World Demoliton Summit 2014

The 6th World Demolition Summit was held 6 November at the Krasnapolsky Hotel in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The event opened with an audience of more than 130 delegates hearing presentations on the current demolition market and important recent demolition projects.

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The first speaker, Brian Carroll of Kocurek Excavators, highlighted changes in buying practices in the industry that have been forced through by the financial crisis; “Buying used to be speculative, but not anymore.” He said buyers were looking to keep machines for longer; “Life expectancy is longer. Years ago it was 4 or 5 years and then trade-in. Now people want more value from their equipment and are looking at 10 years or more.”

Mr Carroll added that demolition contractors were looking for more flexible, multi-purpose machines, and making technical demands on the OEMs; “People want to use heavier, bigger attachments. However, with no loss of height.”

"Engaging with local community groups well in advance of explosive demolition projects is just as important as the technical aspects of such projects", said William Sinclair, managing director of UK demolition contractor Safedem. Mr Sinclair, whose company has used explosive demolition techniques on 100 high rise structures in the UK, told delegates to the World Demolition Summit; “The key issue is not the proximity of homes and businesses. The key issue is the thousands of former occupants, the general public who often have pre-conceived ideas about demolition.”

The best on stage

The evening of Thursday November 6, 2014, saw the demolition industry gather to hear the outcome of the deliberations of the judges of the 2014 World Demolition Awards. With entries having come from four continents, this year’s event was the most international in nature to date.

The winners are as follows.
The Contract of the Year over US$1.5 million went to UK contractor Keltbray, with a Highly Commended certificate also awarded to Brazilian contractor Fabio Bruno Construções Ltda. The Contract of the Year under US$1.5 million was gathered by Australian Decommissioning Services with another Highly Commended going to the US’s Brandenburg Industrial Services.

The 2014 Safety & Training Award was collected by the UK’s AR Demolition, with a third Highly Commended certificate awarded in this category to Coleman & Company.

The sector specific awards were made as follows
The 2014 Industrial Demolition Award went to Australian company Liberty Industrial, the 2014 Civils Demolition Award was collected by Keltbray, this company’s second of the night, the 2014 Recycling & Environmental Award was made to Brandenburg Industrial Services, with the final sector award, the 2014 Urban Demolition Award, going to New Zealand contractor Ward Demolition. Keltbray also picked up another Highly Commended certificate in this category.

The 2014 Collaboration Award went to the UK’s J Bryan (Victoria) Ltd, while the 2014 Manufacturers’ Innovation Award was won jointly by Kiesel and Kocurek Excavators with a Highly Commended certificate going to MB SpA. This rounded off the Awards that are open to entries but two further Awards were made on the night.

The first of these was a D&Ri Lifetime Achievement Award that went to ERM’s William Moore in recognition of the service he has given to the demolition industry on both sides of the Atlantic over the past years by serving in a number of officer positions with national and international associations, as well as giving his time and effort freely to promote the industry worldwide.

The final Award is the result of a request from the judging panel. At the end of the 2013 event, they asked for the creation of an Award that they could, based on their assessment of all the submitted entries made that year, make to the entry that shows the industry at its very best. The World Demolition Award is the result and its first presentation was made to Australia’s Liberty Industrial, bringing a memorable evening to a close to general acclaim.