A Little Tacoma History with Cambria Contracting

On July 1st, 1940 a bridge was opened to traffic in the town of Tacoma, Washington.  Five months later this bridge would tumble into the chasm between the Tacoma and Kitsap peninsulas, marking one of the more infamous moments in Tacoma history.

Since the 1890's there had been considerable interest in closing the gap between these two land masses, and while several railroad companies attempted to get the ball rolling on the project in the form of a trestle bridge proposition.  Before these plans could even so much as be reviewed Henry Ford began mass producing automobiles, changing the world in the process.  As America began to see a steep increase in the number of motor carriages on the road, it became clear that a commuter bridge would be necessary.

When embarking on the project hopes were high in Tacoma that the bridge could rival the modern marvel in San Francisco; the Golden Gate Bridge.  To do so a committee was formed and experts from all over the world were brought in to consult.  Finally after nearly a year of deliberation, the Federal Government had come forward with a costly, yet impressive bridge for the gorge.  The committee in Tacoma was more than ready to move forward, until Leon Moisseiff (Yes, THAT Leon Moisseiff) one of the leading men in the Golden Gate bridge construction came to town and announced that not only would his bridge could handle the stress, but would also cost three million dollars less.  As one would imagine this was a very appealing pitch for the committee to witness, and it came from a very reputable source.  Soon enough, despite some limited criticism from other experts, the Moisseiff bridge plan was chosen.  With construction beginning in a year, a noticeable buzz raced through the community.  Many of the citizens looked forward to having a feat of engineering as a local landmark.

Unfortunately, from the beginning something just wasn't right with the bridge.  As soon as the first suspension cables were being strung the bridge would exhibit a strange wobble, perhaps a wiggle, but in any event an item that should never shake was shaking.  While noticing this strange effect head engineers had faith in the plan that they had been given and continued to work towards completing the bridge.  This would prove a poor miscalculation.

The bridge eventually opened to traffic and was serviceable for nearly five months.  After four and a half months top engineers were brought in to study the phenomenon of the bridge still wobbling, moreso on windier days.  While this study was a good idea and performed with precision, it would eventually prove unnecessary.   Five days after the study was completed the bridge collapsed.  Taking with it the life of Tubby, a black male cocker spaniel, who was trapped in the back of the last vehicle to drive on the bridge.  Leonard Coatsworth was the driver of that car, he was able to crawl the 500 yards to safety from his vehicle, and is to be commended on his quick-thinking.

The bridge was nearly shorn in half and eventually had to be demolished in order for the bridge that stands there today.  Just another example of how it's always good to know about a great demolition firm.

Cambria Contracting's Steel Resolve

Once upon a time, in a bustling community along the Niagara River sat a massive 10 acre steel fabricating facility.  But, as these factories are apt to do, time had come for the building to be demolished, and as possible environmental hazard it was important to bring in a company capable of doing the job correctly.  After bids and interviews, it was decided that Cambria Contracting was the right one for the job, and as the following paragraphs will reveal, the only choice to make.

The Roblin Steel Plant was once a fixture of the steel industry in Buffalo along with Bethlehem Steel and a few other companies.  This particular site was the gem of the Roblin factories and contained every facet of a fully-operational steel plant.  As such, there was much to be done if this site were to reach Brownfield regulatory standards.  By choosing Cambria Contracting, local government could rest easy.

This site, as with any old steel facility, touched upon nearly every specialty that Cambria Contracting has.  First the project held several pumps, sumps and quenching ponds.  The pumping units all have caulks and industrial greases which require special containment practices to ensure proper disposal.  One of the main concerns about projects like this is ensuring that these substances do not enter the surrounding habitat.  Contamination becomes next to impossible if removal is done correctly and keeps the two apart.  Quenching ponds are a bit more difficult as they are often outside and count on evaporation to ensure safe disposal.  But when time comes to remove the pond itself it has to be done carefully and ensure the pond is able to remain out of contact with the environment.  Cambria Contracting recognizes this and was able to keep this separation in place during the process.

Despite their success with these options, Cambria Contracting was still required to remediate contaminated soil throughout the complex This was done after the removal of all the buildings the complex consisted of.  The site was also filtered and dewatered to help in the remediation.

The final step was what to do with the thousands of tons of concrete that was left over from the demolition of the complex's buildings.  Any metals were salvage and all of the concrete that wasn't contaminated was crushed in order to be used as clean fill in other situations.

