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Barton Malow Officially Marks 100 Years in Construction

DETROIT, MI — Barton Malow is officially 100 years old. Since its founding on August 4, 1924, the Barton Malow story has been one of grit, teamwork, passion, and innovation, from the very first contract doing interior renovations for the Michigan Bell Telephone Company to its transformation into a multi-billion-dollar …

Despite Recent Increases in Transportation Investment, Michigan Faces $3.9B Annual Transportation Funding Gap

DETROIT, MI — Roads and bridges that are deteriorated, congested, or lack some desirable safety features cost Michigan motorists a total of $17 billion statewide annually — as much as $3,005 per driver in some areas — due to higher vehicle operating costs, traffic crashes, and congestion-related delays. Additional investment …

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Michigan Construction Industry Booms, Workforce Struggles to Keep Up

As the Michigan construction sector experiences a surge in job creation, its workforce has failed to grow at a rate that matches the demand. In Michigan, as well as other parts of the country, labor has become a scarce commodity. Since the pandemic, the region’s labor force only reached a …

Michigan DOT's Transportation Career Pathways Program Promotes Career Advancement in Transportation

LANSING, MI — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announces the launch of its Transportation Career Pathways Program (TCPP), an initiative designed to equip individuals with hands-on experience and propel their careers forward in the transportation sector.

Running from May through September, the TCPP provides participants with the opportunity to …

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Roncelli Hits the Turf to Raise Funds for Crohn's & Colitis Foundation

DETROIT, MI — Roncelli recently took to the field at Ford Field for the annual A Touch of Football event. As a Coach Sponsor, Roncelli joined forces with over 30 other teams, 465 players, all rallying behind the cause of combating Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the quality …

SITECH
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SITECH Michigan
HNTB Further Extends its Footprint in Michigan with New Office in Allen Park

DETROIT, MI — HNTB Corporation announces the opening of a new office in Allen Park, Michigan. This expansion marks the company’s commitment to serving clients in the Detroit region and throughout the state of Michigan.

The new 12,500-square-foot office will house a team of professionals focused on delivering infrastructure solutions …

Solving the Suspension Scaffold Rescue Challenge

It’s been on the news time and time again — a window washer crew or a crew utilizing some form of suspension scaffold is trapped in mid-air stories above the ground. Their work platform has failed in some way, and the workers are dangling from their safety lifeline. With no …

Clare County Road Commission Paving a Path to Sustainability with Ultra High-Performance Concrete

LANSING, MI — The Clare County Road Commission (CCRC) is receiving national attention for its use of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), an innovative bridge material that could drastically extend the life of concrete. When Dewayne Rogers, Managing Director of CCRC, heard about UHPC at a conference six years ago, he …

Michigan Union Construction Apprenticeship Programs Outperform Universities on Training, Diversity, & Debt, While Delivering Comparable Wages for Graduates

LANSING, MI — Union apprenticeship programs in Michigan’s construction industry deliver more training hours, better diversity outcomes, and no student debt while delivering earnings for graduates that achieve near parity with comparable workers with four-year college degrees. Additionally, as the construction industry struggles with a historic labor shortage, union programs …

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Wolverine Building Group Enhances Internship Program

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Wolverine Building Group, a commercial construction company in West Michigan, enhances its summer internship program with a group of interns. The program provides students with the opportunity to enter the field with practical experience in design-build, general contracting, and construction management.

“It’s a talented group …

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Gresham Smith Announces Expansion into the Detroit Metropolitan Area

DETROIT, MI — Gresham Smith, a national architecture and engineering firm, expands its operations into the Detroit metropolitan area. The firm's office is located in the Southfield Town Center.

Gresham Smith is currently designing facilities for numerous automotive lithium-ion battery manufacturers and suppliers, including Ultium Cells, a joint venture …

What Can You Expect From the Best Safety Trainers?

A vital component of an effective environmental, health, and safety (EHS) program is the team of safety trainers who educate employees at every level in the company, from executives to team members in the field. Learn what you should expect from the best safety trainers. When selecting a safety trainer …

HNTB Corporation Expands into Detroit and East Lansing

LANSING, MI — Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to announce that HNTB Corporation, a national provider of engineering services for transportation infrastructure projects, is expanding in Detroit and East Lansing with support from the Michigan Strategic Fund.

The project is expected to generate …

Transforming Everyday Workers Into Jobsite Safety Leaders

Safety professionals come to their roles with different backgrounds and knowledge levels, so they might not always agree about the best approach for a particular situation. But one thing you will find agreement among all safety professionals is the common belief if they can get workers on the site to …

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Barton Malow Wins 2022 Governor’s Service Award

DETROIT, MI — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Community Service Commission announces 46 individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations as recipients of the 2022 Governor's Service Awards and applauded their commitment to volunteerism, service, or philanthropy. At the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan, Barton Malow was recognized with a Corporate …

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SITECH Michigan
CNH Industrial Opens New Electrification Center in Detroit

DETROIT, MI — CNH Industrial announces that it has opened a new technical center in the Detroit Metro area of Michigan. Designed to support its growing innovation in electrification, the center will enhance CNH Industrial’s technology capabilities. This is facilitated by its proximity to a nationwide hub for electrification OEMs …

Sunbelt Rentals Sets the Gold Standard for Recruiting, Employing, and Retaining Veterans

FORT MILL, SC — Sunbelt Rentals, an equipment rental company, has been recognized with three awards for its efforts to recruit and retain military veterans in North America and globally.

For the first time, Sunbelt Rentals has received the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans (HIRE …

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AASHTO Honors Michigan DOT with 2022 President’s Transportation Awards in Equity and Partnerships

LANSING, MI — The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) presented two 2022 President’s Transportation Awards to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for work in equity and building partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The awards were announced at the organization’s annual meeting.

"It …

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Barton Malow’s Supplier Diversity Efforts Receive Recognition from National Certifying Agencies

LIVONIA, MI — Barton Malow was recognized by several of the industry’s national certifying agencies for its efforts with minority- and women-owned businesses for excellence in supplier diversity.

GL-WBC Advanced Award
Barton Malow was honored by the Great Lakes Women's Business Council (GL-WBC) at this year’s 22nd Annual Excellence in …
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Vermeer Wisconsin Opens New Facility in Appleton

APPLETON, WI — Vermeer Wisconsin recently celebrated the grand opening of its new 26,000-square-foot facility in Appleton, Wisconsin, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house event. The new building replaces the Little Chute location, which the business had been operating in for the last 20 years. The Appleton location, constructed …

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SITECH Michigan
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Clark Construction Co. Expands Operations to West Michigan

LANSING, MI — Clark Construction Company is expanding its regional footprint with a new office in Grand Rapids located in the historic McKay Tower. The Grand Rapids office will be led by Clark Vice President Dan Korte and staffed by nearly 30 current employees, with plans to hire additional personnel. …

Safe Site Check In and Procore Automate the Daily Log to Improve Labor Productivity and Safety

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Safe Site Check In, a construction management software company for jobsite productivity, announces an integration with Procore Technologies, Inc., a global provider of construction management software. Safe Site Check In quickly and accurately integrates field data into the Procore Construction Platform to help boost …

Six State-Level Departments of Transportation Join Equity in Infrastructure Project

WASHINGTON, D.C. — At an Equity in Infrastructure Project (EIP) event, the leaders of the departments of transportation of California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, and Michigan signed the EIP Pledge, which is aimed at leveraging infrastructure spending to build wealth in underserved communities. The event was hosted …

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Ohland Begins Her Term as ASME President, Aims to Promote More Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

An active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) since 1983, Karen J. Ohland has recently begun her term as the 141st President of the society. She is an ASME Fellow and the Associate Director for Finance and Operations at the Princeton University Art Museum.

Ohland has also …

The Future is Now: Examining Construction’s Power Alternatives

At the center of any construction alternative power discussion is diesel. Diesel remains the go-to power on jobsites. According to the Diesel Technology Forum, 98 percent of construction's energy use in the United States comes from diesel.

