Controlled Demolition, Inc.

What Controlled Demolition, Inc. does

Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) is a privately held, family-owned explosives demolition contractor founded in 1947 and headquartered in Phoenix, Maryland. The company specializes in controlled implosion of large, complex, and structurally compromised structures across six continents, including high-rise buildings, bridges, marine vessels, chimneys, industrial facilities, nuclear sites, sports venues, and broadcast towers. CDI operates with a small core team (11-50 employees) under three generations of Loizeaux family leadership and has felled thousands of structures since inception, holding multiple world records including the tallest manmade structure ever felled with explosives (2,000-foot WECT Television Tower, 2012) and the largest by volume (Seattle Kingdome).

CDI's technical differentiation rests on proprietary methodologies including the Structural Effects technique used in motion-picture productions (Batman: The Dark Knight, Demolition Man, Mars Attacks!), DREXS (Directional Remote Explosives Severance) for contaminated concrete surfaces, sequenced non-electric initiation systems, and linear shaped charge expertise. The firm holds federal clearances enabling it to perform classified weapons elimination and WMD facility destruction work for the US Department of State (NDF), Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and HUD, including documented engagements in Iraq, Bosnia, Serbia, South Africa, and across Eastern Europe.

The business operates as a project-based professional services firm, functioning either as explosives subcontractor to main demolition contractors or as prime contractor to property owners and government agencies. Revenue is generated through fixed-price contracts for implosion operations, emergency response, conventional demolition and dismantlement, consulting (vibration/noise monitoring, expert testimony, forensic investigation), and structural effects services for film productions. CDI leverages a global network of agents and earned-media channels (Blowdown documentary series, ENR recognition, World Demolition Summit awards) rather than traditional sales infrastructure, and is a member of the National Demolition Association, Explosives Demolition Association, ISEE, IExpE, and NFPA.

Name

Controlled Demolition, Inc.

Legal name

Controlled Demolition, Inc.

Website

https://controlled-demolition.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Controlled Demolition, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned explosives demolition contractor founded in 1947, specializing in controlled implosion of buildings, bridges, nuclear facilities, and towers for federal agencies, utilities, casinos, and entertainment clients across six continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Explosives Demolition Services

NAICS

Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Waste Management and Remediation Services (562)

SIC

Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480)

akta.pro primary industry

Demolition (Structural, Selective/Interior) (IMAFAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Decontamination & Demolition (Decommissioning, Industrial Facility Cleanup) (EUAIALAL), Demilitarization, Disposal & Ordnance Remediation (EOD Support) (IMABAHAM), Marine Casualty Demolition & Disposal (Scrapping, Recycling, Waste Handling) (IMAJANAJ), Underwater Cutting, Demolition & Obstruction Removal (TLAHAIAI)

Keywords

• Explosives demolition
• Structural implosion services
• Nuclear facility demolition
• Emergency demolition response
• Demolition consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Explosives Demolition Services: CDI provides explosives demolition services as subcontractor to main demolition contractors or as prime contractor to property owners and government agencies. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts for implosion operations, typically involving complex structures requiring specialized explosives expertise.
2. Conventional Demolition Services: Post-implosion debris removal and conventional demolition/dismantling services for selected clients including Florida Power and Light. Includes prime contractor roles for demolition and remediation projects.
3. Consulting Services: On-site and site unseen consulting services for property purchase decisions, demolition planning, vibration and noise monitoring, expert testimony, and forensic investigations related to explosions and structural failures.
4. Structural Effects for Entertainment: Motion picture structural effects services for Hollywood productions, providing realistic building collapse effects for films.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Controlled Demolition, Inc. is a commercial explosives demolition contractor that performs controlled implosion of buildings, bridges, chimneys, industrial and nuclear facilities, sports venues, towers, and marine structures using precision-placed explosive charges and sequenced detonation. The company also provides conventional demolition and dismantlement, 24-hour emergency structural response, vibration and noise monitoring consulting, and government weapons-of-mass-destruction elimination services for US federal agencies, complemented by structural effects work for Hollywood film productions.

