Milwaukee Tool Announces MX Fuel, a New Battery Platform for Light Equipment

courtesy of Milwaukee Tool

Updated 5/29/20 - Milwaukee has announced official release dates for many of the new light equipment in their new MX Fuel lineup. The original article was published in October of 2019, which should help explain some of the timelines mentioned below.

Back in June of 2019, Milwaukee hosted its annual New Product Symposium (NPS), a media event featuring hundreds of new products that they planned to release throughout the year and Construction Junkie was in attendance.  Just when we thought we were done seeing all of the new tools after several hours of presentations and hands-on time, Milwaukee threw a curveball at us.

After being told to shut down any live streams, we were sworn to secrecy for what they were about to show us until today.  So today, I’m happy to say I’m finally able to tell you about what they revealed almost 5 months ago: a new line of products called MX Fuel.

Milwaukee MX Fuel

To be clear, this is a brand new battery system that is separate from the M12 and M18 lineups.  The M12 lineup has traditionally been used as an ergonomic means to replace hand tools and the M18 lineup has pushed boundaries with the power it has been able to produce with only 18-volts, including a table saws, chainsaw, and a Super Sawzall.

The MX Fuel line isn’t going to be replacing the M18 line, it’s extending the reach of what cordless tools can accomplish and is targeting light equipment. The light equipment category has been mostly filled with gas powered and corded tools for decades and there are not many battery operated options available.

Let’s get to the details…

The MX Batteries

Milwaukee MX CP and XC Batteries and Charger

The battery pack has been a bit of a question mark since the launch event, but we’ve been able to gather some more information about them in the past few days. There will be two batteries: the compact CP battery pack, weighing in at 5.9 pounds, and a larger XC pack, weighing in at 10.6 pounds, both –unsurprisingly- much larger in size and weight than anything Milwaukee has previously offered.

The battery will operate at 72V, but, as Milwaukee tells us, voltage only tells part of the story:

 “While the construction industry has traditionally used voltage to communicate the power and capability of cordless power tool platforms, voltage alone is not a good indicator of capability when it comes to light equipment. For example, most would agree that a fork lift has more “power” than a hand held power tool, but what many people do not realize is that most battery-powered forklifts operate at 48V while there are some handheld power tools at much higher voltages,“ Milwaukee told me after asking for additional information.

The New Equipment

At the launch event, Milwaukee announced 6 new products to kick off their new MX line. As we’ve seen with recent developments of battery powered outdoor power equipment, battery powered tools offer a lot of benefits over gas powered equipment, including emissions reductions for safer use indoor and a lot less noise.  The biggest drawback, however, is run-time and we do not have a lot of information yet on many of the new products below.

MX Fuel 14” Cut-Off Saw (MXF314-1XC)

Since there is no gas to mess with, this saw features an instant start, no emissions, less vibration, and more quiet operation than fuel powered saws. Some runtime specs that Milwaukee told us at NPS (with 2 XC batteries) include 106’ of corrugated decking, 10 cuts of 8” cast iron pipe, 25 cuts of CMU block, and 9 cuts of 8” ductile iron. These numbers, they say, are comparable to a tank of gas on a comparable gas powered saw. There is also a cart with water tank storage for concrete floor slab cutting.

New information 5/29/20: With its recent release, Milwaukee has released additional details about the new cut-off saw, including its cut depth of 5”, RPMS of 5350, and its weight of 32 pounds with XC battery.

Release date: Available now

Price: $1,999 kitted with XC406 battery and charger (additional saw cart (3100) is also available for $999)

MX Fuel Breaker (MXF368-1XC)

Milwaukee tells us that the Breaker, which weighs in at 63.9 pounds, will be able to break over 2 tons of concrete on a single charge (equivalent of a trench that is 40 feet long, 12 inches wide, and 6 inches deep.  They are also touting that it will be the lightest in its class with the lowest vibration.

New information 5/29/20: the new breaker exerts 50 ft/;bs of Impact Energy and 4.9M/s2 of measured vibration, which is up to 70% less vibration than corded breakers in its class.

Release date: Available now

Price: $2,499 kitted with XC406 battery, charger, cart, and 3 chisels

MX Fuel Handheld Core Drill (MXF301-1CP)

Not only can the new handheld core drill core up to 6” diameter cores in reinforced concrete, it also includes a patented clutch design and AUTOSTOP Technology to keep the tool from binding up and preventing injury to the user.

New information 5/29/20: The new handheld core drill comes enabled with Milwaukee ONE-KEY for location tracking and alerts and inventory management.