But with global initiatives underway to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by …

SITECH
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SITECH Michigan
Construction Workforce Shortages Risk Undermining Infrastructure Projects As Most Contractors Struggle To Fill Open Positions

Construction workforce shortages are affecting nearly all construction firms, undermining the industry’s ability to complete projects on time and on schedule and threatening the success of new federal investments in infrastructure and manufacturing, according to the results of a workforce survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and …

Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Adds Holland Equipment Services to its Dealer Network

HOLLAND, MI — Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas announces a dealership agreement with Holland Equipment Services (HES), of Holland, Michigan, under which HES will sell and service Hyundai wheel loaders and excavators in western Michigan.

Aric Geurink, President of HES, said the agreement with Hyundai represents a major growth opportunity …

Voters Show Support for Road Millages on August Primary Ballot

LANSING, MI — Voters in local elections across Michigan expressed strong support for road millages again during the August 2 Primary Election. Voters passed 98 percent of the 114 millage renewals on the ballot and 81 percent of the 28 new road millages proposed.

“Voters continually demonstrate that road improvement …

Drones are Benefitting Earthmoving Operations

MILWAUKEE, WI — Drones — the aerial eye of the jobsite — have become a very versatile tool for earthmoving operations. Among the benefits: increasing efficiency, productivity, and accuracy on jobsites. In addition, drones help reduce unplanned costs and rework throughout a project by providing a steady stream of jobsite …

Preventative Maintenance Tips for Backhoes

MILWAUKEE, WI — Preventive maintenance “is a very broad term,” said George MacIntyre, Product Manager at CONEXPO-CON/AGG exhibitor CASE Construction Equipment. “It can be as formal as the critical practice of performing regular service, as prescribed by the manufacturer of the machine, throughout the machine’s life. Or it …

SITECH
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SITECH Michigan
Kohler Engines Approves Usage of HVO in the USA

KOHLER, WI — All Kohler diesel-fueled engines are approved to use HVO in the United States, in line with ASTM D975 standard. This confirmation comes just a few months after European compliance was announced. In February, in fact, Kohler had announced approval to use HVO for all its diesel engines …

Safety Culture in the Workplace: How Generational Differences Present Challenges, Opportunities

MILWAUKEE, WI — How do you create an effective safety culture in the workplace when you have an employee base that is so diverse?

It’s an important question for equipment manufacturers to ask and answer, and the latter can’t really be accomplished without a better understanding of what “culture” refers …

Tips for Minimizing the Impact of Rising Fuel Prices

No one in the construction industry needs to be made aware of rising diesel prices over the past year. They have felt the pain. Through the first week in July, the average price of diesel fuel was nearly 70 percent higher than the year prior. There is no single magic …

Leica Geosystems Launches New Safety Awareness Module in Leica ConX Cloud Solution

Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, announces the launch of the new safety awareness module in the cloud-based collaboration platform Leica ConX. The integration of Leica Geosystems’ safety awareness solutions with ConX increases safety on construction sites by collecting and visualising data that enhances awareness, speeds up hazard response, …

The Detroit Demolition Department Aids Redevelopment and Enhances Safety in Neighborhoods Throughout the City

Knocking down vacant houses to make way for new construction or community gardens or just green space, the Detroit Demolition Department aids in the city’s neighborhood redevelopment, enhancing safety, value and health.

“We do this as a matter of quality of life,” says LaJuan Counts, Director of the Demolition …

SITECH
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SITECH Michigan
Biden Signs Inflation Reduction Act into Law, $5B in Funding to Drive Low-Carbon Procurement in Buildings and Construction

The largest federal climate investment in U.S. history was made on August 16, after President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. The act aims to fight climate change and address record inflation.

The IRA includes policies that will invest in U.S. energy production, reduce carbon emissions, …

American Institute of Architects Elects 100th President, Dowdell to Become First Black Woman President in AIA History

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently made history when the delegates at the 2022 AIA Annual Meeting elected Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, NCARB, SEED, LEED AP BD+C as 2023 First Vice President/2024 President-elect. As the 100th AIA President, Dowdell will be the first Black woman and first Millennial President. …

More than 40 Industry Organizations Support Extending Buy America, Build America Act Waiver

When the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was passed back in November 2021, it expanded Buy America, Build America Act (BABAA) coverage to include certain construction materials used on federal-aid highway and transit projects. This was intended to strengthen Made in America requirements by ensuring projects use American-made iron, …

Choosing Screen Media to Improve Production and Solve Screening Problems

With proposed infrastructure programs being discussed to offset the economic impacts of COVID-19, aggregate materials could see a spike in demand. This progression can lead to increased profits for mineral processing operations. However, maximizing efficiency to capitalize on this opportunity requires the right equipment. It is critical that operations evaluate …

Barton Malow Builders Inks Construction Safety Partnership with MIOSHA at University of Michigan Pavilion

ANN ARBOR, MI — Barton Malow Builders has signed on to help the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) meet its mission to help protect the health and safety of workers on the University of Michigan Pavilion health care project in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The partnership between MIOSHA, Barton …

SITECH
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SITECH Michigan
US Traffic Fatalities Surged 19 Percent from 2019 to 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The number of traffic fatalities in the U.S. surged by 19 percent from 2019 to 2021. Traffic fatalities began to increase dramatically in 2020 even as vehicle travel rates plummeted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Traffic fatalities continued to increase in 2021 as vehicle travel returned to …

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Telematics Expert Gives Industry Outlook

Most construction jobs run on tight timelines and margins, and to keep everything running on schedule and within budget, fleet managers use telematics to give visibility into their equipment’s location and operating condition any time of the day or night.

Telematics has been around for quite a while, however, it …

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Construction Salaries are on the Rise According to NCCER 2022 Construction Craft Salary Survey

Skilled craft professionals continue to earn high wages, according to NCCER’s 2022 Construction Craft Salary Survey. More than 135 commercial, industrial and residential construction companies across the U.S., representing over 337,000 employees, participated in the survey. The individual craft areas reported provide average annual salaries, not including overtime, per …

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Labor Shortage is a Universal Issue in the Construction Industry

The ever-growing labor shortage is a universal issue, affecting nearly every business sector that relies on the availability of a workforce. It’s an issue that was happening before the COVID-19 pandemic and has persisted.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there are 11.3 million job openings in the U.S., …

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Is Poor PR Driving Construction's Labor Shortage?

The global upheaval of the last few years has undoubtedly rocked the construction industry – and stories of labor shortages driven by COVID-19 abound. Add to that an aging workforce further stressed by current conditions, combined with a lack of skilled replacements, and the current struggle makes sense.

But beneath …

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SITECH Michigan
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How the US Will Deploy Intelligent Transit Networks That Enable Connected Vehicles

While America’s transportation infrastructure continues to be one of the country’s greatest historical accomplishments, as well as the lifeblood of the American economy, the system itself continues to have serious challenges during the last two decades.

This is mainly due to the rise in traffic congestion which has ensnarled hundreds …

Voters Show Support for Road Millages on May Election Ballot

LANSING, MI — Voters in local elections across Michigan expressed support for road millages again during the May 3 Election. Voters passed 100 percent of the millage renewals on the ballot, including one increase.

Of the seven road millages proposed for renewal, there were five township and two city-wide on …

Understanding and Protecting Against Mold on Jobsites

Most hazards you’ll find on a construction site are big and generally obvious. It might be the inherent danger of certain power tools, the possibility of an electric shock, or the potential for a fall. Because workers recognize these hazards, they can take steps to avoid or minimize them.

But …

Poor Project Data and Miscommunication Responsible for 52 Percent of All Rework

Most people in the construction industry will say that on any given work site, there is always an amount of waste that could have been avoided. Whether it be poorly handled materials, re-work, weather damage, or working from out of date documents, there are plenty of ways that humans can …

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New App Forecasts Future Liquid Asphalt Prices Lowering Financial Risk for Asphalt Producers and Highway Contractors

KENNESAW, GA — Liquid asphalt must compete with other products that are refined from crude oil, and energy prices are currently soaring due to inflation. Imagine bidding today’s cash price and the cost of the hedge instead of guessing at some future price. The solution is a new app that …

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SITECH Michigan
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Michigan's Deficient Transportation System Costs the Average Michigan Household $4,845 Annually, According to New Report

LANSING, MI — The level of future investment in Michigan’s roads, highways, and bridges will have a significant impact on the quality of life of the state’s residents and the state’s future economic growth and competitiveness. According to a new report released today by TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based national …

Why Ongoing Safety Programs are Critical

Most companies understand that safety is an important part of today’s workplace, but they may not realize why ongoing safety programs are critical to their organization’s well-being.

