GD_RE:GENERATION_Issue 2

Welcome to this issue of RE:GENERATION, our new magazine exploring the ever evolving world of demolition.

Articles, features and profiles for next generation demolition RE:GENERATION 2.0 Issue

The future depends on what we do today.

Enabling the future

Re:Generation Edition 02

Opportunity

knocks for the climate

– and the industry

The need for all commercial properties to be EPC B compliant by 2030 presents the demolition sector with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make an outsized contribution to the efficiency of our built environment – and its impact on the climate.

Contents Opportunity knocks for the climate – and the industry Foreword by George Stainton 03

While many details still need to be ironed out, the scale of the challenge should not be underestimated. Commercial real estate contributes 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, and currently nearly all (87%) of the UK’s office stock has an EPC rating of C or below. Raising them to EPC B will supercharge the sector’s decarbonization efforts and accelerate its transition to net zero. That said, meeting the standards in just seven short years presents the sector with opportunities and challenges in equal measure. Redeveloping buildings – either by refurbishment or full demolition – will be a key element in meeting this target. General Demolition intends to be at the forefront of helping deliver it. Whether partial or full strip out, or more comprehensive demolition, we have the people, skills and expertise to deliver.

We also have four decades worth of experience in intelligent recycling. Here too the industry is evolving. In this issue of RE:GENERATION we talk to Material Index, a new partner that is bringing together estate owners, contractors, demolition companies and the reclaim sector to create a market for the sourcing and resale of secondary construction components. Reusing components for their original purpose – rather than simply recycling them – has the potential to be a paradigm shift for the industry. Elements such as doors, windows, raised floors etc. – all have the potential for a viable second life in a new location. Material Index catalogues and quantifies all the materials in a building to produce pre-demolition audits.

While this is not new, what makes this company different is that it puts a value on these materials and – crucially – helps find willing buyers for these components prior to deconstruction. With reclaim rates currently less than 2% there is scope for improvement. But just as the trend for buying second hand clothes has shifted from being perceived as an inferior option to being en-vogue today, so too will the use of second-hand construction components. These are exciting times for the sector. Decarbonising buildings can be done in a responsible and intelligent way that supports the needs of the circular economy. There is not much time to get a lot done, but General Demolition is ready to roll up its sleeves...

Elevating the game An interview with Nick Blackman Sustainable Construction the potential of low carbon concrete

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06

Office Vacancy Report: Remove, revive or repurpose

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Reusing Recyled Materials at Scale: Material Index offer their solution

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Safety on site: The role of the quick coupler

12

Volvo pioneers a sustainable future with an extensive range of electric machines

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Red Tape: Apt to trip up recycling efforts

18

Demolition throwback: The Euston Arch

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George Stainton Managing Director

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www.General-Demoliton.co.uk

Re:Generation Edition 02

Elevating the game

It made me realise this was not just a job, says Nick. “It was more like a family, but one that invests in its members, supports their personal growth and embraces their passions.”

A few years later and wanderlust took hold of the young man, and he took a sabbatical, spending a year in Australia working as a basketball coach. (He didn’t like the sport – or know the rules – at six feet six inches, he was just very tall!)

Nick Blackman Pre-Construction Director

With 22 years in the company, Nick embodies General Demolition’s core values of investing in their people and rewarding initiative. Born in leafy Hammersmith to middle class parents who worked in architecture and the oil industry, you might think that a life in demolition was not the obvious career choice for the young Nick. Thankfully, he was given the freedom to forge his own path. After completing his studies, he drifted into construction as a formworker on concreting projects, before finding his way to General Demolition.

Humble beginnings

But after the last dribble, dodge and airball was done, Blackman was keen to get home – and it was a slam dunk that General Demolition was just as keen to embrace him. “It made me realis e this was not just a job,” says Nick. “It was more like a family, but one that invests in its members, supports their personal growth and embraces their passions.” Before long Nick was Office Manager, and since then he has worked his way around the company, adding new skills with every job title change. The Financial Crisis compelled General Demolition to adopt a more holistic approach, where employees like Nick had to wear multiple hats. This cradle-to-grave involvement in projects, handling sales, project management, and commercial aspects, honed Nick’s skills and deepened his understanding of the industry. By immersing himself in all aspects of the business, Nick gained a comprehensive perspective that would later prove invaluable.