Release date: Available now

Price: $2,649 kitted with CP203 battery, charger, and carrying case ($3,999 if kitted with stand)

MX Fuel 3600W/1800W Power Supply

If you don’t have to do much work with concrete, this may be the piece of equipment that gets you excited. A few different applications and runtimes that they talked about at NPS included:

• 55” LCD TV for 7+hours

• 605 crosscuts of 2x4 SPF with a corded circular saw

• 600 3” framing nails with a corded compressor

• 30 threaded ends of ¾” black pipe

• Power to run a jobsite microwave

Release date: 3rd Quarter 2020

Price: TBD

MX Fuel ROCKET Tower Light/Charger

There’s no doubt that Milwaukee absolutely dominates the lighting category with their M18 lineup, but this new tower light take their lighting to a whole new level. At its highest, it extends up to 10’ high, provides 27,000 lumens, and can withstand winds of up to 45 miles per hour with its adjustable outriggers.

Release date: 2nd Quarter 2020

Price: $2,999 kitted with battery

MX Fuel Sewer Drum Machine w/ POWERTREDZ

Drum machines are a must for most plumbers that work in maintenance, but they’re big and heavy, which can make them difficult to maneuver up and down stairs without a helper.  The new MX Fuel Sewer Drum Machine features what Milwaukee calls POWERTREDZ, which uses the MX battery to power what look like small, rubber excavator tracks, assisting the user on stairs and on the back of their truck. Milwaukee also says it has the power to clear roots up to 200 feet out.

Release date: 2nd-4th Quarter 2020

Price: $2,899 kitted with CP battery and charger

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These are just the first 6 tools Milwaukee will release on the MX platform…what other gas powered tools would you like to see on the MX line? Tell us in the comments below!

source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2019/10/31/milwaukee-tool-announces-mx-fuel-a-new-battery-platform-for-light-equipment

[VIDEO] This Robotic Suction Cup on Wheels Can Make Window Glazing Easy

The SMartLift SL1008 Outdoor Glazing Robot, via SmartLift

Suction has been a lifting method of choice for window glaziers and other trades that work with smooth, flat objects for decades.  Many of those suction solutions are for manual lifting, but not SmartLift, a robotic glass lifting machine capable of lifting, hoisting, and tilting up to 2,200 pounds of glass.

SmartLift is a battery powered, remote control operated machine on wheels, equipped with several vacuum suction pads to safely lift and move window glazing from storage to its final install location. The company promises increased safety over more traditional methods and a reduced installation time, due to its fully rotational lifting mechanism and side shift capabilities allowing precise placement.

The company operated in Denmark for years prior to importing their machines to the United States in 2016.

Their system is currently offered in 6 different models depending on if you plan to lift indoor, outdoor, or if you’re using a telehandler to install your panels. Lifting capacities range from 837 pounds up to 2,200 pounds and can lift panels to heights from 96 inches up to 173 inches from the ground.  The telehandler attachment is limited by the machine it’s attached to.

You can check out the SmartLift SL1008 Outdoor glazing robot in action in the video below:

The onboard battery can power the machine for up to 30 hours on a single charge and SmartLift says it takes about 8 to 10 hours to fully recharge. Being battery powered, it’s also a suitable choice for indoor or enclosed space work.

As the labor force in the construction industry continues to get older, I’m noticing many lift-assist robotics becoming more popular throughout the country.  In addition to the SmartLift, a company called Construction Robotics has developed a weightless material lifting robot for masons, and there are several manufacturers making wearable exoskeletons for mechanical lift assistance for overhead work, material lifting, asphalt raking, and any other strenuous, repeatable task.

If these types of products can increase the quality of life for hardworking, seasoned tradespeople, many of whom retire with chronic muscle and joint pain, then this should be a welcomed addition to the fleet.

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/5/28/video-this-robotic-suction-cup-on-wheels-can-make-window-glazing-easy

Autodesk Construction Cloud Releases New 3rd Party App Integration Platform, ACC Connect

courtesy of Autodesk

As many across the construction industry have figured out, there is no single software that can fully encompass all of a company’s technological needs. According to a recent Construction Technology survey, nearly 75% of companies are integrating data at from at least 1 other software provider, highlighting the need of different software to talk to one another. Without these integrations, you’re forced to manually transfer redundant data from one program to another, wasting time and energy, while also increasing frustrations for your company’s daily users.