Some companies view safety as a “check the box” kind of activity, believing that once they’ve addressed safety topics, they’ve done what they …

ABC and AFSP Announce Partnership to Address Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Associated Builders and Contractors and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention announce a collaborative partnership to address mental health and suicide prevention throughout the U.S. construction industry.

The goals of the partnership are to improve the mental health of construction workers through effective suicide prevention education, intervention, …

Safer Practices for Working Around Concrete

Many of the most famous structures of ancient times were constructed from a material we often think of us as modern. The workers who built them needed a material that could be shaped into blocks and other forms more easily than carving from stone. Finally, someone concocted a mixture of …

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Michigan DOT Drives the Future of Durable Bridges

LANSING, MI — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is leading the way in carbon fiber reinforced bridge beams — an evolutionary step forward — with the goal of a 100-year bridge in sight.

"The aim is bridges that last a century with minimal maintenance,” said State Transportation Director Paul …

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SITECH Michigan
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Barton Malow Among First Michigan Contractors to Join One Gigawatt Club for Renewable Energy

SOUTHFIELD, MI — Barton Malow Company is among the first Michigan construction companies to enter the One Gigawatt Club. Entering the One Gigawatt Club signifies Barton Malow Company’s proven capacity to produce one gigawatt of renewable wind energy through wind turbine installations. According to the U.S Department of Energy, one …

Proven Ways to Increase Worker Awareness of Safety Issues

Companies develop safety programs for reasons that may seem obvious: they want to prevent injuries of all kinds, so workers don’t suffer the physical effects and both workers and companies don’t endure negative financial or operational impacts. In addition, safety programs can also minimize the potential for damage to facilities …

Some Michigan County Roads to Benefit from New Federal Infrastructure Bill

LANSING, MI — The County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan recently released comments on the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which became law November 15.  While $10 billion in IIJA for Michigan sounds very large to the casual observer, the overall amount must be put in perspective, according …

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Automated, Connected, and Intelligent

The future is looking bright for the construction industry, with project pipelines full and the promise of infrastructure spending infusing the industry with confidence and optimism. But as we face another year of supply chain issues and crippling workforce shortages, it’s possible that our industry’s biggest challenge could be too …

HNTB Joins Wayne County Community College, Michigan DOT, and ACEC to Create Civil Technician Bootcamp Program

DETROIT, MI — HNTB has joined forces with Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD), Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Wayne County Department of Public Services, and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) to create a training program that targets people seeking careers in construction technology, inspection, and testing.

The …

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SITECH Michigan
Recognizing and Addressing Worker Stress on Jobsites

Stress has been a part of human lives from the beginning. In the past year, we’ve seen additional attention placed on stress and its effects thanks to the coronavirus pandemic and highly publicized statements from top athletes and celebrities. Because stress can have a profound effect on the well-being of …

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With U.S. Vehicle Travel Nearing Pre-Pandemic Levels, Freight Bottlenecks Slowing Shipments, and New Federal Transportation Funding Reaching States, Additional Investment in U.S. Freight Network will be Needed to Improve Supply Chain Reliability

WASHINGTON, DC — As vehicle travel returns to pre-pandemic levels and federal transportation funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) begins to reach states, it will be critical that states make additional investments to improve the efficiency and condition of the nation’s freight network to minimize supply chain …

Closing a Critical Gap In Utility Safety: Identifying Serious Injury and Fatality Potential

Most utility companies have stepped up their safety efforts in recent years, and the decline in safety events and minor injuries provides positive proof that safety programs are an effective way to protect workers.

However, there’s a disturbing trend underlying this success: despite all the progress in worksite safety, the …

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Next Gen Demolition

A nation’s buildings stand as a visual representation of its history. In New England, that history is written in stone and red-brick facades overlooking century-old neighborhoods. Recent trends are bringing people and businesses back to these urban centers, forcing developers and city managers to find ways to reimagine spaces to …

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The Impact of BIM on Construction Projects

BIM (building information modeling) is an intelligent 3-D model-based process that gives architecture and construction professionals the insight and tools to more efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage projects.

Forgoing the traditionally siloed architecture, engineering and construction disciplines using BIM can develop more integrated workflows to improve collaboration through the …

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Horizontal Directional Drilling Operator Training Pays Dividends

For over a decade, the team at Rays Electrical Services in Elgin, Illinois has worked diligently to earn the reputation of being a quality residential and commercial electrician for the greater Chicago area. Since Ray Sakolari opened the company in 2008, he’s made a commitment to employees, customers, and family …

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Preventing Heavy Equipment Theft

Heavy equipment theft of everything from forklifts, skid steers, and trucks to bulldozers, backhoes, excavators, and wheel loaders can be a serious issue for business owners, whether at the rental yard or jobsite. Stealing batteries, catalytic converters, and entire vehicles can be a relatively low-risk, high-reward opportunity for thieves unless …

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For Workforce Wearables on Construction Sites, Comfort and Mobility Must Go Hand In Hand With Assistance

A few years ago, I worked with a warehouse stocker named John who had injured his back and was looking to get back to full duty. His job was important to him because he had a family to support, which included taking care of an adult son with special needs. …

US LBM Acquires Northern Building Supply

TRAVERSE CITY, MI — ‪‪‪‪‪‪US LBM, a distributor of specialty building materials in the United States, has acquired Northern Building Supply, a full-service building products distributor and retailer which operates two locations in northern Michigan.‬‬‬‬‬‬

‪‪‪‪‪‪Founded in 1904, Northern Building Supply offers lumber and a range of …

Construction Retrofit Opportunity

Construction professionals have a golden retrofitting opportunity as commercial facilities expand their precautions against viruses: an effective new type of “germicidal” LED fixture that can be quickly and easily installed in existing structures. This specialized, enclosed LED fixture draws in air and irradiates it with ultraviolet light (UV), significantly improving …

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SITECH Michigan
Safer Approaches for Excavating Around Underground Utilities

Few things bring construction projects to a sudden halt quite like the surprise discovery of a gas pipe, electrical line, sewer tile, or water pipe. While digging a trench, the backhoe crew makes an unfortunate discovery. If they’re lucky, they spot the problem before any damage is done, or are …

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Michigan DOT Works with HBCUs to Recruit, Introduce Students to Transportation-Specific Career Opportunities

DETROIT, MI — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has the opportunity to educate and inspire the next generation of transportation professionals through the Transportation Diversity Recruitment Program (TDRP).

"This program, its structure, the fact that it's been around for eight years and it's only getting bigger and better, is …

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Optimizing Self-Cleaning Screen Media to Reduce Blinding and Plugging

In the aggregate industry, efficient screening is critical to achieve not only high production but also accurately sized product for particular applications and projects. However, two of the most common production bottlenecks – screen blinding and plugging – must be minimized to run an effective, profitable operation.

Blinding occurs when …

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How Innovative Technology Can Support the Response to the Infrastructure Damage Caused by Wildfires

As California concludes another hot, dry summer, the state faced another historic wildfire season. Not only are residents subject to unhealthy levels of smoke and significant property destruction as a result of the wildfires, but they must also face damage to public infrastructure caused by the fires or other related …

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Heavy Equipment Dealers Increase Profitability with GPS Tracking

Heavy equipment dealers’ profitability depends on efficiently renting out their assets and keeping it in good working order for the long term, whether that involves tractor trailers, semi-trailers, or moving trailers; buses or RVs; backhoes, bulldozers, cranes, excavators, scrapers, graders, dump trucks, or all-terrain forklifts.

To maximize profitability, dealers need …

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SITECH Michigan
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Why Smart Roads are Just as Important as Autonomous Vehicles

There’s no doubt that self-driving cars, or autonomous vehicles (AVs), are much safer than the average person-manned vehicle. In fact, more than 90 percent of serious crashes are due to human error, which means autonomous vehicles have the potential to significantly reduce the number of collisions and save lives.

However, …

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Weekly News and Year-Round Value

When David Gordon joined the Independent Equipment Dealers Association (IEDA) as Executive Director in December 2020, he focused on one main goal.