Nick wasn’t supposed to stay long – let alone more than two decades. His journey at General Demolition began as a temp, answering phones and assisting with administrative tasks. The company’s tight-knit office environment fostered a sense of camaraderie and purpose. Despite being only 18, Nick quickly realized the impact even the smallest tasks could have on the company’s success. Building a strong rapport with then boss, and current Chairman, Colin, Nick soon developed a fondness for the inclusive family atmosphere at the company and started putting down roots. It certainly wasn’t for the glamorous work surroundings, as he trudged through ankle deep mud from the grandly named ‘car park’ in the yard to his humble desk.

Reflecting on the demands of his current job – winning work – Nick smiles at the cultural changes in the sales process. Where once a charismatic salesman with good connections could win a job over a decent lunch, the industry has shifted so only meticulous documentation, analysis, and accountability will win the day now. “As the industry evolves, we must evolve with it, ” says Nick. “We prioritise a client-centric approach, understanding their requirements and providing tailored solutions. It’s about building trust through transparency and consistently delivering beyond expectations.” With more than two decades at the company under his belt, the still young 40-year-old Nick represents both the past and the future of the company. And in that the company is in safe hands. He is quick to highlight the potential of the business: as General Demolition continues to develop Nick’s deep understanding of the industry and empathetic approach to client needs will play a pivotal role in securing new projects and ensuring the company’s continued success.

General Demolition is here to disrupt the industry, to redefine what’s possible.

A key player in the next chapter, Nick envisions the company becoming a ‘Tier one’ business – one of demolition’s big guys – leading the way in innovation and diversifying into new areas within their expertise. “We don’t settle for mediocrity,” states Nick. “General Demolition is here to disrupt the industry, to redefine what’s possible. We thrive on competition, constantly pushing ourselves to excel and outshine the giants.” With two children under five, his time and energy outside of work are dedicated to family. Despite the demanding nature of his role, the joy of winning projects and the pride in his work keep him motivated and excited about the future. Nick Blackman’s two-decade journey in the demolition industry exemplifies the supportive and enduring culture of General Demolition. From his humble beginnings as an intern to his current role as Pre-Construction Director, Nick’s adaptability and dedication have made him instrumental in the company’s ongoing success.

We thrive on competition,

constantly pushing ourselves to excel and outshine the giants.”

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www.General-Demoliton.co.uk

Feature Project

Re:Generation Edition 02

Sustainable construction - the potential of low carbon concrete

Courtesy of Stiff & Trevillon

Office redevelopment writes blooming great new chapter

Low carbon concrete holds the potential to massively reduce the industry’s contribution to climate change.

The sheer scale of concrete production is astounding, with a staggering 10 trillion cubic meters of concrete manufactured every year. However, the use of standard cement in concrete production contributes to a substantial amount of climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for 8% of the world’s total CO2 emissions. It is imperative to shift towards low carbon concrete, which has the remarkable capability to reduce concrete-related carbon dioxide emissions by 50%. One effective method of emission reduction is producing cement using blast furnace ash or fly ash.

Tucked in the corner of the Borough of Camden, you’ll find Bloomsbury, the intellectual and literary capital of London. (We wouldn’t have Harry Potter without Bloomsbury Publishing.) Historical, beautiful, and oozing bookish charm, Bloomsbury is an intellectual’s playground. In fact, Bloomsbury’s actually pretty cool – so it’s no surprise that General Demolition felt right at home during work at 21 Bloomsbury Street. Located at the corner of Bloomsbury St and Bedford Ave, the building, formerly the headquarters of Sports England, underwent its own high intensity workout – with General Demolition as its own Ted Lasso head coach.

Spanning multiple floors, the restoration process began with General Demolition’s meticulous approach to skeletonizing the atrium and executing a full strip-out. This page-turner involved the painstaking removal of all fire protection from the steel ‘I’ beams throughout the entire building – a messy, time consuming and labourous opus. Once achieved, the beams were sandblasted and reprotected with the latest fire proofing material.

