Demolition Firm Relies on DEVELON to Complete Tough Projects

“In demolition, every day is different. Sometimes you walk into a building thinking it’s simple, and 10 minutes later it’s a challenge you didn’t expect.”

I started in demolition more than 40 years ago in my hometown, Cullman, Alabama. A tornado had damaged a cigar plant, and the owner asked me to tear it down. Back then, I only had some grading equipment. I had never done demolition before, but I gave it a shot. That day I learned how unpredictable structures can be. From that first job, DEVELON excavators proved themselves—they handled heavy debris smoothly and didn’t break down in the chaos.

Over the next few years, I did demolition for the military. I became hooked on the work. When I got my contractor’s license in 1993 and incorporated Britt Demolition and Recycling Inc., I started adding civilian projects. Today, our focus is entirely on commercial and industrial demolitions, and DEVELON has been a backbone for every job.

Family Business Roots

Britt Demolition and Recycling has always been a family affair. My two sons work on-site, and my daughter Melissa supervises our salvage operations. Before any demolition, Melissa and her team—sometimes five, sometimes forty strong—sort through items left in the buildings.

“There are always things people leave behind,” I tell new employees. “Melissa sorts it all—copper, lead, electrical parts. Anything reusable goes back into circulation.”

On busy days, we have multiple projects running simultaneously. That’s when DEVELON demolition equipment really shines. Machines operate efficiently, and the crew can coordinate without bottlenecks. Melissa has refined this process over 19 years, making it almost a science.

Salvage Process Step by Step

Salvage is a meticulous job. Our workflow ensures nothing valuable is missed:

1. Room assignment: Each crew member takes responsibility for one area.
2. Metal identification: Use magnets to find non-ferrous metals.
3. Processing: Wire stripping and sorting by material type.
4. Transport: Box everything for scrap yards or reuse.

“Speed matters,” Melissa says. “If the salvage isn’t done efficiently, the heavy machines can’t start. That’s why we time everything so excavators for demolition can move in immediately.”

Even with mini-excavators, a lot of work is by hand. It’s painstaking, but precise work here pays off in efficiency and revenue.

Carraway Methodist Medical Center Project

One of our largest projects was the Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham. The facility had been closed since 2008. Our part: a million square feet of demolition.

Component	Area (sq. ft.)	Description
Complete teardown	650,000	Basements lowered 5 feet below grade
Interior gutting	350,000	Concrete structure left intact
Materials recycled	85%	Concrete, metals, fixtures processed

“To manage this, we rely on heavy demolition equipment capable of constant use without breaking down,” I explain.

Concrete was processed on-site and used to refill basements. Metal went to local scrap yards. The scale of recycling was immense, but the DEVELON fleet kept operations smooth.

Versatility Across Projects

Different projects demand different attachments. Our DEVELON fleet is configured with grapples, magnets, processors, hammers, and buckets. This versatility allows the crew to switch tasks without waiting for another machine.

Attachment uses:

• Grapples: Debris handling
• Magnets: Metal separation
• Concrete processors: Breaking reinforced structures
• Buckets/Hammers: Structural teardown

Without these, we’d spend hours switching machines. With them, the work flows seamlessly, and crews stay productive.

High-Risk Jobs

Some sites are classified as high-risk demolition applications. Unstable structures, rebar, and debris require extreme care. Machines must perform consistently to avoid accidents.

Requirements for high-risk projects:

1. Stability under uneven loads
2. Predictable hydraulic response
3. Quick attachment changes
4. Reliable braking and rotation

Our DEVELON machines consistently meet these needs. Operators trust them in situations where failure isn’t an option.

Tackling Dusty Environments

Demolition generates dust. Concrete grinding, wall gutting, and ceiling removal all create high-dust demolition environments. Dust can overheat engines or clog systems if the equipment isn’t up to standard.

Mitigation strategies:

• Separated hydraulic cooling system
• Frequent visual inspections
• Dust-resistant components

Even after days of constant work, DEVELON machines keep running smoothly.

Hydraulic Cooling Advantage

A major technical advantage is the excavator hydraulic cooling system, which separates the hydraulic radiator from the engine radiator. This prevents overheating and allows prolonged operation.

Feature	Benefit
Separate hydraulic radiator	Prevents hydraulic overheating
Dust-resistant design	Maintains steady operation in dusty sites
High torque and bucket lift	Handles heavy loads efficiently

Thanks to this, maintenance frequency has dropped and machine uptime has increased.

Reliability Across Multiple Projects

Operating six or seven sites simultaneously requires demolition equipment reliability. DEVELON machines provide this consistently, enabling us to finish concurrent projects with minimal downtime.

Observations over time:

• Fewer unscheduled repairs
• Consistent operator confidence
• Steady project pacing and output

It’s rare to see machines handle this kind of workload day after day without issues.

DEVELON DX380LL: Latest Addition

Our newest machine, the DEVELON DX380LL, has a higher undercarriage, making it safer over debris and rebar.

Key advantages:

• Elevated undercarriage reduces maintenance issues
• Hydraulic system designed for continuous operation
• Compatible with multiple attachments for flexibility

It’s become the go-to machine for the toughest tasks, saving time and reducing wear across the fleet.

Summary & Takeaways

In demolition, success comes from skill, planning, and the right machines.

Key points from our experience:

• High efficiency: versatile DEVELON machines handle multiple tasks
• Sustainable operations: 85%+ materials recycled
• Safety: reliable performance in high-risk and high-dust environments
• Cost savings: hydraulic cooling and durable design reduce downtime
• Family business efficiency: integration of hands-on salvage and machinery

If you’re looking for dependable, versatile, and high-performance demolition equipment, DEVELON consistently delivers.