Volvo Construction Equipment has provided an all-electric fleet of machines to tackle the world’s first zero-emission deconstruction project in Erlangen, Germany.
Volvo CE deployed the five electric machines to deliver high-performance demolition for Siemens’ €500 million Technology Campus development.
The machines handled everything from selective gutting to concrete crushing to materials transport, supported by electric trucks from Volvo Trucks.
The project is the first full-scale electric deconstruction of its kind, proving that emission-free deconstruction is achievable with the right technology.
“Our transformation is no longer a vision, but a reality,” said Therese Schmitz-Hillebrecht, Head of Market Area Central Europe at Volvo CE. “We don’t just develop electric construction machines; we accompany our partners on the path to an emission-free future. The fact that companies like Metzner and Siemens are joining us on this path is a strong sign.”
The electric machines used on the site include:
- Volvo’s ECR18 Electric compact excavator with hydraulic breaker, which operated inside the buildings performing break-up and demolition of concrete and masonry.
- The L20 Electric wheel loader for transporting the extracted materials from inside the buildings for processing.
- Volvo’s EW240 MH Electric grid-connected material handler was used for exterior deconstruction and handling.
- The EC230 Electric crawler excavator tackled deconstruction, concrete cutting and crusher feeding.
- Volvo’s L120 Electric wheel loader was used to transport materials to and from the electric crusher.
Demolition specialists, Metzner Recycling used the electric machines to deconstruct three buildings across nearly 25,000 cubic metres. Indoors, the compact excavator and wheel loader operated safely and quietly – supported by a Husqvarna DXR145/DXR305 demolition robot – eliminating emissions and the need for air filtration systems and speeding up demolition tasks.
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Outside of the building, electric machines dismantled, crushed and loaded materials directly into a Kleemann electric crusher and screening plant, with a Volvo FM Electric hook lift and a Volvo FH Electric semi tractor from Volvo Trucks transporting materials off-site.
12,800 tons of construction waste
The fleet sorted and processed about 12,800 tons of construction waste. As well, 96 per cent of materials were recycled into raw materials for future use – supporting the shift towards circular materials management and cutting down transport-related costs and emissions.
Power for the job site was provided by a custom on-site transformer, which provided a direct connection to the grid and access to certified renewable electricity. This allowed multiple machines to simultaneously charge, while ensuring a continuous energy supply for the grid-connected equipment.
Operating on an active campus – with nearby offices still in use – the low-noise performance of the electric machines proved a major advantage, minimizing disruption while maintaining productivity.
“The fact that we have now taken the first major step towards an all-electric, low emission dismantling site as a technical standard is a huge success for us – the Metzner team – and our clients,” said Michael Metzner, Owner of Metzner Recycling.
“I get goosebumps when I think about what these machines make possible. Electric equipment could unlock urban projects currently held back by noise and pollution concerns. In fact, we’ve already introduced electric wheel loaders at some of our other sites.”
The new state-of-the-art, 200,000 square-metre Siemens Technology Campus is designed to be zero-emission, adhering to the highest sustainability standards. However, an emission-free deconstruction was not part of the original scope. Instead, it came about through close collaboration between Volvo CE and Metzner and was enthusiastically received by Siemens. “At Siemens Real Estate, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of sustainable construction and demolition,” said Christian Franz, Head of Sustainability at Siemens Real Estate.
