Smart Solutions Category: Tools

Maximizing Productivity with Cordless

Using MILWAUKEE TOOL’s new line of wet/dry vacuum solutions helps Pan Pacific Mechanical better keep its workspaces clean, which enhances productivity. Pan Pacific also found the cordless vacuums safer, more versatile, and more durable than corded vacuums.

As a seasoned shop foreman at Pan Pacific Mechanical, Bryan Burch understands the importance of efficiency, productivity, and reliability in his daily operations. Burch oversees the prefabrication work at the company’s Fremont, CA, location. Prefabricating plumbing and mechanical equipment demands precision. Keeping the workspace free of copper, metal, wood, and plastic debris is crucial to maintaining organization and maximizing productivity.

Burch relied on several corded wet/dry vacuums to maintain a clean and organized space, but they came with frustrations. Managing cords became a time-consuming task, and the corded vacuums restricted reach, forcing Burch and his team to constantly seek out nearby power outlets or rely on cumbersome extension cords. Durability concerns added another layer of frustration; broken wheels and damaged cords were all too common. These challenges not only compromised efficiency but also posed safety risks, highlighting the urgent need for a more streamlined and versatile solution.

MILWAUKEE TOOL introduced a lineup of wet/dry vacuum solutions designed to alleviate these challenges. When doing research and working side-by-side with users to understand their needs and frustrations, MILWAUKEE TOOL was consistently asked to deliver a cordless solution that also addressed productivity and durability. MILWAUKEE TOOL’s new battery-powered vacuums allow professionals to tackle medium and large jobsite cleanup applications without sacrificing performance.

Already familiar with the MILWAUKEE TOOL M18™ battery system, Burch and his team decided to invest in MILWAUKEE TOOL’s jobsite cleanup expansion, purchasing the M18 FUEL™ 9-Gallon Dual-Battery Wet/Dry Vacuum. “We had already been switching over to Milwaukee for a while,” Burch explained. “We trusted the battery performance, and everything is compatible, which makes it easier.”

Cutting the Cord

“I knew there would be a benefit to having a cordless solution,” Burch noted. “No more worries about tripping over cords or having to constantly manage them. But what surprised us was the power. It matched, if not exceeded, that of the corded vacuums.”

Specifically, the vacuum’s robust suction capabilities impressed Burch, allowing his crew to tackle the diverse range of debris in the shop. “We have to suck up all different types of materials,” he explained, from fine dust particles to larger debris. This vacuum’s power remained consistent and reliable across various surfaces and applications. Moreover, the crew was impressed by the vacuum’s ability to maintain its power output during application. “There really is full power throughout the battery’s charge,” Burch attested. MILWAUKEE TOOL’s vacuum exhibited consistent suction strength from start to finish, enabling uninterrupted operation without compromising cleanup efficiency.

Transitioning to cordless was not just about ditching cords for Burch and crew; it was about embracing a new standard of performance. The cordless solution improved versatility on the job. “That’s the biggest thing,” Burch explained. “The [crew members] like the flexibility without the cord, and it gives them better access.” Plus, eliminating the cord from the unit altogether makes it a safer product, said Burch, alleviating the concern of “having someone cut the cord and get electrocuted.”

Burch estimated that nearly 90 percent of Pan Pacific’s tools are on the MILWAUKEE TOOL M18 battery system, ensuring that batteries and chargers are always within reach. “We always have easy access to a battery since it’s all compatible,” he said, noting the efficiency this step has introduced to the shop without any concerns for runtime.

Improved Durability and Versatility

The durability of their MILWAUKEE TOOL M18 Wet/Dry Vacuum was another game-changing factor for Burch’s team, often a concern with equipment subjected to the demands of professional shops. “Broken wheels and hoses or cut cords were definitely issues we had run into,” explained Burch. “If someone drops something on a cord, that cord is no good,” and the shop must either invest time in replacing a cord or buy a new unit. “For someone to spend an hour to replace a cord—it’s often cheaper just to buy an entirely new vacuum,” said Burch. Reinforced casters and crush-resistant hoses also enhance durability. Burch’s crew has not had to worry about common maintenance or unit replacements.

Frustrated by trying to fit a variety of hoses to vacuum accessories, the Pan Pacific crew relied on PVC bushings and tape to create adapters that allow accessories to fit on different vacuums. Once they adopted MILWAUKEE TOOL’s AIR-TIP™ trade-focused vacuum accessories, however, the crew was able to spend more time on other tasks. Designed for professional-grade applications, these accessories delivered extended reach, access to tight spaces, dust control, and debris agitation. “They can get to those hard-to-reach places,” which is especially beneficial in a shop that uses a variety of equipment and machinery that needs to be cleaned, Burch explained.

Burch and his team seamlessly integrated MILWAUKEE TOOL’s M18 FUEL 9-Gallon Dual-Battery Wet/Dry Vacuum into their workflow. This solution is safer and easier to use, more durable, and more versatile than the corded vacuums Pan Pacific had been using, allowing the company to increase efficiency and improve productivity.

For more information, visit www.milwaukeetool.com.

