World Demolition Awards winners announced in Nashville

The 2025 winners celebrate in Nashville

Organised by Demolition & Recycling International and KHL Group, the event recognised excellence across 12 award categories, culminating in the prestigious ‘Best of the Best’ World Demolition Award, which went to DDM Demontage of Germany for its dismantling of the original Rheinbrücke Neuenkamp bridge.

The judges described the project as “very complex, with imaginative engineering solutions, technically difficult planning, and well executed,” highlighting it as a standout example of engineering excellence and precision execution.

Elswehere, Despe took home three awards, while UK-based Total Controlled Demolition Services won the Contract of the Year (under US$1 million) categiry.

Contract of the Year (under US$1 million)

WINNER: Total Controlled Demolition Services (UK) – Heaps Rice Mill, Liverpool Total Controlled Demolition took home the first award of the evening for its internal deconstruction works at the historic 18th century Heaps Rice Mill in Liverpool. The company said it was “a true honour to be recognised by its peers” and expressed immense pride in the achievement.

Shortlisted:

• Delsan-AIM (Canada) – Hydro-Quebec Atwater Substation, Montreal
• Haywood Crushing Demolition (UK) – Brackla1 Car Park, Bridgend
• Romeo Demolition and Excavation (Canada) – 180 King Street South, Waterloo
• Trifecta Services (US) – CLT Air Traffic Control Tower

Safety and Training Award

WINNER: Despe (Italy) – U-1100 Unit, MOTOR OIL HELLAS Refinery, Corinth Despe was recognised for its exceptional safety planning and communications between stakeholders on its refinery dismantling project. Shortlisted:

• Flesan (Chile) – Active Turkey Processing Plant, La Calera
• Trifecta Services (US) – BMW Manufacturing Campus, South Carolina

Urban Demolition Award

WINNER: Milburn Demolition (US) – Thompson Center Redevelopment, Chicago Milburn’s project “hit all the marks”, said the judges, who praised the company’s handling of complex urban constraints.

Shortlisted:

• Delta Group (Australia) – Adelaide Festival Plaza Tower 2
• Despe (Italy) – Largo Treves Tower, Milan
• Lindamood (US) – Parkland Memorial Hospital
• Mann Group (Australia) – Sydney Metro West

Civils Demolition Award

WINNER: DDM Demontage (Germany) – Rheinbrücke Neuenkamp Bridge The project was praised for its complexity, imaginative engineering, and technically challenging execution.

Shortlisted:

• Despe (Italy) – Ex Centro Direzionale Alitalia Complex
• Max Wild (Germany) – Highway A3/A67 Connecting Ramp

Industrial Demolition Award

WINNERS (joint): Independence Demolition (US) & Veit (US) Independence Demolition was recognised for its DTE Trenton Channel Power Plant project, while Veit’s NewRange Copper Nickel Concentrator Plant Demolition was described as a “prime example of a serious industrial demolition project carried out to the highest standard.”

Shortlisted:

• Despe (Italy) – Moni Power Station, Cyprus
• FBI Demolition (Brazil) – Centralized Workshop, Maraba
• Flesan (Chile) – Quebrada Blanca Mine

Innovation: Plant and Equipment

WINNER: Laurini (Italy) – SETTANTA Demolition Excavator Judges praised Laurini’s SETTANTA for its “compact design, high power and adaptability with customer-focused innovation.”

Shortlisted:

• American DND (US) – Turbine High Lift Dust Suppression System
• Caterpillar (US) – 330 UHD Excavator

Innovation: Tools and Attachments

WINNER: ACDE Europe (Czech Republic) – BEILITE BLTB-280-5-W-AC15 Hydraulic Breaker The judges commended the tool’s significant innovation and ease of market integration.

Shortlisted:

• Okada (Japan) – TS-WD2800V Attachment
• Steelwrist (Sweden) – SQ40 Fully Automatic Quick Coupler

Contract of the Year (over US$1 million)

WINNER: Brandenburg (US) – Ford Rouge Power Plant, Michigan Brandenburg’s abatement and demolition of the historic Ford Rouge Power Plant was described as “exceptionally well managed,” overcoming significant complications from past explosions and salvage challenges.

Shortlisted:

• American DND (US) – West Valley Disposal Project
• Colemans (UK) – University of Oxford Redevelopment
• Demex (Australia) – Wilmar Sugar’s Kalamia Mill, Queensland
• Lindamood (US) – Frank Erwin Center, Austin

Recycling and Environmental Award

WINNER: Despe (Italy) – Hotel e Autorimessa Demolition Judges praised Despe’s project for its strong environmental credentials and execution under strict site requirements.

Shortlisted:

• DELSAN-AIM (Canada) – Solutia Chemical Plant
• Demex (Australia) – Acacia Ridge Business Park
• Metzner (Germany) – Siemens Industrial Site
• Tscherning (Denmark) – Tscherninghuset Circular Economy Project

Explosive Demolition Award

WINNER: PDC Explosives Engineering (UK) – Sizewell “A” Decommissioning Project The judges recognised PDC’s challenging work in demolishing the redundant turbine hall and reinforced concrete turbine bases at the former nuclear power station. Shortlisted:

• Brown and Mason (UK) – Cottam Power Station
• Controlled Demolition Inc (US) – Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel
• DemMaster/Safedem (UK) – Caledonia Road Towers
• Trifecta Services (US) – Avon Lake Power Plant

Collaboration in Demolition Award

JOINT WINNERS: Mann Group (Australia) & Safedem (UK) with Despe (Italy) and Wheatley (UK) The judges commended the Safedem-led project for combining explosives with a top-down approach under intense public scrutiny, and Mann Group for its teamwork and logistical expertise under restricted access conditions.

Shortlisted:

• DDM Demontage (Germany) – EPRD Refinery Project
• Grupo Mitre (Argentina) – Calidra San Juan Project
• Ward Brunet (New Zealand) – Vanuatu Earthquake Demolitions

Best of the Best: World Demolition Award 2025

WINNER: DDM Demontage (Germany) – Rheinbrücke Neuenkamp Capping off the evening, DDM Demontage claimed the top honour for its exceptional civils project in Duisburg. The judges were unanimous in their decision, calling it “technically difficult, imaginative, and perfectly executed.”