Demolition magazine issue 3 by Mark Anthony

ISSUE 3

DEMOLITION The industry magazine like no other

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Clients Must Level Playing Field Call me cynical (trust me, you wouldn’t be the first) but, even in these recessionary times when we are all looking for a bargain, I am always sceptical when a deal looks just a bit too good. Such cynicism is sadly lacking among clients appointing demolition contractors, it would appear. For when presented with a set of tender submissions from five companies whose bid prices are all within five percent of each other, they will all too often opt for the sixth company whose price is roughly half that of his nearest rival. Of course, periods of economic downturn and widespread austerity will have a negative impact upon bid prices and demolition company margins. But seriously, 50 percent? Clients, it seems, lack the basic common sense to differentiate between a professional demolition company whose equipment is up-to-date and compliant, whose staff are trained to within an inch of their lives, and who possess a superglue-like adherence to health and safety and environmental law with a company whose unwritten

motto is apparently “good enough”. Sadly, the system remains skewed in favour of the good enough brigade. If their untrained staff and unsafe equipment do cause a building to collapse, they might face a financial penalty and another when their insurance premium comes up for renewal. The client who was short-sighted enough to employ an unqualified or inexperienced contractor walks away Scott free to repeat the exercise again and again. This unfair situation is pretty much unique in the global business arena. Can you imagine a commercial airline buying aircraft assembled in someone’s backyard, or an oil company using rig workers they met in the pub the night before? Governments and legislators need to address what is a welcome legal loophole through which the unqualified, unprofessional and unscrupulous continue to pour. It’s about time that clients’ bottoms were put on the line when they are guided solely by bottom line. Mark Anthony

Editorial Mark Anthony - Mark Anthony Publicity markanthony@markanthonypublicity.co.uk 07973 456 166

Management Managing Director Jim Wilkinson Director Mark Anthony Director Jamie Wilkinson

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Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd - Business Intelligence Eljays44 Ltd. County House, 3 Shelley Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TT 01903 234 077 Demoliton is published 6 times a year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2013 subscription rate is £60 per year. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd. County House, 3 Shelley Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1TT, 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.

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QuickFire In honour of our unrequited love of Twitter, in each edition we will bring you a Tweet-style interview with a leading demolition personality. This time around, it is with the former United Nations’ Demolition Engineer and the single most-respected member of the global demolition industry, David Sinclair:

Favourite food? Haggis, tatties and neeps with a healthy measure of whisky poured over the haggis. Nicest place you’ve ever been? Grand Case, St.Martin (French Side) – Pavilion Hotel located right on the beach; just terrific.

What is the one thing you take with you everywhere? Minimum of £100 in cash in my pocket.

What time do you start work? Rise early (5.00 am) when in the USA and deal with UK emails before heading out at around 7.00 am.

Favourite gadget? Communication devices, mobile telephone and laptop.

Do you have a morning ritual? Walk up the driveway to the mailbox for the Union Recorder, the local newspaper followed by grapefruit juice, boiled egg, a slice of toast with butter and cup of tea.

Favourite or dream car? Our family owns 1926 Rolls Royce Phantom 1. We have owned the car for 39 years and just love it. I know every inch of the car having had it restored from ground up. It is a real investment as it continues to grow annually in value.

If you didn’t work in demolition, what would you be? What I started out to be before joining the family demolition business, mechanical engineer specialising in refrigeration and air-conditioning and more than likely being based in Australia.

Favourite movie or book? The Deer Hunter. A factual movie depicting the tragedy of fighting an unnecessary and prolonged war. Sad to witness the continuation of senseless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. When will we ever learn?

What aspect of demolition do you most enjoy? Assisting my son William at Safedem with implosions. I have been on every one of his explosives jobs and it is very satisfying to witness high rise building coming down as planned.

Favourite sports team? Philadelphia Flyers ice hockey team. When I lived in Philadelphia I was a regular visitor to the Centrum Arena to watch the Flyers do battle. As an old hockey player myself I really enjoyed the games and my favourite player was the oldest member of the team, Marc Recchi.

What aspect of demolition would you change? Stop promotion of inexperienced estimators and managers within the industry. They are causing tremendous damage and costing the demolition industry dearly.

Last holiday destination? Twin Waters, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

What would be the first thing you'd do if you were King for a day? Pull all of the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan right now, and stop the influx of “benefit bashers” gaining entry into the UK.

Favourite item of clothing? Shorts and t-shirt are the order of the day here at my home in Georgia, USA for 60 percent of the year.

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Wear Your Art on Your Sleeve

If anyone else has any demolition tattoos they would like to share (above the waist, ideally) please send the photographic proof to manthony@markanthonypublicity.co.uk.

I love demolition as much as the next guy. But even I lack the lifelong industry commitment declared by Shawn Kidder of Kidder Wrecking in New Hampshire who has had his love of all things demolition carved into his flesh in a stunning series of tattoos.

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App Happy Photo Apps Photographer Chase Jarvis once said “the best camera is the one you have with you”. For many of us, that camera is, in fact, our mobile telephone. Of course, the latest generation iPhone 5 features an 8.0 Megapixel camera that, in the right conditions, can produce photos that are worthy of publication (there are a few in this edition – see if you can spot them). But the Apple App Store is also fit to burst with apps that allow you to enhance and share your photos like never before. In this issue’s edition of App Happy, we look at the best of the best.

360 Panorama – As the name implies, this allows you to turn full circle capturing a still panoramic image as you do so. Very handy for capturing and sharing overall site photos but likely to collect cobwebs if you only ever take photos of the kids.

PS Express – That PS stands for PhotoShop and so this is the free and limited capability version of the computer software that launched a thousand retouched ad campaigns. Ideal for cropping, flipping and rotating photos, the app also comes with a series of default filters that allow you to adjust brightness and contrast, add soft focus and eliminate red eye.

Snapseed – The go-to photo app of choice at Demolition News Towers, Snapseed provides a seemingly endless number of ways to adjust and enhance your photos to superb effect. The centre focus quickly and painlessly allows you to highlight a specific point of interest while blurring the rest of the image, while the tune image function allows you to change colour saturation, brightness and contrast with a simple sliding scale. And if you don’t believe us, take a photo of a cloudy sky at hit the drama function and you too will be sold.

Instagram – If you like to share you photos with friends and family or if you are one of those annoying people that is convinced that their every meal is of major import to the world at large, this is the app for you. Social media network first and photo app second, Instagram provides you with a wide array of photo filters that, in our experience, merely serve to make your photos look like they were shot on an ageing Instamatic.

App Happy is brought to you by the DemolitionNews iPhone/iPad app – http://tinyurl.com/d3n5nsu

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A Case of Unlawful Killing

On 13th February 2013 an inquest into the death of Silviu Radulescu, a thirty one year old, Romanian labourer was opened. Radulescu was unmarried and working in the United Kingdom in order to support his elderly parents in Romania. He was part of a team working on a demolition project at the former headquarters of the Prison Service in John Islip Street. He was supplied by MGM Construction Limited as a labourer for TE Scudder which was decommissioning the building on behalf of the owner, Berkeley Homes. TE Scudder was contracted to remove seven lifts within the building. By Any Means Radulescu had been working on the site for a week when the accident occurred on 17th January 2011. The jury heard that after a break, Radulescu and his colleague, Viorel Serban returned to work on one of the lifts. Serban told the jury that he had been asked to “get the lift car to the eighth floor by the end of the day by any means.”

The death of a demolition worker on a London site at the beginning of 2011 could have serious implications for the wider demolition community, according to BTMK’s Associate - Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Team, Johanne Turner.

Other members of the team confirmed that Radulescu and Serban were tasked with manually moving the decommissioned lift carriage between the fifth and eighth floors.

The lift carriage was supported by a two-tonne chain hoist which snapped. Another worker on the site, Paul Brown told the inquest that the pull-chain had snapped earlier that day and that work on the lift had been halted. Radulescu was unaware of this and he stood on the lift car which plummeted five storeys to the bottom of the lift shaft. The inquest heard that Radulescu suffered severe head injuries and died at the scene. Serban suffered fractures to his spine and ribs as the harness that he was wearing had become caught in the lift chains.

little experience and that was why Radulescu was not tasked with entering the lift-shaft”. However, on the day of the accident he entered the lift-shaft to assist with manually pulling the lift between floors. A representative from TE Scudder stated that the inquest had been “traumatic for all parties involved” and stressed that they “take health and safety seriously and will be reviewing fully the implications of a disappointing decision.” The potential repercussions are likely to be of grave concern to the contractor and to the demolition industry as a whole. The Health and Safety Executive has instigated an investigation and there is a possibility that criminal proceedings may follow.

