For many construction superintendents and project managers across the world, tablets are becoming one of the most important tools on the job site. They’re great for looking at plans, taking pictures, making notes, and running your favorite construction apps. Carrying a tablet does take up at least one of your hands, however, so it can be a hindrance if you need to help a co-worker lift material or climb a ladder.
Read moreCool Tools: Fiskars Releases a New Line of Cutting Tools for Construction
Fiskars was first founded as a Finnish Ironworks company in 1649, making it one of the oldest companies I have heard of that is still going strong. Recently – relatively speaking - in 1967, Fiskars made a name for themselves with their orange handled scissors. Noted for their build quality, sharpness, and durability, these scissors quickly became an industry standard and a leader in the category. Since then, Fiskars has expanded into other areas of the home and outdoors. You may also recognize the name Gerber, as this is one of the brands Fiskars sells under.
Read moreA Real Life Saver: The OVAL Fire Extinguisher
Every now and then a new product comes along and you ask yourself, “why didn’t I think of that?!” The OVAL Fire Extinguisher is just that product. Architecture and interior design have been moving towards cleaner lines in their spaces. Foregone are the days of bulky protruding water fountains (bubblers for my northern friends) and fire extinguisher cabinets. Interior designers are looking for cleaner and sleeker interior spaces but the 10lb fire extinguishers and cabinets have not changed for quite some time. OVAL is about to change all that.
Read moreIt’s Time to REVOLT with New Bosch 18V Batteries
Do you own Bosch Cordless Power Tools? Is it time for a battery upgrade? Take a look at Bosch’s new CORE 18V batteries. They have gone in and completely revamped their 18V batteries! They are now smaller, lighter, more powerful, have a longer life, and allow for more cuts and drives. Bosch has been able to achieve all of these benefits while also delivering corded performance in high-load applications.
Read moreThe 9 Biggest Takeaways from Milwaukee’s New Product Symposium 2017
The 2017 Milwaukee Tool New Product Symposium (NPS) was held last week at Milwaukee’s headquarters and it proved to be a whirlwind of new products and information from the red brand. Over 80 new tools and accessories, which will be released throughout the remainder of 2017, were presented to dozens of media representatives, including construction magazines, YouTubers, Instagrammers, and your favorite construction blog (Construction Junkie, obviously).
After flooding our social media pages with Milwaukee information and gathering our thoughts from the event, we’ve come up with our 9 biggest takeaways from the event, in no particular order.
Read more[RESULTS] The Best Construction Podcast of 2017
Construction Junkie’s 3rd Annual Best Construction Podcast competition has officially come to a close and we’re ready to announce this year’s winner. The 2017 competition was the most voted for and most hotly contended contest yet, which is a clear indication that construction podcasts are becoming more popular. As always, be sure to also check out our previous contest winners to find other great podcasts to listen to:
The Winner of Construction Junkie’s Best Construction Podcast of 2017 Is….
1. The Lien Zone Podcast!
For the third time in three years, a new champion has been crowned in the best podcast competition! The Lien Zone, hosted by Miami construction lawyer, Alex Barthet (@thelienzone), had an amazing turnout at the voting booth, amassing more votes than any other construction podcast in our contest’s history. Barthet’s podcast focuses on his expertise: construction contracts, liens, and bonds. Each episode is quick – usually around 10 minutes in length – but they’re packed with interesting information that any construction company would find helpful. Alex also runs a fantastic blog, which has equally interesting legal information for the construction industry, and we encourage you to check that out as well.
Barthet touches on his personal experiences to help contractors stay out of court, as well as what to do when they’re faced with a situation that causes them to go to court. I think we can all agree that makes it worth a listen. Be sure to check out their weekly podcast at the links below!
Find The Lien Zone Podcast on iTunes
Find The Lien Zone Podcast on Google Play
Find The Lien Zone Podcast on Stitcher
Congratulations to The Lien Zone Podcast!
2. ConTechTrio
Although last year’s winner, The ConTechTrio racked up nearly twice the amount of votes they did last year, it was not enough for them to repeat as champions. Even though they placed second this year, Rob McKinney (@conappguru), James Benham (@JamesMBenham), and Josh Bone (@BIM2theBone), are putting out extremely well produced and interesting content every week. Not only can you listen to the show like any normal podcast, they also put out high quality video of each episode so you can actually see the technology they’re talking about.
Each week, the Trio hosts high level guests from around the industry, including representatives from Bluebeam, PlanGrid, Mortenson Construction, and Procore. While their focus is on construction technology, they also highlight many of their favorite construction news stories from throughout the week.
This is The Contracting Coachcast (@anthonybooth) second time in the contest. Hosted by Anthony Booth, the show is now up to a whopping 700+ episodes. The 5 episode per week podcast features a large variety of topics to help contractors’ build their businesses. Recent episodes have covered insurance requirements, safety, communication, and leadership.
Each episode is around 15 minutes and can be found directly on the Contracting Coach’s website.
This year’s newcomer to the contest and our only mini-series is Andrew Weinrich’s Predicting Our Future (@andrewsroadmaps). In series 1 of his show, Weinrich, a self-described “Serial Entrepreneur,” dives deep into the latest innovations of single and multi-family residential construction. Less of a talk show and more of a scripted and edited feature on each topic, each of the six episodes of Predicting Our Future includes audio clips from industry experts on each topic.
Each episode runs for around 30 minutes and can be found on iTunes and directly on the podcast’s website. Weinrich has also been selected as the keynote speaker for the 2017 Professional Builder’s Housing Giants Conference, which takes place on October 18th and 19th in Paradise Valley, AZ.
Find Predicting Our Future on iTunes
Featured
DeWalt Announces Release of Construction Site WiFi, IoT Platform
After recently announcing the release of a bunch of new Bluetooth enabled tools and products, as well as an inventory platform, DeWalt has jumped all-in on internet connected construction sites with the announcement of Construction Site WiFi. Construction sites, especially large complex sites, are becoming more and more reliant on internet connectivity to efficiently manage their projects. This is great news for all of you who count on a consistent internet connection to use programs like Procore, PlanGrid, and Bluebeam, among others, to communicate between different parties on the job site and in the office.
Read moreUltimate Construction Father's Day Gift Guide 2017
Skip the ties this year and get your dad something he really wants. Weather he's a full time construction workers, a handyman, or a DIYer, there are plenty of tools and accessories that will keep him productive and make his life easier. Below is a list of products that would make any dad happy this year.
Read moreDeWalt Announces New Lineup of Connected Tools, Tracking Devices, and More!
Almost two years after they announced the release of their Bluetooth Battery that allowed owners to remotely monitor battery life and even disable the battery if it’s stolen, DeWalt is set to release a massive upgrade to their connected tool platform.
Read morePlastic Roads Could Reduce Pot Holes, Reduce Landfill Waste
There’s no shortage of company’s trying to improve the world’s roadways. Asphalt and concrete each have their own disadvantages, especially when maintenance environmental factors are taken into consideration. Plastic is a major problem for landfills, as well, as it can take an estimated 500 years to fully decompose. One UK company believes they can solve both maintenance and environmental problems through the use of recycled plastic.
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