SLP primarily for its 18m maximum lifting height; it’s ideal for working at height, and with a basket attachment we can easily transport men to those higher levels. It also has an excellent and comfortable cab that affords good all-round visibility.”

The new T40.180SLP is currently working They have been on a project to performing brilliantly convert the vacant on site; they are very versatile, Brookfield Mill, a four storey, former linen reliable and robust machines factory built in 1850 on the Crumlin Road in Belfast, for residential use.

Conor McCusker commented: “As we speak, we have a team working on the top floor of the building, reducing the structures like they have already on the lower floors. Instead of using a chute, they are loading the debris into the bucket on the T40.180SLP, which utilises the full 18m lift height of the machine, providing increased flexibility for taking materials away and stockpiling them at ground level.”

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KIT TALK MIDI CUTS COSTS

JCB updates and improves its 8 to 10t midi excavators JCB’s 8 to 10t midi excavator models have been updated to meet the forthcoming EU Stage V emissions regulations. The Dash2 machines will benefit from a host of improvements, making the excavators easier to maintain and to operate.

The new range features the 86C-2, 85Z-2, 90Z-2 and 100C-2 compact excavators and has been comprehensively updated to meet the EU Stage V emissions standard. All four excavators will continue to use JCB By

Kohler diesel engines, which now feature a combined DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst) and DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) exhaust system. Power outputs are unchanged and engine auto-stop and a one-touch idle feature have been incorporated as standard, to reduce fuel consumption and cut emissions.

JCB’s midi excavators utilise a revised electrical architecture with a 7” operator display, membrane switch panel and rotary controls, similar to that in JCB’s latest 4 to 6t models. This includes a portrait main screen that can be tailored to customer

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The Dash-2 machines will benefit from a host of improvements, making the excavators easier to maintain and to operate requirements. There are enhanced safety features, including an advanced lift overload system that gives a visual indication of the lifting limits of the machine. This incorporates a status bar with a coloured warning system, accompanied by an audible alarm.

The monitor allows both low and high flow circuits to be programmed for use with various attachments, providing optimum attachment performance. During the first ignition cycle for the day, a machine health

KIT TALK

check screen is displayed. This is designed to highlight to the operator the machine condition prior to the machine being used.

Electro proportional controlled joysticks have been introduced, incorporating swing control on a finger control switch. This increases operator control, while maximising floor space and making the cab easier to clean.

The electro-hydraulic dozer lever has been further improved, providing a more accurate control and response to the operator when back filling and dozing. Separate buttons in the control lever head activate the machine’s standard ‘auto kick-down’ two-speed tracking, along with optional dozer float and four-way blade control.

The machines now have four tie-down points integrated into the upper structure and

four additional points on the undercarriage of the machine, providing multiple options to secure the excavators for safe and secure transportation.

JCB’s designers have also improved forward visibility from the cab, using a new windscreen surround. At the rear of the

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ZTS machines, the counterweight is also redesigned, for improved service access. The routeing of hoses and harnesses has been updated with improved retaining clips. JCB has retained the 100% steel bodywork, 500hour greasing intervals and 100% bushed dig end, for maximum durability and reliability on site.

KIT TALK JCB FORGES LIVELINK JCB has launched a series of new features in its LiveLink telematics portal to increase efficient use of machines.

The new and improved LiveLink features a dashboard view which gives constant access to accurate monitoring data and reporting on machine usage and performance, while the platform can also store important documentation such as compliance certificates and safety inspections – ensuring all information relating to the fleet is instantly accessible. Through the optional LiveLink Enterprise feature, information can be automatically extracted from existing rental or fleet management systems to reduce manual data entry and administration.

Available as an option for the first time, mixed fleet functionality allows the integration of other equipment brands’ machines into JCB LiveLink, centralising the entire fleets’ telematics data into one place. This saves time and complication by eradicating the need for multiple systems.

The machine sharing feature also allows the

user to give visibility of equipment data to other users and organisations, which can be ideal for rental environments.

Alongside the new web platform, JCB offers the JCB Operator app for digital pre-start checks. Available on both iOS and Android platforms, the JCB Operator app alerts of failed pre-start checks via LiveLink. Operators can take photos and add text if required, aiding the quick resolution of any issues. All

checks completed are stored digitally against the machine record and can be exported to PDF for sharing or for auditing.

This works with any asset in your account, with the ability to view quick start guides and compliance documents for JCB assets.

Launched in 2011 and now with more than 300,000 machines monitored by the system, JCB LiveLink gives machine operators and fleet managers easy access to all data through an online portal and mobile

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JCB LiveLink gives machine operators and fleet managers easy access to all data through an online portal and mobile app app. Users can register or upgrade existing accounts at: www.jcblivelink.com.

NEW

8-10T | COMPACT EXCAVATORS

JCB 8-10 tonne-2 compact excavators are the result of more than 50 years of experience and insight building tracked machines up to 37 tonnes. They share the same great performance; the 100C-2 10 tonne model has 90% capability of a 13T machine. The same great strength with 100% all-steel body and flat glass, and the same great comfort and control in a spacious cab. They also share the same great support with 5 years LiveLink subscription as standard.

To find out more, visit our website or call 0800 581 761.

www.jcb.com