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Articles by Aaron Lloyd
Carry on regardless
The British public has officially been told to prepare for an emergency. Nobody in Whitehall is quite willing to spell out what type of emergency, mind you, only that we ought to have three days’ worth of bottled water, tinned goods, wet wipes, a torch, and a stash of cash tucked neatly bunder the mattress. Judging by the numbers, the message has landed.
The Break Fast Show #1233
In today’s show: In a whiteout, look to Liebherr; Rototilt on the rails; out on a limb in the forest; and behind the scenes at Lehnhoff. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: Carry on regardless. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up. News that matters, straight talking, proper debate, and the odd curveball to keep everyone informed and entertained.
Ignorance is a choice
On Monday and Tuesday next week, some of the most respected and revered experts in the field of asbestos will gather at Birmingham Library in the Midlands to share their expertise and experience as part of the latest Global Asbestos Forum. To the best of my knowledge, I will be the only person in attendance that has direct links to the demolition industry.
BREAKING – Brooklyn building collapse
At least two people have died and 17 others have been injured following the collapse of a three-storey building in Brooklyn, New York, adjacent to an active construction and demolition site. Emergency services were on the scene within 60 seconds of the initial 911 call, after fire crews returning from an unrelated incident encountered the collapse directly.
The Break Fast Show #1232
In today’s show: Develon’s new mini marvel; when a mini excavator just clicks; Sennebogen electrified; and XCMG’s vision of an autonomous mining future. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: Ignorance is a choice. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up. News that matters, straight talking, proper debate, and the odd curveball to keep everyone informed and entertained.
The age of collaboration
A few years ago, I was speaking to a senior executive at Volvo Construction Equipment, and they uttered a phrase that stuck with me: “Partnership is the new leadership.” In Volvo’s case, that philosophy meant collaborating with third-party technology companies to add new levels of functionality to their machinery. Today, however, that mindset is spreading through the sector like wildfire.
The Break Fast Show #1231
In today’s show: Delivering a monster Komatsu truck; the evolution of Bobcat loaders; Montabert breaker digs deep; and this is DigBits. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: The age of collaboration. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up. News that matters, straight talking, proper debate, and the odd curveball to keep everyone informed and entertained.
The industry’s own mental health issues
Every conversation regarding the state of mental health in demolition and construction begins and ends with the workforce, particularly the male portion of that workforce. The statistics are recited like a grim ritual: a suicide rate roughly four times the national average, a culture of silence, and a reliant workforce grappling with anxiety, depression, and addiction.
The Break Fast Show #1230
In today’s show: Checking out the JCB rough terrain forklifts; the Kemroc success story; copper load of these monster mining machines’ and this is Wirtgen. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: The commercial insanity fuelling the industry’s mental health crisis. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
Here we go again…
This is not our first rodeo. We have seen this play out before, and we all know the playbook and the protocol. Following the news on Friday that equipment dealer Molson Group had filed for administration, the usual aftershocks will follow.
The Break Fast Show #1229
In today’s show: Trialling battery electric mine haulers Down Under; moving 15,000 yards of material a day; this is Merlo; and you’re never too old. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: Here we go again. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up. News that matters, straight talking, proper debate, and the odd curveball to keep everyone informed and entertained.
Eastern Demolition in voluntary liquidation
Norfolk demolition contractor Eastern Demolition Limited has entered voluntary liquidation following a creditors meeting on Monday. The Starston-based business, controlled by director Andrew Read, formally closed on 2 November. A statement published by K2 Partners reads: Eastern Demolition Limited (company no. 13056461) went into creditors’ voluntary liquidation, according to a Resolution for winding up (CVL) notice published in The London Gazette on 06 November 2026.
Multi-stage demolition
Chilean contractor Minera y Constructora Río Grande completed the multi-stage demolition of 240 flats across 18 residential blocks at the Baltazar Castro housing estate in Rancagua. The award, confirmed by regional housing authority SERVIU O’Higgins on 4 November 2026, required total site clearance in central Chile within a 75-day contract period following formal handover.