To help ease the integration process for construction companies on their platform, Autodesk has announced the release of Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect (ACC Connect), as well as an expanded partner ecosystem for built-in 3rd party app integrations and several new Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

ACC Connect

ACC Connect will support integrations for all 4 of the flagship programs on the Autodesk Construction Cloud: BIM 360, PlanGrid, Assemble, and BuildingConnected. Evolving from PlanGrid Connect (which was released shortly after their acquisition by Autodesk), ACC Connect will allow users to create their own custom app integrations without the need to write code. Powered by Workato, an automated app integration platform, users can quickly create an “If This, Then That (IFTTT)”-style integration between multiple apps with a few clicks of a button.

For example, the screen shot below shows that if a new or updated document is added into a project folder in BIM 360, then it should trigger a custom action of your choosing in BuildingConnected, Assemble, and PlanGrid.

screenshot of ACC Connect, courtesy of Autodesk

“Transferring data between the applications we use and those used by our clients and subcontractor partners can often be a complex, expensive, and error-prone process,” said Blaine Crawford, director of information technology, C.W. Driver, in a press release. “ACC Connect lets us easily build custom integrations between the solutions used across each of our project teams and workflows so we can streamline our data management, spend more time on project-critical tasks and ultimately drive more productivity.”

Expanded 3rd Party App Integrations and New APIs

In addition to the dozens of pre-built integrations for 3rd party partner applications already available on the Autodesk Partner Ecosystem, Autodesk has announced 15 new integrations for their users, as well as several new APIs

New Integrations for BIM 360 Users

• Agile Handover

• Contecht

• Matterport

• MSuite

• Plannerly

• Reconstruct

• Shedmate

• SignNow

• Allegion Overtur

• StructionSite

New Integrations for PlanGrid Users

• DataStreet

• Extracker

• FACS

• ProjectMates

• Zters

• Allegion Overtur

• StructionSite

Autodesk has also released new APIs for BIM 360 and PlanGrid, allowing users and 3rd party app partners to access more information and increase data security. In BIM 360, Autodesk has added a Permissions API to control what specific project information collaborators can see and a Cost Management API to allow data flow to and from specialized accounting tools. In PlanGrid, partners can now access data from PlanGrid’s recently released Advanced RFIs, Submittals, and Custom Forms APIs.

“Construction projects today involve multiple technology applications serving various team members and workflows,” said Angi Izzi, director of partnerships for Autodesk Construction Solutions, in a press release. “When those applications can’t talk to each other and data becomes siloed, productivity is compromised across workflows. The expansion of our integration capabilities underscores our commitment to driving construction productivity and empowering the industry to collaborate with deeper connections to technologies and teams.”

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/5/27/autodesk-construction-cloud-releases-new-3rd-party-app-integration-platform-acc-connect

Procore Uses Software Data to Gauge Impact of Coronavirus on Construction

Image via Procore

With many states across the country slowly beginning to re-open amid the Coronavirus Pandemic, it’s been interesting to see how the construction industry has reacted. In the past, it’s been extremely difficult to get a firm grasp at how large sectors of the industry are affected by events, but with the influx of data being poured into relatively new technologies, we can start to gain a much clearer picture.

Construction Management software, Procore, has been using high level data put into their system to measure the impact of shelter-in-place orders have had on the construction industry on a state-by-state basis since March 1, 2020. Each week, the company updates their information based upon number of worker hours by state, size of company, and project type to find out who has been the most impacted and who is recovering faster.

It’s extremely interesting and exciting to see that many states have not only posted a positive trend on construction activity, but many are now showing increases versus the week of March 1st for the first time since data began being analyzed.  Obviously, an uptick in late spring is to be expected in a normal year, but was not a guarantee based upon the current situation.

In the last data compilation, Tennessee and Wisconsin showed the two highest increases in activity since March 1st, a 21% and 19% increase, respectively. West Virginia and New York lead the US in largest decrease in activity since March 1, but New York has showed signs of growth for the past few weeks.

Small companies have shown an 8% decrease in worker hours versus March 1, while large companies only show a 1% decrease and medium sized companies show a 2% decrease. In terms of project type, energy projects are facing the largest decrease (16%) as of May 16.

Procore is not the only company to be using data to track impact. OxBlue, a jobsite camera technology company, has been using AI to track jobsite activity across the country.  Since each of these companies still operate off of limited data set, using data from both can give a deeper understanding of the impact the coronavirus has had.

Full story: Jobsite Activity by the Numbers | Procore

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/5/26/procore-uses-software-data-to-gauge-impact-of-coronavirus-on-construction

Hilti Acquires Concrete Sensors, an IoT Concrete Testing Startup

photo courtesy of Hili and Concrete Sencors

The only thing slower than watching paint dry is, well, watching concrete dry.  Proper curing of concrete is extremely important, though, for quality and safety reasons.  Perhaps equally important is proper testing and documentation of the concrete’s strength over time.  In a move to help bolster their digital portfolio, power tool giant Hilti has acquired Concrete Sensors, an internet connected concrete testing startup.