Get in touch for the full case study. Email: enquiries@general-demolition.co.uk

Using cement made using blast furnace ash or fly ash is the most effective way to reduce emissions from concrete production.” “

Slower strength development

The LOIKKA project

“Low-carbon concrete is by no means a new phenomenon,” says Dr Jouni Punkki, Professor of Practice in Concrete Technology at the Department of Civil Engineering at Aalto University in Espoo, Finland. “Using cement made using blast furnace ash or fly ash is the most effective way to reduce emissions from concrete production.” However, according to Punkki, concrete using blast furnace ash cement is not more popular because of its slower strength development, compared to standard concrete. In the precast industry, for example, low carbon concrete can take up to 18 hours after casting to be ready – much longer than normal.

Punkki is leading Aalto University’s contribution to the LOIKKA project. LOIKKA is a joint venture consisting of the Confederation of Finnish Concrete Industries, Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries, Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, Aalto University, and five companies, including precast concrete technology expert Elematic. The project began in March 2022 and is due to run for two years. LOIKKA’s ambitious objective is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from concrete construction in Finland by 50% .

Low carbon concrete + waste saving precast techniques One of the companies supporting the project is Finnish precast concrete technology expert Elematic. “Elematic’s customers have hundreds of factories around the world,” says Jani Eilola, Director of Floor and Acotec Technologies at Elematic. “If we can help them make the transition to low-carbon concrete, it will have a big impact on the climate.”

“With LOIKKA, we want to develop production technology in a way that maintains the current mould cycle,” says Elematic’s Eilola. “To speed up the introduction of low-carbon precast concrete elements for our customers, we are looking into alternate formulations of low-carbon concretes. Heat treatment of the concrete mix can also speed up drying and strength formation. The know-how we gain from this project can be shared with our customers around the world.”

Carbon neutrality by 2025?

Despite its current limitations Punkki estimates that low-carbon cement production volumes will overtake conventional cements globally after the end of this decade, and carbon neutrality in concrete production could be achieved as early as 2035.

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www.General-Demoliton.co.uk

Re:Generation Edition 02

current structural vacancy rate in the US 14.5%

pre-pandemic rate of vacancy 12%

Remove, revive or repurpose Office vacancy report:

The more efficient use of real estate and removal of poorly performing office buildings…

may leave the office market stronger than before the pandemic”

Small, old and in the wrong part of town

The report found that – in the most extreme cases – downtown office buildings between 100,000 to 300,000 ft 2 that were built between 1980 and 2009, were in a high crime area and had few nearby restaurants suffered the greatest occupancy loss since the start of the pandemic. These offices – which CBRE coined Hardest Hit Buildings (HHBs) – are generally undesirable to today’s tenants. Consequently, it advised that owners must improve these properties or continue to lose tenants to better quality buildings. Cities contending with lower tax revenues from falling property values and fewer downtown office workers are looking for solutions. While some are urging employers to require that workers return to the office, others plan to transform their traditional business districts into attractive mixed-use centres.

This will be achieved via incentives to convert poorly performing office buildings to other uses, such as apartments. Although conversion activity has accelerated since the pandemic, the cost of acquiring and converting buildings has limited the viability of such projects. Apart from cost, the size of office building floorplates may not be conducive to apartment conversion. The ideal floorplate, the report suggest, is 15,000 ft 2 , but found that less than a quarter (23%) of HHBs have floorplates that size. It becomes more difficult and cost-prohibitive to convert office buildings with larger floorplans to residential use. The report concluded that HHBs were likely to increase the long-term structural vacancy rate in the US to 14.5% – up from its pre-pandemic rate of 12% .

Over the next few years, it suggests, public-private partnerships will help transform cities and real estate to accommodate changes in how people live and work. The more efficient use of real estate and removal of poorly performing office buildings combined with a muted development pipeline, may leave the office market stronger than before the pandemic. But how long the market takes to rebalance could well depend on what happens to the hardest hit buildings. While this is a US report, it is clear that its findings have echoes in the UK market too. Multiple factors, not least the impact of Covid and acceleration of home working, have highlighted the vulnerabilities of less desirable offices, leading to uneconomic vacancy levels. To avoid long term zombie status, a program of remove, revive or repurpose of buildings with persistent high vacancy is just as needed in the UK as in the US.

A recent report by CBRE looked at US office buildings with the most vacancies and discovered they shared common characteristics. It concludes that action is needed to remove, revive or repurpose buildings with persistent high vacancy. Many of these characteristics are also relevant to the UK office sector.