When the industry was brought to book
If you spent any time on a site between the 1990s and the turn of the century, you will surely remember the massive book wedged behind the seat of a dozer, resting on the site manager’s desk, or placed with reverence on a shelf in the MD’s office. It was the Caterpillar Performance Handbook. First launched in 1970, it started life as a modest reference text.
The Break Fast Show #1228
In today’s show: Manitou unveils its latest rough terrain forklifts; Suncor reveals the first Komatsu PC9000; the Collection; and the mower to end all mowers. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: When the industry was brought to book. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
The Break Fast Show #1227
In today’s show: We get up close with the latest CASE dozers; a Next Generation Cat D9 gets a protective hat; Volvo rolls out a new compactor; and why does a plumber need a Komatsu mini excavator? And in place of today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue:, I’d like to pick your brains. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
I know this much is Tru
ScottishPower Renewables has awarded the design and build contract for its new East Anglia offshore windfarm base to local construction company, R G Carter – taking the green energy company’s investment in the regional supply chain over the £100 million mark for the first time. The investment milestone comes as demolition works – being carried out by Ipswich-based Tru Demolition – get underway at the former RJ Pryce site on Trinity Road in Lowestoft, which will become home to the new facility.
Asbestos Regs about to change
HSE mandates independent clearance checks in major overhaul of Asbestos Regulations. The Health and Safety Executive has published its formal response to the consultation on legislative and guidance proposals for the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012). The outcome introduces statutory amendments aimed at closing widespread commercial loopholes and raising safety standards across the UK demolition and refurbishment sectors.
The Lost Art of Saying No
When the British government announced the deployment of US nuclear cruise missiles on UK soil in the early 1980s, a group of women set up camp at Greenham Common airbase. That protest endured for nearly two decades, an unyielding monument to public opposition. When the Community Charge – better known as the Poll Tax – was proposed in 1989, it triggered a groundswell of public outrage.
The Break Fast Show #1226
In today’s show: Mecalac unveils its latest site dumper; Komatsu autonomous haulage system makes a human-free mining dream a reality; Cat Vision Link turns data into action; and Liebherr goes full power ahead. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: The Lost Art of Saying No. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
Another Budget, Another Landfill Tax Hike
In life, there are two certainties: Death and Taxes. In the world of UK Budget announcements, there are now four: Increases in duty on alcohol, tobacco and fuel; and a hike in Landfill Tax costs. Under measures confirmed in the latest Budget from Chancellor John Healey (pictured aove), the lower rate of Landfill Tax in England and Northern Ireland, applying to qualifying inert materials like concrete, brick, subsoil, and crushed aggregate, will jump by nearly 69% from 1 April 2027.
When the Wrecking Ball hits the Carbon Wall
If you manage a demolition firm, climate reporting might sound like bureaucrat-speak designed purely for accountants. But the newly-published National Audit Office (NAO) report – Government’s climate risk: insights from 2025-26 disclosures – pulls back the curtain on a structural shift that will directly reshape what and how we tear down, retrofit, and rebuild infrastructure across the UK.
You can check out any time you like…
There was a time when plant manufacturers just bent and bashed metal. They were one step removed from blacksmiths, taking raw British steel and forging it into something useful. Think of the original Mr Bamford back in his Uttoxeter garage, when those three famous letters were merely his initials rather than the name of a global brand. The objective was straightforward: build a machine that took the back-breaking graft out of heavy work.
The Break Fast Show #1225
In today’s show: Putting the new Komatsu HM460-6 ADT through its paces; a true Swiss army knife of roadbuilding; how to achieve seamless compaction; and Leica, and the importance of bucket calibration. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
Braced for Redundancy Surge
With Halloween over for another year, the countdown to Christmas has officially begun. The plastic witches’ hats and pumpkin lanterns are swiftly being replaced in shop windows with Santa costumes and tinsel. Children gaze, wide-eyed with wonder, at the festive displays, while stressed parents desperately track down this year’s must-have toy while figuring out how to stretch a budget already battered by the cost of living crisis.