“As we continue to grow our membership, we have to continue providing year-round value,” he said. “Our mission is to help our members be more profitable and successful …

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BIM Industry Standards Create Predictability and Cost Efficiency

The adoption of technology in the construction industry in 2020 hit a record high, outpacing even the most aggressive forecasts and there are no signs of this momentum slowing. In fact, the annual Global BIM Industry Report has projected the global building information modeling (BIM) market will grow from $4.5 …

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CTS Maintenance Tips to Extend Equipment Life

Landscapers and dedicated green industry professionals know that the key to success lies in their machines. Whether operating a ride-on trencher or walk-behind machine, it’s the performance parts – the chain, teeth and sprockets (CTS) – that often determine the productivity of an operation. In other words, when faced with …

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Six Tips for Selecting the Right Traveling Axle Trailer

Finding a level surface with plenty of room to load a trailer on today’s congested jobsite is challenging. Towing and recovery operators have it even worse – struggling to move dead equipment, often singlehandedly, while also contending with traffic, poor visibility and soft shoulders. Operators in the towing and recovery, …

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SITECH Michigan
Budgeting Ahead for Safety is Critically Important

When companies try to predict costs for projects, they tend to concentrate on visible items such as materials. All too often, less tangible items – such as worker safety – become an afterthought and may not be budgeted adequately.

There are two primary ways in which safety affects the bottom …

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Electrical Safety Awareness for Non-Electrical Contractors

Electrical safety awareness isn’t just for electricians. Believe it or not, non-electrical workers actually run the largest exposure to electrical hazards. Without the electrical training that licensed electrical professionals receive, one careless mistake can turn into a big accident – or worse.

By paying attention to the small details, you …

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The Risks of Not Knowing Who’s On Your Job Site

The pandemic has driven general contractors (GCs) to diligently record who is at their job sites and headquarters. This primarily includes workers, subcontractors, developers, realtors, and property managers. With so many different people coming onto a job site and staying anywhere from 30 minutes to several weeks or months, it …

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The Simple Keys to Vacuum Excavation Success

Vacuum excavators are one of the fastest growing machine segments in the underground construction industry. Originally popularized by their role in daylighting existing utilities on directional drilling jobs, these machines are now being used for irrigation installation, landscaping, and even nursery tasks.

One reason for this growth is that vacuum …

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Tier 3 Nozzles Optimize Sewer Crew Efficiency and Profitability

For contractors responsible for sewer, storm and sanitary line cleaning, hose nozzles are an essential tool that directs pressurized water to clear out obstructions such as silt, sludge, grease, mineral buildup, and tree roots as part of required maintenance or to prepare pipes for re-lining. In this way, the nozzle …

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Instant Concrete Moisture Measurement Ensures Construction Quality and Speed

In the construction industry, the quality of cast-in-place concrete foundations, superstructure, slabs, stairs, and architectural features, along with the speed of project completion, can largely depend on getting moisture measurement right – and the same is true with the masonry mortar used to build brick, block, or stone walls.

Water …

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Proper Care Pays Off Over Time

It’s become a fact of life: When you need to work for extended periods of time in high, hard-to-reach places, you turn to mobile elevated work platforms, or MEWPs (also known as aerial work platforms). Over the years, two of the most popular MEWPs – scissor lifts and boom lifts …

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Integrated Precision

Hitachi continues to provide customers with efficient, reliable and durable equipment featuring advanced technology – the newest being factory-integrated Solution Linkage 2D and 3D Grade Control.

“We gave a sneak peek of Hitachi’s grade control technology at CONEXPO-CON/AGG last year,” said Justin Steger, Solutions Marketing Manager, Site Development and …

Barton Malow and Walbridge Recognized by General Motors as a 2020 Supplier of the Year Winner

DETROIT, MI — General Motors (GM) has named Michigan-based companies Barton Malow and Walbridge as GM Supplier of the Year winners in General Motors’ 29th annual Supplier of the Year awards.

GM recognized 122 suppliers across 16 countries with the award. The annual awards highlight global suppliers that distinguish themselves …

National Association for Business Resources Announces Roncelli a 2021 Best and Brightest Winner

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI — For the third year in a row, general contracting firm Roncelli, Inc. was named a Metropolitan Detroit’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For award winner.

Conducted by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR) and assessed by an independent research firm, the Best and Brightest …

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Superior Materials is the First to Bring Sustainable Concrete Solutions to Jobsites in Southeast Michigan

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — Superior Materials, a supplier of ready-mixed concrete for Southeast Michigan, announces that it will now provide more environmental alternatives for designers and contractors than any other producer in the area. Relying on decades of experience and knowledge, Superior Materials is the first ready-mixed concrete producer …

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Why Tank Chances?

Water is an essential component of any construction or roadbuilding project. From dust control to site prep and compaction, thousands of gallons of water are required every day. How it is hauled and applied can significantly impact overall productivity and safety. Though water tanks appear basic, certain factors can have …

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Hooklift vs Cable Hoist, What’s the Best Choice for Me?

When it comes to loading containers or truck bodies onto a truck chassis, regions around the world have traditionally opted for different equipment. The North American waste and recycling market usually favors the cable hoist, while the hooklift has been more prominent internationally.

One trend that all customers are impacted …

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NETA Shares Outlook for the Work Truck Industry

The work truck industry includes some of the largest motor vehicle businesses in the world supplying truck chassis (incomplete vehicles) that will be completed by upfitters, using specialized bodies and equipment. These companies are all part of the complex process of producing work trucks, which starts with vocational fleets ordering …

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Succeeding with Standardization

For fleet owners looking to standardize their operation, selecting a trailer manufacturer might feel more like picking a favorite sports team than a strategic move to maximize hauling equipment investments. To some extent, it is. Teams with dedicated fans play smart and deliver results year after year. Similarly, original equipment …

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Safety When Working On Geothermal Energy Projects

As debates about global warming get more intense and energy prices climb, there is growing interest in the advantages of geothermal energy. Such energy involves using heat generated by the Earth itself to condition spaces and generate electricity. While geothermal energy has not caught on in a big way in …

Michigan County Road Investment Plan Concludes $1.84B Additional Annual Investment for County Road and Bridge Network

LANSING, MI — The County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan recently released its 2021 Michigan County Road Investment Plan, developed to give a comprehensive overview of the financial needs and investment necessary to maintain and restore Michigan’s county road and bridge network. Michigan has the nation’s fourth-largest local road system, …

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Heavy Equipment Underground Waste Disposal Systems

Heavy equipment dealers, rental companies, and service centers with underground waste disposal systems – floor drains or sinks in service bays that connect to a septic system or dry well (i.e.- catch basins) – are regulated by the EPA.

During normal vehicle repair and maintenance, fluids such as engine oil, …

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Utility Inspection Systems and Their Benefits

It is obvious that knowing the condition of underground sewer and water infrastructure is necessary to properly maintain essential services, and today’s CCTV (closed circuit television) inspection systems visually identify structural and maintenance issues like cracks, broken or collapsed pipe, infiltration, grease, and roots, as well as other issues.

Mainline …

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Congressionally Requested Report Finds That Most of Interstate System Needs to be Reconstructed and Modernized, Requiring More Than a Doubling of Current Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the U.S. Interstate Highway System reaches 65 years old, it is congested, carries significant levels of travel — particularly by large trucks — and lacks adequate funding to make needed repairs and improvements. America’s most critical transportation link will need to be rebuilt and expanded to …

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Vacuum Excavators Help Maryville Municipality Expand and Maintain Its Underground Infrastructure

Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, the City of Maryville, a suburb of Knoxville, Tennessee, is going through a growth spurt. With a population of nearly 30,000 people and climbing, the town has experienced a big spike in utility development within the last two to three years. …

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Cutting Inefficiency, Not Corners

Demolition, like every industry, is constantly evolving. To keep ahead of the curve, contractors seek out the machines and methods that increase productivity while decreasing the physical toll on workers.

Concrete sawing is viable option for fast, effective removal. However, savvy contractors are finding that adding remote-control demolition robots to …

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Improving Efficiency in Roadbuilding

Let’s face it, road widening, aggregate placement, backfilling, and other road construction tasks have always been messy, backbreaking operations. Busy road construction seasons, limited budgets, and a number of other elements have constrained equipment innovation for decades. This has left road crews in the dust, relying heavily on traditional methods …

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Eight Factors to Consider When Selecting an Exosuit for Your Workers

A construction site can be a bad back waiting to happen.