What Puts the Cambria in Contracting

It is not uncommon for a client to think that the use of Cambria in our title is derived from a founder's surname.  In fact the use of the name comes from the town which it was founded in New York, Cambria.  Founded in 1808, Cambria was actually the name for most of what is today Niagara County. Eventually the parcel was divided into a present day twelve municipalities.  These days Cambria is a much smaller place with a population of give or take 5,900 people.  But from the smallest acorns grow the mightiest oaks they say, and Cambria Contracting is a fine example of that if we may say so ourselves.

Ironically, Cambria is not known as a place of industrial yards and high rise warehousing but instead a rural highland with tranquil fields.  Pastures ripe with deciduous fruits and the finest wine grapes in the great lakes.  Cambria also has a strong agrarian backbone with many dairy farms and rows of corn to dot the landscape.  Playing a crucial role in the War of 1812 Cambria's history is quite impressive for its given size today.  In fact one of the reasons for Cambria's early popularity was that it held the only road to western New York from the much better developed east coast.  This road made it easy to work supplies up to Fort Niagara.  In fact a road titled Old Niagara Rd. still barrels through the town of Cambria.

Surveyed originally by Joseph Ellicott a number of historic first happened along the shores of Lake Ontario.  Little did he know that the lands he walked upon would one day be a renowned wine country visited by tourists from far and wide.  

Most of all, Cambria was a wonderful place for us to begin our company.  Although now located in Lockport, Cambria Contracting remains grateful to its friends in Cambria for their assistance and concern.  

Cambria Contracting: Mall Rats

Typically, when people hear the name Cambria Contracting they don't picture a phalanx of  well manicured haberdashers.  Simply because of the nature of our work, and perhaps our headquarters locations, Cambria Contracting is thought of as the nadir fashion.  Nothing could be further from the truth, and we can prove it too.  Just read our following story about a time we went to the mall.

Located in Pittsburgh, PA the Eastland Mall was built in 1961 and served as one of Pittsburgh's premiere retail outlets for decades.  In fact it held that title up until 2007, when Cambria Contracting was called in to to demolish the 940,000 sq. ft. facility.  Overlooking the Monongahela River the Eastland Mall was one of Cambria Contracting's more scenic worksites.  

One of the unique challenges of this particular job was the large amount of asbestos that had been used in both the original building, and the re-building of the mall after a fire in 1971.  Asbestos was throughout almost all of the materials used in the construction of the mall, including but not limited to floor tiles, ceiling tiles, plaster, and mastic.  Although the mall had once been an open air shopping plaza, after the fire it had gained a roof in the rebuild and this somewhat aided Cambria Contracting in making sure that the appropriate areas were sealed off.  This process has to be precise to ensure the job site maintains EPA standards.  

Alongside the towering amount of asbestos were plenty of other challenges.  There were bulbs, ballasts, and mercury switches throughout the facility which had once helped accommodate the crowds of people who once populated the walkways of the mall.  When identified and then disposed of properly these industrial lighting and plumbing components do not pose as much of a risk as the asbestos.  In fact, if removed cautiously these items are ripe for resale and have a high value to clients looking for asset salvaging.  

The mall had also had been a place where crowds could gather to feast on food court delights.  Throughout the mall's 42 year life span many different greasy spoons took up kiosks throughout the food court.  All of which were supported by a plumbing and coolant system and cleaning agents.  All of this hazardous waste had to be removed in order to comply with present criteria.  Cambria Contracting successfully mitigated the environmental threats that these chemicals presented as well.  

After all the hard work had been done, so Cambria Contracting decided to treat themselves to a movie in the mall's theatre.  After taking in "Eastern Promises" (very good, Cambria Contracting recommends!)  Cambria Contracting walked out of the theatre and promptly tore down and gutted the entire 680,000 sq. ft. facility.  Aside from some delicate removals for asset salvage purposes this part of the project did not present nearly as much of a challenge as the other components involved.

All in all, it was simply another job by Cambria Contracting done right.

Cambria Contracting & Debris Removal

While it is easy for observers to focus on the more offensive machines involved in a demolition, there is another facet of the project that is easily as important.  Given the rate at which material can be created, removing it and keeping the work site safe is a major challenge for Cambria Contracting.  Without a steady stream of dump trucks consistently removing debris efficiently, many jobs would bog down.

The modernized dump trucks Cambria Contracting has are built for maximum efficiency.  These vehicles come with two rails and a steel cable winch strong enough to pull 90,000 lbs. at least.  This design allows the dump trucks to quickly place waste containers down, before moving to a full can, loading that, and removing the excess material from the demolition site.  In situations where hazardous waste is involved Cambria Contracting can still rely on it's small fleet of roll off dumpsters, as several companies have begun to offer hard-top dumpsters that allow for the transportation of asbestos waste and other airborne hazards.  In fact, making sure a site has enough dumpsters to keep pace with the demolition is key as it allows maximum efficiency for the crew.  Cambria Contracting has turned to local subcontractors for large jobs.