The Break Fast Show #1224
In today’s show: Massive Cat 995 wheel loader goes to work; John Deere is on a roll; Husqvarna unveils its latest demolition robot; and inside one of the largest Cat dealer laboratories in the world. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: Industry braces for a tsunami of pre-Christmas redundancies. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
Struggling to the Start Line
When the general public pictures a construction or demolition project, their eyes skip straight to the finale. They picture the dramatic implosion of a tower block, the neatly painted plasterboard of a new house, or the moment the local mayor cuts the ribbon to declare a new hospital wing open. To the average onlooker, the story begins when the excavator takes its first bite and ends when the keys are handed over.
The Break Fast Show #1223
In today’s show: Avant celebrates its 35th anniversary with a stunning Limited Edition loader; building America with John Deere; Cat D11 versus the Cat D11XE – Which model wins? and Komatsu looks to a lunar future. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: Struggling to the start line. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
40 Years Visiting JCB
DemolitionNews founder and editor Mark Anthony reflects on nearly 40 years of visiting JCB World Headquarters. He recalla witnessing JCB’s early moves into mini excavators, access, compaction, and site dumpers, the JS series transition to X series excavators, and the unveiling of machines like the Hydradig, and Pothole Pro.
Designed to Fail
The ancient Egyptians erected the Pyramids of Giza to endure for millennia. The Greeks constructed the Parthenon to stand across centuries. The Chinese built the Great Wall to stretch over thousands of miles and outlast entire dynasties. Closer to home, Sir Christopher Wren designed London’s St Paul’s Cathedral with a grandeur intended to define the capital’s skyline permanently.
The Break Fast Show #1121
In today’s show: John Deere – Built to Last; on the road with Takeuchi; improving safety with Cat Vision Link; and 40 years of visiting JCB. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: Designed to Fail. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up. News that matters, straight talking, proper debate, and the odd curveball to keep everyone informed and entertained.
Misplaced Priorities
Just how screwed up are our priorities, as a nation and as an industry? Ministers parade before television cameras to announce a clampdown on commuters playing music on mobile phones without headphones. Meanwhile, the structural pillars of the country are cracking beneath their feet.
The Break Fast Show #1220
In today’s show: Volvo’s new J-Series haulers put safety first; the JCB origin story; how, despite everything, HS2 is shaping investment in Birmingham; and Cat Grade Technology drives growth. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: Misplaced Priorities. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
So you think you own your machine..?
When you buy a piece of heavy equipment today, you might assume that paying the invoice transfers total ownership. You sign the finance agreement, take delivery of the machine, and watch it roll onto site. But the reality of modern manufacturing means that what you have actually bought is a sophisticated assembly of hardware, while the digital brain that makes it function remains – at least in part – the property of someone else.
The Break Fast Show #1219
In today’s show: We get the low-down on Bobcat’s latest wheel loaders; meet the sexy Hitachis; Gehl unveils its stand-on tracked loader; and grader control simplified. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: So you think you own your machine..? Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
The Need for a New Breed of Leaders
For centuries, national leadership has been defined by a narrow set of priorities. Prime ministers, presidents, and monarchs built their reputations on military strength, territorial expansion, diplomatic manoeuvring, and economic growth. The systems created to select these leaders were designed specifically to reward those who excelled in these areas. Societies routinely chose individuals who could navigate conflict, outsmart foreign rivals, and drive financial expansion at all costs.
The Break Fast Show #1218
In today’s show: SiteWorx enbraces Steelwrist versatility; Liebherr dozer makes Shorts work; Wimmer says it’s time to split; and meet Friendly Fred and his Komatsu. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: I will be shooting from the hip on yesterday’s screening of the People’s Emergency Screening in London. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
Construction Jobs Plan…
…and what it means for UK demolition contractors. The UK Government has released its Construction Jobs Plan, setting out a national framework to overhaul workforce recruitment, upskilling, and competence across the built environment. Published by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, the strategy establishes an ambitious target to deliver 100,000 job opportunities annually by the end of this Parliament.