The pandemic changed a lot of things. Three years on and much of life is easing back to being much as it was before. But one thing that really came of age – and shows few signs of declining – is the fashion for hybrid working. Not only has it made Mondays and Fridays a little less frantic, it has also created a structural shift in the office market, reducing demand for space and propelling overall vacancy rates to multi-decade highs.

This is just as true in the UK as in the US, where CBRE – the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm – recently studied post- Covid vacancy rates. It found that amid a general flight-to- quality under these tenant-favourable market conditions, it wasn’t as simple as ‘newer’ buildings doing better than ‘older’ ones. The factors behind high vacancy – which have similarities in the UK market – were more nuanced.

*With thanks to Jessica Morin, Director of US Office Research at CBRE.

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www.General-Demoliton.co.uk

Re:Generation Edition 02

Did you know that construction generates over 50% of the UK’s waste – and that the embodied carbon of replacement materials is over

Yet reclaim rates are less than 2% Material Index is a new company trying to digitize the Reclaim industry and close the loop between demolition and construction. Led by architect Morgan Lewis, engineer Rob Smith and software developer Ellis Dodwell, the company is committed to helping the construction industry become more sustainable.

Producing a detailed report on what is in the building is ‘necessary but not sufficient’ – what are clients to do with that information?” , says Morgan Lewis

14% of total UK emissions

Material Index is a new company growing the market for the reuse of construction components. But first, what gets measured gets managed.

www.material-index.co.uk

Pre-demolition audits

While the demolition industry has an established value chain for re-using some materials, finding new homes and a market for the reuse of other components – like doors, suspended ceilings, steel beams etc. – could be regarded as a further headache. Longer term, however, this is undoubtedly the direction of travel and Material Index aims to make this simple and reliable for contractors by only arranging sales to certified businesses. While values of reclaimed components are still fluid – and sometimes less than their recycling value – they will increase as the concept of reuse becomes more embedded in the sector. In order for projects to meet their embodied carbon targets, at some point legislators will step in and add teeth to the circular economy by compelling the reuse of components. Finding reuse pathways “It’s all about the logistics, ” says fellow founder Rob Smith. “We are working on a sizeable project recently and it contained a huge amount of cork – some 4,000 cubic metres. There is no ready market for this – but with a bit of work we have been able to find willing buyers.”

Just as buying second hand clothes from websites such as Vinted has become cool, so too will this become the case with second hand construction components. What is needed is a shift in the construction and property sectors’ mindsets, such that it accepts that new developments don’t have to exclusively contain new materials. In Scandinavia this is already the case, and the ‘reuse aesthetic’ is making a virtue of the fact, rather than hiding it. As this genre gets trendier (and demand with it), prices will rise accordingly. Reclaimed materials are also low carbon materials and this will further drive demand “We really want the industry to focus on reusing, looking at all possible avenues before recycling, concludes Lewis. “It’s still early days, and the construction industry is naturally conservative understandably aware of risk, so it will take time to gain momentum and gain trust. The first stage is to use a software to capture what materials buildings contain – and then use this data to make informed reuse decisions about how best to reuse them.”

The company is bringing together estate owners, contractors, demolition companies and the reclaim sector to create a market for the sourcing and resale of secondary construction components. Material Index catalogues and quantifies all the materials in a building to produce pre-demolition audits with its own software. While this is not new, what makes Material Index different is that it puts a value on these materials and – crucially – helps find willing buyers for these components prior to deconstruction. “Producing a detailed report on what is in the building is ‘necessary but not sufficient’ – what are clients to do with that information?” says Morgan Lewis. “In a typical office building there are about 200 or so key components. Of those, we think that perhaps 10% – or 20 components – currently have a decent secondary value. Once we’ve worked out what’s in the building and its potential value, our next task is to try to find buyers who will take these components, such as lighting, in bulk.”

Reusing reclaimed materials at scale

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Photos used: with permission of Materials Index

www.General-Demoliton.co.uk

Re:Generation Edition 01

Safety on site The role of the quick coupler There is no question that the quick coupler has made a significant contribution to safety on jobsites worldwide. But what else is the quick coupler capable of? Karl Serneberg, from Swedish manufacturer Steelwrist , talks about his company’s experience.