Another crucial part of the removal process are the technological marvels that are responsible for loading the roll-off containers.  These can very from bulldozers, to backhoes, and excavators.  By using and array of machines and their possible add-ons it makes it easier for Cambria Contracting to begin sorting the waste and discerning if there is any value to be had.  Many of these trucks are capable of handling nearly 60,000 lbs.  Often times the road will give out before the dump truck,

The amount of material being removed from a job site can be deceiving.  Many jobs number into the hundreds of millions of tons before a job site is declared cleared.  By being so thorough Cambria Contracting is always sure to be able to handle the tonnage rates and then some.  We consider all phases of the game here, your welcome to have your question answered.  

Cambria Contracting's Concrete Pulverizers

One of the more unique aspects of working at Cambria Contracting Inc., is the amount of extraordinary equipment we put to use every day.  Some of the world's largest machines are in our employ, some which are used to chew through entire buildings.  Due to our frequent interactions with these juggernauts, we can sometimes forget that they are a real eye opener for those not employed in the world of industrial demolition.  One of the most popular piece of machinery on our lot is the concrete pulverizer.  The name says it all, these crushing jaws are not only powerful enough to turn stone to dust, but can be operated with astounding precision and dexterity.  Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we thought we would save everyone a lot of reading and show off our five favorite concrete pulverizers.

5.  http://cache.io9.com/assets/resources/2008/01/image002.jpg - A creative use of some not so up to date crushers.

4.  http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/scripts/asp_resize_edit.asp?id=3738&width=400 - Strong, sturdy & effective.

3.  http://img.directindustry.com/images_di/photo-g/concrete-pulverizer-for-excavator-56762-2547233.jpg - Action shot! The blue really will help the dust stand out to absolutely wow your friends.

2.  http://mining.crushersmill.com/knowledge/images/concrete-pulverizer.jpg - It's what we imagine the head of a dragon looks like.

1.  http://rpn.baumpub.com/_files/products/11750_nye_xcp3_nd11_jan12.jpg - It only plays fetch with meteorites.  This can chew through a room in minutes given the size of the chamber.

Do you have any favorites?

Cambria Contracting & The Komatsu PC1250

Once in a fine while an amazing piece of engineering comes along and becomes a staple of the industrial demolition scene.  For Cambria Contracting this mechanical marvel is the Komatsu PC1250.  This one hundred and nine ton behemoth is easily one of the most capable pieces of machinery in the Cambria Contracting armory.  Brought to almost every job site the PC1250 increases overall operational efficiency tenfold.

A real specialty of the PC1250 is its ability to dig into almost any type of earth and remove giant amounts of it.  Capable of reaching nearly fifty feet into the ground in front of it with an eleven foot wide bucket; it's hardly a surprise that this is one of the more rather popular backhoes in the world.  Digging with a maximum force of 112,900 pounds of force, the Komatsu PC1250 can empower one operator to finish a task in the time it historically would have taken dozens.

Requiring a clearance of twenty three feet or better, the machine can make transportation a delicate matter.  The weight involved makes the process of travel tricky.  Many roads are not capable of supporting the weight of the PC1250 so logistically routes must be planned and analyzed to take it to job sites.  Fortunately the boom and stick can be positioned in such a fashion that it can get under most bridges.  However, it is Cambria Contracting's responsibility to ensure that the routes are clear of any and all hazards.

While the mechanical specifications of the Komatsu can give the appearance of a clunky behemoth, nothing could be further from the truth.  In fact, the boom, stick and bucket work together to create a nimble and agile hydraulic system.  Cambria Contracting's operators, given their years of experience, are capable of not only loading a truck to the appropriate line, but they are sleek enough to level a load of material prior to it leaving the site.

Cambria Contracting uses the Komatsu for many aspects of job sites.  The most frequent is the collection and removal of debris created from the various stages of a demolition job.  The Komatsu is also useful for certain parts of a demolition project itself.  With such force available, an operator will be asked to knock various hard to reach or compromised areas out from a safe distance.  Sparing Cambria Contracting unnecessary risk in their demolitions.

The addition of the PC1250 to the Cambria Contracting array of machinery was a great boost.  It has increased operation effectiveness rates and been crucial in making sure projects have met deadline.  The Komatsu has more than proven itself as an engineering wonder and rightfully so.  For any questions which you might have about the machine described in the paragraphs above, feel free to leave a comment!

