The construction industry covers the planning, construction, maintenance, and deconstruction of structures in building construction and civil engineering (underground works). It connects engineering, skilled trades, logistics, and environmental management. In day-to-day project operations, controlled demolition methods, the processing of concrete, steel, and natural stone, as well as raw material recycling, play a central role. Tools such as concrete demolition shear and hydraulic rock and concrete splitters are key enablers to work precisely, with low emissions, and economically.
Definition: What is meant by the construction industry
The construction industry comprises the entirety of companies, processes, and stakeholders that plan, build, maintain, convert, and deconstruct structures. This includes building construction, civil engineering (underground works), fit-out trades, special foundation engineering, and selective deconstruction. In addition to technical disciplines, the construction industry also encompasses topics such as occupational safety, permits, sustainability, circular economy, schedule and cost management. Modern construction processes increasingly consider low-vibration and low-emission procedures, for example in concrete demolition, and rely on precise hydraulic tools for separating, splitting, and crushing construction materials.
Structure and fields of activity in the construction industry
The construction industry is divided into planning and execution phases. From feasibility study through design, structural analysis, and work planning to realization and deconstruction, various trades collaborate. For material processing—especially concrete, reinforcing steel, and natural stone—specialized hydraulic devices are essential to open load-bearing structures, separate components, and recover materials by type.
Building construction, civil engineering, fit-out, deconstruction
- Building construction: buildings, load-bearing structures, refurbishments, repurposing of structure
- Civil engineering (underground works): infrastructure, utility line installation, tunnel construction, rock excavation
- Fit-out: gutting works, cutting and separation cuts in existing structures
- Deconstruction: concrete demolition and special demolition, dismantling, recycling
Construction materials and their processing: concrete, steel, natural stone
Concrete and reinforced concrete dominate many structures; natural stone is common in structural engineering (building construction), tunnel construction, and quarries. The choice of the appropriate method depends on strength, reinforcement content, geometry, accessibility, and environmental requirements. Concrete demolition shear enable crunching separation of concrete while exposing reinforcement. Rock wedge splitters and concrete splitters generate controlled splitting cracks in concrete components or rock—with very low vibrations.
Low-vibration methods in concrete demolition
In sensitive environments—such as hospitals, laboratories, inner-city districts, or heritage areas—low-vibration methods are preferred. Hydraulic splitting technology and shears reduce noise, dust, and vibrations. This protects adjacent structural elements, facilitates permitting, and improves occupational safety.
- Gutting works and cutting: create openings, relieve components
- Concrete demolition and special demolition: dismantle load-bearing structures section by section
- Rock excavation and tunnel construction: block-by-block release without blasting
- Natural stone extraction: controlled separation of raw blocks
Methods and equipment in deconstruction
In deconstruction, the combination of separation concept, structural analysis, accessibility, and emission limits determines the choice of equipment. Hydraulic power packs supply tools via hydraulic hose lines; mobile hydraulic power units are suitable in existing buildings with limited load-bearing capacity.
Concrete demolition shear in selective deconstruction
Concrete demolition shear separate concrete in a controlled manner and expose reinforcing steel. This enables a single-grade separation of concrete and steel directly at the demolition face. Defined jaw geometries grip component edges in a targeted way, enlarge openings, and segment components without heavily loading adjacent areas.
Rock wedge splitters and concrete splitters in rock and tunnels
Rock wedge splitters and concrete splitters use splitting cylinders inserted into drill holes. They generate high, locally acting forces that split rock or concrete along the drill-hole axis. Advantages include low vibrations, high precision, and a predictable crack path that has proven itself in rock chambers, adits, and urban existing structures.
Other tools in context
- Combination shears: separating concrete and steel in mixed cross-sections
- Multi cutters: versatile cutting tasks for installations and profiles
- Steel shear: economical sizing of reinforcement and steel sections
- Tank cutters: controlled opening and segmenting of vessels in special operations
- Rock wedge splitters: targeted release of natural stone blocks in extraction
- Hydraulic power packs: energy-efficient, mobile supply of the tools
Planning, estimating, and execution
A robust demolition or conversion concept saves time, minimizes risks, and improves the recycling rate. The basis is an as-built survey, structural analysis, and a coordinated sequence plan. The choice between shears or splitting technology depends on component thickness, reinforcement, desired fragment size, and logistics paths.
