FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH 2025 in the sign of "Quality in demolition"

Europe’s biggest conference on demolition and dismantling brings together over 1,200 attendees, 114 exhibitors and numerous experts in Berlin.

This year the FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH was once again able to live up to its status as the central meeting place for the demolition industry. 114 exhibitors presented their innovative products and services on March 14, 2025 on a net exhibition area of around 1,040 square meters at the STATION-Berlin. The focus of this year’s event was the topic of “Quality in Demolition”. The specialist presentations made it impressively clear that quality in new construction is in many ways inseparable from quality in demolition.

For many years, the FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH has established itself as the most important event in the demolition, recycling and pollutant decontamination industry. Once again this year, the event, organized by the German Demolition Association (DA), featured an impressive industry exhibition, renowned speakers and countless valuable networking opportunities. Over 1,200 attendees from across the industry made their way to the STATION-Berlin. The event attracted not only national but also international experts, who were inspired by the latest innovations and trends.

In his opening speech, DA Managing Director Andreas Pocha warmly welcomed the attendees and expressed his delight at the once again exceptional response. This year, the entire conference program was held under the central theme of “Quality in demolition”. Andreas Pocha emphasized that high quality standards are essential in all areas of the demolition industry today. “Quality standards in new construction are always preceded by equivalent quality in demolition. We know how to do it,” concluded the DA Managing Director

A total of 12 professional lectures by leading experts from the industry shaped the program of this year’s FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH and offered attendees in-depth insights into current trends and challenges. Kristina zur Mühlen, TV presenter and physicist, hosted the entire lecture program. After each presentation, attendees had the opportunity to ask the speakers questions via an online tool.

Wolfgang Grupp: Responsibility and performance of entrepreneurs in Germany

Wolfgang Grupp, the keynote speaker at this year’s conference and owner of TRIGEMA, is an impressive example of entrepreneurial success and is known for his clear and unambiguous words. The audience was all the more eager to hear his perspectives on the topic of “Quality in Germany – responsibility and performance of entrepreneurs in Germany”, which he shared in this important context, and was not disappointed. In his presentation, he argued that the personal responsibility of entrepreneurs and the liability of decision-makers must be brought back into focus. Especially in difficult times, Grupp said, it is crucial for entrepreneurs to act as role models for their employees and to always safeguard the workplace. With personal insights from his own history, including memories of competitive challenges, Grupp made it clear that long-term success and quality can only be achieved through consistent responsibility, hard work and above-average quality standards.

Planning as the key to minimizing risk

Markus Rost from Constructre GmbH then gave a presentation on the importance of good preliminary planning and emphasized why this can make a significant contribution to minimizing risk in demolition projects. Rost presented new tools that have been further developed for the creation of demolition planning and showed how a systematic approach can increase efficiency and safety in the demolition process.

LEAN construction and the path to optimal collaboration

Another progressive presentation dealt with the topic of “LEAN Construction”, a project management approach that promotes a culture of collaboration in (re)construction projects. The focus is on an efficient organization in which everyone involved works closely together to optimize processes and make the demolition of buildings and facilities smooth and resource-efficient. Using the BMW engine plant in Munich as a practical example, speakers Gregor Scherleitner and Stepan Steinberger from PORR Becker Abbruchtechnik GmbH presented the process.

Find a demolition company: Quality instead of cheap

How to find a qualified demolition company was discussed by Dr. Klaus Konertz from Umtec Prof. Biener / Sasse / Konertz Partnerschaft Beratender Ingenieure und Geologen. The expert noted that the cheapest provider is not always the best. Demolition companies should also be selected according to criteria such as professional competence, membership of the German Demolition Association and possession of the RAL quality mark, as these characteristics indicate a high level of quality.

Material flow management and power plant decommissioning: potential and precision

Targeted material flow management, as Louis Delker from LD Umwelt GmbH concluded in his presentation, can unleash enormous potential and lead to a more sustainable use of resources. Thomas Mandrysch from PreussenElektra GmbH shed light on the challenging topic of power plant dismantling. In these projects, it is essential for demolition companies to work with the utmost precision and care, similar to the operation of a nuclear power plant.

Conclusion on the Recycling Congress: A step in the right direction

When summing up the Recycling Congress, which was recently held on the initiative of the DA, Michael Weiß, Chairman of the Recycling and Waste Management Committee, came to the conclusion that recycling works – but only if the regulatory obstacles are removed. The criticism of popular but ineffective niche solutions from politicians was clear. The industry itself must become active to increase the recycling rate in real terms and not just on paper.

Asbestos-containing material and the importance of further training

Another important item on the agenda was the handling of materials containing asbestos. Andreas Fricke from Balance Ingenieur- und Sachverständigengesellschaft drew particular attention to the need for appropriate health care in connection with the Hazardous Substances Ordinance and waste legislation in order to ensure the safety of workers. According to Fricke, the obligation to initiate work in the Hazardous Substances Ordinance is indispensable and its deletion is to blame for the fact that clients are now left alone with the risk assessment.

Perfect blasting: Teamwork for success

In an exciting presentation on the blast of the power plant in Ensdorf, it became clear that the key to success lies in cooperation. Blasting can only be carried out successfully and safely if everyone involved works hand in hand. This was emphasized by Janina Frias from Arcadis Germany GmbH, Clarissa Rapps from Wölfel Engineering GmbH and Michael Schneider from Richard Liesegang GmbH.

Dieter Schnittjer from the German Construction, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering Association (VDBUM) emphasized in his presentation how important it is for contractors and customers to have the same level of knowledge. Targeted further training can help project managers in public administration in particular to build up skills. This contributes significantly to the promotion of efficient construction processes

The more homogeneous the demolition, the higher the recoverability – this was the conclusion reached by Christian Pöppel from KRO Kiesgruben Rekultivierung Oberbayern GmbH in his presentation on “New opportunities for RC recycling thanks to the new DIN 1045-2”.

Which blasting variant is used for which wind energy plant? Johannes Hubrich from Regrata Abbruch und Recycling GmbH answered this question in his presentation, concluding with a presentation on the theory and practice of such blasting demolitions and highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of this dismantling method.

Conclusion: Joint solutions for the future

The conclusion of the event was clear: The best solutions are created when all those involved work together, contribute their expertise to the joint process and focus on high quality standards at all stages. The presentations at the FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH 2025 showed that the challenges of the industry can be mastered through innovation, cooperation and responsibility – for a safe and sustainable future in demolition and recycling

After an intensive day, the dialogue evening proved to be the perfect opportunity for the conference participants to reflect on their impressions of the day. The evening event was visually accompanied by videos of the sponsors and initial photo impressions of the day. In a relaxed atmosphere, there was another opportunity to make new contacts and exchange ideas with potential business partners. The trade exhibition remained open at the same time.

The impressive number of trade visitors illustrates the importance of the conference and the growing interest in the latest developments presented here. The atmosphere throughout the day was characterized by lively exchanges, exciting discussions and a variety of networking opportunities, which provided participants with new perspectives and valuable contacts.

Outlook for 2026

Interested persons can already make a note of the date for the FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH 2026, which will once again take place at STATION-Berlin on March 13, 2026.

You can find the official video of the FACHTAGUNG ABBRUCH 2025 here and many more pictures on the conference website www.fachtagung-abbruch.de/en.