Cambria Contracting's Recycling Efforts

Cambria Contracting is founded upon several principles that have aided the company in becoming North America's premiere demolition contractor.  One of the pillars Cambria Contracting stands on is the incorporation of recycling in its many forms.  By reducing the total amount of waste and debris entering the continent's landfills Cambria Contracting is able to fulfill a its responsibility as a demolition contractor.

Cambria Contracting's recycling efforts come in many forms and mediums, the result of the myriad of channels which material can be recycled through.  Cambria Contracting has built partnerships with corporations that specialize in the reuse of material and as such can quickly and effectively clear sites.  Most of the demolitions undertaken by Cambria Contracting allow for recycling opportunities in many different areas.  

Metals of all makes, alloys, and shapes can be recycled at scrap facilities throughout North America.  Growing in number, the rise in scrap metal recycling facilities represents the increasing awareness about recycling.  Scrap metal is usually priced per the ton and based upon composition.  Recent advances in technology have made it incredibly easy to quickly and accurately determine the exact combination of metals in salvage.  Some even in the form of a hand held device.  The use of metal in industrial facilities is manifest and yet another way Cambria Contracting not only reduces landfill waste, but keeps costs in check.  

Concrete is another material type that has a second life after a demolition.  Crushed into various categories based upon particle size, this material can be used as fill for projects reigning from residential to industrial construction.  Processed concrete is also frequently used in marine builds as well such as breakwalls or structural foundation reinforcements.

Roofing shingles are another component of construction debris that has become a recycled commodity.  After a short processing these old roofs are then used to create asphalt for paving projects.  Seen as low-cost, durable and cheap to prepare, more states are looking to adopt progressive policies that allow for the infusion of this type of demolition debris into road grade asphalt.

Cambria Contracting is often able to salvage whole parts from facilities and instead of scrapping them are refurbished and sold as used.  This is Cambria Contracting's ideal choice of reuse as it uses the least amount of energy, rarely sits around, and even provides and provides an immediate utility.  

There are dozens more items that can be and are recycled by Cambria Contracting.  We will be sure to go over our recycling, reuse, and upcycling methods in a series of posts coming up in the very near future.  If you have any questions about this, do feel free to comment or ask questions here and have them addressed by the professionals at Cambria Contracting.  

Better Know the EPA with Cambria Contracting

The United States Environmental Protection Agency is a young Federal administrative body tasked with enforcing the nation's laws in regards to environmental duties. Established December 2^nd, 1970 in order to consolidate all the nation's federal research, monitoring, standard-setting, and enforcement activities to ensure a safe environment for all living creatures. As a major demolition contractor Cambria Contracting often finds itself working to adhere to EPA guidelines and policies. As such we thought it would be a good idea to begin describing the agency behind most of our environmental remediation efforts.

Currently, the EPA is led by administrator Lisa P. Jackson. Appointed on December 15^th, 2008 she became the first person of African American descent to serve as EPA administrator. She oversees the twelve sub-departments of the EPA. She began her environmental career with an appointment in New Jersey by then Governor Jeff Corzine.

Cambria Contracting's dealings with the EPA are usually in regards to making sure all levels of hazardous materials are well within safe parameters at ever job site they are leaving. A lot of the industrial sites which Cambria Contracting works with can often house particles and liquids which can be found to be hazardous once they are disassembled from the casings they were housed in during operation. The EPA can audit a site, but typically the use of approved testing methods is enough to comply. The EPA compliance concerns every possible form of pollution and is incredibly thorough. From radiation to water tables the EPA insists that businesses ensure that when vacating a site that the environment is restored as well.

Cambria Contracting is proud to state that they have never had an issue with the EPA on any of it's industrial sites. It is this dedication to being the best that has allowed Cambria Contracting to rise to the top of this industry as the premier industrial demolition expert in North America.

Cambria Contracting Goes Mobile

One of Cambria Contracting's favorite demolitions, was the structural demolition of a paper mill plant in Mobile, Alabama.  Set over 900,000 sq. ft of land, this sprawling facility was going to test all of the capabilities Cambria Contracting has, including basic demolition, environmental remediation and recycling possibilities   Many people are unaware just how complicated the process of making paper can be, especially the amount of chemicals which are incorporated into making paper the bright white useful product we have today.

The first step of the process, like any demolition really, involved the the identification, removal, and transportation of non-hazardous universal waste materials.  This includes items such as light fixtures, bulbs, ballasts, PCB ballasts, instrumentation controls, and mercury controls.  With these superficial items taken out of the way the more intense phases of the demolition were set to begin.

