Five first-time winners at Demolition Awards

The 2016 World Demolition Awards saw 11 companies from the Americas, Europe and Australia sharing the honours, with Canada’s Priestly Demolition landing the coveted World Demolition Award for its work on the demolition of the Nipigon River Bridge on Lake Superior.

The winners were announced in Miami on 14 October during the eighth World Demolition Summit, the first time the event has been held in the USA. The Summit is organised by KHL Group and Demolition & Recycling International magazine.

There were five first-time winners including Priestly Demolition from Canada, McMahon Services Australia, UK company Hughes and Salvidge, Ireland’s Remoquip and Kiewit/Manson from the US in the collaboration category.

The winners in each category, and comments from the judges, were:

Civils Demolition Award

Winner: Priestly Demolition

For the demolition of the Nipigon River bridge on Lake Superior.

The judges said: “Priestly showed outstanding innovation in rolling the bridge out, and successfully completed the job despite terrible weather.”

Industrial Demolition Award

Winner: McMahon Services Australia

For the demolition of bulk handling and other heavy equipment at the North Yard of Nelson Point iron ore facility in Western Australia.

The judges said: “This was a great project, incorporating the demolition of conveyors with linear shape charges.”

Urban Demolition Award

Winner: Despe

For removing cinemas, theatres and shops at the Sporting d’Hiver development in Monte Carlo, France.

The judges said: “Complex urban contracts require great management skills and the ability to work within tight site boundaries. The winner demonstrated the ability to use a number of techniques to complete the project safely and on programme.”

Explosive Demolition Award

Winner: Fábio Bruno Construções.

For the demolition and implosion of the seven-storey Hospital Oliverio Kraemer in the middle of Rio de Janeiro.

The judges said: “A challenging project undertaken next to an occupied hospital. One word sums it up: brilliant!”

Safety & Training Award

Winner: AR Demolition

The judges said: “All the shortlisted entries were strong, but the winners stood out. They showed a desire to review training regularly to ensure that all employees realise their full potential in a well-run team.”

Recycling & Environmental

Winner: Hughes and Salvidge

For maximising recycling and minimising the environmental impact of a major decommissioning project for Versalis in the south of England.

The judges said: “Recycling and environmental protection are a must on all demolition projects in 2016, but the winners demonstrated how performance measurement can ensure full client satisfaction and environmental management.”

Innovation Award – Plant & Equipment

Winner: Liebherr Group

For the R 960 and R950 high-reach demolition excavators, which can carry tools weighing up to 3.5 tonnes.

The judges said: “The winning entry is a great demonstration of how listening to customer feedback can lead to continuous improvement on existing products.”

Innovation Award – Tools & Attachments

Winner: Remoquip

For its remote control interface module for the operation of excavators, loaders and bulldozers.

The judges said: “A long development process coupled to extensive testing resulted in a product that will change the thinking in the demolition industry.”

Contract Of the Year Under US$1 Million

Winner: Liberty Industrial

For removing a 229 ft bridge over the Duck River at the former Clyde Refinery near Sydney.

The judges’ comments on this winning project were: “The winner demonstrated how a difficult demolition could be achieved in a very tight time scale by meticulous planning and execution.”

Contract of the Year over US$1.0 million

Winner: Keltbray

The demolition of the enormous Earl’s Court exhibition centres in London.

The judges said: “Complex large contracts require planning at all levels and all types when major structures need to be demolished. Keltbray showed they could do the job safely, on time and to budget, and with little or no disruption to surrounding infrastructure.”

Collaboration Award

Winner: Kiewit/Manson, the California Department of Transportation, COWI, ESA and Ventura Consulting

For a major foundation removal on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge East Span.

The judges said: “A demanding project, including underwater demolition with the use of bubbles to absorb shock. Another brilliant project.”

2016 World Demolition Award

Winner: Priestly Demolition

For its work on the demolition of the Nipigon River bridge on Lake Superior.

The judges said, quite simply; “outstanding innovation - Priestley deserves this year’s ‘best of the best’.”

More news on the Summit and Awards will appear in the November-December issue of Demolitiion & Recycling International.

The judges for the awards were:

• Henrik Bonnesen, COWI, Denmark
• Dan Costello, Costello Dismantling Company, USA
• Pilar de la Cruz, EDA past president, Spain
• Clinton Dick, Liberty Industrial, Australia
• Patrick Frye, Cardem, France
• Bill Moore, ERM, USA
• William Sinclair, Safedem, United Kingdom
• John Woodward, C&D Consultancy, United Kingdom

The headline sponsor for the World Demolition Summit is Volvo Construction Equipment. Silver sponsor is OilQuick, and bronze sponsors are Arden, Caterpillar, Genesis, Jewell, Kinshofer, LaBounty, Lehnhoff, McCloskey and Rotar.

Next year the awards will return to Europe, on 2 November, in London, UK.