For decades, contractors have filled cylinders on the jobsite with samples of the concrete placed throughout their project and sent those samples to the lab to be tested for quality and strength.  In the past few years, several tech companies have emerged in the space to give contractors quicker and more location accurate data through the use of physical sensors embedded into the concrete. Concrete Sensors is one of those companies.

Concrete Sensors, which was founded in 2015, works in 5 basic steps:

1. Remove the physical sensor from the packaging

2. Scan the sensor into the Concrete Sensors mobile app

3. Install the sensors by zip-tying them onto the rebar (as shown in the picture above)

4. Pour the concrete

5. Collect the data through the app

The sensors give project managers instantaneous data on the temperature, humidity, and strength of the placed concrete on-site, without waiting for lab results to come back. Theoretically, the process should be more accurate, as well, since the cylinders aren’t always kept in the same environment that the concrete was placed and the sensor locations are tracked, eliminating sample mixups.

The move to acquire Concrete Sensors makes sense for Hilti, as their brand and their tools and existing software are ubiquitous with commercial construction and the concrete industry. The company already has ON!Track, for asset tracking; PROFIS Engineering, for designing baseplates; PLT 300, for bringing BIM designs to the field; and TraceFast, which are their traceable fasteners that were announced earlier this year at the World of Concrete.

“This acquisition directly aligns with our strategic priorities to put a greater focus on IoT,” said Martina McIsaac, President & CEO of Hilti North America, in a press release. “Hilti is committed to supporting our customers’ digital transformations. Beyond the strategic rationale and product offering, this is an ideal cultural fit. Hilti and the Concrete Sensors team share a customer-first approach, which is essential. We are impressed by Concrete Sensors’ commitment to innovation and look forward to its continued growth under Hilti.”

Hilti plans to keep the Concrete Sensors office open in Boston, Massachusetts and does not have any current plans to change pricing, product, or support procedures for the company.

You can check out more on Concrete Sensors in the video below:

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/5/22/hilti-acquires-concrete-sensors-an-iot-concrete-testing-startup

Place Your Vote for the Best Construction Podcast of 2020

After a round of nominations, the stage has been set for the 6th annual Best Construction Podcast Competition presented by Construction Junkie. This year we have several familiar faces, as well many new podcasts.

This year, I’m excited to have 12 best podcast nominees, the most the competition has ever seen. Former winners CONEXPO-CON/AGG Radio, The ConTechCrew, and The Lien Zone are back, as well as a many other podcasts that are new to the competition.

Last year, there were 7 nominations for best podcast and the voting booth once again saw record breaking numbers. A couple of our past nominees have unfortunately stopped recording new episodes in the last few months, including The Constructrr Podcast (2 time nominee) and Builtcast (1 time nominee), but the 8 first time nominees will make up for their absence this year.

To find the results of our 5 previous competitions, click the corresponding year: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Voting Rules

To place your vote, fill out the form at the bottom of the page. The voting booth will be open until July 1st, 2020 until 11:59:59pm PST.  After that time, no more votes will be tallied.  Duplicate votes will be disqualified. For more information about each nominee, check out our descriptions below.

The Prize

For the past 3 years, we have offered a prize to the contest's winner. That will continue this year and the winner will once again receive FREE sidebar ad on ConstructionJunkie.com for one full year! That will help your favorite podcast gain hundreds of thousands of impressions every year.

The Nominees

CONEXPO/CON-AGG Radio

Previous nominations: 2018 (winner), 2019 (winner)

Listen to it here: http://www.conexpoconagg.com/visit/conexpo-con-agg-radio-podcasts/

The back-to-back champs are back to defend their crown in 2020, but this year they have a brand new look and a brand new host. CONEXPO/CON-AGG is now hosted by Missy Scherber, owner of T. Scherber and Excavating and @missyscherber on Instagram, took over the show in August of 2019, just a short while after last year’s best podcast competition ended. Given her active industry experience, Missy is bringing a “boots on-the-ground” perspective to the show and interviewing many of the leaders in earthwork and construction technology.