Following the five day inquest, the jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing. The Coroner, Kevin McLoughlin said that the supervisors on site were “aware Radulescu had

stuff Migrants Vulnerable The Health and Safety Executive recognises that migrant construction workers are in a vulnerable position as they might not have the benefit of the same level of training as their British counterparts. It has also acknowledged that the language barrier may present a problem and therefore translates their health and safety guidance leaflets into Polish and Romanian. This literature is accessible online so employers and contractors can disseminate it to employees who do not speak English as a first language. It is incumbent upon an employer or contractor not only to provide the relevant personal protective equipment but also to ensure that it is used appropriately at all times. This duty is amplified in the case of foreign employees and the onus is on the employer to ensure that those workers are fully briefed and understand the importance of using such equipment correctly.

TE Scudder was founded in 1924 and was a founding member of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors. On the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website it states that as it is a fully integrated member of the Carey Group, TE Scudder â&#x20AC;&#x153;provides its clients with the financial reassurance of being part of a major construction company.â&#x20AC;? One would assume that such an established company would train their staff to a high level, particularly as construction and demolition are regarded as inherently dangerous activities.

Work at height is the biggest single cause of fatal and serious injuries in the construction industry. It is imperative that employers assess the risk and plan the work so that it is carried out safely insofar as is reasonably practicable. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to all work at height when there is risk of a fall that is liable to cause personal injury. The regulations place duties on employers, the self-employed and any person who controls the work of others (such as facilities managers or building owners who may contract others to work at height).

The inquest heard that TE Scudder provided full body safety harnesses for all staff working in the lift shaft, including Radulescu. However, when his body was recovered it was clear that he was not wearing his harness at the time of the accident.

There is also the possibility that the Crown Prosecution Service could prosecute an employer for corporate manslaughter under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007. Helen Clifford of Leigh Day & Co. the firm acting on behalf of Radulescuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family said that Radulescu â&#x20AC;&#x153;had insufficient trainingâ&#x20AC;? and she is hopeful that

Those with duties under the Regulations must ensure that: 1. All work at height is properly planned and organised; 2. Those involved in work at height are competent; 3. The risks from work at height are assessed, and appropriate work equipment is selected and used; 4. The risks of working on or near fragile surfaces are properly managed; 5. The equipment used for work at height is properly inspected and maintained.

criminal charges will be brought on that basis. Aside from a finding of negligence and potential criminal liability, the contractor will face financial repercussions. It is likely that there will be a substantial increase in their employers liability insurance premium as a result of these claims. Contractors and employers will undoubtedly await the outcome with some trepidation.

Investigation Underway A HSE investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is now underway. This may lead to prosecution for offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It is important to note that an individual (such as a director of a company) may be prosecuted for gross negligence manslaughter.

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A Time to Buy With the recession’s teeth still clamped around the UK demolition business, thoughts of replenishing or expanding equipment fleets might seem premature. But as JCB Finance reports, now might be the perfect time.

One of the surprises in the 2012 Autumn Statement was a temporary tenfold increase in the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) from £25,000 to £250,000 for capital expenditure incurred on eligible plant and machinery (new or used but not cars) on/after 1st January 2013 and before 1st January 2015. After this period the AIA is destined to revert back to £25,000.

This is particularly attractive where the rates of corporation tax are falling; acting promptly may generate higher tax relief before the top rate of 24 percent falls to 21 percent from April 2014. The AIA applies to ALL businesses - so for unincorporated businesses paying 40 percent or more in income tax - the tax relief could be substantially greater.

The benefit of an AIA is to accelerate the timing of the tax relief by providing 100 percent tax relief for qualifying capital expenditure in the accounting period in which the expenditure is actually incurred.

particularly if the accounting period straddles the January introduction and end dates of the temporarily enhanced AIA. Get the timing and/or the amounts wrong and the business could either miss out on available tax relief or worst still, end up paying far more tax than required. A business with the same accounting period as the tax year would normally be easy to calculate but the January introduction of the AIA creates a straddling period which results in only 3/12ths of £250,000 being eligible for an AIA claim for any expenditure in the first calendar quarter of 2013 i.e. £62,500 instead of £250,000. However, if there is no expenditure in that first quarter then up to £62,500 of potential tax write off will be lost in that accounting year. The flip side of the coin is a business with a calendar financial year ending 31st December. It could spend £250,000 at any time from the 1st January until the end of December 2013 and, given that it makes at least £250,000 of profits during 2013, will be able to write off the whole amount.

Annual expenditure above the first £250,000 will attract the usual 18 percent annual Writing Down Allowance in the first year with the balance going in to the pool of allowances for subsequent years. Under normal circumstances it can take up to 12 years to write off 90 percent of a machine’s cost against tax.

Different companies with different accounting periods will result in different amounts and different key periods of expenditure. There are further rules relating to the timing of the capital expenditure which can restrict the maximum AIA entitlements. These rules are quite complex and financial advice will be needed from your accountant or Finance Director.

Timing is Crucial In order to secure the maximum available tax benefit, it is vital that a carefully planned and possibly phased purchase programme takes due regard of the business’ financial year end,

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Making it Easy The table below shows four different financial year end companies and how vital it is to spend the right amount within the right periods in order to maximise the tax benefits. This is particularly important for capital expenditure near the start or the end of the temporary two year enhanced AIA.

Why are C&D & different to the rest?

The easiest scenario to understand is a 31st December financial year-end company which can purchase ÂŁ250,000 of eligible plant and machinery at any point in its accounting year between January and December. For other accounting periods the scenarios will be more complex but even for these businesses there is a middle period which does not straddle the January 2013 introduction date or the January 2015 end date where the full ÂŁ250,000 AIA can be claimed. The table makes this clear.

l Approved trainers for NDTG, IOSH, and CIEH. l Over 70 different training courses readily available, including plant assessment. l Courses written to suit your training needs. l We train anytime, anywhere and any number. l All trainers PTTLS certified. l Behaviour training is a speciality and we are Zero Harm approved trainers. l Industry leading Stress Management and Diversity courses.

What to do? Imagine the following scenario: a partnership of a father and his two sons, having made good profits, is belatedly contemplating replacing some machinery, having not purchased any machinery that year. The rapid approach of the 2013/14 tax year end is causing the accountant some concern with the potential of a big income tax bill for his client.

l We will manage your training records if required.

CD &

C O N S U LTA N C Y TRAINING DIVISION

01902 686363 www.demolishdismantle.co.uk www.demolitiontraining.com john.woodward@demolishdismantle.co.uk jill@demolishdismantle.co.uk

Even after claiming all available business expenses, a profit of £250,000 remains, which would attract the 40 percent income tax rate. The partnership’s accounting period matches the tax year.

Equally only £187,500 AIA is available between April and December 2014 because the AIA will drop to £25,000 from 01.01.15 onwards. Only 3/12ths of the subsequent £25,000 AIA (£6,250) can be claimed in that last quarter so don’t leave it until the last quarter to make the purchase.

The accountant explains that, if the partnership invests £250,000 in eligible machinery the full £250,000 AIA will apply. He also suggests that there is a great cash flow benefit to be had by using Hire Purchase. Paying a 10 percent deposit (£25,000) and borrowing £225,000 over three years on a hire purchase agreement equates to a £100,000 outlay in the first year of the acquisition, followed by £75,000 in each of the subsequent years (net of interest charges).

Other factors being equal, if your business is contemplating purchasing eligible machinery there are some strong tax-based and cash flow arguments to justify carefully planned machinery purchases, probably in a phased manner, in order to maximise the tax savings available from this temporary opportunity. Whilst all of the above can only be achieved by businesses making enough profits to offset the capital expenditure via hire purchase (or even cash) there is a financial alternative - leasing. This would be particularly applicable for those businesses not making high enough profits to claim the full AIA but who still want to enjoy the considerable cash flow benefits that leasing can offer. In addition if the business is likely to spend more than £250,000 then, once this amount has been spent, leasing can then re-emerge as the most tax efficient funding method for most businesses.

The £100,000 expenditure over the first year equals the £100,000 tax bill saved, so HM Revenue & Customs has effectively paid for the partnership’s deposit and its first year’s HP payments. Not only that, but the partnership has managed its cash flow in an exemplary fashion – claiming the maximum £250,000 AIA but with an outlay of perhaps only £25,000 if they acquired the machinery in the last month of the financial/tax year. Paying £250,000 in cash on day one would only net the same overall tax benefit but would not gain any prizes for cash flow management. As a matter of interest (excuse the pun) any interest paid on the Hire Purchase agreement is also 100 percent allowable against taxable profits.

Visit the JCB Finance website http://tinyurl.com/ckdnpq8 - to find out more.

JCB Finance is not a tax or financial advisor always seek advice from your accountant or finance director, because every business’ circumstances are different. Businesses should not make investment decisions purely on a tax basis - there should be a compelling business case for the investment.

However, be warned because the above scenario has an accounting period that straddles the 1st January 2013 which means a phased purchasing plan will required to maximise the AIA that can be claimed. If £62,500 is not spent in the first quarter of 2013 then that AIA will be lost forever.

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Objects of DesireCat Calls

Rugged Feel

Demolition’s Mark Anthony got his hands on the new Caterpillar smart phone and was left feeling that maybe he’s a little too in touch with his feminine side.

