Tag Archive for 'construction'

In Response to President Obama’s Infrastructure Bank

Published on September 7, 2010 in Daily Dirt. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Dennis Slater, AEM President

Statement from Dennis Slater, President of Association of Equipment Manufacturers

America’s equipment manufacturing industry applauds the President for recognizing the vital importance of infrastructure investment to the long-term strength and competitiveness of our country. What America needs – and what voters want – is the Administration and Congress to work in partnership right now to finally pass a transportation reauthorization bill that will address longstanding safety and quality issues, and put Americans back to work.

Investing in the rebuilding and modernization of our nation’s roads, railways, runways and transit systems is a strategy that Democrats and Republicans alike should be clamoring to support.  Instead, Congress has let a six-year bill expire while America falls behind other nations that are building infrastructure for future competition in the global marketplace. In the short term, this has and will continue to cost American jobs. In the long-term, it will cost us our competitive advantage – and even more jobs.

While the President’s plan for an Infrastructure Bank and increased capacity in our infrastructure system is an important step, Congress has the opportunity to act now on transportation reauthorization that will result in immediate job creation.  We need a strategic vision for modernizing our country’s infrastructure, and leaders with the courage to make it happen.  We need Congress to pass a transportation bill, and they need to come together on a robust, multi-faceted and sustainable way to pay for it, including consideration of a user fee increase.  Maybe this is not the most popular policy stance in an election year, but there is no such thing as a safe road built by American workers for free.

Editor’s Note:

Site-K Construction Zone has been posting information and comments about the country’s need for a new transportation bill. One, that had been based on a couple of years of intense research and addressed the immediate and long term transportation needs of the country by congressman James L. Oberstar and his committee, has been put on hold a couple times since the last bill,  SAFETEA-LU, expired on September 30, 2009. A year and billions of dollars have been wasted and more debt created while we as a nation sit and wait… A comprehensive transportation bill would be a step in the right direction. Congress doesn’t have to wait until December to pass one. Now would be a good time…

GS

Group Goetz Architects Promotes Franck Le Bousse, DPLG To Principal

Published on September 7, 2010 in Construction and Daily Dirt. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Group Goetz Architects (GGA) is pleased to announce that Franck Le Bousse, DPLG has been promoted to Principal. In his five years with GGA, Mr. Le Bousse has worked on a wide variety of projects within the firm, including such notable projects as the Herbert C. Hoover Modernization, National Aquarium in Washington, DC, the Embassy of Liechtenstein and the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation HQ. Mr. Le Bousse is a proven leader who is motivated by design excellence, a commitment to outstanding client service and a passion for collaboration.

Mr. Le Bousse is an award-winning architect who has a diverse and international portfolio of projects. His versatile design skills allow him to implement provocative ideas in simple and elegant solutions for projects including major national civic buildings, residential developments, medical facilities, office building interior designs, landscape and furniture design.

Prior to working at GGA, Mr. Le Bousse worked as an Architectural Lead Designer in Chile, Germany and France. Throughout his 16 years in architecture, Mr. Le Bousse led diverse project teams and is recognized for clear and concise communication with clients supported by simple graphic documents. Mr. Le Bousse’s strong leadership has brought projects such as the Embassy of the Principality of Liechtenstein, the New Interpretive Center at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville, France, the Gala Hispanic Theatre in Washington, DC, the Cancer Care Center in Seaford, DE and the Federal Ministry of Economy in Berlin to completion. Mr. Le Bousee received his Bachelors of Architecture from Ecole d’Architecture de Bretagne in Rennes, France and studied at the International Laboratory of Architecture and Urban Design in Urbino, Italy and the Instituto Universitario di Archittetura di Venezia in Venice, Italy.

“During his tenure at GGA, Franck has demonstrated his abilities as a highly regarded professional, an effective problem solver and communicator and as a strong leader, said Lewis J. Goetz, FAIA, FIIDA, President and CEO of Group Goetz Architects. “Mr. Le Bousse is a tremendous asset to the firm and we are proud to make him a Principal.

Lincoln Electric To Hold Pipeline Welding Seminar In October

Published on September 7, 2010 in Industry Activities. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Lincoln Electric is offering a free Pipeline Welding Seminar intended for contractors and professionals in the pipeline industry. The two-day session will take place on Monday, October 11 from 1-5 p.m. and Tuesday, October 12 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Lincoln Electric’s corporate headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.

With the growing demand in energy markets, rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and construction of new cross-country and subsea pipelines will continue to increase. The seminar will focus on these topics, as well as new solutions for overall improved safety, productivity and quality.

Topics will include:
- Solutions to common pipeline welding challenges 
- Understanding hydrogen cracking and how to minimize it 
- Effects of welding essential variables, including heat input, on weld metal properties

The session will also include a guest speaker from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Sessions will be followed by welding demonstrations on the latest pipeline welding techniques, equipment and consumables. Tours of Lincoln’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities will also be included.

For more information on this free informational seminar or to reserve a spot, contact Lincoln Electric at (216) 383-8355. Space is limited, and the deadline to register is Friday, October 1.

The Lincoln Electric Company, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, fume extraction equipment and plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment. The company holds a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. For more information, visit their Web site at www.lincolnelectric.com

Milwaukee Introduces New Generation of Lithium

Published on September 1, 2010 in Equipment & Products. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Milwaukee Electric Tool revolutionized cordless power tools by introducing the world’s first Lithium system, and began the industry-wide transition from NiCad to Lithium. As the clear leader in cordless battery development, Milwaukee noiw introduces the next generation of Lithium technology. REDLITHIUM™ batteries will provide unmatched run-time, performance and durability for the professional tradesman.