Vote for conexpo/con-agg radio

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The Lien Zone

Previous nominations: 2016, 2017 (winner), 2018, 2019

Listen to it here: https://www.thelienzonepodcast.com

Hosted by Miami construction lawyer, Alex Barthet (@thelienzone), The Lien Zone Podcast, discusses many aspects of the construction industry from a legal point of view.  This weekly podcast, which won our competition in 2017, is a quick listen, with most lasting less than 10 minutes, but that’s all the time Alex needs to inform his audience about each topic.

vote for the lien zone

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The ConTech Crew

Previous nominations: 2016 (winner), 2017, 2018, 2019

Listen to it here: https://jbknowledge.com/thecontechcrew

The ConTech Crew (@TheConTechCrew) is also a previous champion, taking home the title in 2016. Hosted by JBKnowledge CEO James Benham (@JamesMBenham) and a rotating cast of Rob McKinney (@ConAppGuru), Jeff Sample (@IronmanOfIT), and others, the ConTech Crew Podcast takes a weekly deep dive on construction technology topics and interviews the biggest names in construction technology.

vote for the contech crew

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Contracting Coachcast

Previous nominations: 2015, 2017, 2018

Listen to it here: http://contractingcoach.com/

The Contracting Coachcast is the only construction podcast on this year’s list that was also nominated for our very first best podcast competition in 2015.  The long running podcast, hosted by Tony Booth, is published 5 days a week and most are around 20 minutes long.  On the show, Booth discusses a variety of different construction topics, such as pre-bid contracts, general conditions reviews, tracking and monitoring project issues, and improving cash flow.

Vote for the contracting coachcast

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Construction Brothers Podcast

Previous nominations: first time nominated

Listen to it here: https://www.brospodcast.com/

Hosted by 6th-generation builders Eddie and Tyler Campbell, the Construction Brothers Podcast interviews interesting and inspiring guests from all aspects of the construction industry. They also hold the distinction of being the only podcast in the history of this competition to invite me on as a guest (brownie points). Eddie and Tyler currently run a Building Information Modeling (BIM) company called ABSI and bring their rich industry knowledge and friendly personalities to the show each week.

vote for construction brothers podcast

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The Construction Management Podcast

Previous nominations: first time nominated

Listen to it here: http://buildertactics.com/construction-podcast/

The Construction Management Podcast is hosted by industry professionals Damien Edwards and Jason Shipe and bring their years of knowledge and experience from their past and current roles in the construction industry, as superintendents, project managers, and business owners. The duo talk about a ton of interesting and relevant topics for construction managers, like managing clients, dealing with underperforming trades, and QA/QC. I was first introduced to their show when I listened to an earlier episode titled “Ethics,” which I thought was a real and informative examination of the moral gray area that construction can live in.

vote for the construction management podcast

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Grainknockers Podcast

Previous nominations: first time nominated

Listen to it here: https://soundcloud.com/user-192826840

The Grainkockers Podcast is a unique show in our competition this year, because it focuses on the craft of woodworking and tools. Hosted by furniture maker and craftsman, William Patrick, the show features interviews with other makers and tool manufacturers, like Milwaukee Tool, Saw Stop, and “The Wood Whisperer” Marc Spagnuolo. William is an entertaining and knowledgeable guy and a great follow on Instagram (@williampatrickcustoms)

vote for grainknockers podcast

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Bridging the Gap

Previous nominations: first time nominated

Listen to it here: https://bridgingthegappod.com/

With a mission to empower those in the construction industry to better embrace technology, the Bridging the Gap Podcast hosts audio and video interviews with many interesting construction innovators. With so many new innovations and technologies entering the world of construction, host Todd Weyandt leads the discussion with industry experts to help keep you up-to-speed with the latest the industry has to offer.

vote for bridging the gap

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Changing Construction Podcast

Previous nominations: first time nominated

Listen to it here: https://blog.mailmanager.com/new-blog/podcast-najma-dunnett

The Changing Construction Podcast dives into a variety of opportunities affecting the construction industry in the UK, including diversity, digitization, mental health and well-being, and more. While it may be based in the UK, there is no doubt there are many similarities in America’s construction industry and many lessons to be to be taken from our friends across the pond and their industry expert guests.

vote for changing construction podcast

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The Construction Shared Pains Podcast

Previous nominations: first time nominated

Listen to it here: https://www.constructionprogress.org/podcast.html

The Construction Shared Pains Podcast brings 3 leaders in construction technology together to discuss the challenges construction companies face in adopting technology. Host Sasha Reed (@AlohaSasha), field reporter Nathan Wood (@nathancwood), and show producer Dan Smolilo (@Construct_Techy) invite “guest perspectives” on each topic and share their own experiences from their years of experience.

vote for the construction shared pains podcast

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The Mass Construction Show

Previous nominations: first time nominated

Listen to it here: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/anchor-podcasts/mass-construction-show

While the Mass Construction Show admittedly has a Massachusetts lean, the show is applicable to anyone in the industry across construction. Host Joe Kelly features guests from construction companies throughout the country, as well as solo episodes with interesting topics shaping the industry.

vote for the mass construction show

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In The Blue - A Podcast About All Things Bluebeam

Previous nominations: first time nominated

Listen to it here: https://uscad.com/resources/in-the-blue-podcast/

For those that might not know, Bluebeam is a construction industry favorite for reviewing construction documents and PDF markup. The show is hosted by members of the technology provider and Bluebeam Platinum Partner, US CAD, so they bring some clout themselves, as well as inviting guests from the industry on to share their perspective on the software.

vote for in the blue

Vote here for your favorite Construction Podcast!

