GNAT UK

Case Studies

Method-led delivery, proven on site.

Selected projects across refractory, listed-building, infrastructure and specialist civils — where the method was the difference between a workable programme and a stalled one.

Each case study below describes a scheme where the brief demanded more than a generic demolition approach: confined access, structurally sensitive surroundings, COMAH-regulated or live operations, Grade-listed building constraints, or programmes tight enough that the wrong method would have lost the client weeks. The projects span GNAT UK's full discipline range — Robotic Demolition with the Brokk and Husqvarna fleet, Hydrodemolition with Aquajet equipment, Diamond Wire Cutting and Concrete Sawing, and Abrasive Cold Cutting in volatile environments. Sectors covered include COMAH-regulated industrial sites, water infrastructure (including current AMP8 delivery), highways and bridge structures, refractory and process- industry vessels, listed buildings, and offshore decommissioning.

Use this as the technical record. If your scheme has any of the same constraints, the methods that worked on these projects will tell you what a workable approach looks like — and which approaches to rule out.

Brokk robotic demolition machine debricking a large refractory vessel

Project · 1 October 2025

Precision Cold-Cutting & BROKK Debricking within the Complex Geometry of a Large Refractory Vessel

A highly complex project: precision abrasive cold-cutting on a massive industrial vessel, followed by a full robotic debricking of its interior.

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HILTI wire sawing equipment cutting bulk concrete sections in a turbine hall

Project · 2 December 2024

Turbine Hall Decommissioning — Bulk Concrete Cutting with HILTI Wire Sawing

Decommissioning of a Turbine Hall is proceeding smoothly, thanks to GnatUK's skilled HILTI concrete wire-sawing team — bulk concrete sections cut, craned out and removed in sequence.

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The Elementis chromium kiln building exterior — the industrial process plant where the six-kiln refractory strip-out was delivered

Project · 1 July 2024

De-bricking a Contaminated Chromium Kiln with Brokk Robotics

Seven Brokk robots stripped 200 tonnes of contaminated brick lining from six rotating kilns at an Elementis chromium plant over six months.

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Pair of Brokk 800 demolition robots with Atlas Copco hydraulic peckers tackling reinforced concrete foundations

Project · 26 April 2024

Twin Brokk 800s with Atlas Copco Peckers Tackle Reinforced Foundations

A pair of GnatUK Brokk 800s with Atlas Copco hydraulic peckers cutting through heavily reinforced concrete foundations.

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Brokk robot deconstructing concrete infill inside a sealed Beeching-era railway arch

Project · 8 November 2023

Railway Arch Refurbishment for a Safer Pedestrian Walkway

Brokk robots and Hilti track saws cleared a sealed Beeching-era railway arch to open a new pedestrian walkway, finishing three days early.

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Husqvarna DXR140 robot deconstructing the reinforced concrete silo at Shropshire's Ditherington flax mill

Project · 2 August 2023

Top-Down Deconstruction of the Shropshire Flax Mill Silo

Husqvarna DXR140 robots on mast climbers deconstructed a 21m, 500-tonne reinforced silo from the inside out at the Grade I listed Ditherington flax mill.

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Two Brokk 800 demolition robots breaking out reinforced concrete foundations in a basement

Project · 31 July 2023

Twin Brokk 800 Robots Tackle Heavy Basement Foundations

A diesel and a 3-phase electric Brokk 800 were craned into a basement to peck out heavily reinforced concrete foundations in record time.

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Top-down robotic demolition in progress on the Leeds tower — Brokk excavator perched on a partially-deconstructed rooftop floor, GNAT UK operator in orange hi-vis and full harness watching from the working edge with the Leeds residential rooftops stretching out behind

Project · 20 July 2023

Top-Down Robotic Demolition of a 19-Storey Leeds Tower

Husqvarna and Brokk robots deconstructed a 19-storey Leeds city centre tower from the top down, working alongside Bobcats to clear concrete and rebar.

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Brokk 800 Diesel robot removing solidified oil sludge from an oil storage tank after abrasive cold cutting access

Project · 12 June 2023

Cold Cutting and Brokk 800 Clear 2000m³ of Solidified Oil Sludge

Abrasive cold-cutting opened a safe access route into a volatile oil tank so a Brokk 800 Diesel could remove over 2000m³ of solidified sludge.

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Husqvarna DXR140 robot inside a 40-degree Archimedes screw trough excavation — green algae-stained walls of the operational asset, twin work-lights illuminating the working face, concrete screed being selectively removed

Project · 1 January 2023

Concrete Screed Removal on a 40-Degree Archimedes Screw Trough

A Husqvarna DXR140 robot with hydraulic pecker safely deconstructed concrete screed inside an Archimedes screw trough on a 40-degree incline.