Cambria Contracting set about on the larger task of plant dismantlement.  You begin by selecting different portions of the plant and set about taking them apart.  Cambria Contracting  took the plant and divided it up into several different phases.  First, were the elevated pipe racks, taken from the ceilings, these racks were chosen first, frankly because they were at the top of the building.  Believe it or not it makes little sense to begin knocking out walls when there is several tons of weight suspended above your head.  The next step Cambria Contracting took was to begin separating the equipment left in the facility.  Much of this equipment took the form of storage tanks and as such they need a special environmental remediation efforts.  This equipment also included rigging and complex conveyor belt systems.

The only real environmental remediation that fell to Cambria Contracting was the handling and transport of several number 6 oil storage tanks.  That was done in no time.

Once the facility had been dismantled, Cambria Contracting had a decision to make about what to do with what was left over.  Choosing an environmentally friendly option as opposed to taking loads of landfill space unnecessarily, Cambria Contracting  instead choose to use over 90,000 tons of concrete as stabilized fill material for future development.

Demolition is a crucial part of social progress.  On scales such as this, these decisions to recycle and the important remediation must be done correctly or the consequences to the community at large are devastating.  That's why Cambria Contracting is the best choice.

Cambria Contracting in Everett, WA

Cambria Contracting's latest project is the demolition of a large industrial structure on the shores of Possession Sound.  This project is a true test of all of Cambria Contracting's skills as it involves every facet of the demolition process, including large scale demolition, removal of site structures, asset salvage and environmental remediation.  Of course, as North America's premier demolition expert, Cambria Contracting was both the easiest and best choice for the project.

The first indication that the job site was not going to be a standard demolition is that part of the structure is attached to the sound itself.  This means there is an aquatic component to the demolition but it is nothing too great for Cambria Contracting to handle.  Barges were brought into buoy cranes and other large demolition equipment needed for this part.  The second part of this aquatic element is to ensure that what is demolished does not make its way out into the sea.  This is done by slowly building a dam between the sound and the water Cambria Contracting has to work in.  Then once the work has been done, before the dam can be taken down and a normal coast returned, that water has to be drained from this reservoir and taken to appropriate disposal. 

Also, an extreme hazard presented itself early in this project, in the form of a water spout.  For those unaware of what a water spout is, more or less imagine a tornado onto of a body of water.  While this was a magnificent sight to behold, it caused quite a bit of stress as it chose to tip toe near the shoreline before turning out towards the deeper ocean waters for good. 

This project is likely to take several months to finish and the customary EPA testing afterwards could push it to over a year.  However, when these large buildings have to come down, there is no one better to trust than the professionals at Cambria Contracting, Inc.

Cambria Contracting Recycling & Reclamation

Cambria Contracting is wholly aware and committed to the significant benefits recycling and reclamation can provide to the environment, our clientele, and the communities our project sites are found within.  These processes work to lower costs, keep watersheds safe, and keep precious materials in use.  Cambria Contracting makes it a point that their staff receives annual training about the latest developments in reusable waste.  It is this up to date knowledge that allows our engineers to consider items for recycling that wouldn't be caught by other organizations.

There are many items which can be re-used and many of them traditionally come to mind when the topic of recycling is breached.  Items from concrete, to roofing shingles, to different types of plastic all typically have a good re-sell value on the scrap market.  Cambria Contracting is affiliated with several firms who deal solely with these issues and can count on these relationships to expedite the reclamation process and allow for fluid transfers to keep projects on time.  Yet another reason that Cambria Contracting is the most preferred demolition firm in North America.

Concrete can be used as a base level material for landfills, along with most glass.  This provides a flat bed that ensures no greases, liquids or other potentially dangerous fluids can seep into the water table.  Roofing shingles and other tar based waste can be recycled into new forms of asphalt ready to be turned into the new highways of the country.

These are just a few of the items that Cambria Contracting incorporates into its asset salvage programs.  But more and more other businesses are popping up and taking the obscure or small and finding new uses for them.  It is this drive to staying on the front lines of salvage, that allows Cambria to put forth lower bids to their clients.  Just another reason to choose Cambria Contracting.

Cambria Contracting: Onward to Onondaga

Most of these posts regarding Cambria Contracting center around the complete dismantlement of a facility and the corresponding remediation to keep it clean.  While Cambria certainly excels at these all encompassing types of projects, today we're going to focus on the finesse side of the demolition industry.  We're going to show you how Cambria Contracting can also perform tasks with the precision of a surgeon.  Today we go inside Cambria Contracting's work at the Onondaga Cogeneration Plant!
First, let's discuss what a cogeneration plant is, or at least what it is used for.  As one may derive from the name a cogeneration plant creates (generates!) two (co!) types of energies for use at a sprawling industrial complexes or to even power and heat small villages and hamlets.  These facilities incorporate massive boilers to help the process move along.  It is one of the earliest forms of power generation and electric installations, prior to the creation of centralized power for cities and the like.

