The best on show

The evening of Thursday November 6, 2014, saw the demolition industry gather at the Krasnapolski Hotel in Amsterdam 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. In brief, 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 a direct 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.

The date and venue for next year's event is normally announced on the night, but a major move is being planned that will see the event next year confirm the truly global nature of the World Demolition Awards. Watch this space for details.