So let’s take a look at the new Cat phone itself. Well, the first thing you notice is just how well it has been made to replicate the rugged look and feel that Caterpillar construction equipment has come to represent. The “treaded-style” and Cat-branded back cover of the phone looks like it has been torn from a dozer while the prominent yellow on/off switch and volume controls are big and butch enough to work even if you’re cursed with fingers resembling a string of sausages.

As anyone that knows me will testify, under normal circumstances the only way I would be parted from my beloved iPhone 5 is to have it pried from my cold, dead hand. But the journalist’s lot is not always an ideal one and when I was asked if I’d like to put the new Caterpillar B15 smart phone through its paces, I decided to go fully cold turkey, swapping my sleek and stylish mobile device of choice for something from the more manly end of the mobile communications spectrum.

But that back cover – beneath which the battery and SIM card sit – is just one area in which the B15 walks a fine line between appropriately designed and devilishly frustrating. Flexible yet sturdy, that rear panel will undoubtedly absorb impact and will not be troubled by grinding against keys in your pocket. But, at the same time, its flexible nature makes it incredibly difficult to line up and snap into place (and it wasn’t just me – I got three other people to try it).

The first thing to note here is that I have no intention of comparing the operating systems of the two phones, suffice to say that – being open source – Google’s Android platform has more apps to choose from (although an inordinate amount of them seem to be camera enhancers, torch-lights or fart-sound generators). Having been put through the wringer by the Apple quality control team, iOS apps – in my experience – tend to be a little more stable and robust.

Of course, the Apple iPhone is delivered with its battery in place and sealed within the phone so there is no need for a removable rear cover. But I couldn’t help thinking that an Apple engineer would have been flogged at dawn for daring to pass off the Cat phone’s rear cover as customer friendly.

STUFF megapixel camera while the iPhone 5 uses a 8.0 megapixel camera so it comes as no great surprise that the overall look of the photos favours the iPhone. Indeed, the high resolution, iPhone version of our comparative photo is of publication quality. However, the Caterpillar phone produced a very serviceable 500 kb photo with decent if slightly washed-out colour that would be more than passable for day to day use. In our test, it proved slightly less successful in lower light conditions but if you’re in the habit of taking and sharing site photos, the Caterpillar B15 would be a sensible device to have on your person.

Equally, although Caterpillar claims that its new phone can be dropped from a height of 1.8 metres (sheer cowardice forbade me from testing the theory) the front of the phone is still made of very smart, touch-sensitive glass which, while tough, would surely remain prone to shattering. Caterpillar further claims that its B15 smart phone can survive being submerged in a metre of water for 30 minutes. Having lost previous iPhones to – variously – a washing machine, a canal and a pint of lager, this is a claim that I was unwilling to test, lest I feel the wrath of Caterpillar’s PR department when I returned their phone sodden and smelling faintly of beer or fabric conditioner. But I am happy to take their word for it.

The battery life was on a par with that of the iPhone 5 and suffered equally when subjected to power-hungry duties like playing video, games or music. And, if we’re being pedantic – as that’s what we’re paid to do – the screen probably lacked a little of the iPhone’s sharpness.

Snap Happy In a side-by-side comparison, the Cat B15’s call quality was every bit as good as a comparative mobile phone but let’s face it; who uses a mobile phone to make a phone call? Truth be told, they are more often used for surfing the web and for taking and sharing photographs.

Missing the Point However, all of this largely misses the point of the Caterpillar phone. For one thing, the phone drew some admiring glances and comments from demolition workers that saw me using it. For all its design perfection, the now ubiquitous iPhone 5 scarcely gets more than a nod of recognition.

Although the B15 is produced under license using the Caterpillar brand, the equipment giant has very shrewdly ensured that that phone that carries its brand also carries its app. As a result, the device is delivered with a full complement of shortcuts to Cat.com, Cat Rental, Cat Used and PartStore. If you’re a Caterpillar equipment user, you pretty much have a direct link to dealer support right there in the palm of your hand. We also put the camera to the test in a straight head to head with an iPhone 5. The Cat B15 utilises a 5.0

be on a demolition site unless accompanied by a real man with some spare testosterone.At the end of the test, I was glad to be reunited with my trusty iPhone. But I fear that says rather more about me than it does about the B15 smart phone.

Pros

There are also a huge number of Caterpillar acolytes out there who will welcome the B15 as a great addition to a working wardrobe that already includes Caterpillar boots, t-shirts and baseball caps.

• The rear panel of the phone screams your allegiance to the world’s largest construction equipment manufacturer. • The drop, scratch and water resistant phone is far more likely to make it through a working day than some of its more stylish competitors. • So long as you remember not to raise your pinkie finger, you’ll look dead butch using it.

And there’s also an almost imperceptible sense of security in using the rugged Caterpillar phone. While my brain is now attuned to seeking out dry spots on pub and restaurant tables and to keeping my phone in one pocket and my car keys in another for fear of scratching, I found myself being far more devil-maycare with the Cat alternative.Ultimately, though, this is a horses-for-courses debate and one which will hinge upon the type of person you are and your own specific needs.

cons • That rear panel requires the patience of Job to install. Best to do it once and pray you never need to change battery or SIM card. • Thicker and bulkier than an iPhone – Fine in jeans; would ruin the line of a suit. • External operations best performed by someone with fingers like Magilla Gorilla; touch-sensitive electronic keyboard requires the fine-fingered dexterity of a Chinese child piano prodigy.

Look at it this way. If a benevolent and slightly deranged oligarch suddenly pumped £10 million into the Demolition magazine coffers, my first major purchase would be an Audi R8. It is sleek, elegant, cool as a Siberian cucumber and just about the closest thing to an iPhone on four wheels. But I would purchase it in the knowledge that my new acquisition would be utterly useless on a demolition site where a Land Rover would be far more appropriate.

Those fine people at Caterpillar have agreed that I can give away the Cat B15 smart phone that they loaned me for this test. So, for your chance to win this durable, top-of-the-range handset, all you have to do is answer the following, simple question. How many megapixels is the camera on the Cat B15 smart phone? To enter, please send your answer by email to manthony@markanthonypublicity.co.uk. The winner will be drawn at random from the correct entries received. The prize draw will take place on Monday 3 June.

As a self-avowed Apple fan boy, I thought I liked what the iPhone 5 said about me. I thought it suggested a certain modernist flair and an appreciation of the finer things in life. Having shared that life with the Caterpillar B15 for a few weeks, I now realise that what the iPhone really says about me is that I am an effete softie who works in an office because, frankly, I am not sufficiently masculine to

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Why Diversity Bright Idea C&D Consultancy has once again seized the demolition training initiative with a new training course designed to help contractors navigate the diversity and equal opportunities minefield. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already paying dividends, as Mark Anthony reports. Regardless of your feelings about it, the time has come to accept the fact that we live in a politicallycorrect, multi-cultural society in which discrimination against anyone is an unacceptable reminder of a bygone era. Not surprisingly, it is the liberal-minded local authorities that are leading this long overdue charge with the result that many demolition companies could be left in the wake of this quiet cultural revolution.

Training is a But C&D Consultancy, perhaps the UK’s most reactive demolition training organisation, has once again demonstrated its fleet footedness, launching a dedicated training course to help contractors understand their diversity duties and, as it transpires, to help them adhere to a new generation of diversity-based pre-qualification questionnaires. Perhaps more importantly, it is delivering the kind of training that can be the difference between being on or off a client’s preferred bidder list.

Glass Half Full “Diversity within the workplace has to encompass race, religion, sexual orientation, age and gender which, in a traditionally male industry like demolition, can be a real challenge,” explains C&D’s Jill Woodward. “Our course, which can be written to suit a specific company’s local needs, looks at diversity and equal opportunity in two parts. The first part of the course focuses on equal opportunities from an employer/employee point of view. Then we go on to look at diversity and some time spent defining exactly what diversity actually is.

stuff about 15 percent of the people that have taken our course so far have been women,” she says. “But it’s also important to realise that diversity is not just about race and gender. Discrimination on the grounds of age and disability are still a key area for concern.”

Once we have got a definition in place that all of the group are clear about and agree on, we then start to look at differences in the workplace between employees, and what benefits and opportunities having those differences potentially bring to an employer. It is saying OK this is the group that we’ve got. We’ve got some older employees, we’ve got some employees that have worked in other countries and in other cultures. What do they know that can benefit us?”

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Despite her optimism, Woodward admits that there is a long way to go before the tradition of the leering, wolf whistling and macho demolition worker who eats his lunch surrounded by photos of topless women is finally dispelled.

Woodward admits that this “glass half full” approach to diversity is a far cry from the working class British white male dominated industry of yesterday and accepts that one of the key challenges she faces is overcoming traditional stereotypes and prejudices.

“The course isn’t about changing people’s perceptions. It would be a pretty special course if it could achieve that in a few days. It is about raising awareness of where these petty prejudices and preconceived ideas come from,” Woodward asserts. “The course is designed to guide demolition professionals when they are setting company policies, to help them address the specific business demands now and in the future.”