Feature Project

Film HQ strip out

we know Whodunnit

The idea of changing the work tool on an excavator in a matter of seconds - from the safety of the cab - has been a gamechanger

31 Soho Square

This architectural gem, which opened its doors on May 12th, 1938, had served as the UK headquarters for Twentieth Century Fox until 2019, when Disney acquired the company. The building has been ‘resting’ ever since. Royal London, a pensions and investments company, acquired the building from Disney, and announced its plans to demolish Century House and replace it with offices, flats, and a shopping mall in 2023. But – hold on to your seats – revised plans mean the building may survive, much like that of a Hollywood cliffhanger. General Demolition is taking the lead role when it comes to completely stripping out every nook and cranny of this nine-story beauty. Our team removed all the M&E, dealt with the villain- of-the-piece (asbestos) and removed the thick sound installation stuck to the walls in the basement screening cinema. ‘Arisings’ were removed via a combination of the building’s tiny rear courtyard and out of the front door on Soho square early in the mornings. This minimised inconvenience to stakeholders, neighbours, pedestrians and avoided interaction with the heavy daily footfall.. This all added up to a bit of a logistical cha-cha but General Demolition stuck to the script and flawlessly executed the strip out over a 12-week timeframe without putting a foot wrong. Even Singing in the Rain’s Gene Kelly would have been impressed. Picture this scene: No cameras, typewriters, popcorn machines, or directors’ chairs. Just an empty building.

What are the main areas in which quick couplers and other attachments can help increase safety on site? During the past few years, we have seen that the requirement to be able to change hydraulic powered work tools without leaving the cab is increasing. This is why the demand for fully automatic quick couplers is increasing fast. With Steelwrist SQ technology you can change between hydraulic powered work tools such as breaker, crusher, shear, grapple as well as mechanical work tools in seconds – all without leaving the cabin.

What is driving change in the manufacturing process? Manufacturing innovations? Customer requirements? Legislation? Economics?

Customers are increasingly demanding safer coupling solutions, and the demand is coming from all over the world. Then in parallel to this, legislators are raising the bar for what is considered safe. When we launched the Front Pin Lock technology in 2012, we wanted operators and ground personnel to feel safe during work tool changes, as the operator could see when the work tool is in a safe position. Thanks to that Steelwrist couplers are not sensor dependent and our solutions works equally well with all types of excavators, regardless of whether they are small, large, new, or used. Today, with thousands of couplers in the field, the result has been a higher safety level and a robust solution cast in steel.

Secondly customers want to increase the efficiency and versatility of their investment, and this drives the continuously increased demand for tiltrotators. The core of the Steelwrist product offering includes quick couplers, tilt couplers and tiltrotators that together with the control system make up the foundation for higher excavator efficiency. This then drives development of new work tools (powered work tools and non-powered work tools) that makes the excavator become a true tool carrier.

Lights, cameras, strip out! Twentieth Century House, the iconic Art Deco building located at 31 Soho Square, has been completely cleared out. A bit of a Hollywood makeover, if you will. The building has a rich history deeply intertwined with the UK film industry. The building has played a leading role in British cinema, spawning blockbusters such as The Sound of Music, Star Wars, and Chariots of Fire. And when screen goddess Marilyn Monroe visited, she had a luxurious bedroom and bathroom created exclusively for her. Designed by the prolific architect Gordon Jeeves, Century House was known for its glamorous Great Gatsby-esque interior.

An Oscar winning performance!

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www.General-Demoliton.co.uk

Get in touch for more information. Email: enquiries@general-demolition.co.uk

Re:Generation Edition 01

Feature Project

Terminating. All change please.

Bus depot

General Demolition was brought in to undertake strip out and demolition works to Belgrove House, a huge 110,000sqft industrial space in London’s busy Kings Cross. The bell had chimed for the former 1930s bus coach station. It was General Demolition’s responsibility to raze the industrial space to the ground, paving the way for an exciting new life sciences development that will further cement London’s Knowledge Quarter as one of the world’s leading locations for science and innovation. A monumental challenge in itself – did we mention it was over 110,000 sqft! - and made even more challenging given its prominent position in the Kings Cross Conservation Area. Unbridled manpower We clocked up a staggering 20,000+ hours on site during the strip out and demolition works. Work began well before boots hit the ground with an intense period of planning, including a suite of comprehensive surveys. This was followed by the installation of a perimeter scaffold and hoarding. The careful strip out of the building, alongside two adjoining retail units, was met with our usual proficiency.