The Masterplan - Demolition News
The trail of evidence has been visible for decades, though most of us in the industry were too busy managing our daily tasks to notice how the pieces connected. We treated each new policy and each shift in recruitment strategy as an isolated inconvenience; a minor speed bump or a well-intentioned, if clumsy, attempt at modernising the sector. Yet, when you look back at every development on a single timeline, a distinct pattern emerges. It began in the secondary schools.
The Break Fast Show #1217
In today’s show: Which of the new Volvo excavators best suits your application? Myers Group welcomes its new Hitachi machine to site; SYB opts for Volvo power; and Takeuchi goes offset. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: The Masterplan – How the demolition and construction industry is quietly engineering a reduction in its workforce. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
Defined by Demolition
You can scrub them with Swarfega, wire wool, or every industrial-strength soap on the market. It makes no difference. The dirt from a demolition or construction site does not sit on your hands; it moves in and claims squatter’s rights. The grime resides in the deep micro-fractures of your palms, etched into your fingerprints like a permanent map of past contracts. Your hands are less like human appendages and more like bear paws.
Didcot – Far From Over
For almost eleven years, four families have lived in a quiet, frustrating, exhausting state of limbo. On 23 February 2016, the boiler house at Didcot A Power Station collapsed prematurely during preparatory work for a controlled demolition. Michael Collings, Christopher Huxtable, Ken Cresswell, and John Shaw lost their lives beneath more than twenty thousand tonnes of twisted steel and concrete. Since that afternoon, hope has been the single thread binding those families together.
The Break Fast Show #1216
In today’s show: Taking a closer look at the Kobelco SK850 excavator; moving a 100 tonne excavator across country; Caterpillar celebrates 50 years of underground mining excellence; and XCMG’ new mini marvel. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: Defined by Demolition and Construction. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
A bad week at Fiddler’s Ferry
Emergency services were called to the former Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station yesterday afternoon after a fire broke out inside a large industrial unit at the site. Nine fire engines alongside specialist apparatus responded to the scene on Widnes Road in Cuerdley. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the blaze appeared to be contained within a chimney area and industrial hopper, with all personnel on site safely evacuated and accounted for without injury.
The difference between friends and colleagues
Step onto any job site at seven in the morning, and you will find yourself among people you did not choose. They were brought together by subcontractors, site managers, recruitment agencies, and the steady churn of industry turnover. Yet for eight, nine, or ten hours a day, these are the people who inhabit your world. For the duration of this project, you will spend more time with them than you do with your family and your loved ones.
When demolition is a dirty secret
Earlier this week, I watched a public briefing on climate change called the People’s Emergency Briefing. I sat in the dark and watched the evidence unfold, and by the end of it, I felt a cold sickness settle in the pit of my stomach. It made for deeply sobering and worrying viewing. More than that, it made me feel profoundly uncomfortable about an industry I love. An industry that, even though I sit on its periphery, I have proudly called my home for the past forty years.
The Break Fast Show #1215
In today’s show: Volvo unveils the new L30 and L35 wheel loaders; engcon puts a different spin on things; Shantui unleashes its new high horsepower dozer; Volvo keeps on trucking. In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: The difference between friends and colleagues. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
Three million silent experts
Every morning across the UK, roughly three million men and women step onto demolition and construction sites. They put on high-vis vests, lace up safety boots, pull on hard hats, and get to work on the front line of Britain’s built environment. These are the individuals who understand precisely how this industry functions.
The Break Fast Show #1214
In today’s show: Huddig prepares to unleash the Tigon; taking to the skies with Liebherr; live, learn and laugh in the forest; and you’ve heard of a bull in a china shop, but what about a Cat in a glass shop? In today’s episode of Mark’s Morning Monologue: Three million silent experts. Kick off your morning with The Break Fast Show. Live at 10am GMT, every weekday, it’s the place where the demolition and construction world wakes up.
Talking to Ourselves
Every autumn, sports broadcasters across the Atlantic whip themselves into a frenzy over the Baseball World Series. For those unacquainted with American sports culture, it is worth explaining how this works. The World Series is the pinnacle of Major League Baseball. It features the absolute best teams watched by millions of captivated viewers. There is just one small catch. Aside from one solitary team from Canada, every single team taking part is based in the United States.
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