Concrete Finishing: Smooth, Wide Spans The C-750 is a cylinder concrete finisher that is capable of finishing widths up to 156 ft without the need of an overhead truss assembly. It has an electronically controlled automatic advance which changes the attack angle as needed, and the automatic self-widening carriage controls its travel distance. The operator is able to make on-the-fly crown height adjustments using the power-train adjustor controls built into the console. GOMACO; 712-364-3347; www.gomaco.com Foundation Load Testing: Wireless Sensors The Pile Driving Analyzer has wireless sensors for monitoring the dynamic load testing of deep foundations. Rather than requiring heavy
Pump Station Monitor: Early Warning The ADS Spider is an alarm monitoring system designed for water and sewer pumping stations. The unit needs no special software, and has a built-in Web server that maintains data logs and can send alerts by SMS text message, email, voice or other Internet notifications. There is an optional battery powerpack, and cases come in either plastic (left) or stainless steel (right). ADS LLC; 256-430-6261; www.adsenv.com/spider Concrete Waterproofing: Sprays Right On The Barriseal-S liquid-applied Air and Vapor Barrier System is a spray-on coating for above-grade concrete surfaces. The coating is a water-based, solvent-free emulsion which
Bifocal Safety Glasses: See Clearly Without Risk Scorpion MAG bifocal protective eyewear allows workers with trouble seeing near distances to perform their tasks without having to risk removing their safety equipment. The tough bifocal lenses come in four standard diopter strengths of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5. The eyewear is well-suited for reading electronic displays or labels, as well as for working with small parts or machinery. The sturdy frames feature adjustable ratcheting temples and a soft nosepiece. Available in clear or gray. Gateway Safety Inc; 800-822-5347; www.gatewaysafety.com Jackhammer Aid: Easier Lifting The JA90-350 pneumatic Jackhammer Lift Assist is designed
Grout Placement: Larger Capacity The Groutzilla Placement System is a power-driven unit for placing grout and masonry. It can handle 20 cu ft of material and can fill multiple courses of block spanning over 20 ft. Able to work with a forklift or telehandler, it includes the self-wiping composite polymer auger (far right) and the wireless remote (below). Stone Construction Equipment Inc.; 585-229-5141; www.stone-equip.com Safer Climbing Formwork: Versatile System The Xclimb 60 System is designed to provide safe working conditions in both crane-lifted and self-climbing small-to-midsize projects. Always attached to a wall using a self-locking mechanism, its long profiles allow
Tony Illia Topcon is inching its way to the top. From a surveyor's perspective, the advent of fine electronic measuring gear such as global positioning systems has made the world smaller. That closeness also is forcing suppliers to team up to stay competitive in the global market. Tokyo-based Topcon Corp. and Sokkia Co. Ltd. closed a merger Feb. 5 after nearly a year of due diligence. Both companies say the merger is necessary to stave off global competition. In the deal, Topcon picked up 32 million shares of Sokkia stock for about $194 million, representing 94% of outstanding stock. Sokkia
Grappling Claw: Flexible Demolition The MG1500 hydraulic grapple attachment is designed for not only sorting and loading rubble but is suitable for the demolition of masonry and wooden structures. With a service weight of under 3,263 lb, the tool features a maximum closing force of 6.9 tons. It fits onto carriers between 17 and 28 tons, requires oil flow of 32 to 45 gpm at 5,076 psi and features full-360 degree rotation with two hydraulic cylinders to maximize the closing force. Atlas Copco Construction Tools LLC; 413-746-5383; www.atlascopco.com Segmented Pier System: Supportive The DynaPier system allows piers to be placed
Fabrication System: Affordable Prototyping The FDM 360mc is a fabrication system for prototyping and direct-digital manufacturing applications. It is intended to provide the accuracy, repeatability and material specifications of more elaborate “3D printer” systems at a much lower price. It has a build envelope of 14 x 10 x 10 in. and can be upgraded to 16 x 14 x 16 in. The upgrade also includes two additional material bays, resulting in a total of four. Available slice thicknesses are 0.005 in., 0.007 in. and 0.01 in. Stratasys, Inc.; 888-480-3548; www.stratasys.com Sound Cleaning: Removing Lime The ScaleBlaster is intended to
Tudor Van Hampton For Don Ahern, who owns the largest independent rental chain in North America, keeping his fleet of machines looking clean and green is a daily part of the family business. But the grungy process of powerwashing construction equipment, such as dozers that can collect as much as 500 lb of dirt while working in the field, is not always friendly to shop workers and local wastewater treatment systems. “I’ve been playing with this my entire life,” says the president of Las Vegas-based Ahern Rentals Inc. He is developing his own self-cleaning powerwashing system for Ahern’s rental yards,
Chrysler LLC Among the most noticeable changes in the 2009 Dodge Ram light-duty pickup truck, besides its Charger-inspired mug, is a new rear suspension that strays from the traditional Hotchkiss leaf-spring style of other trucks in favor of more cruising-friendly coil springs. Also radically different are diesel and gas-electric hybrid options that are set to roll out over the next two years. As the only full-size pickup to come with a solid rear axle mated to coil springs, Ram 1500, available this fall, will be selling a modern, comfortable ride. But Chrysler LLC engineers are promising that performance won’t sag.
Auto-Feed Roofing Screw System: Saves Time During Installation The Precision Placement Quik Drive System is an auto-feed screw driving system for screw guns. Designed for standing-seam metal roofing, the system can drive screws into the pre-existing holes of a standing-seam clip without the clip bend getting in the way. Collated screw strips eliminate the need for carrying around loose bulk screws, which allows for one-handed operation. The lightweight system works with most brands of screw guns, and two types of Quik Drive fasteners. Simpson Strong-Tie; 800-999-5099; www.strongtie.com Concrete Forms: Tight Curves The Xtra Flex system now is able to form
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