Three’s company for top 100 demolition company Dem-Master

Dem-Master Demolition Ltd recently took delivery of a new QJ341 tracked jaw crusher from Sandvik Mobile Crushers and Screens. The Scottish company, based in Bathgate, recently named just outside the top 50 of the world’s leading 100 demolition and recycling companies, will use the crusher alongside two other QJ341’s on a variety of demolition and recycling projects throughout the UK...

Strategic and innovative investment in personnel, plant and machinery have all been key factors to the success of Dem-Master Demolition Ltd, factors which have all led to it being placed just outside the top 100 leading Demolition & Recycling companies. Its success comes from being leaders in investment and the use of innovative demolition technology, such as the QJ341 from Sandvik. “We are really proud to have made the top 100 D&R Companies as it reflects the all-round service delivery approach we deliver for our clients throughout Scotland and across the UK. Dem-Master has the knowledge and experience which has allowed us to work on high profile projects, and secure future work through successful partnership and framework agreements,” says company managing director Richard McCulloch.

“Dem-Master is proud to offer a unique, quality assured and professional contract solutions including exceptional health, safety and environmental performance along with supplying added value to clients and local communities. From initial budget costing through to final project completion, Dem-Master delivers first class communication and client satisfaction with great results, and making the list (of leading demolition and recycling companies) is tangible recognition of the fact.”

Dem-Master, as well as its Sandvik crushers, own, operate and maintain an extensive range of modern and specialist demolition plant and transport. This has seen the company continuously looking for more innovative and modern ways of improving and developing its services, and is now considered to be the owners of the most advanced ultra-high reach machinery and equipment within the demolition industry. This, along with other things, makes Dem-Master fully equipped for the mechanical demolition of extensive heavy industrial sites, multi-storey residential blocks and schools, as well as complex city centre developments.

“It has long been my belief that machine demolition would provide the safest, most efficient and economic method of demolition,” says Richard. “Reducing health and safety risks, increasing control in programmes and producing less resident disruption, means that machine demolition allow a much more controlled and safer approach to demolition.” This has resulted in Dem-Master having an extensive range of plant and equipment resources available for use on major contracts to continue with bulk reduced level excavation, and removal off-site of surplus material following completion of the demolition works.  This gives Dem-Master a substantial degree of flexibility and continuity on-site with significant cost benefits being passed on to its clients.

Recycling masters
Dem-Master has long recognised the importance of doing its bit for the environment.  Dem-Master has a 22 acre licenced waste facility based at its head office in Bathgate, which offers total waste solutions to make waste recycling and management easy and affordable.  Whether it’s skip hire, site clearance, tipper hire, Dem-Master’s sister company, Total Recycling Scotland, can provide industrial, commercial and residential waste solutions providing the best possible cost saving solutions and services.  “Our industry leading 98% recycling rate, and no hidden cost policy, means we can divert waste from landfill, which in return means no landfill tax charges to our clients,” says Richard proudly.

“Our goal is to provide low cost, environmentally friendly and reliable waste recycling and management solutions. We are fully committed to adhering to the principles of the circular economy throughout our waste management services.” In addition to its waste facility, Dem-Master also has strategically placed facilities in Edinburgh and Glasgow, which means less mileage and fuel consumption when handling waste to and from city based projects, delivering increased productivity and a reduced carbon footprint. Richard explains: “We recycle 100% of metal, timber and inert demolition materials from our projects, and up to a further 94%-98% of mixed materials, thereby reducing the amount of waste. In addition to reducing the amount of waste going to landfill, as this material remains on site for reuse, there is no need for transportation, which reduces carbon footprint and promotes a more sustainable society.”

A crushing need for material processing
Along with crushing and recycling at its facility at its head office, Dem-Master also has the facility to crush on site. This means recycled aggregates are available for collection or delivery from more locations across Scotland. The on-site crushing service is a very economic method of recycling various products during the demolition and bulk excavation stages of many projects.  “Site waste can be significantly reduced, with the client obtaining further cost savings on imported hardcore. We can also offer and supply recycled hardcore to contractors and construction companies.”

Highlighting the importance of highly mobile and effective crushing on site, and its recycling facilities, Dem-Master recently took delivery of a brand new QJ341 tracked jaw crusher from Sandvik Mobile Crushers and Screens. This highly productive, yet easily transportable piece of equipment has joined two other QJ341’s, in this case, being immediately put to work demolishing the former Glasgow Police Headquarters in Glasgow city centre. “We’ve been buying Extec / Sandvik tracked jaw crushers since the launch of the Megabite in 98 or 99,” explains Richard as to his choice of the Sandvik crusher. “It’s tried and tested technology and ideal for demolition work.  We know them inside out, they’ve got the ‘gap’ which is ideal for demolition, and as we know them so well we can support them in the field. Also Sandvik machines have high residual values, and although not the cheapest we could have bought, certainly the best value.”

The new QJ341, along with the two other crushers, has been acquired to process demolition materials from various projects. All three crushers are proving their worth dealing with in the region of a thousand tons per day of C&D waste each, which is then recycled. “We’ve got all sorts of material coming in, and we are producing a 6F2 product for infill and resale.  We are hoping at some stage to wash the material and get it secondary crushed through a cone or impactor at our recycling yard. The problem is, if you can call it a problem, is that all our Sandvik crushers are out on site, working flat out,” says Richard.

Long term partnership
Richard and Dem-Master have been dealing with Sandvik (or Extec as it was until being acquired by Sandvik in 2007) since the launch of the Megabite tracked jaw crusher.  This has been continuously updated with the QJ341 being the latest in a long line of highly successful crushers. The latest version, with a CAT fixed speed engine (no need for Adblue), and the one chosen by Richard, now benefits from some of Sandvik’s latest developments. In this case, one of the most noteworthy developments is with regards to the crushing process, with a new jaw plate that helps achieve optimum performance from the crushing chamber: Optitooth™. These new jaw plates have been designed for a higher percentage of the jaw to be utilized, resulting in longer wear life and less manganese waste. The innovative design enables better breakage and a faster distribution of fines through the crushing chamber which results in lower engine loading, and consequently, a reduction in fuel consumption.

Available for the Sandvik Premium range and Extec jaw crushers (QJ240, QJ241, C10, C10+, QJ340, QJ341, C12 and C12+), Optitooth™ has been proven to last up to 30% longer, and be up to 20% more productive. Other benefits include reduced fuel consumption through lower engine loading, the improved design reduces manganese spread enabling easier jaw plate removal, provides superior breakage and improved material flow to provide a better shaped product.

It’s not just the QJ341 that has impressed Richard McCulloch however: “It was a pleasure dealing with John (Ingram, Sandvik’s area sales manager). He is a direct straight sort of guy; the type of person I like dealing with. I was offered another crusher from a competitor of Sandvik’s which was a lot cheaper, and they were desperate for the deal. But I knew John was the sought of person I can work with.” Richard however does not have that much experience of other parts of Sandvik fortunately, “As to Sandvik’s support, I am not sure how good it is as I never need them!  The crushers never seem to break down.”