Product overview

Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) is a commercial explosives demolition company offering a comprehensive suite of demolition services. The core offerings include Explosives Demolition (implosion services for buildings, bridges, chimneys, industrial structures, nuclear facilities, sports venues, towers, and wind turbines), Conventional Demolition & Dismantlement, Emergency Services, Consulting, Government Services (weapons elimination and WMD facility demolition), and Structural Effects & Film Library for motion picture productions. Founded in 1947, the company operates through three generations of the Loizeaux family and has felled thousands of structures across six continents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Explosives Demolition

Quantifiable outcome

• Seattle Kingdome holds Guinness World Record for largest structure by volume ever felled with explosives
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Parallax Film Productions Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007CDI's sister company The Loizeaux Group has been working closely with Parallax Film Productions since mid-2007 on the High Definition 'Blowdown' documentary series aired internationally on National Geographic and domestically on The Science Channel. The series documents CDI's preparation for and felling of select structures around the world.
• The Loizeaux Group, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDI's sister company that brokers all of CDI's public/media relations and documents demolition projects on video. Manages CDI's YouTube channel and public communications.
• Stevens Institute of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientists and engineers at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ built scale models to determine how the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg ship should be scuttled, conducting sink tests using black powder to validate CDI's explosive placement plans.
• British Nuclear GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritish Nuclear Group representatives observed the Trojan Cooling Tower implosion and subsequently contracted CDI for the Calder Hall Cooling Towers demolition at Sellafield nuclear complex in the UK.
• National Demolition AssociationminorOthersCDI is a proud member of the National Demolition Association (NDA) which spends resources to educate regulators and maintain clear lines of communication for the demolition industry.
• Explosives Demolition AssociationminorOthers
• International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE)minorOthers
• Institute of Explosive Engineers (IExpE)minorOthers
• NFPAminorOthers

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AECOM Technical Services: AECOM provides environmental remediation, nuclear decommissioning, and demolition project management across the DOE and DOD complexes. Comparable as a broad incumbent that competes for and oversees the federal programs where CDI delivers explosives work.
• Fluor Corporation: Fluor is a global engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, and decommissioning firm active across DOE, DOD, and nuclear facility work. As a prime contractor managing large federal remediation programs, Fluor both competes with and engages CDI as an explosives subcontractor.
• NorthStar Group Services / NorthStar Demolition: NorthStar specializes in nuclear, radiological, and hazardous materials decommissioning across the DOE complex and commercial nuclear sector. It is a broader-competitor incumbent on the nuclear demolition side where CDI deploys its DREXS technology.

Regional players

• Donjon Marine: Donjon is a leading US marine salvage, dredging, and demolition company with capabilities in marine casualty demolition, wreck removal, and underwater cutting — directly comparable to the marine and underwater dimensions of CDI's work (bridges, piers, vessel scuttling).
• Manson Construction Company: Manson is a US marine and heavy-civil contractor active in marine demolition, salvage, and underwater cutting work. Comparable to CDI on the marine demolition side (e.g., Vandenberg scuttling) and industrial/port infrastructure demolition.
• Keltbray Group: Keltbray is a UK-based specialist demolition contractor that has partnered with CDI on UK projects. Comparable for urban high-rise demolition and decommissioning of industrial structures in the European market.

Direct peers

• Brandenburg Industrial Service Company: Brandenburg is a major specialty demolition and environmental remediation contractor with significant nuclear facility and industrial demolition experience. It competes with CDI for nuclear, DOE, and complex industrial demolition projects across North America.
• Omega Demolition Corporation: Omega Demolition is a leading US explosives and structural demolition contractor with similar capabilities in industrial, bridge, and high-rise implosion. Its scope, certifications, and customer mix place it in close competition with CDI for large-scale implosion contracts.
• DH Griffin Companies: DH Griffin Wrecking Company is one of the largest US demolition contractors performing structural and industrial demolition, often serving as a prime contractor that retains CDI as the explosives subcontractor. Operations overlap heavily with CDI's conventional demolition arm.
• Dykon Explosive Demolition Corp: Dykon is one of the few US commercial explosives demolition firms directly comparable to CDI, performing implosion services for high-rise buildings, bridges, stacks, and industrial structures across the country. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor in the same specialty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGG4oCSX1CB26OeYL6xN1uA
• Facebookinstagram.com/controlled_demolition_inc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/controlled-demolition-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/controlled_demolition_inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Controlled Demolition, Inc.