Oversized heavy shears and custom-made excavators will be used to efficiently dismantle the X-333 Process Building at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Portsmouth Site. March 24, 2026
Office of Environmental Management
March 24, 2026
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Massive shears are delivered to the Portsmouth Site. In the background is a view of the west side of the X-333 Process Building, currently undergoing demolition at the Portsmouth Site.
PIKETON, Ohio — Oversized heavy shears and custom-made excavators will be used to efficiently dismantle the X-333 Process Building at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Portsmouth Site. The unique equipment will safely remove steel support beams and heavy-duty process gas equipment, helping ensure demolition success.
“Since the X-333 Process Building served as the entry point for uranium enrichment feed material, the equipment and the building design are larger than the others in the system,” said Federal Project Director Christy Brown. “Likewise, the demolition equipment to downsize the building framework and internal equipment has to be robust and right-sized for the job.”
Securing such equipment for efficient cleanup is an example of how the DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) conducts remediation with urgency and responsibility on behalf on taxpayers. EM strives to complete the cleanup on schedule to help shape the American nuclear renaissance, enabling long‑term economic growth, community revitalization and high‑quality jobs for American workers.
Southern Ohio Cleanup Company Director of Demolition and Balance of Plant Joe Saltsman stands next to oversized heavy shears. The shears will be used to safely and efficiently demolish the X-333 Process Building at the Portsmouth Site.
At more than 56,000 pounds, the shears weigh more than the equivalent of four African bush elephants. They are 9.5 feet wide and 25 feet long, about the size of an orca whale. The jaw opening is approximately 54 inches. In addition to the hefty shears, other attachments will be used to pulverize concrete and manage piles of debris as part of demolition.
“The undercarriage of the carriers that will be delivered for the shears has been widened and reinforced to support a longer reach,” said Joe Saltsman, Southern Ohio Cleanup Company (SOCCo) director of Demolition and Balance of Plant. “The heavier demolition shears will be essential for working at greater heights and will streamline demolition efforts.”
SOCCo is the deactivation and demolition contractor for the Portsmouth Site.
Reinforced excavators are scheduled to arrive this spring. Standard excavators would not be able to safely lift the shears, especially with the extended boom. The specialized equipment will handle the largest materials, and an assembly line of other equipment will reduce the size of remaining debris. Saltsman said the modified units are the only ones of their kind in the world.
Structural demolition of the X-333 Process Building began in September. Teardown of the building will take about five years to complete although there are opportunities to finish the job earlier. X-333, the largest building at the site, covers 33 acres of land and stands 82 feet high.
-Contributor: Michelle Teeters
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