“It’s not always an easy course to put over because sometimes there are other issues and barriers in place,” she says. “Sometimes it is about tackling the stereotypes first. On the first morning of the course, there is a module about stereotyping and prejudice. Then I pull all that information into a practical afternoon session, breaking down those stereotypes.”

Box Ticking Exercise It would be easy to dismiss the training course as merely a box-ticking exercise; a means to satisfy the PQQ demands of a left-leaning health authority and ensuing a place on the approved bidders list. And while Jill Woodward admits that this is a concern, she says that she has been pleasantly surprised at the response from participants.

Timely Launch The timing of the launch of the course is interesting in itself, coming as it does amidst media scrutiny of racism in football, sexual orientation in US basketball and an ongoing glass ceiling for women in the corporate workplace. But Jill Woodward is optimistic over equal opportunities, particularly those for women in the demolition business.

“Sadly, for some people, this will be about ticking a box on a pre-qualification questionnaire to satisfy the need of a potential client. But I have been heartened by some of the feedback that we have had from participants. Company directors have said ‘we thought about this in relation to our business and we are changing the way that we do things.

“We are seeing an increasing number of women in the demolition industry and at Institute of Demolition Engineers’ events so that is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. In fact,

C D 3 3 If a little bit of good comes out of it, then that is great,” Jill Woodward concludes. “ I had a fair amount of trepidation the first time I did the course, because I was delivering to a very different group of learners. But I was pleasantly surprised on how keen the majority of them were, to listen, understand, and take on board some of the course ideas. If those individual people or individual companies spread the word, then slowly but surely we will see a change for the better.”

C O N S U LTA N C Y TRAINING DIVISION

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STUFF

Video Killed the Publishing Star An increasing number of demolition companies and equipment manufacturers are switching traditional brochures for online videos to showcase their wares. And for good reason, as Mark Anthony reports.

OK, as what follows is about to an interactive online phenomenon, let’s begin with a spot of interactivity of our own. If you are by a computer or have your smart phone to hand, do a Google search on the world “demolition”. Depending where you are in the world, you will now be looking a list of demolition contractors all vying for the top spot in that Google search. The chances are, the top two or three have actually paid to ensure that surfers encounter their advertisement first, while a good many of the rest

Now at this point you’re probably thinking “we’re not really interested in passing trade” and dismissing the kinds of people that use a Google search to identify and appoint a demolition contractor as somehow less worthy. But AR Demolition’s Richard Dolman believes otherwise. In fact, he says that an online video was key to his company being invited to tender for a complex contract outside its usual geographic location.

have likely spent money on complex search engine optimisation (SEO) to ensure that they’re easy to find. Now repeat that exercise but this time search for the term “marine demolition”. Again, depending on your geographic location, the results may vary. But the likelihood is that one of the very first results on that page features a MICOR Demolition video that appears on our DemolitionNews.com website. Aside from investing in the video in the first place, MICOR has not spent a dime on SEO or any other kind of online jiggery-pokery. They made it to the top of the heap purely on merit.

“When principal contractor J. Murphy & Sons started their search for a company with the skills required to tackle a space deck canopy roof at King’s Cross station in London, they stumbled across a video of me discussing the specific challenges of this type of roof construction,” Dolman explains. “They appreciated my honesty and understanding of the technical challenges in demolishing a space deck roof system and invited us to tender.” AR Demolition won and has since successfully completed that prestigious contract with considerable aplomb.

Massive Traffic With YouTube having overtaken parent company Google in the search engine rankings, it is clear that an increasing number of Internet users are turning to the video channel when searching for advice, guidance and entertainment. This is particularly true in demolition and construction circles. Several of the videos on the DemolitionNews YouTube channel have now attracted over 400,000 views; the channel itself has amassed more than a million views; and in April 2013 alone, it attracted almost 30,000 views. And while demolition contractors do not generally desire or require “passing trade”, it is clear that a presence on YouTube will have a positive knock-on effect on a company’s website. This is particularly true in the field of demolition and construction equipment.

stuff “Demolition professionals instinctively know when a piece of equipment looks and sounds right, and no printed brochure was ever really able to convey that,” says leading demolition video producer Matt Milloy of Django Limited. “So a well-produced video is almost as good as seeing a piece of equipment in action first hand. In just a few short minutes, a viewer can get a very real feel for the power and performance of an item of equipment. From there, a potential buyer is just a mouse click away from making direct contact with the manufacturer or supplier.” One of the companies making use of this approach is attachments specialist ECY Haulmark. According to

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the company’s marketing manager Karen Hawtin, online video played a key role in winning around a previously resistant customer. “We had spoken to a well-known demolition contractor about our OilQuick coupler system for several years but, despite our explanations, they remained sceptical,” Hawtin says. “But we produced a series of short films that showed the system in action in a real demolition environment and gradually we started to win them over. That company has since ordered several OilQuick systems and is well on its way to converting its entire excavator fleet.”

Falling Prices Django’s Matt Milloy believes that there are a number of factors behind the upsurge in high quality online video. “Most homes and offices now have relatively high speed Internet connections so watching online video has become faster and more convenient. In addition, the growth in smart phones and iPad-style tablets means that many people now have access to online video just about everywhere they go,” he says. “In addition to this, the price of high quality, high definition video has come down. In the past, a professional video crew using the latest video and audio equipment would need to charge around £3,000 to shoot, edit and produce a three minute video. With the advent of cheaper but equally high quality video equipment and editing software, that same video today would probably cost under £1,000.”

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Milloy further believes that the organic nature of video – the ability to continuously revisit and update content – and its agelessness – YouTube videos never die – are another key to this increased embracing of online video. “In years gone by, a company might have spent a few thousand pounds on a brochure that was rendered out of date the moment a telephone number changed. That brochure was expensive to produce, expensive to distribute and reached a relatively small number of people,” he asserts. “For a fraction of that cost, a company can produce an online video that can be edited and repackaged over and over again. And, even if it’s not, it will reach tens of thousands of people across the world.”

Regardless of whether a demolition contractor or equipment manufacturer is interested in passing trade is really not the issue since the cost of distribution is effectively zero. “We have already seen a huge upsurge in demand for high quality and highly targeted online video within the demolition business but this really is just the beginning,” Matt Milloy concludes. “We are now entering a period of time when for many of the younger professionals in the industry, their Internet home page is Facebook and YouTube is their Yellow Pages. Demolition companies will have to embrace this trend if they are to avoid being left stranded in the layby on the information superhighway.”

STUFF

The Export of Expertise Moving men and machines around the world might be difficult, but the export of expertise has proved to be a timely and profitable decision for UK-based RVA Group. Mark Anthony reports.

For all its claims of world leadership and its unparalleled success at previous World Demolition Awards, the UK demolition industry is every bit as insular as the island upon which it stands. Indeed, a book on UK demolitionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overseas success would be about as thick as one on coal miningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adoration of the late Baroness Thatcher. Yet while the vast majority of contractors prefer to stay close to home for everything but their summer vacations, one UK-based consultancy has proven that with planning and foresight, language and cultural differences are minor obstacles in comparison to the benefits that lie beyond.

Strategic Decision

Exchequer’s briefcase, and the face of newlyretired Manchester United managers. That a UK engineering consultancy has built up such an impressive portfolio of international clients and contracts is no accident, Vann explains. “Long before the latest recession hit, I looked at our future business prospects and realised that the UK has only a finite level of workload, that would limit our growth,” he says. “So we strategically started to target specific overseas clients and markets. And when we hit obstacles such as language or cultural barriers, differences in legislation or taxation systems, we treated them like any other business challenge and adapted ourselves to match the local demands of our overseas and international clients.”

Like a latter-day Graham Greene, RVA Group’s Richard Vann is one of those enviable individuals blessed with the ability to cross time zones and cultural divides unruffled and seemingly impervious to jet lag. When I caught up with him, he had literally just returned from Turkey and his forward diary is filed with appointments in the EU, Far East, North America and the Middle East. He carries with him a Tardis-like leather bag that contains everything the well-heeled executive traveller could ever possibly want or need, and is an avid consumer of electronic magazines and articles which, he says, are ”lighter to carry”. I imagine that his passport bears that weather-worn look that is normally the preserve of the Chancellor of the

STUFF This pragmatic approach to conquering overseas markets is something that UK demolition contractors have long failed to emulate, and to their cost. “UK demolition is widely recognised as a global leader and yet you can count on the fingers of one hand the companies that have expanded beyond UK shores and enjoyed any real long-term overseas success,” Vann asserts. “Despite the fact that it now operates at the same level of excellence as other engineering disciplines, UK demolition has largely failed to capitalise upon its expertise in this field. As a result, many had nowhere to turn when the latest recession hit the UK.”