The voting booth will be open until 7/1/20 at 11:59:59pm PST, so cast your vote and share with your friends to help your favorite podcast get some great notoriety!

Best Podcast? *

Choose your favorite podcast to cast your vote! CONEXPO-CON/AGG Radio The ConTechCrew The Lien Zone Podcast The Contracting Coachcast Construction Brothers Podcast The Construction Management Podcast Grainknockers Podcast Bridging the Gap Changing Construction Podcast The Construction Shared Pains Podcast The Mass Construction Show In the Blue - A Podcast About All Things Bluebeam

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Choose "yes" if you would like to receive our email newsletter to be the first to hear about product giveaways and construction news, tools, technology, and more! Choose "no," if you are not interested. Yes No

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/5/19/place-your-vote-for-the-best-construction-podcast-of-2020

Autodesk Announces BIM 360 Assets For Easier Material, Fixture, and Equipment Tracking

photo courtesy of Autodesk

For many, the most satisfying part of construction is seeing all of your hard work physically come to life as the project nears completion.  The worst part? Going back to the project afterwards to fix quality issues.  To help ease the pain of that process, Autodesk is offering a new Assets Module on its BIM 360 platform to more efficiently track relevant information for materials, fixtures, and equipment.

BIM 360 Assets aims to create a single source of truth for tracking all of your construction assets from the beginning to end of the project. As a project manager, there’s no sweeter sound than “single source of truth.” That’s one of the reasons I love electronic drawings…it’s hard to use the wrong version when they’re all updated in real time and available in the field.

In relation to Assets, a “single source of truth” entails tracking the flow of materials and equipment, installation status, cut sheets, training materials, certifications, and warranty documents, as well as aligning those assets with your project’s BIM model.

In my personal experience as a project manager and a facility maintenance manager, it’s not an easy task to find cut sheets, training materials, and warranty information after installation.  Most of the time, the package with all of that information is never opened and thrown away immediately. One of the coolest things Assets will offer is the ability to scan a Barcode of QR code with a mobile device to pull up the history of a specific piece of equipment.

As we all are painfully aware, even brand new equipment can come with issues from the factory or even issues from improper installation. BIM 360 Assets helps you keep a log of those issues, which can assist in resolving issues in the future or even minimizing risk and litigation.

Of course, contractors are not the only group that can benefit from utilizing Assets, owners can gain valuable insights for lifecycle costs and build a maintenance history after the project is complete.  That’s a strong selling point that a contractor can add to the project to differentiate themselves from the competition.

"The world in which we live today underscores the importance of resiliency, including project and data continuity," said Sameer Merchant, head of research and development for Autodesk Construction Solutions and associate vice president at Autodesk, in a press release. "For project owners and contractors, this means spreadsheet-based asset tracking must evolve into a single source of truth for all assets, accessible by all teams at any time. BIM 360 Assets will improve both day-to-day workflow and handover, and subsequently become a part of any successful company's future resiliency program...”

The Assets module will be available in mid-June 2020 and will be included in the BIM 360 Build subscription.

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/5/17/autodesk-announces-bim-360-assets-for-easier-material-fixture-and-equipment-tracking

No Anchorage Point, No Problem with This Mobile Fall Protection Solution

courtesy of Malta Dynamics

Not only are falls the most common cause of workplace fatalities in construction, but fall protection is continually the most common OSHA violation.  One of the excuses for lack of fall protection that I hear the most is the lack of a proper spot for an anchorage point.  Finding anchorage points can definitely be a struggle in certain circumstances, which is why I was intrigued when I found the Malta Dynamics Mobile Grabber recently.

courtesy of Malta Dynamics

The Malta Dynamics X Series Mobile Grabber is a mobile fall protection device that provides an overhead anchorage point for those exact situations. The system is road-towable, has a relatively quick setup time, and can even be moved by a forklift for indoor use.

The Mobile Grabbers are currently offered in 4 different models, allowing a range of 2 users at one time up to 5 users, and an anchorage point height from 22 feet to 34 feet. Each anchorage point has a capacity of at least 310 pounds.