Fully compatible with all M12™ and M18™ cordless products currently available, the new REDLITHIUM™ batteries will provide up to 40% more run-time, 20% more power and 50% more recharges than other Lithium products. The new technology will also operate in extreme temperatures as low as 0°F/-18°C and will run 20% cooler with fade free power and no memory effect. In short, users are able to instantly upgrade the performance, run-time and durability of the M12™ and M18™ tools they already own, simply by switching to the REDLITHIUM™ battery packs.

“We are dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that re-define end-user productivity, and will continue to raise industry standards for cordless performance and reliability,” says Steven Richman, president of Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation. “Milwaukee REDLITHIUM™ batteries provide an exclusive integration of chemistry, cell design, construction and electronics to optimize the user’s experience and ultimately make users more productive on the jobsite.”

In the Fall of 2010, Milwaukee will introduce eight new cordless products* powered by REDLITHIUM™. Users will then see a full transition to REDLITHIUM™ batteries throughout all Milwaukee cordless products; including 30 unique products and 68 total offerings on theM12™ system, 25 unique products and 60 total offerings on the M18™ system and 15 unique products and 26 total offerings on the M28™ system.

REDLITHIUM™ Advantage:

Performance

Up to

·         40% More Run-Time

·         20% More Speed

·         20% More Torque

·         Fade Free Power

Durability

·         Operates Down to 0°F/-18°C

·         Runs 20% Cooler

·         Up to 50% More Recharges

·         No Memory Effect

*New Cordless Products Launching in 2010 with REDLITHIUM™ Battery Technology:

2432-20 M12™ ProPEX Expander

2330 M12™ Heated Jacket

2411-20 M12™ Hammer Drill Driver

2458-20 M12™ Palm Nailer

2426-20 M12™ Multi-Tool

2632-20 M18™ ProPEX Expander

2682-20 M18™ 5-3/8” Metal Saw

2615-20 M18™ Right Angle Drill

Navman Introduces Integrated On- And Off-Road Fleet Tracking With Qtanium 300 GPS Tracking Device For Off-Road Construction Vehicles

Published on September 1, 2010 in Equipment & Products. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Navman Wireless today released the Qtanium 300, a GPS tracking device for all makes and models of off-road construction equipment that is designed for use with the company’s OnlineAVL2 fleet tracking and management system. Engineered and built from the ground up to operate in extreme off-road conditions, the unit’s integration with OnlineAVL2 makes Navman Wireless the largest global provider to offer on- and off-road vehicle tracking from a single interface.

The Qtanium 300 joins the company’s Qube in-vehicle GPS tracking device for on-road vehicles plus other components of the OnlineAVL2 platform that collectively help fleet managers in the construction industry track real-time vehicle usage, minimize fuel and other operating costs, and increase productivity and profits.

“Being able to see the location of both on- and off-road fleet vehicles in real time on the same map display, and access reports on the entire fleet from the same application, is far more efficient and effective than using different programs for different kinds of vehicles,” said Renaat Ver Eecke, Vice President and General Manager, Navman Wireless North America. “Dispatchers, fleet managers and executives now have all the information they need to monitor and optimize their operations in one place.”

Purpose-Built for Off-Road Equipment

The Qtanium 300 monitors the location of bulldozers, excavators, cranes and other off-road equipment via GPS and transmits the data to the OnlineAVL2 software for comprehensive vehicle tracking, reporting and management. Key features include:

  • An IP67-rated waterproof enclosure and connecting cables
  • Usability in operating temperatures of -30°C to 75°C (-22°F to 167°F)
  • Shock testing to 30G and vibration testing to 9G
  • Up to 24 hours of battery life when in full operation, with a five-month backup battery ensuring the vehicle can still be located even if a thief cuts the wires
  • Special engineering to prevent tampering with the antenna to conceal the vehicle’s GPS location
  • A motion sensor that detects movement of stationary vehicles and sends an alert to provide early notification of possible theft
  • Support for up to 100 geofences for tracking vehicle movement outside of pre-defined boundaries
  • Quad band GPRS to ensure GPS coverage regardless of location
  • A compact 8.5² x 7² x 2.5² footprint enabling the unit to be installed anywhere on the vehicle, either visibly or covertly

New Off-Road Vehicle Visibility

With the Qtanium 300 sending GPS information to OnlineAVL2, users can not only see the real-time location of both on- and off-road fleet vehicles merged on the same map to provide a complete picture of fleet deployment but also utilize new OnlineAVL2 capabilities to simplify and strengthen fleet oversight and management.

New asset-specific map icons instantly identify vehicles in user-defined categories, enabling at-a-glance differentiation of vehicle types ranging from front-end loaders and backhoes to pickup trucks and vans. In addition, the Qtanium data is used to generate new OnlineAVL2 construction-specific reports that document asset utilization, asset location, engine hours and sensor-based equipment information such as how many times a crane arm wired to the Qtanium unit by a sensor moves up or down.

The new reports add to OnlineAVL2’s extensive reporting library, which offers detailed insights into fleet, vehicle and driver performance including idling, stops, driving speed, geofence violations, maintenance needs and much more. System reports help reduce fleet downtime through proactive maintenance management based on actual engine hours, provide accurate equipment utilization history that can be used in developing job bids, improve daily cost management by accurately charging each piece of equipment, and help maximize fleet productivity and profits in a variety of other ways.

All reports are exportable in multiple formats, enabling integration into the fleet operator’s legacy software applications.

OnlineAVL2 is delivered under the Software-as-a-Service model with no major in-house software installation or maintenance required. The OnlineAVL2 application and all accompanying hardware – including the Qube on-road and Qtanium off-road GPS tracking devices, plus mobile messaging/turn-by-turn GPS navigation devices available for use with on-road vehicles – are developed and manufactured by Navman Wireless.