Whether it’s a brick mason, concrete finisher, roofer, or any other necessary occupation for a job site, workers are at risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) because of the nature of the job – the awkward postures, repetitive lifting, …

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Top Three Technologies That Drive Preconstruction and Streamline the Build

There’s been considerable excitement and energy around machine control and autonomous operations in the construction space in recent years. And rightfully so – big machines that can grade a site to centimeter tolerances on the first go without operator assistance is worthy of celebration.

But what about the tools and …

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Underground Water Infrastructure Investment Prioritized by a Bipartisan Coalition of Michigan’s Legislative, Industry Leaders

LANSING, MI — Through a bipartisan package of bills, the Michigan legislature is moving forward on a historic $500-million investment to rebuild Michigan’s water infrastructure. Sponsored by Senators Rick Outman and Paul Wojno, and Representatives Jim Lilly and Kevin Hertel, this legislation comes as Michigan enters construction season.

“As elected …

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Pivotal Machines

Skid steer and compact track loaders are pivotal machines on any jobsite, offering compact convenience and robust power to operators of all skill levels. With the ability to tackle a variety of jobs and applications, adding the versatility of an attachment can make all the difference in the capabilities of …

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Hitachi Construction Machinery Announces Two New Programs to Increase Productivity

Hitachi Construction Machinery recently announced two new programs aimed to help customers increase productivity and cost-savings. Dedicated to providing customers with efficient, reliable, and durable machines, Hitachi Construction continues to provide the latest technology and product offerings to help customers get the most out of their Hitachi machines.

Grade Control …
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Turn One Machine into a Multi-faceted Workhorse with Stand-on Skid Steer Attachments

As we transition into the warmer months, demand for a variety of landscape, hardscape, tree care, utility installation, and overall construction-grade tasks begin to rise. While stand-on skid steers have been used primarily as loaders in the past, they are becoming more popular in a wider array of jobs in …

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Six Tips to Optimize Compact Track Loader Forestry Performance

Spring is just around the corner and that means land clearing contractors will be out in full force. While many jobs can be fulfilled using a standard compact track loader (CTL) with a simple bucket, overgrown areas with thick brush and trees require heavier-duty forestry attachments. And powering these attachments …

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Big Iron, Attachments, and Technology Come of Age

For many highway and heavy contractors, it’s not only the machines used on-site that drive project productivity – it’s also the attachments.

From buckets, hammers, and cutters to rippers, brooms, and grabbers, these heavy equipment accessories are designed to enhance the use of big (and little) iron while driving productivity …

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The Right Attachment for the Job

Telehandlers are a popular choice for a wide range of material handling applications on job sites due to the variety of attachments they can be equipped with. The versatility of these machines allows operators the ability to perform a variety of job site tasks. Unlike forklifts, which rely on a …

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Rise of the Machines

Change has always been a constant in the construction and demolition industry. Contractors, workers and project managers pushing for safer, more productive solutions have transformed the modern jobsite from a buzzing hive that relied predominantly on manual labor to a streamlined operation dominated by hard-hitting machines.

In today’s competitive market, …

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Equipment Evolution

Demolition and recycling equipment is evolving and is going to change quickly in the next five to 10 years. Manufacturers are leading this effort with input from their customers.

Advances are happening in wireless technology, microchips, machine learning, artificial intelligence, automation, cameras, sensors, touch screens, and batteries. These technologies are …

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The Sound of Silence

Like the air we breathe, sound is an important, yet often overlooked, part of our daily lives. And, just as air quality and its effects on health have become an important part of the safety conversation, the negative effects of sound exposure on employees and the public are a growing …

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Getting on Top of Tower Safety

Communications towers have long been a part of the landscape, but if you think you’re seeing many more of them, you’re not mistaken. The rapidly increasing demand for wireless communication and private communication networks has triggered a significant increase in the construction of towers.

The growing presence of towers means …

Wolverine Building Group Acquires Southeast Michigan Construction Firm

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Wolverine Building Group has acquired Contracting Resources Inc., a construction firm based in Brighton, Michigan.

Contracting Resources Inc. was founded in 2001 by Jim Barnas. Barnas, a 40-year veteran in the construction industry, started the firm after he spent time working for large construction …

A Snapshot of the Demolition Industry and Trends for 2021

The demolition process involves an unimaginable breadth of products and services to meet the needs of clients and communities. From structural demolition and dismantlement to industrial recovery and C&D recycling, from specialized rigging and landfilling to insurance services and equipment manufacturing, from general contracting and architectural salvage to facilities decontamination, …

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Five Tips for Maintaining Low-Level Access Mobile Elevating Work Platforms

Even though preventive maintenance can be the single most crucial factor in keeping an equipment fleet operating in peak condition, while lowering a machine’s total cost of ownership, it is easy to have an “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. Especially in lean years, maximizing each piece of …

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Performance-Based Smoke Detection Reduces Cost and Enhances Safety

Today, the owners of a growing number of non-standard building designs like museums, arenas, stadiums and structures with atria or large open spaces are turning to performance-based design for substantial cost savings and enhanced safety while maintaining architectural concerns.

As an International Code Council (ICC) accepted alternative, performance-based design allows …

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Getting the Most From Compact Track Loaders

Compact track loaders are an increasingly vital part of contractors’ businesses. The sheer versatility of these machines allows them to thrive in a variety of working conditions, and – thanks in part to growing attachment diversity – CTLs can be used for more applications than ever. A strategic purchase of …

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Getting the Most From Compact Track Loaders

Compact track loaders are an increasingly vital part of contractors’ businesses. The sheer versatility of these machines allows them to thrive in a variety of working conditions, and – thanks in part to growing attachment diversity – CTLs can be used for more applications than ever. A strategic purchase of …

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Enhancing Safety in the Heavy Equipment Rental Industry

Renting heavy machinery has become increasingly popular in the construction and mining industries with many companies now opting to rent instead of purchase equipment. In fact, market analysts predict that the heavy equipment rental industry is set to grow by 11 percent over the next three years as construction companies …

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Enhancing Safety in the Heavy Equipment Rental Industry

Renting heavy machinery has become increasingly popular in the construction and mining industries with many companies now opting to rent instead of purchase equipment. In fact, market analysts predict that the heavy equipment rental industry is set to grow by 11 percent over the next three years as construction companies …

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How to Maximize Bridge Repair Productivity with Hydrodemolition Attachments

For decades, road and bridge repair contractors have relied on the power and precision of hydrodemolition robots to increase efficiency for concrete removal and surface preparation applications. Traditional methods of bridge deck repair took hours of manual labor using handheld water jetting equipment or handheld pneumatic tools. By switching to …

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Towers of Tomorrow

Despite COVID-19’s tumultuous toll on urban living, there will come a day when normalcy returns to large metropolitan areas. Human beings are resilient; they will continue to work, learn, live, and play following economic downturns and unprecedented times that temporarily rid cities of normal activity. Downtowns have a future, and …

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Using Technology to Solidify a Unified Team Culture in 2021

Whether it’s on the front lines of a battlefield, a supply chain or a construction site, culture is a fundamental aspect of human existence. Culture keeps us bonded to groups of people – whether it’s within the context of our families, our communities or even our workplaces – and allows …

Thorough Accident Investigations Require Seven Steps

While there’s a big difference between investigating a workplace incident and finding someone to blame for it, companies frequently confuse the two concepts. When something goes wrong, they work hard to identify those at fault, and that’s where the investigation ends.

Most workplace incidents are not that clear-cut. An individual …

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JJ Curran Crane Welcomes New Manitowoc MLC 300 to Its Fleet

DETROIT, MI — JJ Curran Crane Company, a company in the crane rental business since 1950, added a Manitowoc MLC 300 to its fleet to further enhance its role as a source for crawler crane rentals in Michigan.

As an innovator in the crane rental industry, JJ Curran offers …

G2 Consulting Group Offers 2021 Michigan Construction Outlook

TROY, MI — 2020, the anticipated ‘year of perfect vision,’ was anything but for most of the world. Will 2021 be any better?

