Video Exclusive – Blazing a trail…

What the new Demolition Operative Apprenticeship Standard means for the wider industry.

Following more than a year of behind-the-scenes consultation, a Demolition Operative apprenticeship standard has been uploaded onto the Institute for Apprenticeships.

The apprenticeship standard was developed by a trailblazer group comprising 10 UK demolition contractors including Armac Group, Cantillon, Rye Demolition, Squibb Group and – most notably – Keltbray and Erith Contractors.

In this exclusive interview, Erith training director Robert Williams explains how the standard was developed and what it means for UK demolition contractors.

Video – Armac does it again…

Another weekend, another successful bridge removal.

Motorists using the A14 in Cambridgeshire this morning will likely be unaware that a major demolition project took place this weekend to remove a bridge that linked the villages of Swavesey and Boxworth at junction 28.

But the old bridge was dismantled by Armac Group during a weekend possession. Construction director Julian Lamb said: “The only way to complete the work safely is to close the A14 beneath it, and by completing the work over a single weekend, we hope to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.”

A new 2,127 tonne bridge, spanning 60 metres, will form part of the new Swavesey junction off the A14.

Highways England is upgrading 21 miles (34km) of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon to three lanes in each direction, as well as building a 17-mile (27km) bypass south of Huntingdon.

The project – set to be completed by the end of 2020 – is expected to cut journey times by 20 minutes.

Video – DSM giant tackles Edgbaston tower…

70-metre Caterpillar high reach shows what it’s made of.

A few months ago, DSM Group’s massive Caterpillar 6015B went to work taking down the 20-storey Edgbaston House tower block.

That demolition is now complete and a time-lapse film of the demolition process has been released that shows the entire demolition process. But it also served as a timely reminde rthat we never got around to broadcasting our film of the massive machine.

So take a look below – First up is our film of possibly the UK demolition scene’s most awesome piece of kit; second is that time-lapse that captures all the action.

DSM Demolition – Calthorpe Edgbaston House from DSM Demolition on Vimeo.

December deadline for deadly bridge…

Morandi bridge demolition to start in December; last one month.

90 days on from the disaster in which 43 people were killed, officials have announced a schedule for demolition and rebuilding of Genoa’s infamous Morandi bridge.

Genoa Mayor Marco Bucci announced that the long-awaited demolition of the remaining sections of the Morandi bridge will start on December 15, making way for a new overpass crossing the city.

“My plan foresees the start of the demolition work on December 15,” Bucci, who is also the commissioner for the construction of the new viaduct, told reporters.

The bridge is still a restricted area as investigations continue, but Bucci said “the work will start as soon as the sequestering of the site (by investigators) is lifted.”

The demolition of Genoa’s Morandi Bridge, which killed 43 people when it collapsed, will take just one month from start to finish, the region’s governor previously said.

It was initially hoped that the bridge could be demolished by the end of September. Investigators called for the urgent demolition of the bridge’s remains in August, warning that supports were weakening and at high risk of collapse.

Removal will begin with the west pillar, Bucci said, and construction of the new bridge will begin there as demolition continues on the east side.

Read more here.

Video Exclusive – Rye Demolition in action…

The first film from our new-look YouTube channel.

So it turns out that we have been doing YouTube all wrong. Rather than saving up our content and then hitting you with a 30-minute episode once every six weeks, the video platform would prefer us to broadcast (ideally) weekly. And since they offer creators like us certain privileges when we attract a certain number of views and subscribers, who are we to argue.

And so we have relaunched our YouTube channel with new graphics, new playlists to make it easier to navigate, and a new pledge to upload with far greater frequency; starting with this awesome film we shot with our friends at Rye Demolition at their site in Mill Hill, London.

All-new Demolition mag is HERE!

118 pages of everything you ever wanted to know about demolition but were afraid to ask.

The new Demolition magazine is here, resplendent in a distinctive lime green cover and rammed to the rafters with demolition goodness.

Of course, we’d love for you to take the time and read this behemoth from cover-to-cover at your leisure. But we’d also like to draw your attention to a few key highlights along the way including: the importance of inspecting work at height equipment; a look at the opportunities missed by the UK demolition sector during 2018; a look at the silent killer that is worker fatigue; and an exclusive look around the new European headquarters of ambitious equipment giant, Hyundai.

There is loads more besides. So pour yourself a coffee, kick back and enjoy the latest edition of Demolition magazine:

Christmas shopping SORTED…

Everything for the demolition man, woman or child in your life.

Desperate for a gift for the demolition man, woman or child in your life? Well fear not; DemolitionNews has got you covered.

We have just overhauled our merch’ store to bring you a range of industry-related gifts to suit all sizes, ages and budgets.

Our “Wreck the Halls” range of t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies are already going out the door faster than stolen scrap metal; while our Demolition-branded beanie hats are selling like hot cakes to ensure hot heads as the winter weather worsens.

In addition to this, we have mugs featuring the distinctive Demolition logo; together with an enamel mug featuring our Instagram handle in full Instagram colours. There’s also a collection of travel mugs to keep your drinks warm this winter. and Our BOOM! T-shirts will ensure that any Christmas party goes with a bang; while our Work Safe, Home Safe t-shirts and hoodies reinforce an important safety message.

For children and future demolition folks, we have a range of My Dad Does Demolition t-shirts and there’s a full range of child and baby wear in our dedicated Kids & Babies section.

So give Santa a helping hand and order your exclusive demolition gifts now.

Video – Plant Mitchell stack dropped…

Controlled implosion fells 152 metre chimney.

Crews braved freezing temperatures in Albany, Georgia this weekend to carry out the precise explosive demolition of a giant 152 metre tall stack that has stood sentinel over Georgia Power’s Plant Mitchell plant for over 65 years.

Video – New DemoExpo trailer…

The excitement is building as more exhibitors sign up to be part of the show.

At the time of writing, the DemoExpo 2019 exhibition is 233 days away. And the excitement is building.

A number of big-name exhibitors have already stated their intention to exhibit at the show; and many more about to do so following the release of the official booking form (which you can see here).

To maintain that momentum, DemolitionNews has produced a fourth exclusive video trailer, which you can watch below.

If you’re a potential visitor, you can check out the names of the companies already planning to exhibit here. If you’re a prospective exhibitor, then click THIS LINK now and book your space.

It’s going to be EPIC!

Video – More big bangs at Longannet…

Another day, another successful Brown and Mason blast.

Power stations across the land must tremble at the very mention of the name Brown and Mason. Because it seems that rarely a week goes past when the company isn’t consigning one of these mammoth plants to the pages of history.

Late last week it was the turn, once again, of Longannet Power Station in Fife, Scotland where the BAM team carried out the controlled implosion of the Unit 2 precips together with the coal stock towers and the associated conveyor.