Record number of contractors turn out for Demolition San Antonio

National Demolition Association (NDA) volunteers at the Live DEMOlition event in San Antonio. (PHOTO: NDA)

Demolition San Antonio attracted almost 1,500 visitors from across North America, Europe and the rest of the world.

A total of 107 exhibitors took part in the expo, with 27 of them also taking part in the Live DEMOlition Event and collectively putting almost 50 machines on show for visitors to try out.

Over 1,000 demolition professionals attended the convention’s Live DEMOlition Event. (PHOTO: NDA)

Product launches were a big deal at the event, with Caterpillar, Volvo and Komatsu all debuting new demolition machines.

For Volvo, its new EC500 Straight Boom excavator took the spotlight, with the very first machine produced for contractor East Coast Demo, going on show for visitors at the event.

Based on the manufacturer’s standard model but custom-built with numerous heavy-duty features, the EC500 is designed primarily for demolition applications.

The excavator, which is now available for the North American market, has a 25.5 ft (7.7 m) straight boom that provides a 30% increase in pin height compared to a standard boom.

The EC500 Straight Boom excavator. (PHOTO: Volvo)

Meanwhile, both Liebherr and Caterpillar also showed off their latest straight boom excavators.

While Liebherr expert Isaac Tucker was on-hand to give visitors an up-close look at the manufacturer’s latest model, the R 938 Litrionic excavator, Jadon Kool gave an overview of the Cat 330 Straight Boom machine.

Similarly, Komastu’s product debut saw the new PC490HRD-11 demolition excavator go into action. 

The high reach excavator, which has an operating weight of between 55.2 and 73.4 t, is fitted with a six-cylinder diesel engine that provides 362 hp (270 kW) of power. 

Described as “a highly versatile machine that’s easily reconfigurable for changing work demands”, the PC490HRD-11 has been engineered to help customers achieve higher efficiency on the demolition job site.

Komatsu’s PC490HRD-11 demolition excavator. (PHOTO: NDA)

Komatsu was not alone in the field of high reaches. Kobelco also put on an impressive equipment display that included a high reach boom and the SK350 demolition excavator.

The Kobelco team at Demolition San Antonio. (PHOTO: NDA)

Attachments too were a major draw for visitors. While Link-Belt’s 30-tonne (68,400 lb) 250 X4 Heavy Duty excavator, equipped with a Rockcrusher, was available for demolition contractors to try out, Kobelco showed off its SK380SR-LC excavator with a LaBounty MSD 2250 shear.

Construction tool giants Epiroc, Engcon, Shearcore and Gensis were also out in force. 

Epiroc’s bulk pulveriser was mounted on Liebherr’s R 938 excavator and its HB 3100 Hydraulic breaker for excavators of 32 to 52 t was fitted on Sany America’s 335C LC machine.

Sany 335C LC excavator. (PHOTO: D&Ri)

Attachments from Genesis, which included shears and grapples, adorned Volvo’s eight-unit equipment line-up - the most machines put on display by a manufacturer at the expo’s Live DEMOlition Event. 

At the outdoor live showcase, the fleet comprised Volvo’s EC480e-HR, EC500-SB, EC380-SB, EC380, ECR235, EC300-SB with remote control and two EC550 models - including one straight boom version.

Volvo’s excavators at Demolition San Antonio were equipped with shears, grapples and pulverisers from Genesis. (PHOTO: NDA)

Another highlight of the Live DEMOlition Event was the Demo Operator Challenge.

Designed to simulate all the skills and talents that demolition contractors use every day, the challenge comprised a safety quiz, an equipment inspection and an operator skills course.

Speaking of the components of the Live Demo Challenge, Tim Ramon, President of demolition contractor JR Ramon and the event’s Foreman and Host, said: “Safety, precision and teamwork are not just part of our job, they’re the principles that guide us to move towards excellence. That’s what this contest was designed to do - to bring that to the forefront.”

(PHOTO: NDA)

Contractor Venditti Demolition from Austin, Texas, walked away as the grand prize winner, with Canadian company Priestly Demolition Inc and Texas-based contractor Lindamood, taking second and third place. Click here to find out more.

While over a thousand visitors attended the Live DEMOlition Event on day one of the convention, hundreds more flocked to the indoor exhibition on day two. 

Among them was the European Demolition Association’s (EDA) President, Stefano Panseri, who commented on the success of the convention.