While his crystal ball can’t specifically answer that question as it relates to the pandemic, Mark Smolinski, PE, a Principal at G2 Consulting Group in Troy, …

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Using Good Catches to Increase Worker Ownership of Safety

There’s an old adage that says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It’s applicable to many situations, but especially so when it comes to workplace safety. Safety professionals have long recognized the value of prevention, and the well-known Heinrich model clearly illustrates that value. For every …

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Sustainable Construction Waste Management and LEED

There was an estimated 600 million tons of construction and demolition (C&D) waste generated in the United States in 2018 alone, which is more than double the amount of Municipal Solid Waste (i.e. normal garbage). Concrete accounted for the largest portion of this C&D waste (67.5 percent), followed by asphalt …

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Finding a Snow-Worthy Track Loader

What’s better for clearing snow, a skid steer or a compact track loader? The common perception is that a wheeled machine would fare better, and it’s often true with many track loaders. It’s why many compact track loaders are parked for the winter while their wheeled counterparts keep working. However, …

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Elon University Puts Vacuum Excavator to Work in a Wide Range of Applications

Traditionally, vacuum excavators have been used by contractors for daylighting buried utilities, minimizing disruption to the impacted area, and leaving behind a negligible mess. Today, the benefits of soft digging – the process of using a combination of suction and high-pressure water and air to remove dirt and other materials …

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A Good, Hard Look at Prestressed Concrete

When it comes to bridge design and construction, concrete is the material of choice. It’s easy to make, affordable, and can withstand a tremendous amount of compressive stress. However, concrete is not naturally flexible. It’s weak in tension, which can cause deflection on bridges and lead to cracks, which opens …

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Four Strategies for Construction Companies to Rebound from COVID-19

It has been almost a year since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, and unfortunately, we don’t have an answer as to when life will go back to normal, or even what the “new normal” will look like. Disruptions in the hard-hit construction industry – such as supply chain shortages and …

Have You Fallen for These Common Safety Myths?

Safety sounds like a simple concept, but when it comes to workplace safety, that isn’t always the case. As our professionals interact with companies and workers in many industries, they frequently hear things that may sound plausible, but that really aren’t true. We’ve collected several of the most common here. …

U.S. DOT Launches New Regional Infrastructure Accelerators Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation recently launched a new demonstration program to establish several Regional Infrastructure Accelerators (Accelerators), which will expedite delivery of transportation infrastructure projects through finance and delivery methods. The department’s Build America Bureau (the Bureau) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity to solicit applications …

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ABC 2020 Review and 2021 Construction Economic Forecast

Despite chronic difficulties sustained by contractors and others with securing human capital in January 2020, the nation added 214,000 net new jobs. It followed that up with an even more blistering 251,000 jobs in February.

For 113 consecutive months, the nation had added jobs – an unprecedented winning streak in …

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McCarthy Building Companies Partners with Adaptive Construction Solutions in Support of Veterans

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. announces a new partnership with Adaptive Construction Solutions, Inc. (ACS) to recruit and train veterans for careers in the construction trades, addressing a national workforce shortage. Together, the two organizations will identify and enroll veterans with military occupational specialties in an apprenticeship program that can lead …

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Roncelli Marks 5M Man-Hours with Zero Lost Time Injuries

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI — Construction company Roncelli, Inc. announces that it achieved the distinction of compiling more than 5 million hours worked without a lost-time injury since 2007. Roncelli reached the milestone during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing further confirmation of its commitment to workplace safety.

To mark the milestone event, …

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Wells Fargo 2021 Economic Outlook

The longest U.S. economic expansion since the end of the Second World War came to an abrupt end earlier this year as the COVID-19 pandemic essentially shut down the economy. Following an unprecedented plunge in Q2-2020 – real GDP nosedived at an annualized rate of 31.4 percent – economic activity …

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How AGC of America is Making Sure Politicians Learn the Right Lessons from the Election

The 2020 elections appear to have delivered simultaneous rebukes to both President Trump and the liberal agenda. While he performed better than most polls predicted, as of writing, the President’s ongoing efforts to contest the election appear to have little chance of success. Yet enough down ballot elections broke Republicans’ …

The Power of Where Symposium Puts Spatial Intelligence at Your Fingertips on January 26

DENVER, CO — Process innovation specialist to the AEC industry, MG AEC Technology Partners (MG), invites the industry to The Power of Where, an online symposium illuminating the intersection of BIM and GIS technologies. Sponsored by Autodesk and GIS industry leader, Esri, the January 26, 2021 virtual conference will …

County Road Association of Michigan Introduces New County Road Seasonal Weight Restrictions App and Updated Website

It seems like there’s an app for everything these days, from quirky games to productivity tools. But the County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan has created an app with an important purpose: preserving Michigan’s roads.

Partnering with the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA) and the Great Lakes Timber Professionals …

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County Road Agencies Take Winter Maintenance to a New Level with Innovative Technology

LANSING, MI — What if residents could track the progress of county road agency snowplows in their areas? What if snowplows could plow multiple lanes at once? What if trucks could combine three operations into one simple process?

At county road agencies across Michigan, these “what ifs” aren’t just speculation …

ARTBA 2021 US Transportation Construction Market Forecast

Transportation construction activity is forecast to decline 5.5 percent in 2021, as transportation authorities, state, city, county, and local governments face unprecedented revenue shortfalls, budget pressures and lower demand for travel and freight services, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) model shows. The 2021 market will reflect the …

Do Your Workers Truly Understand HazCom?

Workers in all sorts of industries use, or may become exposed to, various types of hazardous chemicals and other substances on a regular basis. Sometimes those hazards are part of a production process, while in other instances it may be something used to clean a worksite.

That’s why OSHA requires …

2021 Manufacturer Forecast

After a difficult 2020, many of us are looking for things to turn around with the new year. Significant progress on a vaccine and the possibility of new funding for infrastructure projects has many in the construction industry optimistic that 2021 will put the U.S. economy back on track. We’ve …

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High Efficiency ‘Shaped’ Wire Screens are the Way to the Future

For aggregate producers, efficient and accurate sizing of material during processing is essential to profitability. One renowned screening expert has termed plant screening stations as the "cash box" of the operation. Square opening, woven wire screen is still the media of choice in most aggregate operations. However, carryover of prime …

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Demolition Doctors

Like many cities with a long history, the skyline of San Diego, California, has changed significantly over the centuries. Even in the modern era, demolition and construction continue to transform California’s second-largest city. However, with growing populations and congested urban environments, demolition contractors are forced to find safer ways to …

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Roncelli, Inc. Named One of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in Metro Detroit

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI — For the second consecutive year, Roncelli, Inc. was named one of Metro Detroit’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. The award recognizes companies that promote innovative human resource approaches and foster a company culture that encourages employee enrichment.

“This has been a unique year for …

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Unlocking the Full Potential of Construction Fleet Physical Security Integration

For construction firms with significant fleet vehicle and equipment assets needing to be protected from theft or vandalism, fully integrating the latest capabilities of physical security and access control systems can drive down costs significantly.

This “virtual” approach combines video surveillance, access control, and information technology (IT) integration to replace …

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The Role of Rental in 2020 and What It Teaches Us for 2021

If there is any one thing to be said about 2020, it’s that uncertainty ruled the day in many ways and in many aspects of life. The construction industry was no exception, as contractors in all segments juggled the unknowns of an election year, a global pandemic, and everything else …

LTU Professor Receives Grant to Train Small Construction Firms on COVID Safety

SOUTHFIELD, MI — Lawrence Technological University (LTU) is offering free COVID-19 safety training to construction firms with fewer than 100 employees under a grant from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The training will be offered on the east side of the state by Ahmed Al-Bayati, Assistant Professor …

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Construction Industry Companies Putting Employee Well Being at the Forefront

No one can argue that 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic have created major stressors in our personal and professional lives and have caused many of us to experience greater levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and fear. Even before COVID-19, one in five Americans suffered from a mental health condition and …

Improving Contractor Interactions Through the SCARF Model

It happens on nearly every jobsite and nearly every day. A worker performs a task without using the proper safety procedures and a safety professional walks up to correct him. The mood becomes tense, the worker’s resentment is obvious, and the safety pro becomes defensive in return.

The safety professional …

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Avoiding Costly and Potentially Deadly Shortcuts in Netting System Selection

Construction managers, general contractors, and building owners are certainly familiar with safety netting systems and the reasons to install them, which include protecting workers and debris from falling from structures, as well as façade and ceiling containment. They also believe these passive systems create and maintain a safe work environment. …

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Making the Whole Person Matter

The construction worker offers much for which to be celebrated. They transform blank canvasses of earth to create spaces for work, education, or play and build structures to cross bodies of water that connect communities. Bottom line, the construction worker helps to build a country’s future.