Cambria Contracting was tasked with removing two operational boilers and the accompanying smokestack.  The rest of the facility was to remain in tact thus making this a delicate operation.  Not only that but all of the piping involved with these boilers had to be dismantled for salvage to help allay the bottom line cost.  Difficult as it was Cambria Contracting also faced the task of removing two feul tanks used to run the boilers.

Those items had to be done in a manner that there would be no damage to the structures housing the untis.  Add to that the total environmental remediation associated wit hte standard removal of cogeneration boilers and this wasgoing to be no easy task.

CambriaContracting  first set about dismantling the boilers.  Doing so took careful cutting and a strategy to define the pieces it would be disassembled into.  By doing this Cambria the process manageable.  Once the boilers were removed it came time to take down the smokestack.  Using controlled explosives Cambria Contracting took down the smokestack with no injuries or problems, a true success.  From there it was clean sailing in removing the various pipes that made up the system it runs on.  The only trick to that removal was to ensure that the pipes were reusable as per the owner's instructions.  Using careful torch techniques, these pipes were removed safel and in fact were re-used not long after that.

The environmental remediation that followed is a Cambria Contracting specialty.  There was hazardous waste, mercury switches, oils, and eve refridgerants.  In order to make sure this was dealt with properly, Cambria Contracting had to seal off the area and use DEC techniques to complete the job.  It was no surprise the Cambria did this successfully and on time as well.

Once again Cambria continues to get the job done, no matter where it takes place or how delicate a mission it is.

Cambria Contracting Destroys Vesuvius

Cambria Contracting took on Vesuvius, and they won!

No not the mountain in Italy, but the Mineral Procession Mega-Company. In Buffalo, NY there once resides a 145,000 square foot carbon plant. The decommissioning and demolition of which, was not set to be a quick process. Knowing that they required the very best in the industry, Cambria Contracting was the obvious choice.

The word's Carbon Plant do not really call to mind the extreme hazards that were present in this facility. I mean I am made of Carbon, and we use carbon dating on fossils, and Carbon really never gets in trouble unless two of those no-good oxygens are around (CO2 for those still reading). Carbon Plants are foundries used to create dies for various iron castings. Usually they involve reactors which must be clear of any and all extemporaneous gases.

The Vesuvius project which Cambria Contracting took on was no small task. As with most of the undertakings listed on this blog, this project involved sophisticated remediation as well as delicate removal and salvage of series of industrial equipment.
The first step was to dismantle and remove several of the blast kilns that had been used to create the castings. There was also several tons of milling machinery left in the facility as well. While this did not require the intricate dismantling that the blast kilns did, they still retained significant salvage value. As such Cambria Contracting was careful to ensure their removal was thorough and safe. By being able to safely dismantle and salvage, if not outright re-use, was able to save Vesuvius over $100,000. The intricacies of these steps and the success of the process in general are at the very core of what makes Cambria Contracting so successful. By having the training, experience, and knowledge to successfully remove large caliber industrial furnaces and equipment, Cambria Contracting proves time and again why it is the continent's best demolition firm.

Once, the salvage portion of the demolition was out of the way, the next step was to begin a process of asbestos abatement. As outlined in previous posts, this process is fairly tedious and begins by sealing off the entire afflicted area. With a facility that encompasses 145,000 square feet this is no easy task. Cambria Contracting handles it with ease, however, and from there was able to begin removing the dangerous material. Once again demonstrating Cambria Contracting's superior expertise.
From this point forward it was relatively simple to finish the demolition as the rest of the waste Cambria Contracting dealt with is labeled as universal waste. This includes much more traditional waste such as ballasts, light bulbs, instrument panels and even mercury switches if you can believe it.
Cambria Contracting had no trouble handling this mountain of a task and successfully did so. They remain the finest Industrial Demolition Contractor in North America.

Cambria Contracting Saves Clients Money

Cambria Contracting is one of North America's largest industrial demolition companies, but one of the real areas of expertise they possess is the ability to salvage and profit from the items which comprise their demolitions.  Not only is this aspect a large source of joy for site owners and environmentalists alike.  With the experience and knowledge that Cambria Contracting possesses, the list of what can be salvaged, scrapped, resold, or re-used is already very long and continuously growing.  Even if a company shows no interest in these measures, Cambria Contracting still takes all appropriate steps to encourage items to be renewed and serve purposes anew.