With mini excavators craned onto each floor, the building came down sequentially. Particular care was taken during the works to ensure that a UK Power Networks substation in the basement could continue unmolested, and access to the King’s Cross Underground Station next to the site remained unaffected. This concrete has been laced temporarily in the basement, preventing possible ground heave derailing the two London Underground lines that run in close proximity beneath the building. Our ‘Excellent’ rating by Considerate Contractors came thanks to close collaboration with the local community. A monthly neighbourhood working group gathered in person, and decisions were communicated via regular newsletters. A few words from a neighbour... Can I say how well your team are working. The management of noise and dust seems remarkably good and bodes well for a successful project.” “

reaches its terminus

A mover and shaker

As transport hubs go, the adjoining Kings Cross and St. Pancras mainline stations take some beating. But in its day, the plucky Belgrove House opposite still had the right to be considered a mover and a shaker. Built in 1930, for years it served as Kings Cross Coach Station, ferrying arriving travellers throughout London and further afield. But even bus terminuses themselves eventually get terminated.

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Get in touch for more information. Email: enquiries@general-demolition.co.uk

Get in touch for more information. Email: enquiries@general-demolition.co.uk

Feature Project

Re:Generation Edition 02

Volvo pioneers a sustainable future

with an extensive range of electric machines

Courtesy of HKR Architects

Lovely Jubbly

industrial chic

The Trotters’ Nelson Mandela House may have disappeared but other landmark buildings are being brought back to life in Peckham – thanks to General Demolition. The South London area of SE15 is on the rise, enjoying a great sense of community, affordable accommodation, decent transport links and even a lovely park. 49-53 Glengall Road is part of this rejuvenation. Where once a 0.44 hectares complex of tired warehouse and industrial buildings stood, a new development of swish affordable housing is taking its place. This will include 170 residential apartments alongside 3,700m2 of retail and commercial space.

But as with the reimagination of that icon – Battersea Power Station – shows, there is still a place for industrial architecture in 21st Century developments. And so General Demolition’s remit included bringing down the structures – but preserving the historic front brick elevations and the 150ft brick industrial chimney. These features are being incorporated into the new design to ensure that it is in keeping with the heritage of the local area.

Get in touch for the full case study. Email: enquiries@general-demolition.co.uk

Not only are we delivering real-world solutions for a more sustainable way of working, but we are also empowering customers with a wide range of choices to suit their needs.” “ Melker Jernberg, the company’s president comments:

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is leading the charge in the transition to electric machinery, as manufacturers increasingly focus on more sustainable solutions.

All three machines feature integrated on-board chargers, allowing them to repower from 0 to 100% in less than six hours. The L20 Electric can be fully charged in under two hours, using an optional fast external charger, while the ECR18 Electric and EC18 Electric can reach up to 80% charge in just 1.25 hours. Volvo dealers are equipped to calculate the expected operating time and provide the optimal charging solution based on customers’ specific activities.

With these electric machines, customers can work in noise-sensitive areas, during off-peak hours, and on low-carbon projects. To support customers in optimizing machine performance, Volvo CE has developed the Electric Machine Management Application (EMMA). This fleet management solution enables remote monitoring of electric machines, providing valuable insights into battery levels, remaining working hours, charging status, geographic location, and more. By utilizing EMMA, customers can enhance uptime and streamline operations.

Volvo CE’s commitment to a sustainable future and its extensive range of electric machines are helping to reshape the demolition industry. With its focus on practical solutions, customer empowerment, and technological advancements, Volvo CE is driving the transition towards a greener and more efficient construction sector.

With the introduction of three new electric compact machines—the L20 Electric, EC18 Electric, and ECR18 Electric— Volvo CE now offers the industry’s largest range of electric machines, giving customers five models to choose from.

Volvo CE has set an ambitious goal to achieve net-zero value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. In alignment with the Volvo Group’s overall strategy, which aims to make at least 35% of its total vehicle range fully electric by 2030, Volvo CE is also investing in hydrogen fuel cell solutions and more environmentally friendly internal combustion engine products.

Volvo CE’s existing electric models, the L25 Electric and ECR25 Electric, have already made an impact in the market by combining power and performance with environmental sensitivity. The L20 Electric, EC18 Electric, and ECR18 Electric strengthen Volvo CE’s vow to shift its range of Volvo- branded compact wheel loaders and compact excavators to electric, and to discontinue the development of new diesel variants.

