Virtual Onboarding: CM Labs Simulations Expands into Excavator Demolition Training

Demolition is one of the toughest jobs you can hand an excavator operator. It mixes force, finesse, and risk. Fleet managers know this. It's why they crave well-trained demo experts. I have good news for those cravings. Montreal-based simulator specialist CM Labs just rolled out a new demolition training curriculum inside its tracked excavator program. Basically, operators use a cool simulator to learn about safe and efficient demolition techniques on excavators. Sounds like fun, really. The update adds attachments like hydraulic hammers, shear jaws, and grapples. The full package debuts at Conexpo (maybe you’ve heard of it) in Las Vegas the first week of March. From the press release:

“Demolition is exactly the kind of work organizations struggle using traditional training methods,” said Lisa Barbieri, VP of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at CM Labs. “By moving those first critical experiences into simulation, we help customers build confidence and competence before anyone is exposed to jobsite risk or costly mistakes.”

Demolition training without the demolition risk

Demolition training in the field can be messy. There’s really not a great way to do it. Hydraulic hammers throw debris. Shears twist steel. Demolition material reacts unpredictably. CM Labs built its new demolition modules to move those early lessons into simulation. Operators practice attaching and detaching tools using a virtual quick coupler. They break virtual concrete slabs with a hydraulic hammer. Trainees work a shear jaw and transition to a grapple for debris handling. For fleets in demo, urban teardown, or concrete removal, this offers structured practice without burning fuel or breaking iron. From the press release:

“Every strike and cut matters in demolition, and material response is never identical,” said Alan Limoges, Manager of Product Growth and Partnerships at CM Labs. “Our demolition training models concrete fracture and steel cutting based on applied force and contact angle, not scripted outcomes. That realism allows operators to practice the true nuances of demolition work and develop muscle memory that transfers to the jobsite.”

CM Labs expands its tracked excavator curriculum too

This new demolition training pairs nicely with the recent announcement that CM Labs is expanding its tracked excavator curriculum, which includes new advanced trenching scenarios and trench box installation. The simulator now includes unstable soil types that react more like loose real-world ground, which sounds very cool. CM Labs says the training includes some “dynamically unstable soil behavior.” The enhanced curriculum also introduces trench box installation. For organizations focused on OSHA-aligned trench safety, this is a useful tool for reinforcing 5-foot-and-deeper protection protocols in a controlled environment.

AI assistant support for instructors

The tracked excavator curriculum also includes AI Assistant guidance in select exercises. The system provides written and spoken direction during training. I guess the future is now. In some scenarios, it can even briefly demonstrate a maneuver before returning control to the trainee. That’s next-level tech. That feature helps reduce instructor intervention. Fleet managers take notice.

A quick refresher on CM Labs

If you follow Construction Equipment (sign up here to do that), you’ve seen CM Labs before. I’ve worked with them many times over the years. They have always found a way to make serious training feel engaging without turning it into a video game. CM Labs develops simulation-based training systems for construction, utilities, ports, and industrial markets. At the core is its Intellia Workforce Training System, powered by its Vortex Studio simulation platform. Dig that photo above, but there are lots of different systems. 

CM Labs offers multiple hardware configurations:

• Edge Plus desktop systems for portable, entry-level training
• Edge Max compact motion-platform simulators
• Advantage full-immersion simulators with OEM hot-swappable controls
• Master and MasterCab systems for high-fidelity, multi-display environments — these are so badass 

CM Labs reports more than 1,300 installations across 50 countries. Customers range from contractors and training schools to major OEMs. Learn more right over here.