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JULY-AUGUST 2013
WORLD NEWS
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DEMOLITION BITS
South African contractor
Draco Demolition, working
for main contractor Tseia
Tshweu Construction, used
explosives to bring down
the Munitoria building in
Pretoria at the beginning of
July. The site will be used for
the construction of a new
municipal headquarters to
be called Tshwane House.
The 11 storey building came
down in 11.5 seconds.
Workers for two property
developers used heavy
equipment to demolish a
6 m (19.7 ft) tall pyramid
at one of Peru’s oldest
archaeological sites at El
Paraiso, north of Lima
but were stopped from
demolishing a further three
similar structures. The two
companies now face criminal
proceedings as well as the
seizure of the equipment that
was used.
Gramercy Group are working
on the demolition of John F
Kennedy airport’s Terminal 3,
the former home of Pan-Am
known for its 1960s style
and saucer shaped roof now
owned by Delta Air Lines. The
cleared space will be used for
aircraft parking by Delta and
other airlines.
The NFDC has published another
in its series of
Guidance Notes
for the industry that covers
demolition attachments of all
types. Prepared by a working
party under the direction of
the Federation’s president, the
document is intended to ensure
optimum safety for all persons
using, maintaining or working
within close proximity to machine
mounted attachments. The Guide
is aimed at those working with or
having to visit or inspect demolition
and refurbishment sites where
these attachments are in use.
The document lays down
general management procedures,
training and operational
requirements and then moves
on to discuss the individual
attachment types to be found
on today’s demolition sites. Ten
specific attachment types are
covered by the Guide, from shears
through processors and breakers
to crusher buckets and quick
couplers.
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For further information, visit:
High reach
first for NFDC
The UK’s National Federation of
Demolition Contractors has taken
delivery of what is believed to be a
world first – a high reach training
simulator that was delivered
to the NFDC’s office in Hemel
Hempstead at the end of May.
The simulator has been developed
by the NFDC in conjunction
with Volvo Construction Ltd,
who supplied the cab unit, and
Swedish software supplier Oryx
Simulations.
The NFDC has purchased
two units, one of which will be
based at its Hemel Hempstead
headquarters and the second
that the Federation hopes to
take mobile. Indeed, delegates to
the World Demolition Summit
in Amsterdam at the end of
October will get a chance to take
a look at the simulator, which
will have pride of place outside
the conference room on the day.
It was also a highlight at the
DemoExpo organised jointly by
the IDE and NFDC.
According to the NFDC,
the simulator will allow for the
training of apprentices, to allow
experienced plant operators to
uprate their skill levels, test plant
skills during operator recruitment
and promote the industry as a
skilled career path.
The hardware consists of
a modified Volvo excavator
simulator that includes features
such as a boom mounted camera
and a tilting seat to create the
feeling of a real high reach
machine. The software features
the demolition of low and high
rise steel framed and concrete
structures. The operator can
select appropriate attachments
during exercises that will also
raise awareness of the structural
elements encountered during
demolition.
Operator training began
from July 1 2013, with every
training session being supported
by the UK’s leading demolition
plant CPCS testers. Dates will
be announced by the National
Demolition Training Group,
who has secured funding from
the Employers Ownership of
Skills programme working with
the CITB that will enable a 50%
contribution to the training
costs for a limited number of
candidates.
■
Pilar de la Cruz accepts
the president’s chain of
office from outgoing
EDA president
Giuseppe Panseri
AF Group makes Swedish move
Norwegian AF Group is to acquire the full shareholding of Swedish demolition
services firm Harnosand Byggreturer AB to expand its presence in that country
where AF said it aims to become the leading provider of demolition services.
Härnösand Byggreturer is a leading provider of demolition services in
Sweden, mainly operating in the Stockholm region, but has the capacity to carry
out projects throughout the country. Härnösand reported a 2012 revenue
of approximately MSEK90 (US$13.5) and the acquisition is a significant
strengthening of AF Group’s position within the Swedish demolition sector.
AF Group CEO Pål Egil Rønn said of the deal: “Through the acquisition of Härnösand Byggreturer, the
AF Group has taken a significant step towards becoming the market leader within demolition services in
Sweden. The acquisition provides a strategic opportunity and a solid foundation for continued growth."
AF Group is a leading European player within removal, demolition, environmental clean-up and
recycling of building, industrial sites and offshore installations.