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www.General-Demoliton.co.uk

Red Tape:

Described as ‘one of the most wanton acts of destruction ever visited on a piece of Britain’s architectural heritage,’ the 1962 demolition of Euston station’s Doric arch did not go down without a fight. Designed in 1837 by Philip Hardwick, the 72-ft-high sandstone arch was an architectural triumph in a modernising London. Demolition throwback: The Euston Arch

Apt to trip up recycling efforts

The circular economy in demolition is far from being a new phenomenon – in fact recycling was often easier back in the day, believes General Demolition’s founder and chairman, Colin McLoughlin.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, said the Cistercian abbot St. Bernard in 1153. Plus Ça Change, because nearly 900 years later that phrase could just as easily be attributed to the unintended consequences of government legislation to encourage recycling. “Years ago – when there was no legislation – we recycled everything we could. Today because of rules, it seems like we could end up having to recycle things that once, we would have saved and re-used” says Colin McLoughlin, General Demolition’s founder and current chairman. “Protecting the climate wasn’t an issue we were as aware of back then. We wanted to make money by working hard and being innovative wherever we could”.

It wasn’t just metal that the young Colin recycled, but ‘everything,’ including wood and crushed concrete. And there was a thriving band of niche specialists to serve the various elements of a building – a subsector of the industry that has largely died out. “I miss the old yards that focused on particular materials,” says Colin. “Some wanted just iron, while others separated mixed metals into copper, brass, aluminum etc. Some even focused on just rags. And they all made a living from it. They’re mostly gone now – pushed out by the effects of often well-meaning legislation.” Modern legislation and licensing rules restrict who demolition companies can sell to. “I can’t just take an office chair from a strip out and sell it to anyone on the High St,” says Colin. “That would be illegal – unless that ‘anyone ’ had a waste licence. That is because my poor chair has technically ‘fallen out of the chain of utility’ – and is therefore classed as ‘waste.’

And by law you cannot move ‘waste ’ from one location to another without the requisite licence. Sadly, because of these essentially well-meaning rules, things – like my chair – get put in the skip rather than given a new lease of life. “It feels to me like we might have re-used more in the 1970’s than we do today”

The solution?

One way around this issue is to form a closer partnership with clients and partners such as Material Index. Many developers have multiple projects ongoing at any one time. So, to get the best out of re-using materials that are surplus to requirements on one strip- out or demolition project could be reused in another new build development. The need to re-use, recycle and the creation of a truly circular society will require a more holistic view of whose responsibility it is to find new homes for arisings. More re-use and recycling, less red tape. We think St. Bernard would give it his blessing.

The grandeur of the arch was emphasised to symbolise a gateway opening the London metropolis to the northern parts of the U.K. This in turn would encourage a transmission of workers and ideas to and from the capital. The Doric arch echoed the splendour and greatness of ancient Roman architecture that Hardwick had marvelled at when travelling through Italy shortly before he was commissioned to design the arch. By echoing the architectural ornamentation of ancient Rome, Hardwick’s design signalled the possibility of success offered by improved transport between the North and South.

Yet the glory of this symbolic arch was only short lived. In January 1960 the British Transport Commission served the London Council with notice of its intention to demolish Euston station. This was to facilitate what they saw as paramount plans to upgrade and electrify the main line between Euston and Scotland. These practical improvements to the railway line were deemed as more important than mere decoration. The upgrades required the demolition of the entire station and so the arch was destined to be destroyed. This decision was not met without resistance, however. In October 1961, a group of campaigners including the editor of Architectural Review went to see Harold Macmillan who was the conservative Prime Minster at the time to push back against the decision and insist on the importance of the arch and its preservation.

The group of campaigners demanded that the arch should be dismantled and then re-erected elsewhere due to its architectural and cultural significance. In two weeks, Macmillan gave his response. He told the campaigners that every avenue had been explored to preserve the arch but it sadly, would not be possible. He cited lack of funds for removal costs, lack of available land and the operational requirements of the station as the main inhibitors. The campaign to save the Euston arch had failed.

Years ago – when there was no legislation – we recycled everything we could. Today because of rules, it seems like we could end up having to recycle things that once, we would have saved and re-used” “

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