Missed Opportunities Vann believes that one of the key reasons that UK contractors have so far failed to target overseas markets – aside from concerns over language and cultural obstacles – is that it is traditionally a reactive industry. “There is often a flurry of interest from UK contractors in the wake of a natural disaster such as the 2010 earthquake in New Zealand followed by a rush to align with local companies in joint ventures but that is nonstrategic and unplanned,” he suggests. “And yet when UK contractors target other regions of the UK where there are no language or cultural obstacles, it is done purposefully with new offices and personnel set in place months in advance.” Vann is clearly frustrated that more UK demolition companies have failed to take the pioneering leap into overseas territories, particularly as they are at an immediate advantage. “Regardless of where we are working in the world – whether it is mainland Europe, the US or the Far East – all of our contracts begin with the UK standard and British Code of Practice as the baseline with adjustments to meet local requirements,” he insists. “Many overseas contractors and some international clients struggle to grasp or attain standards that are second nature to a reputable UK company.”

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Richard Vann and the RVA Group itself has built its overseas reputation upon an ability to adapt and overcome; to borrow from the British way of doing things and meld it seamlessly with local customs and nuances. But there is one area of operation in which RVA demonstrates a zero flexibility policy: Safety.The company’s own mission statement says that all incidents are avoidable. And while he grudgingly accepts that accidents do still happen,

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Vann does not regret the fact that he has walked away from clients that failed see RVA’s exacting safety standards as non-negotiable.

event.” With our meeting over, Richard Vann heads out of the hotel and into a taxi, bound no doubt for some farflung destination. Although he is smartly-dressed in typically British business attire, I would like to think that there is a rumpled linen suit and panama hat stuffed into one of the dark recesses of that cavernous leather bag of his. Either way, so long as the RVA Group continues to fly the flag overseas, there's some corner of a foreign field that is for ever England.

What is interesting, however, is his take on the culture of safety. “UK demolition contractors are among the safest and most highly regulated in the world. But if you take a snapshot of the past 10 or 12 years, you would likely find a major incident or accident on the records of most contractors although, of course, there will be notable exceptions,” he says. “However, that is not necessarily a true indicator of safety performance. A company continually reporting lesser or even minor incidents highlights an ingrained cultural flaw that statistically will culminate in a catastrophic

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STUFF

Are You Demolishing Your Body? The nomadic, eating-on-therun lifestyle of the modern demolition worker has seen a rise in obesity, diabetes and heart disease. But with a few simple dietary changes, workers can enjoy greater fitness, improved concentration levels and even a better sex life according to specialist dietitian Nichola Whitehead.

aspect of our lives. Eating a well-balanced diet is integral to maintaining health and has been shown to boost concentration, improve performance, increase mood and self-esteem as well as reducing anxiety and stress and the risk of ill health and disease. Who doesn’t want to live a healthier and happier life with fewer headaches, less ‘sluggish’ moments, more energy and even better sex. Making small changes to your diet can help you to shed excess weight, reduce cholesterol and blood pressure levels as well as reducing the risk heart disease and cancer. Check out the following healthy swaps to see if you can prevent the demolition of your body.

Your high reach excavators and hydraulic attachments may be effective at demolishing buildings. But a poor diet can be just as effective at demolishing your body. Health is often put at the bottom of the modern demolition worker’s priority list. Yet it drives every

Breakfast: It has been shown that breakfast eaters not only tend to be slimmer than breakfast skippers, but have better concentration levels during the morning and actually consume fewer calories throughout the whole day. Even if you’re just grabbing a banana or a glass of fresh fruit juice, it really will do you good. If, however, you’re a man who likes to take his time over his breakfast and indulge in a traditional fry-up, then why not make some simple swaps to make it less greasy and more nutritious:

English Breakfast Fry Up = 800 Kcal

Healthier Traditional Breakfast = 400 Kcal

1 rasher of bacon, fat on, fried

1 rasher of bacon, fat trimmed, grilled

1 small can (200 g) baked beans

½ small can (100 g) baked beans

Tomato, fried in oil

Tomatoes and mushrooms, grilled

1 egg, fried

1 egg, poached

1 slice of bread, fried in butter

1 slice of bread, fried with 1 cal spray oil

STUFF

Cooking your own meals means you control exactly what goes in it, and because it’s fresh it won’t need any extra salt. Frozen vegetables are a great addition to any dish and actually contain more nutrients and are often cheaper than when bought fresh. They are also quick and easy to cook and require no chopping. Start simple – for example, if you enjoy a regular Indian takeaway then why not start by making a ‘healthier’ version at home with lightly fried chicken pieces, chickpeas, chopped onion and a tomato based sauce. Serve the curry with a side of spinach leaves and basmati rice and immediately you will have cut calories and salt. The fat content can be reduced by trimming visible fat from meat and using low fat cooking methods such as grilling or using a onecalorie spray oil for frying.

Other breakfast options include high fibre or wholegrain cereal such as Porridge Oats, Weetabix or Shredded Wheat with semi skimmed or skimmed milk with fresh or dried fruit to add a natural sweetness, a fruit salad and yoghurt (if buying canned fruit, choose those canned in juice rather than syrup and always choose fat-free/light yoghurts that are less than 100Kcal/serving). You could also whizz up your ingredients in a blender to make a delicious and nutritious fresh fruit smoothie. Lunch: A typical pastie is high in both calories and saturated fat. Too much saturated fat in the diet can lead to increased cholesterol levels which increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. If you care about your heart health then why not swap your pastie for a home-made sandwich? Choose wholemeal or granary bread, lean fillings such as chicken, turkey or tuna and pack it with as much salad as you can fit in. If you’re set on a hot lunch then jacket potatoes with baked beans or cottage cheese are a good options (again loaded with as much salad as you like), as well as vegetable and lentil soups. Foods such as beans and lentils are packed with fibre and protein and so will leave you feeling fuller and more energised for longer.

Nichola Whitehead is an experienced dietitian and blogger and currently specialises in bariatric surgery and diabesity. She is a published author in the Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics and has an MSc in Health Sciences as well as a Post Grad Diploma in Dietetics and 1st Class Honours Degree in Sport & Exercise Science from Loughborough University.

For further information, please visit www.nicsnutrition.com

Dinner: It may be tempting to get a take-away but they are often loaded with calories in the form of fat and sugar. Cooking ‘from scratch’ may sound laborious, but all it takes is a little planning. Try to make a weekly habit of planning meals and creating a shopping list – this way you will avoid waste and won’t have to spend time wondering ‘what shall I have for dinner’ – because that’s already decided for you and you already have the basic ingredients in.

Behind the Levers

Behind the levers

Aiming Highe Tilley & Barrett’s Andy Griffin was keen to advance his career but he was unwilling to abandon his passion for operating excavators. As Demolition reports, he has found a happy medium. Like anyone, I want to progress my career, achieve promotion and take on new challenges. But one of my biggest fears was that any such promotion would take me away from the thing that I do best – driving excavators. Thankfully, even though I have now passed my Demolition Supervisor exams, Tilley & Barrett is flexible enough for me to maintain my passion for machine operation, and I still get behind the controls on a fairly regular basis.

Grandfather Rights I have been an operator for almost 30 years, the past six of which has been with Tilley & Barrett. When the CSCS scheme was first introduced, I automatically qualified for a huge number of equipment categories. Over the years, I have focused more and more. Up until a few years ago, I maintained both my 180 and 360 degree excavator cards. But since joining Tilley & Barrett,

I have concentrated solely on the 360 degree category and I was on the inaugural High Reach training course organised by the National Demolition Training Group (NDTG). I am extremely fortunate to be working for Tilley & Barrett as they have a very forwardthinking policy towards any form of training. If I could prove to them that it would improve me or improve their on-site operations, I am sure they would send me on a hot air balloon training course. I never really had any fears about reaction from my fellow excavator operators when I was awarded the gold Supervisor card. For one thing, they are a great bunch of lads and, for another, I don’t tell them to do anything that I couldn’t or wouldn’t do

r myself. I respect their capabilities and they respect my experience. Having said that, all excavator operators are fiercely competitive. And when I get back behind the controls, you can tell that the other lads all up their game slightly, and that makes us all more productive.

contain a better, more efficient or safer way of carrying out the work.Interestingly, that was precisely the approach taken by the NDTG on the inaugural high reach training course. Although it was very clear that they had done a lot of work on the course structure, they were extremely willing to listen to the opinions of the operators and I am sure that some of our feedback will help make the course better over time.