Gaining Protection and Productivity With Advanced Safety Technology

Murphy Company adopted MILWAUKEE TOOL’s latest M18 FUEL^™ ½” Drill/Driver because it has the power and speed to keep them productive on the job, but also because of an enhanced safety feature that prevents injuries caused by over-rotation. The drill’s AUTOSTOP^™ Control Mode senses over-rotation in a bind-up and automatically shuts off the drill, providing more control and reduced kickback. MILWAUKEE TOOL is a benefactor of MCAA24.

The Danger of Over-Rotation

With nearly 30 years of experience, Ricky Reams, the vice president of safety and quality at Murphy Company, understands how tools directly impact safety and productivity on a jobsite. Reams described an incident in which a lead foreman was showing an apprentice how to do a task. Based on the position and height of the task, they felt safer doing it in a lift rather than on a ladder.

“They actually did a great thing! They moved the ladder, got a scissor lift in place, and went up,” said Reams. “But they still had to reach completely overhead, because they were still limited by the height of the lift.”

During the application, the drill caught, spun, and injured the foreman’s hand. With 115 years in business and more than 1,300 employees nationwide, this one incident may seem minor in the scale of Murphy Company’s business, but the company places strong emphasis on safety and continuous improvement.

“We had an injury in front of the apprentice we were trying to train and a lead foreman that required medical treatment,” said Reams. “But even if we take away the direct costs and hours spent investigating the injury, it still has an impact on how a customer perceives us. We had a recordable injury on that job because of the over-rotation of the drill.”

On a quarterly and annual basis, Murphy Company does a formal analysis of jobsite injuries to assess and prioritize problems. The analysis is focused on understanding the types of injuries that occurred, how they happened, the task being undertaken, and how it was performed, among other factors.

Check out trends in construction industry injuries from CPWR, the Center for Construction Research and Training: https://www.cpwr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Quarter3-QDR-2019.pdf

“When we really got down to it, the majority of the hand injuries that we had associated with a drill were from working on an elevated platform, either in a lift or on a ladder; they were working overhead, and they were drilling with a large 4” or 5” hole bit,” noted Reams. “Many of the injuries were happening at almost the exact same task. In that overhead body position, there is less control over the tool.”

Dive deeper into the risks of over-rotation and other injuries on the job in this Construction Executive article: https://constructionexec.com/article/the-safety-technology-in-safety-technology-tools

Around the same time that Murphy Company was coming to their conclusions after analyzing hand injuries, MILWAUKEE TOOL introduced their newest M18 FUEL ½” Drill/Driver. Working side-by-side with users to understand their needs and frustrations, MILWAUKEE TOOL’s research teams were repeatedly asked for a drill that reacts more consistently to bind-ups. Solutions from other tool manufacturers were either overly sensitive, shutting the tool down prematurely, or not sensitive enough, so the feature did not engage at all.

In developing the new drill, MILWAUKEE TOOL used data from users in the field and lab-correlated data points. MILWAUKEE TOOL then leveraged advanced machine learning to account for the numerous and challenging variables associated with drilling a hole with a ½” drill. The combination of real-life and machine data points led to the development of an industry-leading solution that shuts down the drill’s motor at the right moment. Additionally, the advanced algorithm results in excellent reaction time and minimizes nuisance shutdowns that can hinder productivity.

Engineering a Solution

“The message we were getting from our field employees was that over-rotation was an issue with the current drills being used in certain applications, and we wanted to find a better solution,” said Reams.

The wide range of tasks and applications Murphy Company handles requires a tool line that is diverse enough to apply to everyone. In the mechanical trades, workers often need to work overhead, at heights, or in hard-to-reach places. The further away from the body the tool is, the less control the user has, which can result in jobsite injuries.

“Think about where duct work or pipe goes,” Reams explained. “It’s in the ground, it’s in the ceiling, but very seldom allows for ideal body positioning. Often what we’re doing tends to be at some level of an off-center or awkward position.”

When MILWAUKEE TOOL’s latest drill with the enhanced technology was introduced, Murphy Company immediately put it to the test in the field with some of their top journeymen and craftsmen to understand the drill’s functionality and performance.

“Anytime we make any type of switch to any type of tool or equipment, we test it in real-world applications. We evaluated the new drill/driver with AUTOSTOP technology with multiple teams and jobsites, and the tool performed exactly as advertised—from a power perspective, from a run-time perspective, and even down to the ergonomic controls and design of the tool itself, like the weight and the battery options that are available. AUTOSTOP technology stopped the drill as soon as it sensed a bind-up and started to rotate.”

Reams continued, “AUTOSTOP technology immediately neutralizes the tool and reduces the risk of a potential injury. It was a long time coming. That’s an engineering solution to a problem that’s as old as when drills were first invented.”

Following the trial, Murphy Company updated their tool catalog so that they purchase only MILWAUKEE TOOL’s M18 FUEL ½” Drill/Driver moving forward.

“Regardless of how much training we do, the complexity and variations of our jobs will always present hazards,” Reams noted. “When using technology and engineering controls in tools to reduce or completely eliminate the hazard or the possibility of using that tool incorrectly, we’re saving countless injuries from happening.”