- Analyze the existing conditions: materials, reinforcement, utility lines, residual media
- Develop a separation concept: cut and split lines, load transfer, sequences
- Define tool selection: concrete demolition shear, rock wedge splitters and concrete splitters, auxiliary tools
- Design the hydraulics: drive power, hose lengths, work cycles
- Plan protective measures: dust suppression and noise control, vibration control
- Logistics and disposal: routes, interim storage, sorting, recycling
- Quality assurance: checkpoints, photo documentation, mass balance
Occupational safety, environmental and resource protection
Occupational safety takes precedence. Personal protective equipment, safe setup areas, defined hazard zones, and clear communication are mandatory. Environmental aspects such as dust, noise, water and soil protection are integrated early. Low-emission procedures ease permitting and reduce impacts on the surroundings.
- Dust: dust extraction, wetting, protective enclosure
- Noise: cutting- and splitting-optimized methods, time windows
- Vibrations: splitting instead of percussive methods, monitoring
- Fire protection: minimize sparks, keep readiness equipment available
- Utilities and residual substances: safe clearance measurement and separation before start
Low-emission procedures in existing structures
Splitting technology and shear methods generate few secondary damages. Where vibration and noise limits are strict, they offer predictable workflows and improve neighborhood compatibility—a benefit for inner-city projects and ongoing operations.
Circular economy and recovery of construction materials
The construction industry is evolving toward a circular economy. The goal is a high recovery rate through clean separation by material type. Concrete demolition shear facilitate the separation of concrete and reinforcing steel; Steel shears size reinforcement for haulage logistics. Rock wedge splitters and concrete splitters enable larger, defined pieces that are advantageous to move and easier to classify.
Clean separation for high-quality recycling streams
The cleaner the separation, the higher the quality of the recycling fractions. This lowers disposal costs and strengthens raw material efficiency. Selective dismantling in advance—utilities, fit-out elements, attachments—meaningfully prepares the structural demolition.
Digital processes and control
Construction workflows are planned and documented digitally. Models and as-built data support the choice of cut and split locations as well as the positioning of equipment. Sensors and logging of hydraulic pressure and operating pressure help demonstrate quality and safety, for example during controlled splitting operations or defined cutting sequences.
Selection criteria for tools and methods
The decision for shear, splitting cylinder, or shear-type cutter depends on the boundary conditions. A systematic evaluation leads to reliable results and stable cycle times.
- Member geometry: thickness, accessibility, edges, and supports
- Material: strength class (concrete/steel), reinforcement ratio, rock properties
- Environment: vibration, noise, and dust limits
- Logistics: payloads, access, crane use, transport routes and disposal routes
- Safety: fallback levels, structural stability, emergency shut-offs
- Power supply: drive power of the hydraulic power pack, duration of use
Typical application examples
The following scenarios show how methods and equipment can be combined in practice.
- Concrete demolition and special demolition: provide core drilling for a ceiling opening, then expand the opening with concrete demolition shear and lower segments; release massive walls in blocks using rock wedge splitters and concrete splitters.
- Gutting works and cutting: separate utilities and profiles with multi cutters, size reinforcement with steel shear, create openings precisely.
- Rock excavation and tunnel construction: facilitate tunnel heading with splitting cylinders in drilled holes; minimally invasive at sensitive surface structures.
- Natural stone extraction: release raw blocks along natural joints with rock wedge splitters, control fracture lines precisely.
- Special operation: tank cutters for safely opening vessels with coordinated protective measures and controlled workflows.
Standards, guiding values, and permits at a glance
Construction and deconstruction activities must comply with relevant standards, technical rules, and regulatory requirements. These include structural stability requirements, occupational and environmental protection, noise control and vibration management, as well as proper disposal. The specific legal situation may vary regionally; early coordination with planners, reviewers, and authorities is advisable. The information in this text is general and not legally binding.
Trends and innovations in the construction industry
The industry is moving toward low-emission, precise, and digital methods. Electrified hydraulic power packs, more efficient shear kinematics, optimized splitting cylinders, and remote-controlled applications increase safety and productivity. At the same time, documented material flows, design for deconstruction from the outset, and data-driven process control are gaining importance—for economical projects and resource-conserving construction practice.