India’s biggest demolition event hailed a success

Leila Steed Editor, Demolition & Recycling International

16 October 2023

India’s biggest conference for demolition industry professionals, DemTech, has taken place in the city of Bengaluru, with the event - only the second of its kind to be held in the country - drawing over 450 delegates from 10 countries.

The event, which had been significantly delayed following the pandemic, was today hailed a success by the Indian Demolition Association (IDA), which had been planning the conference and exhibition ever since the conclusion of its debut DemTech in 2019.

The IDA said its “Committee Members would like to offer a massive thanks to all those who attended and a deep gratitude to all our sponsors.”

While the association’s first DemTech event in 2019 was described as a path-breaker event, the IDA said its recent second iteration “proves that the Indian demolition industry is in search of avenues to network, connect and grow”.

DemTech 2023 kicked off with a formal introduction by the event’s chief guest, Mr K Subramanian, Executive Vice Chairman of Afcons Infrastructure, and a traditional lighting of a five-wicked lamp to symbolise knowledge, wisdom and the lighting of the way ahead.

Keynote lectures included a joint presentation on the past, present and future of demolition and recycling in India from Mohan Ramanathan, the Chairman and founder of the IDA - who is regarded by many to be the ‘father’ of India’s demolition industry - and Contracts and Project Manager Kate Bester from South Africa-based company Jet Demolition.

Kate also moderated a panel discussion on construction and demolition waste recycling, which focused on why demolition contractors in the region should work to decarbonise their activities.

The panel featured industry experts Amitabh Kishore of Engineers India (EIL), Torsten Ahr of Epiroc, Gerald Badegruber of Rubblemaster, Amol Sinha from Terex, Marcel Venting from Demarec and Deepak Raina of Metso all taking to the stage, alongside IDA Chairman Mohan.

Delegates at DemTech 2023 were also treated to a number of lectures and case studies.

Key topics included the challenges of bridge demolitions, laser welding, controlled demolition and a keynote lecture on the decommissioning, demolition and restoration of offshore structures, delivered by EIL’s Amitabh.

DemTech 2023 concluded with the IDA publicly revealing the name of its next chairman for the first time.

The association announced that Sriram Matte, the founder of engineered demolition specialist Matte & Associates, would take over the role from IDA founder Mohan, its outgoing chairman.