Man Management

Aside from the paperwork, probably the biggest difference between being an operator and a supervisor is your attitude to those working around you. As an operator, you are constantly aware of the presence of your fellow workers and concerned for their safety but, primarily, you are very much selfcontained. When I am wearing my Supervisor hat, however, everyone else becomes my primary concern

One of my key skills is a willingness to listen to the opinions of others, whether thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the client, the senior guys at Tilley & Barrett or fellow site workers. If I have learned one thing in this industry itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all see things the same. The opinion of others is important and might just

behind the levers

â&#x20AC;&#x153;...Tilley & Barrett would send me on a hot air balloon training course if they thought it would help me and help them...â&#x20AC;?

and I tend to look at sites in a whole new way. Potential hazards become more evident, the speed and efficiency with which my fellow workers carry out their duties is constantly on my mind. If anything, that Supervisor experience has probably improved my skills as an operator. Even though I still close the door and become very selfcontained as before, I am now much more aware of what is going on around me, how things might

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be improved, what little tweaks we might make to ensure that the job runs more smoothly or that might please the client. Regardless of whether I am operating an excavator or acting as site supervisor, I am at my happiest on site. If I have a lot of paperwork to do, I arrive early to get it done before work starts to allow me to be on site, watching what is going on, advising my fellow operators and making sure everything is running as it should. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t supervise a demolition contract from the site office, you need to be in the thick of it. Having achieved the gold Supervisor card, I am, of course, looking for further opportunities for promotion and self-improvement. But, ideally, that promotion will still allow me to get behind the levers from time to time.

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behind the levers

Flying Solo It takes a brave man to start his own business; and it takes an even braver one to do so in the midst of a recession. Yet owner/operator Austin Wilkinson is remarkably upbeat, as Demolition magazine reports. A Dream Realised

Anyone that questions the work ethic of the nation’s youth should be forced to spend an hour in the company of Austin Wilkinson. The 26-year old owner/operator from Salford has left full-time employment with the likes of PP O’Conner and Connelly Brothers to pursue a dream of owning his own company and his own equipment. But there is more to AW Demolition than Wilkinson’s Komatsu PC290-8 and Northerntrack selector grapple. Indeed, these are mere decorations on a cake made almost entirely from determination, a go-anywhere-do-anything work ethic and an infectious optimism.

Wilkinson goes beyond glass half full optimism. Indeed, it is surprising that some of the North West of England’s biggest and best-known demolition companies managed to contain him for as long as they did. He left school at 16 with just one aim – To work in demolition. “I have always loved the idea of knocking down buildings and I was really keen to be close to the action,” he recalls. “That’s why I became an operator. There is an enormous amount of satisfaction in taking down a structure safely and efficiently and getting positive feedback from a client.”

“The whole of the demolition industry, from the card schemes to the insurance and finance systems, are structured towards established companies,” he asserts. “There is nothing out there for a person looking to start out on their own. It is little wonder that demolition is not seen as a career choice for most young people. It’s also very expensive. Setting aside the cost of the equipment, maintaining qualifications and paying for insurance is a real barrier to entry and I wouldn’t be surprised if that puts a lot of people off.” Those barriers failed to deter Wilkinson, of course; he is one of those rare breeds of eternal optimist that looks at a mousetrap and sees free cheese and a challenge.

Picking the Kit Top of his to-do list was the acquisition of a suitable excavator. Wilkinson says that he looked at a number of new and used machines before finally opting for the Komatsu PC290-8. “The team at Marubeni-Komatsu in Redditch were very helpful and the machine was the ideal mix of power and durability,” he says. Next, and equally important, came his choice of attachments. With a limited budget and an inability to predict what the next contract might entail, Wilkinson says he was looking for a single tool that could carry out a multitude of functions and tasks. “I knew that I might be demolishing a building one day, rehandling debris the next, and sorting waste and steel the day after that so I knew I needed an attachment that was every bit as flexible as demolition itself,” he continues.

With 10 years experience under his belt and an NVQ Level 2 Demolition Plant card tucked neatly into his wallet, Wilkinson took the decision to row his own canoe in 2012. But, he says, he received very little help, guidance or assistance along the way.

behind the levers According to Wilkinson, he and Hair agreed on just about everything, aside from the livery of the grapple. “Andy suggested the purple livery and, to be honest, I hated it,” Wilkinson laughs. “But now that it’s on the machine, I love it. I have had some great comments from customers and fellow workers about how memorable the colour is. It seems that Andy was right all along.”

“I decided that a selector grapple would give me the greatest levels of utilisation as it can be used to remove roofs, ripping out floors, handling steel and sorting and segregating waste.” Wilkinson reports that he looked at a number of possible alternatives before finally deciding to “go bespoke” with a Northerntrack NTSG20-HD designed to meet his very specific requirements. “From the very beginning, Andy Hair at Northerntrack made me a part of the design and manufacturing process. The attachment was made slightly wider than a standard model, the fins were increased from four to six inches, it has twin rams for speed and power, and the whole thing was beefed up to a hefty 2.5 tonnes to match the tough demolition environment.”

View from Below Having worked so closely with Northerntrack during the development of his new attachment, Wilkinson has some strong words for equipment designers. “Designers developing new equipment for the demolition industry need to spend some time on a demolition site with demolition workers,” he asserts. “It is no longer acceptable to produce a machine for groundworking and then converting it to a demolition spec merely by bolting on some additional protection.”

Demopedia Weighing in at 2.5 tonnes and with a capacity of 1.2 m3, the Northerntrack NTSG20-HD is equipped with full 360-degree hydraulic rotation for accurate positioning and ease of operation. Reversible bolt-on cutting edges are fitted as standard providing for simple replacement and maintenance. The grapple shells are all constructed from RAEX 400 wear resistant steel for durability and performance. The shell of Austin Wilkinson’s unit is further reinforced to match the arduous demolition application. NTSG Selector Grapples require two auxiliary hydraulic circuits on the excavator to provide hydraulic function of the rotation circuit (2-way) and to permit the open/close action of the basket shells.

Top of his design list is the need for high reach excavator style levels of all round visibility in standard demolition excavators. “Visibility is just as important when working two or three storey up as it is working 10 or more,” he insists. “We require the same kind of uninterrupted view that the high reach guys enjoy.” Given the opportunity, that uninterrupted view is something that Austin Wilkinson himself aspires to. “I am currently carded to 15 metres but I would love the opportunity to drive and ultimately own a high reach machine,” he concludes. “But in the meantime, I am enjoying the challenge and the freedom of my own new company.”

k iNt S O ta I TlEk

Paddling Pools and Exploding Spiders Demolition editor Mark Anthony visited a site in Portugal where an elaborate suppression technique was used to contain the dust from a 15-storey tower block implosion. He returned suitably impressed. There is something oddly poignant about finding a disused and discarded child’s toy – a deflated football perhaps, or a limbless doll - on the site of any kind of residential demolition project. So there is a bizarre and unexpected juxtaposition upon arriving on a Portuguese site to find 16 children’s paddling pools strategically encircling a 15-storey tower block that is just a few hours away from being imploded.

44 1

But this is not some kind of anti-demolition protest staged by displaced residents. Nor is it a work of modern art for the terminally pretentious. It is, in fact, an integral part of an elaborate dust suppression technique pioneered by demolition company Delair CFD in its native France and now being employed as part of its joint venture with Portuguese contractor Restradas.

Point of Origin Although dust suppression equipment has - to varying degrees - tackled the problem of dust migration in traditional forms of mechanical demolition, explosive demolition has, for many years, remained something of a dust blackspot. DustBoss-style turbines enjoy only limited and weather-dependant success in an explosive demolition application, and multiple men with multiple hoses are no match for such a large-scale creation of dust. Even extreme measures – filling the rooftop swimming pool with water prior to a blast springs to mind – have failed to provide a reliable and repeatable way to combat the problem, as countless YouTube videos of dustcovered implosion spectators will testify. Where the Delair CFD technique differs is its ability to capture and contain the dust at its source, at the very point of implosion. Invented and developed by explosive demolition veteran Patrick Villard, the technique employs two types of “dust trap”. The most obvious and visually-striking of these are the bright blue children’s paddling pools that are filled with water that is blasted into the air at exactly the same time as the blast occurs. The second and less obvious is contained within the structure itself and comprises a series of 1.0 m3 capacity cement bags lined with polythene sheeting and filled with water and a single explosive charge.

ON SITE Exploding Spiders The first thing to point out is that it was pouring with rain when I touched down at Francisco de Sa Caneiro Airport the day before the blast. You fly 1,300 kilometres to see a dust suppression technique only for Mother Nature to demonstrate her own! But by the afternoon, the sun had appeared and the ground around the 15-storey Aleixo tower close to the banks of the River Douro was all but dry. A light but persistent breeze continued to stir the dust within the building as final preparations for the morning’s blast were made. The first of those preparations was the installation of what Villard describes as the “exploding spiders”, a superb name for a rock band if ever I heard one. Constructed from a series of timber crossmembers and a spiral of detonating cord that lends the structure a “web-like” appearance, these are lowered one by one into the water-filled paddling pools and weighted down with sandbags to ensure that they are fully submerged.

Like the paddling pools, these are detonated at precisely the same time as the explosives used to fell the building, sending thousands of litres of water through the building to capture the dust at its very point of creation. But does it work? Well, I went to Porto in Portugal to see for myself.

Within the building, some 100 water bags are each fitted with an explosive charge that is hooked into the same electronically-controlled blast sequence system that will fell the building and cause the paddling pools to perform like a Las Vegas fountain. With just over an hour until blast time, Villard and his team gather at the blast point to electronically interrogate each of the 600 explosive charges placed within the structure and in the dust prevention system.