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Brokk 60 robot breaking out tunnel benching inside a 1.5 metre diameter sewer pipe

Project · 31 December 2022

Tunnel Benching Deconstruction in a 1.5m Sewer with Brokk 60

A compact Brokk 60 broke out tunnel benching inside a 1.5m diameter sewer for Active Tunnelling Ltd, eliminating the HAV risk of hand-held breakers.

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Aquajet hydrodemolition robot and Hilti diamond wire saw working on concrete plinths in a car factory floor

Project · 30 December 2022

Hydrodemolition and Diamond Wire Sawing for Car Factory Floor Refurbishment

Aquajet hydrodemolition robots and Hilti wire saws worked in tandem to isolate and refurbish concrete plinths in a North East car factory.

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Aquajet hydrodemolition robot chasing precision rebates into a factory concrete floor

Project · 28 October 2022

Hydroblasting Precision Rebates into a Factory Floor

Diamond floor sawing and an Aquajet hydrodemolition robot cut 2500m of clean 100mm x 50mm rebates after percussive breakers had failed.

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Hilti WS15 diamond wire saw cold-cutting a live 1.6m diameter steel sewer flume pipe in Glasgow

Project · 27 April 2022

Diamond Wire Sawing Live Sewer Flume Pipes in Glasgow

Hilti WS15 wire saws cold-cut three sections of live 1.6m steel sewage flume in central Glasgow, each isolation completed in just over an hour.

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Robotic hydrodemolition equipment removing damaged concrete from a city bridge deck

Project · 27 March 2022

Robotic Hydroblasting for City Bridge Deck Renovation

Robotic hydrodemolition at up to 36000 psi removed 150mm of damaged concrete from a busy arterial city bridge deck with minimum downtime.

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GNAT UK HILTI diamond sawing team isolating a large reinforced concrete slab

Project · 23 March 2022

Diamond Sawing a 2.6m × 2.6m × 575mm Reinforced Concrete Slab in One Shift

GNAT UK's HILTI diamond sawing team isolated and removed a 2600 × 2600 × 575mm reinforced concrete slab in a single shift.

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Brokk 330 robotic demolition machine deployed inside a factory roof void — GnatUK-branded plant in the foreground with Atlas Copco steel shears attachment, hi-vis operator observing remotely, twisted pipework being severed in the dimly-lit industrial space

Project · 28 February 2022

Brokk 330 with Steel Shears Removes Factory Roof Pipework

A Brokk 330 fitted with Atlas Copco steel shears selectively removed a tangle of steel pipework from a factory roof — extended reach eliminated the need for scaffolding towers.

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HILTI track saw cutting through reinforced concrete floor in a Leeds factory refurbishment

Project · 25 February 2022

Leeds Factory Floor Refurbishment: HILTI Track Saws and Robotic Demolition

HILTI track saws cut cleanly through selective areas of factory concrete floors before Husqvarna and Brokk robots pecked out the bulk concrete for rebar/concrete renewal.

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Aquajet hydrodemolition robot deconstructing a motorway bridge parapet

Project · 6 December 2021

Aquajet Hydrodemolition Robot Deconstructs a Motorway Bridge Parapet

An Aquajet hydrodemolition robot deconstructing a motorway bridge parapet prior to refurbishment.

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Conjet hydrodemolition robot stripping degraded concrete from a North Sea jetty deck

Project · 1 December 2021

Conjet Hydrodemolition on a North Sea Coastal Jetty

A Conjet hydrodemolition robot stripped degraded concrete from a working North Sea jetty deck while preserving steel substructures and the marine environment.

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Adapted Brokk 330 'Fillie' demolition robot mounted inside a 9 metre diameter TBM at the Farnworth Tunnel

Project · 18 May 2021

Brokk 330 'Fillie' on the Farnworth Tunnel TBM Re-Bore

Gnat's adapted Brokk 330 ‘Fillie’ worked 24/7 inside Britain's largest active TBM, helping remove 30,000 tonnes of material from the Farnworth Tunnel.

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Diamond track saw cutting through a heavily reinforced Bank of England vault wall in a Grade I listed London building

Project · 10 May 2021

Diamond-Cutting a Bank of England Vault in a Grade I Listed Building

Track sawing and stitch drilling deconstructed a heavily reinforced Bank of England holding vault inside a 16th-century Grade I listed London building.

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Diamond track saw cutting through a reinforced concrete walkway above York's Rougier Street

Project · 9 April 2021

York Rougier Street Walkway Removal by Diamond Sawing

Diamond track sawing and stitch drilling removed three reinforced concrete walkways above York's Rougier Street, finishing 20 weeks ahead of schedule.

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A scheme that needs solving early?

Tell us what you're dealing with — restricted access, live operations or sensitive structure. We'll define the right method and machine.