Thursday, January 31, 2013

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.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

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.  

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

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?