If a worker happens to fall while anchored to the Mobile Grabber, a person on the ground can quickly and easily lower the arm to safely return the fallen worker to the ground.

In addition to fall protection, the machine can also be outfitted with a rescue/retrieval device to safely raise or lower workers into or out of confined spaces. Other features and accessories include solar panels for power, hydraulic jacks, a wireless control remote, a strobe light, and generator mount.

To see what the Malta Dynamics X Series Mobile Grabber looks like in action, check out the video below (the good part starts at the 1:12 mark):

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/5/18/no-anchorage-point-no-problem-with-this-mobile-fall-protection-solution

Riskcast Adds Time & Material Module to its Productivity and Forecasting Platform

Offering a time and material (T&M) quote can be a great way to quickly agree to terms on a project with a tight timeline, which can be a perfect solution for the uncertain times we’re currently in.  On the other hand, T&M can be a source of heartburn for owners and contractors, because costs can come as a surprise by the end of the project, which can lead to disputes.

Besides consistent communication, the best way to alleviate those concerns is to keep close track of labor hours and material costs and being able to provide proper documentation to the GC or owner. To allow for much easier and organized documentation, Riskcast has recently released a new T&M Module on their productivity and forecasting platform.

For those unfamiliar with Riskcast, you can check out my overview of their software and my interview with the co-founders by clicking or tapping here.

Several included features on the T&M module include:

• Tracking Ticket Status

• Capturing Comments and Revisions

• Auto Populating Information

• Signing and Distributing Copies

• Creating Invoices

“Due to the stop-and-start nature of construction work right now, we expect T&M to take a more prominent role as budgets and timelines are reevaluated and restructured,” said Alec Thomson, Co-Founder and CEO of Riskcast, in a press release.  “We accelerated the release of this tool to help crews who are working to serve needs created by the coronavirus - like emergency temporary facilities - and for crews who are going to head back to work to find their projects significantly changed.”

On its first project, it was put to great use on a temporary FEMA hospital build at Stony Brook University in New York. With the clock ticking, the 1000+ hospital bed facility was completed with a crew of over 300 people working around the clock for 20 days.

In addition to the T&M Module, Riskcast also recently announced fee access to its platform for 90-days as a way to help contractors navigate through the coronavirus pandemic.

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source https://www.constructionjunkie.com/blog/2020/5/12/riskcast-adds-time-amp-material-module-to-its-productivity-and-forecasting-platform

cambridge crawler cranes

Punishment statements are far fetched: I can give you a made to order catastrophe list including sick fitting gear, wrong estimated structures, cambridge crawler cranes total task disappointments and a large group of different detestations to alarm you and don't imagine that punishment provisos will make all the difference, they won't and no one will contact them on the off chance that they are nonsensical in addition to there will more likely than not be a charge to you for them. Except if you have a datum point, a negligible position, arranging out your distribution center is simply going to be a dangerous incline as opposed to that extraordinary improvement you need. How at that point do you make a positive begin to get incredible incentive for cash and simultaneously accomplish a significant venture that conveys past desires?

The key idea and working arrangement: My first proposal is to pick the right hardware, this implies your dealing with gear. Now I would recommend you discover a materials dealing with engineer with a deliberate measure of silver hair. A slip-up now will see you purchase or fabricate your distribution center an inappropriate size. Choose what your littlest stock size will be and locate a reasonable chronicle framework to show a business framework around. You would now be able to design out your warehousing gear and frameworks including all the entrance hardware and the picking frameworks you will require. In the event that you as of now have a distribution center or modern unit this is your opportunity to improve, overhaul or supplant - don't miss it! Initially consider the executives coordinations - very separated from overhauling and turning HGV's round in your yard, you could simply subcontract the entire warehousing activity out or acquire experts to assist you with setting up. In the event that you are a developing SME, at that point attempt a portion of the huge administrators, they may loan you individuals to support you, particularly on the off chance that you are giving them traffic. For littler agents the most significant thing is a decent area, shorter separations mean not so much expenses but rather more chances. Distribution centers are represented by cubic volume. There are a few different ways to boost this, beyond any reasonable amount to investigate in this article however here are some essential stockroom arranging ideas. Which of these announcements do you concur or differ with? (Answers toward the finish of this article)

It is constantly less expensive to go up as opposed to out.

Narrow walkway (VNA) is the most proficient utilization of room.

Mezzanine floors are best set up by the developer when the distribution center is assembled..

Recycled mezzanines are acceptable incentive for cash..

Bed racking can be fitted in any distribution center application.

In the event that I have an uncompromising solid cover in my yard I can jolt any steel distribution center straight on to it.

