[VIDEO] Soccer Played with Construction Equipment and Cars Is Really Fun to Watch

August 8, 2016 Shane Hedmond

First, let me formally apologize to our non-American readers for calling the sport Soccer, but, since it is Olympics time, I have to stay loyal to my country. As soccer is the world’s most popular sport, many would argue that no changes need to be made to improve it. Well, a group of people have taken it upon themselves to create a super intense and over-the-top version of the game that I think all of us Construction Junkies will enjoy.

A $350 Million High Rise Condo in San Francisco is Sinking, Tilting its Way Towards a Lawsuit

August 5, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Imagine buying a condo for millions of dollars only to find out that the building the surrounds it has sunk over a foot and has tilted 2 inches. You probably wouldn’t feel too good about your purchase, would you? The Leaning Tower of Pisa (or, as I thought it was called when I was 7, “The Leaning Tower of Pizza”) wasn’t supposed to lean either, but they were able to turn lemons into lemonade and make it into a gigantic tourist trap. That’s a luxury that I’m not sure the Millennium Tower in San Francisco has, unfortunately.

Milwaukee Tool to Release Supercharged Battery to Cut Down on Cords on the Job Site

August 4, 2016 Shane Hedmond

There’s no denying that cordless, battery powered tools are super convenient to use on any job site. The problem with cordless tools has always been whether or not they can provide the necessary power to complete the tough jobs or last long enough to keep them efficient. We’ve already come a long way with battery technology, as well as deigning tools to use less battery power. The brushless technology that has taken over the tool industry in recent years helped cut down on the friction and heat tools produce, making them less draining to use. Whereas construction technology companies are trying to create a paperless job site, the ultimate goal right now for most tool companies is to create the cordless job site.

Milwaukee Tool has officially announced their intention to release a high demand, M18 9.0 battery pack that can provide up to 2 times the performance of their current high powered, extended capacity 5.0 battery and up to 5 times better performance versus standard lithium ion batteries. That’s less trips to the charger, more power to cut through tough materials, and more speed.

The nice thing about this battery upgrade is that it’s fully compatible with all 100+ Milwaukee M18 tools, but you get all of the added benefits of the new battery. Available to the public next month (September), the M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH DEMAND 9.0 Battery Pack will retail for $199, which is definitely a step up from the cost of the 5.0 battery, which retails for around $129.

You may also be aware that DeWalt has announced the release of their own high capacity batteries, the 60V/20V FLEXVOLT batteries and a new line of 60V tools. While Milwaukee’s batteries are only 18V, they’ve released a side-by-side comparison of the battery performance, which aims to show that voltage is not the only measure of power. Of course, the source must be considered and the actual performance will need to be tested once the tools are formally released, but it’s an interesting comparison. As far as brand loyalty goes, it seems that both Milwaukee and DeWalt users will end up being the winners because of these batteries.

Featured

Jun 15, 2021

Hilti Officially Releases EXO-01 Exoskeleton, Names Price

Jun 15, 2021

Last summer, Hilti announced that they had developed their first exoskeleton designed for construction tradespeople in a partnership with Ottobuck, a prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton provider. Earlier this month, Hilti officially released the exoskeleton, announced more details, and published its retail price on their website.

Jun 15, 2021

Jun 7, 2021

The CAT S62 Pro Rugged Smartphone Unleashes the Power of Thermal Imaging

Jun 7, 2021

Cat Phones is known to make some pretty rugged smartphones, the kind of phone you don’t have to worry about on the jobsite – even without a case. Licensed by the construction equipment giant, Caterpillar, the phones are made by the UK-based Bullitt Group. The company recently announced the release of their new flagship smartphone model, the CAT S62 Pro.

Jun 7, 2021

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Jun 1, 2021

The Ultimate Construction Father's Day Gift Guide 2021

Jun 1, 2021

Father’s Day 2021 is June 20, so you better get started on gift ideas if you want to impress dad this year. Whether your father is contractor, handyman, or DIYer, we’ve got a lot of great ideas for him this year.

For more more gift ideas, be sure to check out our past Father's Day Gift Guides from 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 or our Ultimate Construction Holiday Gift Guides from 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020

Jun 1, 2021

May 17, 2021

DeWalt Announces 15 Amp Hour Battery for Larger, More Powerful Tools

May 17, 2021

Lithium battery technology is being pushed to new heights in the tool world seemingly every month, as more power hungry tools continue to drop the cord and join the battery revolution. DeWalt is the latest in the game to up the ante with the release of the first 15 am hour 18V battery on the market.

May 17, 2021

Apr 28, 2021

[VIDEO] Baubot, the Robot That Wants to Be Every Trade on the Jobsite

Apr 28, 2021

While still new in the construction industries, robots are typically designed to perform a specific task in a highly precise and efficient way, like the rebar tying robot, Tybot or the brick-laying robot Hadrian X. More recently, though, robots are being imagined as platforms for 3rd party companies to develop hardware and accessories to attach to the base robot, like the Boston Dynamics robotic dog, Spot. I recently came across a new robot, called Baubot, which hopes to one day perform tasks using every tool on a typical jobsite.

Apr 28, 2021

Apr 1, 2021

Makita Announces Release of New 40V, 80V XGT Tool Lineup for US Market

Apr 1, 2021

Those that follow tool news may have heard about a new Makita tool platform that launched in several other countries a few months ago and have been waiting for the news of it finally being released in the United States. Well, the wait is over, as the teal tool brand has finally announced the release of their 40V and 80V XGT system in the US.

