Demolition Giants

The technology of demolition has changed beyond all recognition over the past two decades.

The dust-raising ball and chain have gone, replaced by telescopic high-reach extensions to tracked machinery.

Steven Vale's programme is the first to look at the machines that undertake this work.

In Holland and the UK he has been able to film some of the largest examples in the world.

The reach of one of these massive machines is 90 metres.

No less impressive are the tools at the end of the booms, weighing up to 28 tonnes and capable of slicing through reinforced concrete and steel.

The DVD includes an insight into boom manufacturing processes afforded by a visit to Kocurek workshops.

The two interviews that comprise the Extras are particularly interesting.

First, David Coleman, managing director of Coleman and Co., gives insights into his choice of demolition machinery and why he has bought the UKs heaviest and tallest demolition machine.

David Kocurek, owner of Kocurek Excavators then describes the evolution of high-reach demolition and talks about the practical limits of the equipment and what he sees as the future engineering trends. The programme has been organised and scripted by machinery journalist Steven Vale.

The programme's director is Jonathan Theobald.