6th World Demolition Summit opens in Amsterdam

The 6th World Demolitiion Summit has opened in Amsterdam with an audience of more than 130 delegates hearing presentations on the current demolition market and important recent demolition projects.

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 any more.”

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.”

Meanwhile, Torsten Ahr, vice president of marketing hydraulic tools at Atlas Copco, said that despite positive sales figures for most hydraulic atttachments in Europe so far this year, there had been a 29% drop in sales of mobile scrap sheers in Europe. He said the drop was explained by a reduction in the price of steel.

The conference continues at the Krasnapolsky Hotel for the full day, followed by the Demolition Award ceremony and dinner in the evening.

See D&Ri magazine and online at www.khl.com for full details of the winners.