I needn't bother with arranging consent for PVC clad tent structures particularly if this distribution center withdraws.

I needn't bother with arranging assent on the off chance that it is just an impermanent stockroom structure.

You will consistently show signs of improvement work in the event that you utilize a modeler to plan and fabricate your distribution center.

a half year is all that anyone could need time to plan and assemble another stockroom.

Understanding your expert arrangements and what they do: Your unit of room and your unit of profitability, I ensure, will oversee the whole structure of your business - do you know what yours is? Displaying your business is the most ideal approach to resolve a large number of the issues you will experience. By receiving such a technique you will rapidly observe, bit by bit, just precisely how your undertaking will fit together from preparing, working and resourcing your whole warehousing activity, yet how would you transform it into the real world? A key contractual worker will assemble all that you need. Except if your task is over £5m you would likely be in an ideal situation with a specialist who works for you legitimately. Planners will extend oversee as will auxiliary specialists, as often as possible cooperating to convey a task.

They do embrace such fills in as their meat and potatoes assignments however it isn't typically so case explicit. Warehousing includes frameworks and gear that often requires expert information on such a scale, that without it from the earliest starting point your venture will have genuine data holes. Indeed, even the essential temporary workers utilize these masters as do different experts however for little ventures you will pay more for these additional offices on the off chance that you collect your prompting group in the incorrect manner. Somewhat like heading off to an inappropriate specialist, who at that point chooses to work since he is a specialist. Much the same as specialists it is extremely critical to get the effectively gifted proficient to deal with your case.

Picking the correct Warehouse Equipment - What you have to know

Forklift Trucks: A fork truck on normal will deal with around 125 beds a move - that is one each 3.84 minutes, there are a wide range of methods for displaying this data yet on the off chance that you are accomplishing anything like this proportion you have an extremely bustling forklift driver.

Racking: Racking can go up to 12m or something like that, numerous plants will slice it to any length you need. Anyway 6m is frequently the standard tallness since they must be painted and the paint broilers are vertical with the goal that stature is the overseeing factor. Pre-excited steel is constantly a decent decision in the event that you are experiencing difficulty with high one piece casings and need to abstain from joining costs. 6m is a brisk turn round stature and with outlines this tallness you can store around 10 beds in a 2.7m width or 15 euro beds since they are 800mm wide.

VNA (extremely restricted passageway): will have path widths down to 1,200mm. At this width your £40,000 to £60,000 truck will be guided, you can have 'man up' or 'man down' and you need a set down zone for picked work and feeder trucks which are on the whole additional activities. on the off chance that this is the appropriate response you can get little canister picker frameworks which work rapidly, in high thickness stockpiling frameworks yet these are generally large cash things.

Expert Forklift Trucks: Articulated trucks presently assume an extremely huge job and work in walkways of 1750mm upwards and need almost no moving space. They will perform various tasks and have both electric and IC power units. There are two market pioneers and a third contender who has a truly impressive and experienced building asset over the materials dealing with industry.

Cash: Some vendors are truly adept at fitting funds if there is pressure on money - never let money be an issue, recall this is the same amount of part of business the board as your stockroom based business.

Stock control: Once you have picked a decent distribution center truck the racking is simple. Anyway recollect the unit of room I discussed before, this is the point at which you need it. It characterizes picking, pressing and delivery, also benefit. It directs the idea of the warehousing activity. In the event that your in unit is 6m x 500mm x 500mm and your out unit is 6m x 50mm x 50mm or sub divisions of the 6m chop down into littler bits, at that point your capacity and picking activity is administered by that. In the event that you, at that point have 4,000 stock lines, titles, hues, loads and so on then you should do this for every variation.

Warehousing and stock handling: Any preparing of stock requires thought. Mezzanines are acceptable individuals space and staggered/level racking frameworks likewise give high thickness, great hierarchical offices. Work stations are not an untimely idea and effectively determined and fabricated are equipped for putting their own expense back in to your bank each hour of the day.

Make sure to design your lighting appropriately and consider great recognizable proof frameworks directly from the beginning. The more you can de-aptitude, the more effective you will turn out to be, in any case when Harry the warehouseman is off and is the main individual who realizes where everything is, you could experience difficulty.

From new it isn't difficult to burn through £1,000 per square meter when you are operational, half of which will be the shell, the land is extra. You can reach out from under £280/sq.m. The shell just (over the ground) will be around £180.00 of this.

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G P NATIONAL CRANES LTD

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CB1 7EB, United Kingdom

Phone: (01223) 212389

Email: gp@gpnationalcrane.co.uk

Official Site: https://gpnationalcrane.co.uk/