Most of the salvage that Cambria Contracting comes across is metal.  Most of it can easily be cleaned and re-sold on the market as simple scrap.  Sometimes it requires decontamination efforts but Cambria Contracting is more than happy to take this step as it usually is required by the DEC in general, but also allows for the material in question to be re-used.  Often times in industrial cases, many of the metal components of an old plant, if extracted correctly, can be re-sold and incorporated to new plants throughout the world.  Cambria Contracting see this re-use as one of the many duties it is responsible for to make sure full value is gained from any and all materials or machines.  

In fact, there are many things most contractors do not realize can and are recycled.  Again, this is where Cambria Contracting  again displays how important it is to remain on the forefront of industry knowledge.  Roofing shingles can now be made into asphalt.  Plastics of all densities are re-used to make tough, pallets for industrial use.  Metals are scrapped to be re-used again, unless they are good-to-go components to be re-used in another facility.  

This is easily one of Cambria Contracting's favorite parts of a demolition.  It cuts owner's costs, keeps landfills from filling up and in some cases allows other construction projects to come in under budget by using a pre-owned item.  Our commitment to the environment helps make the difference.  It is just one of the many reasons Cambria Contracting has excelled as North America's premier demolition company.

Cambria Contracting and the Electric Operations Center

On its way to becoming North America's premiere demolition contractor, Cambria Contracting has taken many demolition projects and made them impressive successes. As part of our ongoing blog series giving in-depth perspective to Cambria Contracting's past projects we invite you to come with us as we relive the great memories we have of the Rochester Gas and Electric Operations Center.

A sprawling 250,000 square foot, multi-story concrete and steel operation center, this particular project had it all. For starter's the building was filled with asbestos products, a Cambria Contracting specialty. There was asbestos in the pipes, caulking, mastic, floor tile, the roofing and even the vessel coverings. Normally, that laundry list of asbestos contaminant would leave lesser companies heading for the hills. However, the list for Cambria Contracting was just beginning.

Adding on to the miles of asbestos abatement needed, the plant had also compromised the materials of the structure as well as some of the surrounding soils. This PCB remediation was not limited to just soil and concrete alone, but transformers, oils, instrumentation controls, mercury switches, universal waste lights, bulbs, and ballast tanks as well. This process was time consuming and certainly required the expertise of Cambria Contracting, but it was not anything beyond the scope of possibilities.

After all of the hazardous had been disposed of properly, Cambria Contracting still had the monumental task of actually taking down the structure. This took months and required almost all of the industrial equipment Cambria Contracting owns. However, at the end of the project the DEC came in and gave Cambria Contracting the ok, and the Rochest Gas and Electric Operations Center was no more.

Decommissioning with Cambria Contracting

The social collective typifies demolition as a few sledgehammers and an endgame of large scale implosions. While many Demolition Experts including Cambria Contracting wish these projects were to simple, the reality is that there are significant protocols that must be met before even beginning to think about moving forward towards the actual process of demolition. These processes are collectively known as decommissioning and they vary depending on the industry involved. One thing is for sure the process of nuclear, industrial or even a ship is necessary to ensure the overall public health.

As one of North America's largest demolition firms, Cambria Contracting is fully capable, equipped, and experienced enough to fulfill the DEC demands on any industrial decommissioning. Decommissioning activities are done to make the facility safe for the surrounding community, environment and the workers themselves inside the structure. Basic decommissioning plans can call for decontamination, dismantling and subsequent waste management. 

Cambria Contracting recognizes how important a proper decommissioning is. When done correctly it can clear up significant liabilities for the administration of the facility. Decommissioning is in fact the process by which a facility can successfully leave the classification it held during it's lifetime, thus paving the way for larger, faster demolition procedures to begin. Using data driven results Cambria Contracting is able to make this an cost efficient process. 

Further proof of the value of a well-done decommissioning firm, like Cambria, is that it can lead to significant savings in salvageable materials. By salvaging previously thought of contaminants and finding an applicable home for them, typically a paying one.

Decommissioning is a very important phase of demolition, and no one works harder to provide returns for a site's administrators than Cambria Contracting.