Driving this ability is …

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HDD Training Teaches More Than Just Basic Skills

When it comes to horizontal directional drilling (HDD), simple training is not enough – it needs to be the right training. Because HDD is an art and a science, the right training, education, and experience is a critical combination in knowing the right balance between the two.

As HDD expands …

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Tire Tales

Tires are witness to everything that goes on in a truck and are filled with information that can tell you a great deal about your fleet.
There are many reasons tires are removed from service outside of normal wear – ranging from driver- related behavior, to running the wrong type …

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Advanced Water Treatment to Increase Efficiency and Meet Environmental Standards

More and more, concrete repair contractors are turning to robotic hydrodemolition, and the reasons why are simple. The method provides faster, safer, and more efficient removal than traditional means. Recent technological advances have also made hydrodemolition machines more versatile, compact, and durable than ever before. But, one important question still …

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Mortenson Pushes the Boundaries With Large-Scale Modular Projects

The construction industry has proven to be one of the most difficult industries to revolutionize. Many aspects of constructing a building have not changed for centuries. It is becoming increasingly difficult to build in downtown urban settings where sites are tight, streets are crowded, and skilled labor is difficult to …

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Bomanite Cares

Humanitarian, hero, and three-time heavyweight champion of the world, Mohammed Ali once said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” Revered for his accomplishments in the ring and beloved the world over for his sharp wit and big heart outside of it, Ali’s …

CII, CURT, and ECC Explore Formation of Official Alliance to Streamline Service and Support for the Capital Projects Industry

AUSTIN, TX — Leaders from the Construction Industry Institute (CII), the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT), and the Engineering and Construction Contracting Association (ECC) are exploring the establishment of a unified, industry alliance to capture benefits of increased content collaboration, better sharing of research, and benchmarking learnings to improve application, diversifying …

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Ready to Roll

Near the Kansas City International Airport lies a well-traveled stretch of road that connects NE Cookingham Drive to I-435. A 20-mile jaunt separates the airport from downtown Kansas City, and while some drivers might make their way via the direct I-29 route, others choose the I-435 route that might take …

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Michigan DOT Research into Carbon Fiber Bridge Components Gains National Recognition

SOUTHFIELD, MI — The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and university researchers have subjected a high-tech material to trial by fire and ice in a quest for better bridge components.

Steel has historically been the go-to material for reinforcing and pre-tensioning concrete for highway bridges. Steel adds strength, but it …

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Virtual Reality Leaps Forward, Providing New Value to Stakeholders

The AEC industry has been experimenting with the use of virtual reality (VR) for well over 20 years, and the medium has successfully provided value and Return on Investment (ROI). However, for many projects, the form factor, technical requirements and user friction for delivering walkthroughs has prevented the medium from …

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Don’t Get Caught in the Cold

When we think winter maintenance, we start thinking about cooling systems and antifreeze, fuel systems and fuel storage, engine oil, Hydraulic oil and systems, batteries and all the fluids, components and systems that suffer the ravages of cold and freezing temperatures. If its equipment, it needs winter maintenance. If operates …

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Pulling Augers No Longer Needed

One of the most time-consuming tasks while auger boring is pulling augers to check line and grade and adjust steering constantly,” said Walter Keyes, a 25-years auger boring veteran and Team Leader/Superintendent with S.J. Louis Companies. “Typically, on large-diameter sewer jobs, crews will pull augers every 20 feet, …

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Technology Enables Construction Continuity

As we look ahead and try to make predictions about the future of construction, some aspects are murky. No one would have predicted the situation we found ourselves in during 2020, with a global pandemic bringing the economy to its knees, delaying construction projects nationwide, and changing the way we …

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Living on the Cutting Edge

Mining and quarrying are deep-rooted businesses. The oldest known mine is located in Southern Africa and was active, quite appropriately, during the Stone Age – an astounding 43,000 years ago. Possibly even more incredible are the ancient mines that are still producing.

Fast forward to today, where we find an …

What Contractors Need to Know About EMR

It’s a small number that carries a huge impact for a contractor’s business. It affects their ability to stay competitive and maintain profitability, and it gives owners and construction managers powerful insights into the contractor’s business philosophy. It says so much that owners and CMs use it to decide whether …

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Restoring the Interstate Highway System

At 64 years old, an age at which many Americans are approaching Medicare eligibility and reduced workloads, the Interstate Highway System is deteriorating, its traffic load of cars and trucks continues to increase, and the system lacks an adequate long-term care plan.

The Interstate Highway System remains the workhorse of …

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Point and Measure

Traditionally, moisture tests require laborious effort and are slow to return results from the laboratory.  The risk of damage increases during transit of the materials potentially altering or destroying the entire sample, making this option much less practical for construction sites.  Industry innovators have developed a simplified approach with testing …

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Leadership Through Extreme Circumstances

When Robert “Bob” Lanham, Jr., P.E., started his tenure as 2020 President of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), he set three main goals: expand member engagement, increase federal investment in construction, and reduce and reform federal regulations on construction and development.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. …

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Ten Equipment Trailer Maintenance Tips

Heavy-haul trailers trek thousands of miles during their service lives and encounter many challenges – from rocks and ruts to bumps and jolts, no trailer gets out unscathed. To get the most from trailers, here are some tips to prevent costly damage and keep your trailers in top shape.

Start …
The AED Foundation’s Construction Career Aptitude Test Soon to Launch

SCHAUMBURG, IL — As the AED Foundation (AEDF) continues to address the industry's skills gap through its Vision 2024 plan, the soon-to-launch Construction Career Aptitude Test aims to help address the workforce shortage starting at the high school level. More specifically, the Construction Career Aptitude Test is designed for students …

CII and AGC Bring Together a Panel of Industry Leaders for COVID-19 Webinar

The Construction Industry Institute (CII) and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) recently held a webinar called “Roundtable on Perspectives and Best Practices in Owner-Contractor Collaboration During COVID-19” to provide updates on a variety of industry topics concerning the virus. The panel for the webinar featured two CII owners, …

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We Only Get to the Stars by Starting from the Ground

Given the excitement with SpaceX and NASA’s recent historic manned launch, many people are looking to the stars. To many, space means rockets and satellites. However, every major component of these missions are built, designed, tested, launched, and controlled in one or more ground-based facilities. And every one of those …

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The Complex Made Simple

The history of the construction excavator goes back quite some time. The very first excavator is said to have been built in 1882 by Sir W. G. Armstrong & Company in England, where it was used in the construction of Port of Hull docks. Unlike today's excavators that use hydraulic …

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Fluid Bridge Repair

Infrastructure repair is a hot topic today, and rightfully so. From potholes to deteriorating bridges, keeping up with repairs – and finding the money to do so – is a constant struggle. In an effort to complete jobs faster and win more bids, contractors are always looking for ways to …

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Construction Business as Project Business: Project Business Automation

All project businesses essentially operate the same way. Whether you are in the construction, engineering or architecture industry, the overarching commonality is that your company delivers goods and services to your customers through projects, making your company a project business.

Only by recognizing your company as a project business are …

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Accelerator for America Introduces New Partnership on Infrastructure Playbook

Accelerator for America recently hosted a webinar with some of the country’s most determined mayors to discuss the organization’s New Partnership on Infrastructure (NPI) initiative.

Founded by CEO Rick Jacobs, Accelerator for America is an organization led by an advisory council of mayors and other local leaders from across …

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The Importance of Safely Purchasing, Handling and Storing API Certified DEF

As restrictions are being lifted across most states in the country and with warm weather upon us, it is important for truck drivers to consider proper management of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) used in most diesel-powered trucks.

DEF is made from a mixture of technically pure urea and purified water …

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Preventative Maintenance Creates Longevity for Drills

It’s a common situation: Your equipment isn’t working as effectively as it was the day it came off the manufacturing line. With most tools and machines, regular maintenance and replacement of worn-out parts can be the key to restoring it back to maximum power. Earth drills are no exception. Knowing …

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Modular Design Trends, Challenges, and Increased Construction Liability Risks

Once again, the U.S. economy has hit a crossroads. Even before the current COVID-19 outbreak, the predictions for the coming year were mixed at best.

