Awards, debuts, dust compliance, and all the hot new tools from World of Concrete 2017
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For over 40 years, the American Concrete Institute’s (ACI) World of Concrete has been an innovative space for the commercial construction industry professionals.
This January, ACI announced the 2017 winners of the ACI Certification Award and the ACI Construction Award in Las Vegas.
The recipients of the the ACI Construction Award include:
- N.J. Gardner, FACI, Professor Emeritus at the University of Ottawa, Canada won the ACI Construction Award for the parametric analysis evaluation of flat plates constructed using a single level of shores and multiple levels of elastic reshores.
- Luc Monette, President of structural engineering design firm of HP Engineering Inc.—based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada—received the ACI Construction Award for the parametric analysis evaluation of flat plates constructed using a single level of shores and multiple levels of elastic reshores.
Recipients of the ACI Certification Award were:
- William R. “Rod” Elderton won the ACI Certification Award for outstanding and tireless service to promote, support, and deliver ACI Certification programs throughout the Southern California Chapter. Elderton is a retired Manager of the Soils and Concrete Team for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
- Professor Marc Jolin, FACI, of Laval University in Quebec City, Canada received the ACI Certification Award for his outstanding leadership and service on ACI Certification committees, and tireless service in developing, promoting, supporting, and delivering ACI Certification programs across the world.
- G. Terry Harris, Sr., FACI, received the ACI Certification Award for outstanding leadership and service on ACI Certification committees, and tireless service in developing, promoting, supporting, and delivering ACI Certification programs. Harris is Director, Technical Service–Concrete for the Americas for GCP Applied Technologies, based out of Cambridge, MA.
Innovation Towards Higher Safety Standards
The World of Concrete had a significant focus on safety this year, especially with the June 23rd Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) regulations on crystalline silica dust exposure slated to take effect. The final rule aims to curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease in U.S. workers by cutting exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
According to the official government website, “About 2.3 million workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in their workplaces, including 2 million construction workers who drill, cut, crush, or grind silica-containing materials such as concrete and stone, and 300,000 workers in general industry operations such as brick manufacturing, foundries, and hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking.”
OSHA estimates this new rule can save over 600 lives and prevent more than 900 cases each year.
Unsurprisingly, tools and equipment manufacturer Hilti has already taken this rule into account in its product designs. The company showcased their compliant dust solutions as well as their earlier products, like low velocity fastening tools. Also at World of Concrete, Hilti showed off their updated DD 250, simplifying core drilling with four gears and a digital display with feedback functions to keep drilling efficient.
DeWalt highlighted their 20V Rotary Hammer with Dust Extraction as part of the new rollout of tools to meet the heightened levels of dust and silica containment when drilling and cutting concrete.
The 20-volt cordless rotary hammer features an onboard dust extraction system, where the dust catcher remains on for two seconds after the drill stops to ensure thorough dust removal.
World of Concrete All Stars
Bosch Core18V Battery
By dissipating heat more efficiently and reducing resistance, the new battery from Bosch delivers 80 percent more power than previous generation batteries.
Popular Mechanics points out, “Each battery cell is larger, but you need less of them which results in a smaller pack. The cells are individually contained within the battery and copper connections are used for superior conductivity.”The world’s largest-ever skid steer
Feast your eyes upon Case Construction Equipment’s newest and largest-ever skid steer, the 3,400-rated operating capacity SV340. This marks the model’s first appearance at a construction show
Equipment World said, “By using the same footprint as the SV300, the newer unit can get into and maneuver around the same confined spaces as the other machine. The SV340 is compatible with more than 250 attachments, including Case sectional snow pushes, buckets, forks, brooms and more.”
Skyjack’s 12,000-pound-lift capacityThe prototype of Skyjack’s TH Series telehandler is designed for heavy duty applications such as oil and gas job sites, but boasts an ability to lift up to 12,000 pounds to a height of 35 feet with outriggers deployed, and a 1,000 pounds at a maximum forward reach of 42.5 feet without deploying outriggers.
“The four machines we introduced last year exceeded our goals,” Skyjack Senior Project Manager Barry Greenaway explained.
“This machine continues the theme. We wanted to keep things simple, so there are no fancy computer displays, just a simple, rugged machine.”
Stihl RB 800 Pressure Washer
The biggest of Stihl’s line of pressure washers is the RB 800—an industrial strength pressure washer that aims to clean concrete and masonry in a whole new way. It includes a 429-cc, 14-horsepower engine delivering 4,200 pound per square inch of water pressure.
Who can’t wait to see what’s unveiled at next year’s World of Concrete?