Cambria Contracting and Environmental Remediation

One of the most important tasks Cambria Contracting Inc is responsible for during a large scale demolition project is the environmental remediation of the site at the end of the project.  Environmental Remediation is the removal of pollution and/or contaminants from soils, groundwater, sediments, and/or surface water.  This is stage of a large scale demolition is critical as if it is done incorrectly it can inflict large scale harm to local human health and the larger environment in general.  The issues at stake with environmental remediation projects make it essential to use a firm who has worked closely with the DEC like Cambria Contracting Inc.  Most remediations in general are subjected to a plethora or regulatory requirements from several levels of government.  Both knowledge and experience are crucial in making sure these regulations are met or surpassed.  

A Brownfield Site is a defunct or abandoned industrial or commercial site that is now zoned or available for re-use.  However, re-using the site is oftern in conflict with real or perceived contamination threats left over from the previous occupants.  Cambria Contracting Inc. is well versed in bringing sites like this up to code.  Different requirements exist for different types of remediations.  Paper Mills, Power Plants, and Industrial Forges have several similarities as far as waste goes (asbestos, industrial greases) but they also have significant differences in contaminants as well.  Cambria Contracting's familiarity with these specifications is what makes them the best in North America.

Once a Brownfield site is remediated to a Greenfield status, it is safe for re-use once more.  The value of a location is intrinsic in pursuing projects like this for re-use.  But often regulations cite that environmental remediation also must be at the end of any demolition project with known hazards.  Part of Cambria Contracting Inc's success is that they handle all phases of a demolition project from start to finish.  Their staff and engineers have worked closely with the DEC in the past and understand what is necessary to rehabilitate a site.  Cambria Contracting Inc is an invaluable asset to companies and governments alike that must take on large-scale demolition projects. 

Learn more at our website:  http://www.cambriainc.com/

Cambria Contracting Rolls Away with a Rolling Mill

Whether you know it or not rolling mills probably play a big role in your life.  Rolling mills are industrial complexes where metals are flattened between to rollers, or in some cases turned into wires.  From aluminum foil to the steel that makes up your car, you have likely come into contact with a product that was at one point inside a rolling mill.

As any EPA intern worth his testing vials can tell you, these mills also have harmful chemicals on hand as part of the waste that comes from the creation of any pure metal.  As such the decommissioning and eventual demolition of a rolling mill requires significant testing and experience to mitigate the existing environmental threat. Cambria Contracting Inc. is capable of handling all of these steps.

Let's take Cambria Contracting's experience with an asset reduction plant in Hannibal, Ohio.  A daunting 800,000 sq. ft. compound, this reduction facility had it all.  Traditional concrete, asbestos in almost everything, tons of universal waste, mercury, and hazardous waste such as oils, grease and soot residue.  This plant had long stood on the outskirts of Hannibal OH and many archaic building materials used at its inception now required the specialties that Cambria Contracting offered.

The first part of Cambria Contracting's task was to decommission and demolish the casting house.  Decommissioning took time as the asbestos abatement had to remove the pipe insulation, caulk, mastic and other debris in a special containment room which captures the asbestos fibers in a safe room.  After that the casting house was ready to be torn down.  Using Cambria Contracting's heavy machinery this was done quickly.

The next phase of the project involved significant amounts of environmental remediation.  Cambria Contracting was able to handle all of the oils, grease and residues left over.  All inline with EPA specifications.

Cambria Contracting has many projects like this in its history and is proud of the continued great work we do.

Cambria Contracting Inc. Helping Local Economies

Cambria Contracting is not only dedicated to its craft, it is also dedicated to providing a strong economic impact for the local communities in which it works.  By using local labor on the majority of its projects Cambria Contracting has been able to watch communities flourish through the hiring of local labor lots of it.

A perfect example of this is the asbestos abatement performed at Rochester, NY's Midtown Rising Project.  Taking place in early 2009, Cambria Contracting began handling the asbestos abatement and quickly hired on over 200 workers for the project, all from Rochester.  Furthermore, of the 200 employees hired, nearly half of them were minorities or women.  In a time of significant economic downturn these high paying jobs were a boon to the local Rochester economy.  Both Rochester's Mayor Robert J. Duffy and Empire Development Chairman Dennis M. Mullen stated that this focus on hiring local talent as a significant indicator of a significant re-envelopment project going wonderfully.

“I am absolutely thrilled to see local workers performing these good-paying jobs,” said Mayor
Duffy. “Men and women who remember the proud vibrancy of Midtown Plaza and witnessed its decline
are now helping us write the next chapter in the history of downtown Rochester. Gov. Paterson’s
investment in our city is clearly paying dividends.”

Cambria Contracting understands the value it can provide to the local economies in which it works.  In addition to the significant environmental threats they mitigate, and safe work spaces they create, Cambria Contracting also remains dedicated to helping the people of the communities they work in.