On the one side, the Association of Equipment Managers (AEM) said that “Steady and solid growth is likely to continue for the construction sector. As …

Walbridge Recognized by General Motors as a 2019 Supplier of the Year Winner

DETROIT, MI — Walbridge was named a GM Supplier of the Year by General Motors (GM) during a virtual ceremony honoring the recipients of the company’s 28th annual Supplier of the Year awards.

During the event, GM recognized 116 of its best suppliers from 15 countries that have consistently exceeded …

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Ghafari Associates Joins Forces with Eview 360

DEARBORN, MI — Global architecture and engineering firm Ghafari Associates (Ghafari) announces its investment in experiential design agency Eview 360.

This investment formalizes the long-standing alliance of two Michigan-based companies that are jointly committed to delivering forward-thinking, user-centric spaces and cutting-edge technology applications. The union bolsters Ghafari’s capabilities in experiential …

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RP Develops Square Sided Water Tank

Creative thinking and the willingness to take a new approach is often what sets innovators apart from their peers. These qualities are also the fuel that propels industry forward. Construction is one of the oldest industries, but thanks to continuous advancements in technology, techniques and materials, today’s structures have come …

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Roncelli Provides Meals to Health Care Workers

MOUNT CLEMENS, MI — Macomb County-based Andiamo Italia partnered with Roncelli Inc. Construction Services and SVS Vision Optical Centers to provide a catered meal to the health care workers at Mount Clemens-based McLaren Macomb hospital amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andiamo brought their authentic Italian cuisine to the hundreds of front-line …

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Steering Through Sandy Soils

The economy in Garden City, Kansas, is strong with the recent opening of a Dairy Farmers of America plant. Approximately 4 million pounds of milk from regional farmers make its way to the dairy plant each day, which has led to expansion for many other companies throughout the area. To …

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Going the Distance

The hardest part of a project for most contractors is the bid. Balancing customer specs with overhead costs to produce a number both sides are comfortable with takes skill and a deep understanding of an operation’s capabilities. Partnering with industry-leading OEMs to provide efficiency-optimizing equipment can give contractors an edge …

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Why Productivity in Construction is Flatlining

Let’s face facts, the construction industry does not do well when it comes to completing projects on time and within budget. Approximately 98 percent of megaprojects suffer cost overruns of more than 30 percent and 77 percent are at least 40 percent late, according to a McKinsey & Company report. …

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Cloud-Based Employee Time Tracking

There is no doubt that technology has increased project management efficiency and safety in the construction industry. Case in point: construction worker illnesses and injuries went from 10.9 incidents (in 1972) to 2.8 incidents (in 2017) per 100 people, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But, there are …

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How Technology is Advancing One of the Most Dangerous Jobs in America

Construction was recently listed in the top 10 most dangerous jobs in America by CNBC. So when it comes to day-to-day operations, what can construction managers do to ensure workers receive the information they need to produce quality work and stay safe on the job? One company, MindForge, is …

Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Receives $3M Gift from NABTU to Fund Cell Therapy for COVID-19

MIAMI, FL — The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF) announces a donation of $3 million from North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), to support specific and urgent research on the use of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells to treat COVID-19-related inflammation. The gift will accelerate needed clinical trials.

On April …

Quinn Evans Joins AIA Large Firms Roundtable

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Quinn Evans, a planning and design firm with offices in Washington, D.C., Michigan, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Virginia, joins the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Large Firm Roundtable. Founded in 1984, the Large Firm Roundtable is an independent entity composed of 60 of the nation’s largest architectural …

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Burns & McDonnell Foundation Announces $1.5M in COVID-19 Relief Funding

HOUSTON, TX — As organizations and community members face significant challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, Burns & McDonnell is providing additional resources and services to communities, clients, and employee-owners throughout the U.S.

To bolster the support of those on the front lines providing critical resources to those who need it …

M.C. Smith Associates, Inc. Certified as a Women Owned Small Business

EAST GRAND RAPIDS, MI — M.C. Smith Associates, Inc. announces it has received national certification as a Women Owned Small Business granted by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

M.C. Smith Associates provides architectural and landscape architectural services specializing in the following types of projects: public housing, park and recreation architecture, …

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AGC of Michigan Recognizes Outstanding Safety Performance

PLYMOUTH, MI — The Associated General Contractors of Michigan (AGC of Michigan) presented the 2020 Michigan Outstanding Safety Performance Awards during its Annual Meeting in Plymouth. Fifty commercial construction organizations were recognized for their continued commitment to employee and workplace safety.

“AGC of Michigan is committed to empowering our members …

CAM, HBA Present Great Lakes Design and Construction Expo 2020

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI — Construction Association of Michigan (CAM) and Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan (HBA) recently joined forces to present Michigan’s largest construction industry event, the Great Lakes Design and Construction EXPO 2020 (EXPO). This two-day, statewide event brought together residential and commercial designers, contractors, designers, suppliers and …

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Bridge Deck Warning System, Roundabouts Highlight a Year of Michigan DOT Safety Projects

LANSING, MI — From roundabouts at major intersections to a new bridge with a built-in warning system, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) projects across the Upper Peninsula last year were designed with safety in mind.

MDOT safety projects are part of a larger effort to help move the state Toward …

Construction Input Prices Unchanged in October, Says ABC

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Construction input prices remained unchanged on a monthly basis in October but are down 2.2 percent year-over-year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices fell 0.1 percent for the month and are …

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MGIA Hosts Michigan Snow Conference & Expo

NOVI, MI — Kicking-off the 2019-2020 winter season, snow plow professionals came together for the Michigan Green Industry Association’s (MGIA) Michigan Snow Conference & Expo, held at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan.

“The show was a great place to discover new products, get the latest ideas for …

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Eighty Percent of Contractors Report Difficulty Finding Qualified Craft Workers to Hire

ARLINGTON, VA — Eighty percent of construction firms report they are having a hard time filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce, according to the results of an industry-wide survey released by Autodesk and the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the …

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Contractors Expect to Increase Rental Activity, According to ARA Survey

MOLINE, IL — Among professional construction contractors who rented equipment in the past year, a majority expects to increase reliance on rental in the year ahead, according to a comprehensive survey of contractors released by the American Rental Association (ARA).

The “Rental Customer Needs Study,” conducted by RSG, an independent …

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IEDA Announces Launch of Revamped Website, Hosted by Sandhills Global

VICTOR, NY — The Independent Equipment Dealers Association (IEDA) is a self-regulating organization dedicated to advancing the goals of independent used equipment dealers and related businesses worldwide. The IEDA's website is a vital part of its mission to help equipment dealers build more profitable relationships, and to provide its members …

Construction Jobs Increase by 4,000 in May as Unemployment Rate Falls to Record-Setting Low

ARLINGTON, VA — Construction employment increased by 4,000 jobs in May and by 215,000, or 3 percent, over the past 12 months, while the number of unemployed jobseekers with construction experience fell to a record low, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of …

Somerset CPAs and Advisors Launches 2019 Construction Industry Survey

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Somerset CPAs and Advisors will be launching their 2019 Construction Industry Financial Performance and Salary & Benefits Survey. This industry-specific survey provides information about the financial standing of the national construction community, outlining salaries and benefits by position, balance sheets, statements of operations and other information as …

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County Road Association Hosts Annual Highway Conference and Road Show

LANSING, MI — The County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan welcomed more than 1,200 people to the Lansing Center for its three-day annual Highway Conference and Road Show. The road show saw record numbers of attendees and exhibitors in the Lansing Center’s exhibit halls, which were filled with heavy machinery …

AGC of Michigan Raises Over $11,000 to Support Healthy Sleeping Habits

FARMINGTON, MI — The Associated General Contractors of Michigan’s Construction Leadership Council hosted its 16th annual event in support of Sweet Dreamzzz, a nonprofit organization committed to improving children’s health, wellbeing and academic performance by providing sleep education and bedtime essentials to economically disadvantaged students and their families. Just …

County Road Agencies Report Back on Progress with 2015 Transportation Package

LANSING, MI — Two years after receiving the first new state road funds in 20 years, Michigan county road agencies have reported back on how they invested the new revenue in roads and bridges and township matching funds for road projects.

Denise Donohue, County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan …