Germany: Siemens completes building demolition purely with electric machinery

The construction site for Siemens’ new Technology Campus in Erlangen is both a building project and a technical test field. Siemens commissioned Volvo Construction Equipment and Metzner Recycling to implement the entire site process fully electrically and with minimal emissions – including logistics, recycling, and machinery integration. As such, the demolition for the new Siemens Technology Campus was “already carried out consistently climate-neutrally,” the project leads emphasise.

Fully electric construction machines from Volvo Construction Equipment formed the core of operations. Metzner Recycling simultaneously ensured “a particularly high recycling rate for building materials, keeping valuable resources in circulation,” according to a project statement. This combination of modern technologies and sustainable processes makes the project a flagship example for the demolition sector.

For context: in July 2023, Siemens announced it would establish a new R&D campus focused on high-tech in Erlangen, investing around €500 million to expand research and manufacturing capacities. According to Siemens, the site will become “a global centre for research and development as well as a nucleus for worldwide technology activities in the industrial metaverse.” The expansion follows a comprehensive sustainability and energy concept.

The new campus in Erlangen is being developed by Siemens Real Estate, the group’s real estate company, together with Siemens Digital Industries. Initial steps included virtual planning and simulation of the new technology campus using a digital twin – even before ground was broken.

Siemens Real Estate also took a new approach in dismantling existing buildings. Fully electric Volvo construction machines dismantled and crushed two buildings with a footprint of 3,300 square metres and a building volume of around 24,700 cubic metres. According to Siemens, around 12,800 tonnes of mineral recycling material were recovered from the electric demolition and reused directly on site for the new build.

Overall, approximately 96 per cent of all materials from the demolished buildings are being reused – for example, as sub-base for floor slabs, as aggregate for concrete, or as raised floor panels that are returned to the manufacturer for refurbishment. Alongside Volvo’s fully electric machinery fleet, emission-free trucks also supported the ongoing demolition process.

“We have set ourselves ambitious sustainability targets as a company and aim to be climate neutral by 2030,” commented Daniel Bechmann, General Manager of the construction project. “Our new builds are already largely CO2-neutral in operation. So, it was a great opportunity for us to make a significant contribution to CO2 reduction on a major construction site together with our competent demolition partners.”

In addition to Volvo Construction Equipment and Metzner Recycling, a number of other partners supported the project, including Volvo dealer Robert Aebi, Husqvarna Construction, Volvo Trucks and Erlangen’s municipal utilities.

Siemens explicitly describes the construction project as a “practical field trial” and a “real learning environment”. The goal is to reduce emissions, avoid unnecessary transport, and use resources efficiently. Electric machinery was used throughout all phases of the project – “from selective gutting and pollutant remediation through to full demolition,” as stated.

Inside the buildings, for example, the fully electric Volvo ECR18 compact excavator and the Volvo L20 Electric wheel loader were deployed. The ECR18 handled precise breaking and removal of concrete and masonry, supported by a Husqvarna DXR145/DXR305 demolition robot, while the L20 Electric transported the removed material out of the building.

For large-scale demolition, Siemens used Volvo’s fully electric EW240 Electric MH material handler and the EC230 Electric crawler excavator to carry out the main dismantling works. The L120 Electric wheel loader then moved the crushed material to a track-mounted electric crusher. The entire process was supported by electrified logistics: “Volvo Trucks transported the processed material away and demonstrated that emission-free material flow is already feasible today, even in urban environments,” the project team reports.

“Our transformation is no longer a vision, but reality”

Volvo Construction Equipment describes this flagship project as another milestone in its transition to emission-free machinery solutions: “Our transformation is no longer a vision, but reality,” states Therese Schmitz-Hillebrecht, Head of Market Area Central Europe at Volvo Construction Equipment. “We are not only developing electric construction machines – we are accompanying our partners on the path to an emission-free future.”

“This project would not have been possible in this form without the close cooperation of all involved,” adds Peter Bauer, Segment Leader at Volvo CE. “Metzner showed the courage to break new ground – and Volvo, together with partners, was able to demonstrate the potential that already exists in electric construction today.” Siemens Real Estate’s openness during project preparation also contributed to its success.

“Taking the first major step towards a fully electric and thus low-emission demolition site as a technical standard is a huge success for us – the Metzner team – and for our clients,” comments Micheal Metzner, Managing Director of Metzner Recycling. According to the initiators, all participants learned valuable lessons: “From machine operators to planners and logistics – everyone was able to familiarise themselves safely with the new technology and the requirements of fully electric construction sites.”

volvoce.com (in German)