Within a Bubble

“It will take 64 kg of explosives to topple the building and almost as much – 50 kg – to power the dust suppression system,” Villard explains. “In addition to controlling the dust, it is important that we control the direction of descent away from the two neighbouring tower blocks and also away from the road that runs adjacent to the site.”

Satisfied that all elements of the blast and dust suppression sequence are in order, the site is evacuated of the last few workers that have been preparing the drop zone. A heavy police presence runs a final check of the neighbouring blocks and the 200 metre exclusion zone before giving the go ahead and sounding the 30 minute warning to the media and interested onlookers gathered at a safe viewing area right on the banks of the Douro as it flows into the Atlantic.

on site

When the blast finally happens against a blank, pale grey sky, the 15-storey building falls just as planned, following the prescribed diagonal route away from the neighbouring blocks and well away from the road. A round of spontaneous applause ripples through the assembled crowd and the media circus sets off in search of another local dignitary to quiz about the significance of the implosion.

It is at this point that you realise that demolition operates within a bubble, largely away from the prying eyes of the public or the media. For while the spectators are interested only in witnessing the blast and the local news media is focused upon securing a suitably upbeat sound-bite from a local politician, the team behind the blast and the unique dust suppression are largely ignored. Indeed, it is ironic that upon hearing my voice, one local TV station attempted to interview me about the impending blast. They quickly gave up when they realised that I speak not a single word of Portuguese while overlooking the hard hat wearing crew that had made the blast possible who were stood just a few feet away.

But if they had waited just a few seconds longer, they might have seen the blast for what it really was. The dust â&#x20AC;&#x201C; such as it was â&#x20AC;&#x201C; fell and settled far faster than usual to reveal a remarkably resilient tower block that had remained stubbornly intact during its final fall to Earth. Despite that, the adjacent road was declared open within a matter of a few minutes and without the need for sweeping or cleaning of any kind. And while he admits that he would have liked to have seen a greater level of fragmentation as the block fell, the assembled TV cameras failed to capture the most telling image of the day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A broad smile across the face of Patrick Villard as he stood on a dust-free but slightly damp site.

As is typical at most explosive demolition events, an eerie hush falls over the waiting crowd of spectators and media as the countdown begins.

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Doosan Come The new Doosan DX340LC-3 and DX380LC-3 Stage IIIB compliant crawler excavators both feature new DECOPOWER technology, providing operators with increases in productivity and fuel efficiency, as well as smoother controls. D-ECOPOWER technology utilises an electronic pressure-controlled pump within a closed centre hydraulic system to accomplish increases of up to 26 percent in productivity and up to 12 percent fuel consumption improvements, depending on the mode selected. A closed centred main control valve minimises pressure loss, while the electric pressure-controlled pump manages and optimises engine power more effectively. The nine D-ECOPOWER sensors detect the amount of hydraulic oil necessary to accomplish a specific task and precisely meter the amount of oil required rather than continuously forcing a fixed amount of oil through the system, thereby improving efficiency. Software is utilised to electronically reproduce the full benefits of an open centre hydraulic system with very little energy loss. The hydraulic system and engine horsepower are fully optimised and synchronised, further reducing losses within the system. Improved feedback to the operator through the joystick results in improved machine control and less operator fatigue. The acceleration and deceleration of the excavator workgroup functions are smoother, allowing operators to perform repetitive swinging and digging motions with less jerking movements.

es Clean

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Hitachi Unveils New High Reach Visibility has been enhanced by the pillar-less glass of the cab – the upper horizontal part of the window frame has been removed to give an uninterrupted view of high-reach demolition work. The crossbars on the top guard are also aligned to ensure that they do not hinder the visibility of the operator. The front wipers have been repositioned in parallel to the window, ensuring that it can be cleaned effectively, especially the upper part. The roof window wiper also provides improved upward visibility from the fully adjustable air-suspension seat.

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) used last month’s Bauma exhibition in Munich to launch the ZX470LCH-5 25-metre highreach demolition excavator. Also available in a 27 metre configuration the ZX470LCH-5 has been enhanced by the HIOS IIIB hydraulic system. This allows for faster operation with lower fuel consumption (up to 13 percent in ECO mode), and increased levels of productivity. The time required for the assembly and disassembly of front attachments has been reduced on the new Zaxis-5 model, resulting in greater efficiency. This has been achieved by hydraulic connecting pins, a position sensor to make sure the pins are securely connected, and the new high-pressure couplers and lever-type quick couplers.

For added durability on challenging demolition jobs, the new Zaxis-5 demolition machine has been equipped with a strengthened frame especially for this application. The main frame has been reinforced at the bottom foot and boom cylinder bottom bracket. The track and reinforced upper structure also have durable covers, protecting covered hoses, piping and valves from obstacles during operation. The ZX470LCH-5 has been designed with several features to maximise the machine’s availability and

ultimately lower the cost of ownership. An example is the tilt cylinder guard, a tough metal cover that protects the cylinder from potential damage caused by falling debris on the job site. The cab of the ZX470LCH-5 has been designed to extend the operatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visibility from the comfort of their seat. The smooth tilting mechanism adjusts the angle of the cab up to 30 degrees, maximising upward visibility.

This new Zaxis-5 model is equipped with a unique monitor to further improve safety on busy demolition sites. It features an alert from the swing angle alarm, which highlights when the machine swings close to its limit. Another safety warning comes with the HRD overload warning system. When the machine inclines close to its limit, it shows the load ratio on the monitor by sensing the boom angle and pressure. The monitor also displays a front attachment mode selector, so the operator can quickly change the hydraulic circuit of the machine for the specific attachment to be installed.

The ZX470LCH-5 also incorporates several features to protect the operator and the machine. It has a sturdy FOPS (Falling Object Protective Structure) cab as standard, and an OPG top and front guard that meet ISO safety standards. To allow for easy access for cleaning, the OPG top guard can be opened, and the gap between the front guard and window has been expanded.

Spec Check Engine rated power (kW) Maximum working height (mm) Maximum reach (mm) Rear-end swing radius (mm) Maximum tool weight (kg) Operating weight (kg)

270 25,060 13,840 3,860 3,000 62,500

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Volvo at the D when working on high-reach jobs. And Volvo’s popular telematics system, CareTrack, comes as standard for three years.

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has launched two new models of ultra-high reach excavator: the 21 metre-reach EC380DHR; and the 27 metrereach EC480DHR.

With operator safety and machine protection the key considerations, the Volvo concept is to provide a completely specified demolition package. Helping customers avoid overlooking important options, Volvo’s concept packages everything together, with all demolition-specific features included, so the customer does not have to worry about which features to specify.

These machines can be fitted with both high-reach equipment and a standard boom and arm configuration. The ability to switch from one type of boom-arm configuration to another with ease facilitates a higher return on customers’ investment. And a hydraulic modular joint enables a 30-minute quick change from demolition to standard attachment, boosting machine utilization when not required for high reach projects.

The unique aspect of these demolition options is that they are all ‘bolt-on’, so no welding is necessary in the event of anything needing to be replaced due to wear or damage. This results in less machine downtime, and increased profitability of the customer’s operation. Other standard features on both HR models include: l Bucket and boom cylinder guards l Swing ring protection guard l Frame-mounted, falling object guard (FOG) l Bolt-on side impact protection system l Enhanced 8 mm under-guarding (10 mm under the slew ring). l Full-length track guards l Total movement indicator (TMI) system and alarm. l Hydraulically retractable undercarriage l Large front-view camera on the high reach demolition boom

With new styling enhancements, the EC380DHR and EC480DHR are better, stronger, and faster than the machines that preceded them. These ultra-high reach excavators come equipped with a Volvo D13 Tier 4i/Stage IIIB-certified engine, for lower emissions and increased horsepower and engine torque. Productivity is boosted with higher main hydraulic pressure and better hydraulic flow, as well as increased swing speed, travel speed, arm tear-out and bucket breakout forces. Hydraulic quick couplers are all new for more reliability. Operator comfort is improved with lower interior sound levels. The cabin hydraulically tilts up to 30 degrees, reducing operator neck strain and fatigue

ouble

Spec Check EC380DHR Operating weight 48,895 Max. pin height (mm): 21,070 Max. pin reach (mm): 13,500 Max. tool weight (kg): 3,000 Operating angle 20° Max cab tilting angle 30° Operating weight (kg): 43,990

EC480DHR 61,260 §27,355 15,840 3,000 15° 30° 55,270

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Cat Joins Hybrid Revolution Caterpillar, the world’s largest construction equipment manufacturer, has thrown its considerable weight behind the hybrid revolution, unveiling the 336E H in October 2012, and the promise of more to come. According to Ken Gray, global product manager for large hydraulic excavators for Caterpillar's Excavation Division, customers have shown tremendous enthusiasm for the 336E H since the day it was unveiled.