Apr 1, 2021

Mar 15, 2021

Doosan Announces Industry First “Transparent Bucket” to Wheel Loader to Eliminate Blind Spots

Mar 15, 2021

“You make a better door than a window!” is what I imagine loader operators constantly yell at the bucket in front of them (or maybe I’m just projecting based on my experience of having the habit of sitting right in front of the TV as a kid). Either way, operators may not be yelling that in the future, as equipment manufacturer, Doosan, has introduced what they claim is an industry first “transparent” bucket.

Mar 15, 2021

Mar 8, 2021

Cool Tools: World’s First Dry Cut 7-1/2” Portable Tile Saw

Mar 8, 2021

Reducing dust when cutting tile is important for many reasons (including safety and cleanliness), but wet tile saws can be a pain to use, with the slurry created spraying all around the work station and cold weather making the saw much more difficult to use outside. iQ Power Tools has a solution for that: the world’s first 7” portable dry table saw with integrated dust control.

Mar 8, 2021

Mar 1, 2021

[VIDEO] SkyTy is the Drone That Ties Rebar From the Sky

Mar 1, 2021

Just over a year ago, I was introduced to an early prototype of the SkyMul SkyTy, which is a robotic drone with a rebar tying attachment designed to autonomously locate and tie rebar on the jobsite. After a year of tweaks and advancements, SkyMul is now on their third prototype and they showed off those improvements in a new video.

Mar 1, 2021

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Feb 22, 2021

[VIDEO] Volvo Announces Mid-Size Electric Excavator, the EX03

Feb 22, 2021

Like most of the other electric machines that have been announced previously, Volvo promises that this midsized, 14 metric ton excavator will have the same performance as a similarly sized diesel version. The X03 is currently in the concept stage, so Volvo does not have immediate plans to bring it to market, but it shows the possibilities that electronics on heavy machinery can allow for.

Feb 22, 2021

[VIDEO] Simultaneous Demolition of 3 Buildings Creates Enormous Dust Cloud

August 3, 2016 Shane Hedmond

It doesn’t seem like any high rise flat is safe in the UK these days, as another set of them has been demolished to make way for a new housing complex. 6 high rises were demolished simultaneously in Glasgow Scotland last year, another flat in Glasgow was imploded in Glasgow this year, two more in England took several attempts to bring them down in April, and yet another flat was demolished in Glasgow in May, but that video was hilariously ruined by a bus.

[VIDEO] This is What It Looks Like When a Wrecking Ball Hits a Minivan

August 2, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Wrecking balls got a big publicity boost in 2013 when Miley Cyrus released her hit song, but, they’re not really that popular with regards to demolition. Wrecking balls are slowly becoming extinct in the construction industry, making way for more precise hydraulic excavators and explosives. Made of forged steel, wrecking balls typically range between 1,000 to 12,000 pounds. Needless to say, they’re big, they’re heavy, and they don’t belong around operating streets and buildings. Which leads us to the video below…

[VIDEO] Brick Laying Robot Can Finish a House in 2 Days

August 1, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Hadrian X brick laying robot via Youtube

There has been lots of robot talk in the past few years in construction, whether it’s trying to give humans the strength of a robot, 3D printing robots, or automated robots that can perform repetitive tasks on the job site. Masonry has been a sought after market for the robotics industry, it seems that there’s a bit of an arms race to the top of the robotic brick laying mountain. The latest competitor in this field is the Hadrian X, developed by Fastbrick Robotics in Perth, Australia.

3 Simple Steps to Reduce the Risk of Falling Objects on Your Construction Site

July 29, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Remember that day in school when the lesson was about the acceleration of free falling objects. The science teacher asked an interesting question. If you dropped a feather and a hammer out the window at the same time, which would hit the ground first? According to Galileo, all things should fall at the same rate, regardless of their weight, right? That’s a valid theory and it was actually illustrated at the end of the Apollo 15 moon walk. In 1971 astronaut, David Scott, performed the experiment and had both items land simultaneously.

Initial Investigations and Theories Have Begun After Crane Collapse on New York Bridge

July 28, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Photo from Tappan Zee Bridge in New York by Raellyn & Melissa, CC BY-ND 2.0

On Tuesday, July 19th, a crane, with its boom extended 25 stories high, buckled and collapsed onto the active Tappan Zee Bridge in New York. Thankfully and amazingly, no one was killed and only a couple people sustained minor injuries, but traffic on the bridge was stopped for hours. All but one lane was re-opened on the bridge within 8 hours of the collapse. After the collapse, work began to try to determine the cause of the accident.

Review: Helly Hansen Aims to be the New Standard in Construction Apparel

July 27, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Helly Hansen isn’t just an apparel brand – it’s an institution. For 140 years, the company has been designing and manufacturing high quality performance apparel and is amazingly popular within the skiing and sailing industry. We all actually have Helly Hansen to thank for the world’s first supple waterproof fabrics and the world’s first fleece. If anyone could possibly know how to keep people warm and dry, it’s them. Fortunately for all of us in the construction industry, they also put their knowledge and unparalleled style into designs worthy of the jobsite as Helly Hansen Workwear (HHWW). Their goal? To create workwear that not only performs on the toughest jobsite, but also looks like something you’d wear out after work.

The City of Detroit Has Now Demolished Over 10,000 Buildings Since 2014, Here Are All of Them

July 26, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Well, it’s certainly a good time to be a demolition contractor in Detroit, Michigan right now. After receiving $50 million dollars in order to fight blight within the city limits, the city has successfully demolished 10,171 buildings (as of July 24th), with thousands more to go.

Congratulations to our 2020 Best Construction Podcast Award Winner, Bridging the Gap!