People: Institute of Demolition Engineers; Volumech
Adrian McLean, operations director at Armac Group, has been appointed president of the Institute of Demolition Engineers (IDE), succeeding Vernon Watson.
With over 30 years in the industry, McLean will lead the 400-member organisation during an exciting and challenging time in its 48-year history, focusing on sustainability, the circular economy, and training the next generation of demolition experts.
McLean said: “A big focus will be on improving the IDE member experience through even greater access to best practice seminars, more networking events and increased cross-institutional collaboration with groups outside of our own industry. We also want to communicate better by fully embracing the digital age and increasing the reach of our forums which are so appreciated by our members.
“Every new project tends to start with demolition, and I want to ensure the Institute of Demolition Engineers continues to help its members pave the way for a brighter future.”
Volumech has appointed Steve Cartwright as general manager, which coincides with the first anniversary of its UK headquarters in Wednesbury, West Midlands.
He steps into the role following the six-year tenure of Brandon Hess, who is transitioning to a focus on international sales with Cemen Tech, Volumech’s U.S.-based parent company.
Hess will now concentrate on expanding Cemen Tech’s presence across Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific regions.
Cartwright brings over 30 years of senior experience in the truck and plant sectors to his new role.
He said: “I’m delighted to join Volumech at such an exciting time as we continue to grow our market share of Volumetric Mixers. With our new UK headquarters, including a dedicated concrete testing lab, we can carry out bespoke concrete mix designs along with sampling and testing to suit a range of different projects. The company has made significant investments in technology, staff, and training and has ambitious plans for the next 18 months.”