Patrick Frye, Works Manager of CARDEM

• What is your role in Cardem?

Cardem is a demolition company, a subsidiary of Eurovia. Some €48 million in turnover was generated by a staff of 275 in 2010. This year, turnover will be €68 million. I am responsible for major construction work that is noteworthy in terms of volume, turnover and technical aspects.

• How has your role changed?

Today, demolition is, above all, an environmental and waste management issue. Today, demolition per se takes up only 20% of the duration of a site. Preparation and safety measures are required beforehand. Sorting is necessary, before and after, and evacuation of waste, which has to be recycled as far as possible so as to minimise the amount of materials going to landfill. The reasons are legal in the case of certain materials, and economic in the case of the construction site.

• What does this mean in terms of equipment?

The hydraulic excavator now carries its own high-performing and versatile equipment: pliers, concrete scissors, sorting grapples. Some tools are for demolishing, others for preparing materials.  Concrete is more and more frequently mixed on site with aggregate from mobile on-site crushers. And metal structures are cut up.

• Do manufacturers provide satisfactory equipment?

Yes, but there will be developments. In the future, machinery will not necessarily attain greater heights but carry heavier equipment (5, 10, 15t/30-40 m) with a higher weight:power ratio. Video usage will develop, not only for the purpose of viewing the work performed (with a cradle-borne camera, for example) but also to keep an eye on the surroundings with safety rear-view and blind-spot camera systems, for example.

• What does your inventory comprise?

Our inventory includes 45 hydraulic excavators ranging between 25 and 150 tons, and 120 demolition tools. We also have 15 lorries totalling 26,000hp!

How do you select your equipment?

For shovels, Liebherr is a longstanding partner. Thanks to Liebherr, we have changed. But thanks to us, they have changed a lot too. Our largest machine is a 974 model, with a 984 chassis. We have developed cabins, including straight and deformable cabin protection. For tooling, we have several suppliers. Our latest acquisition is a LaBounty metal shear with 2,000 tons of cutting force.

• How do you get to know about new products?

We keep a watch by holding discussions and reading magazines. And also by visiting trade fairs and exhibitions.

• What do you expect from your visit to INTERMAT?

We will be able to discover the equipment of the future at this exhibition. I also like to look out for small devices that do not necessarily stand out in our daily practice: production equipment such as pneumatic picks and small grapples; and safety equipment such as lifelines, safety nets, and anything connected with access.

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