While early arrivals took part in NDA meetings and certification training sessions, Demolition New Orleans truly got underway on the Thursday with the always popular ‘Live DEMOlition’ event, held at a local sports park. This showcased operating machinery from more than 20 manufacturers, headlined by prime sponsor Liebherr’s R 938, R 934, and R 945 crawler excavators, and LH 22 M material handler.  Other equipment included Kobelco’s SK350DLC-11 demolition and SK260DLC-11 scrap machines; Sennebogen’s 835E ‘Vario Tool’ and 830E demolition machine; LaBounty’s MSD1500R mobile shear; and Komatsu’s PC 490 and 360 large excavators paired with Montabert products. The latter included the HCM650 and HCM800 multiprocessors, HCG32-1200 grapple, and HTL V6 hammer.

MB featured its BF120.4 bucket crusher and G1200 S4 sorting grapple, while Steelwrist’s SQ70 quick coupler made easy transitions between an NPK GHD10 hammer and Genesis GCP 410 concrete processor. Brokk’s remote controlled demolition robots were complemented with the new collection of complementary Firstgreen and Ecovolve products now being distributed by the company’s North American arm, while HKD Blue displayed its 400 GT and JM40 dust suppression units. One of the more unique demolition technologies was demonstrated by Petram, developers of a high power electrical pulse rock breaking system. Originally created to support lunar exploration, the company says that its technology all but eliminates noise, dust, and vibration at half the cost of traditional rock breaking methods.

Live DEMOlition also featured a challenge to test operators’ skill and knowledge using a Liebherr R 938 crawler excavator, Epiroc HB 2500 hydraulic breaker and CC3100 U concrete cutter, AMI bucket attachment, and OilQuick OQ80 automatic quick coupler. Nearly 30 contestants raced the clock to deftly demonstrate hydraulic hammer precision and proper quick coupler operation, complete five open/close cycles on materials, and have a bit of fun by using the machines to attempt basketball shots. Lance Matheson of Sage Demolition of Layton, Utah, won the event in a time of just over two minutes.

Sights and sounds

Opportunities for more in-depth discussions about demolition oriented products and services were available at the Expo Hall, which featured 94 exhibitors, including PDa and PDi magazines. Taking centre stage was Volvo’s debut of a straight boom option for its 1.8t EC 18 battery electric compact excavator. Available this coming summer, the straight boom option offers a 396cm working height, with bucket, and can be equipped with a range of attachments weighing up to 204kg. Other familiar names around the exhibit hall not already mentioned included DRKhorse, Laurini, Caterpillar, Mecalac, Kinshofer, Sandvik, Okada America and UB Equipment. 

The consensus among manufacturers regarding the outlook for the U.S. demolition market was generally positive, albeit overshadowed by uncertainty over the economic impact of tariffs being levied on both commodities and specialised parts. “There is a sense of concern over what will happen over the next six months,” incoming NDA president Ben Hayden, vice president of Hayden Wrecking Corp., Washington Park, Ill. commented. He added that NDA’s recently completed strategic plan - focused on safety, workforce, and membership - will help the industry whatever unfolds.

Tariffs were also the topic of one of several educational sessions held in the Expo Hall, with Jim Graham, executive vice president of Winter Environmental, Inc., Atlanta, warning that nobody at this point can say with confidence what will happen until the tariffs are in place and markets react. “It goes back to the supply/demand dynamic we learned about in high school,” he said, referring to the tariffs’ potential effects on new and scrap metal. He added that while new costs may be priced into the materials for consumers, sustaining those levels depend on domestic productivity capacity and ability to absorb it.

Another education session covered how cutting edge technologies will transform the demolition industry. Many are already finding wide use, from data gathering systems and project management software to built-in real time diagnostics to help coach new operators on the job. Alex Berg, founder and CEO of electric vehicle provider Cratos noted that while many interesting approaches are being talked about, the challenge is implementing them, and even then, it takes time for infrastructure to catch up. 

The problems organisations face with change and how to overcome was discussed. One audience member described how his firm’s supervisors were more than just a little reluctant to adopt tablets for managing jobsites. After a training and orientation period he described as ‘a tough two weeks’, however, the supervisors were won over. Technology is but one facet that Ben Hayden says helps set demolition apart from other construction related segments. “Our contractors can be more creative in what they do.” Rather than having to build projects to certain specifications, he explained, each project challenges them to figure out the safest and most efficient way to handle a specific project. 

Breaks from the action

Throughout the extended weekend, NDA ensured that there was plenty of New Orleans hospitality, including mini golf, go karting, and cornhole tournaments that doubled as fundraisers for NDA scholarships, to the Friday night ‘Big Easy Bash’ at the Crescent City Brewing, (co-sponsored by ShearCore, OilQuick Americas, and Sennebogen). Attendees were also inspired by breakfast keynote speaker Derek Gaunt, a former police officer who now applies his skills as a hostage negotiator to help others foster better communication and understanding, particularly in crisis situations.  

Next year’s NDA convention and expo is scheduled for Phoenix in early February, sandwiched between the triennial Las Vegas doubleheader of World of Concrete and Conexpo/ConAgg, which could potentially present a bit of a scheduling challenge for both exhibitors and attendees. The organisers however are confident of attracting participants.