Industrial demolition isn’t just a cost center. Inside every obsolete plant lie tons of recoverable metals that can offset—or even exceed—the teardown budget. Below is an engineer-appraiser’s view of what, where and how much value you can unlock from a typical Soviet-era factory before the first excavator arrives.
1. Steel frame and purlins: the “quick” tonnage
Workshop skeletons from the 1960s use S245 I-beams. Average steel density: 32–35 kg per m² of roof. A 4 000 m² hangar yields about 135 t of structural steel. At the 2025 autumn rate of 5 500 UAH/t, that’s over 700 000 UAH in revenue.
2. Process equipment
- Overhead cranes — 8–12 t each;
- Steam boilers — up to 15 t with brass exchangers;
- Gearboxes & lathes — high-grade cast iron, ±3 t per unit.
3. Utilities and networks
Copper power lines supply 120–160 kg of Cu per 1 000 m² of floor area. Don’t overlook brass valves, aluminium lighting cables and stainless process pipes.
4. Reinforced concrete: hidden rebar
Floor slabs hide up to 120 kg of rebar per m³. After crushing and magnetic separation, even a small block can yield 40–60 t of clean steel plus reusable 0–70 mm aggregate.
5. Maximising scrap revenue
| Stage | Rookie mistake | Best practice |
|---|---|---|
| Cut-out | Random oxy-fuel cutting | Diamond saws & shears → large clean sections |
| Sorting | Dump everything in one bin | Segregate: steel / cast / non-ferrous |
| Sale | One middleman | Bid across 3–4 yards |
Case study: canning plant (2024)
- Structural steel — 158 t;
- Equipment — 96 t steel + 4.3 t copper;
- Rebar — 51 t;
- Total revenue: 1 580 000 UAH (covered 42 % of the demo budget).
Conclusions
A detailed metal scrap audit before signing a contract can cut demolition costs by 30–40 %. Order an independent appraisal or hire a contractor who factors scrap value into the bid.
Ready to gauge your site’s potential? Explore our industrial-demolition services and get a free scrap-value assessment today.