"Customer interest has been off the charts," Gray said. "They're not only reaching out to Cat dealers to learn more about the 336E H, they are placing orders. In fact, we received our first signed orders October 17th, the day after the reveal." Gray also said customers want to know about Caterpillar's plans for expanding hybrid technology to additional excavators. "We're getting a lot of questions about what other models will be available as a hybrid, and when," said Gray. "While I will not divulge our full hybrid strategy, I will say we will have two additional hydraulic hybrid models, the 336F H and 336D H, on the way." Both the 336F H and 336D H models will have the same hybrid Cat Electronic Standardized Programmable (ESP) pump as the 336E H. The 336F H will feature a Cat C9.3 ACERT™ engine that meets Tier 4 Final/Stage IV emissions standards; the 336D H will feature a Cat C9 ACERT engine designed to meet the needs of customers in those

Spec Check Engine power (kW) Max. dig depth (mm) Operating weight

countries with emissions standards different than Tier 4 Final/Stage IV. "We have active development programs for the machines which will follow those two," Gray said. "And we will continue to add appropriate hybrid technology to models where it adds value for customersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;where it lowers owning and operating costs to help their businesses succeed. Our objective is to ensure our customers make more money with Cat products than they can with others."

230 7,490 37 200 kg

Customers can expect the 336E H to use up to 25 percent less fuel compared to a standard 336E and up to a 50 percent improvement in fuel efficiency compared to a 336D in a wide variety of operating conditions. All three of the technology building blocks, 1) Conserve, 2) Optimize and 3) Reuse, are integrated together to maximize fuel savings in a variety of applications. Precisely when customers will recoup their initial investment in a 336E H depends on fuel prices, a customer's specific application and the number of hours the machine operates in a year. Assuming today's fuel prices and a production application for a 336E H,

To achieve fuel savings, the design of the 336E H is relatively straightforward, using three building block technologies: 1) Conserve fuel with engine power management via the Cat Electronic Standardized Programmable (ESP) pump, 2) Optimize performance using restriction management via the patented Cat Adaptive Control System (ACS) valve and 3) Reuse energy via the hydraulic hybrid swing, which captures the excavator's upper structure swing brake energy in accumulators and then releases the energy during swing acceleration.

Caterpillar estimates customers can realistically expect to see a return on their investment for the hybrid excavator model in as little as one year, with 18 months as typical.

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JCB Raises Safety Bar

The main benefits are the availability of: l A secondary safety system l Prevention of machine movement from outside the cab l Reduction in accidental operation l Availability of a retrofitted solution l Failsafe Operation

All JCB JS excavators have a hydraulic isolator lever that is lowered when the operator is in the cab to make the hydraulic circuits live and ready for use. However with 2 Go the operator has to make a secondary acknowledgment by pushing a switch on the main control fascia. This ensures that if the servo levers are moved by accident while the operator is getting into the seat, there is no chance of the working end of the machine being operated. Later in 2013 mini and midi excavators from the 801 range upwards will benefit from the “Go” system. In these machines, the left hand servo pod is raised for the operator to enter and exit the cab, cutting off the hydraulic system. With 2 Go, there is a second button which activates the hydraulic circuits. This prevents operators lowering the servo pod from outside the machine to make small movements, ensuring that the driver is in the seat before the excavator is used. A retrofit programme is available for all JS excavators built before September 2012, through the JCB dealer network.

JCB is to fit its innovative 2 Go hydraulic isolation system across the full range of JS crawler and wheeled excavators, plus its mini and midi compact machines. Introduced after a period of testing and evaluation with main contractor Skanska UK, the 2 Go system has subsequently been recognised by the UK’s Health & Safety Executive (HSE) for its positive contribution to site safety. 58

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Olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Big Mouth Genesis Attachments has announced the expansion of its Logix Processor, LXP product family with the launch of a new model that provides the line's largest jaw openings, jaw depths and capacities. processor that enables customers to change-out jaw sets in 15 minutes to meet the needs of their application, but now it provides even more power and capacity, opening the door for demolition contractors to use one tool on a job that previously required two or to bid on jobs on which they previously might not have been able." All LXP jaw sets feature a patented pivot system that keeps each jaw set's pivot group intact, providing a power curve that matches the jaw's primary application, and bolt-on wear parts for quick and easy maintenance.

Featuring concrete pulveriser, shear and concrete cracker jaw openings of 155, 102 and 180 cm and jaw depths of 99, 89 and 127 inches respectively, the LXP 800 is a powerful demolition tool for large columns, structures and projects that is suitable for excavators in the 40 to 70 tonne operating weight range. "Conversations with contractors and an analysis of tools on the market identified the need for a versatile, interchangeable-jaw attachment that has bigger jaw openings and depths," says Steve Letko, Genesis engineering services manager. "The Genesis LXP has always been a powerful concrete

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Bretec Breaks Back

Those of a certain vintage will recall that Bretec was the name given to the Finnish-built breakers sold via OEMs such as Kubota back in the day. Available in the UK through the existing network of Rammer dealers, the new Bretec range comprises seven models in three distinct product families: Compact; Medium; and Large. Sporting a smart grey and blue livery and a subtle Sandvik logo, the new models range in size from 150 to 1,670 kg. All Bretec breakers are fully CE compliant, and are manufactured in accordance with ISO 9001, ISO18001 and ISO 14001 standards and each comes with a box type housing. Visit www.bretec.com for further details.

Old breaker names never die, they just bounce back a few years later. Almost exactly a year after its Sandvik stable mate Rammer re-emerged as a brand in its own right, Bretec has followed a similar path with the launch of what the company describes as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;dealer brandâ&#x20AC;? aimed at the middle market. 61

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Cat Breaking Three Designed and manufactured by Caterpillar, the new H140Es, H160Es and H180Es are an optimum match to Cat excavators ranging from the 324E to the 374D L. Mounting brackets are available for Cat quick couplers. The energy classes of the H140Es, H160Es and H18Es are 8,135, 11,525 J and 16,270 Joules respectively.

Caterpillar has added three new models to its E Series Hammer line for use on medium and large excavators.

E Series Hammers feature a new symmetrical housing design that allows rotating the housing 180 degrees to compensate for wear, effectively extending the life of the housing. The lower portion incorporates rock edges that add protection to the housing. An optional wear package is available to further enhance hammer durability in severe applications. The new housing is built for strength and lowers life cycle costs. A sleek, curved front and back profile eliminates stress points and transfers forces to the bottom of the hammer. Key features include automatic shut-off to eliminate blank firing stresses, and an external pressure control valve. Sound suppression is standard for environmental protection and enhanced operator comfort.

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MGL Crushing It North East of Englandbased MGL Demolition has taken delivery of a new QJ341 tracked jaw crusher from Sandvik Construction. “One of the distinct advantages of the QJ341 is that - due to its inherent transportability from site to site and manoeuvrability around the site - it is literally able to go direct to the material, and reduce it for reuse on-site,” says managing director Mark Davison. “This not only provides material for use straight away, but reduces haulage costs, as well as being environmentally sustainable.”

In addition, the QJ341 comes with new features including a load control system for the feeder drive, level sensor fitted to the jaw, and speed wheel fitted to the main conveyor. “The focus of the Sandvik design changes has enabled us enjoy lower running costs, a lower carbon footprint and increased productivity,” Mark Davison concludes. “That means we are operating a more environmentally friendly and efficient machine.”

The new QJ341 is currently being used to crush 75 mm demolition material on a variety of projects. The flexibility and productivity of the machine is ensured by a 1200 x 750 mm feed opening, hydraulically adjustable CSS, high reduction ratios, crushing speed and efficiency. The crusher also has a reverse crushing action to relieve blockages, plus an automatic central lubrication system.

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Stick to the Day Job Those that can, do’ those that can’t, write about it. That adage took on new significance when Demolition magazine’s Mark Anthony found himself on the wrong side of the camera, and the wrong side of a machine’s controls.

Like so many beer-fuelled conversations, it all started so innocently. Earthmovers’ editor Graham “The Geek” Black, Nick “Digger” Drew of The Digger Man blog and myself were celebrating DemolitionNews.com’s fourth anniversary when someone pointed out that BBC’s Top Gear has three presenters and that there were three of us. “We could do a Top Gear for plant,” I recall exclaiming excitedly. Also like beer-fuelled conversations, this one was quickly parked on a shelf marked “good idea but no time” and largely forgotten. And then someone mentioned it to UK Caterpillar dealer Finning UK. Before I knew it, two titans of the plant journalism world and one demolition gatecrasher were heading for Caterpillar’s Desford factory for a day behind the controls and in front of the cameras. (And if any plant training companies out there would like some examples of how NOT to drive a mini excavator, check out my pitiful attempt here: http://tinyurl.com/qdtbgmb) Although it quickly transpired that our presenting style was more Last of the Summer Wine than Top Gear, the resulting films – thanks to some judicious editing – were informative, entertaining and fun. Indeed, Finning was so impressed by the results that it put together a stand-alone website called It’s Plant Time. To view all the videos, please visit: www.itsplanttime.com