For more information, visit www.milwaukeetool.com. MCAA thanks MILWAUKEE TOOL for being a benefactor of MCAA24, hosting the Wednesday night reception and Awards of Excellence Breakfast.

Ahern Boosts Productivity in the Field with MILWAUKEE TOOL’s Battery-Powered Lineup

MILWAUKEE TOOL’s product lineup has long been J.F. Ahern Co.’s choice of power tools because the same batteries could be used for a broad range of tools, saving time and money. Recently, Ahern had the opportunity to test out some of MILWAUKEE TOOL’s new MX FUEL™ Equipment System, including the first-ever cordless core drill, on a project that required drilling more than 1,500 holes through various types of walls, including block and concrete. Ahern found that the handheld core drill was much more efficient than a traditional drill, providing more control and more power. MILWAUKEE TOOL is an MCAA benefactor sponsor.

One Battery, Many Options

Nearly a decade ago, it was not uncommon for a major mechanical contracting company to use power tools from two or three manufacturers, each with its own unique battery. When Tyler Gumm became manager of Ahern’s Tools and Equipment Shop in 2012, he was faced with an inventory of hundreds of power tools and batteries that spanned multiple brands. Soon, the feedback from the field would lead Gumm to overhaul the company’s choice of power tools.

Ahern was frustrated by the amount of time crews were spending chasing down the right batteries for the tools at hand. No batteries were compatible with one another, which left field crews idle for the time it took to recharge once their tools died. The Tools and Equipment Shop tried to alleviate this frustration by matching tool manufacturers as much as they could when setting up jobsite boxes, but it was clear the time spent was negatively affecting productivity.

“Stocking these many brands of tools and batteries affected inventory. At the time we were stocking four different batteries from four different manufacturers, and it took a considerable amount of time to look up tool brands and models to match batteries,” said Gumm. “It’s hard to quantify exactly how much productivity was lost directly because of this, but it wasn’t anything short of significant.”

The problem presented Gumm an opportunity to find a better solution for the tools being supplied to the field. After meeting with various manufacturers, visiting their plants, and testing out a fair amount of different batteries and tools in the field, a clear leader was identified, and a new partnership was formed.

“MILWAUKEE TOOL came out as the frontrunner because, overall, they had the best line of tools and battery compatibility that far exceeded any other manufacturer,” said Gumm.

The efficiency of MILWAUKEE TOOL’s M18™ battery platform is important for Ahern. The same batteries fit every single tool. The crews in the field do not have to spend valuable time searching for a spare battery when one dies or is left behind.

More Than Just the Batteries

Jamie Brenner, Ahern plumber foreman, uses MILWAUKEE TOOL’s M18™ FORCE LOGIC™ Press Tool on a copper pipe. The cordless, handheld tool makes installation easier and safer.

Outside of the battery platform, MILWAUKEE TOOL has distinguished itself by its breadth of products, service, and opportunities for additional innovation and collaboration.

“It’s incredible the number of new tools becoming cordless that we never thought would be,” Gumm observed. “No cords is the best thing to come from the world we’re living in now, because it is safer for the guys in the field. At the time of our decision to move over to MILWAUKEE, they had the most breadth of line for the work we did. Now, nearly a decade later, their offerings have only grown—and it’s all still on the same system!” said Gumm.

Gumm notes that the company used to have to fix a lot of tools internally.

With MILWAUKEE’s 5-year warranty and additional service support, Ahern mechanics no longer need to work on power tools, so they can focus on other work crucial to the business.

Frequently, MILWAUKEE TOOL’s Research & Development and Engineering Teams have reached out to Ahern when they are looking for some real-life users to test new tools and provide feedback. This arrangement is a unique opportunity for field crews to get their hands on new-to-market tools and equipment, preview it far in advance of competitors, and provide feedback to help make the current tools and future releases even more effective. And with Ahern celebrating its 140th anniversary this year, MILWAUKEE TOOL gains insights from an organization that has withstood the test of time.

For more information, visit www.milwaukeetool.com. MCAA thanks MILWAUKEE TOOL for being a benefactor sponsor.

CRW Mechanical Wins Bid with Labor-Saving Milwaukee Press Tool

CRW Mechanical won the bid for a parking garage’s gas piping project by switching to a Milwaukee^® M18™ Force Logic™ Long Throw Press Tool rather than using a traditional all-weld approach. The Press Tool saved CRW Mechanical 15 percent on the project’s labor costs, and the crew saved 125 hours—all with just one Long Throw Press Tool onsite.

For CRW, located in the Washington, DC, area, the project “wins” include the following:

The Long Throw Press Tool decreased labor costs by 15 percent compared with an all-weld job, allowing CRW to reduce its original bid and win the job.
The lower bid allowed the Columbia Gas utility to green-light the large gas pipe project, which had been on the back burner for years.
The crew on the jobsite saved 125 hours using just one Long Throw Press Tool, completing each fitting in seconds.

The Press Tool installation meant a gain of about 25 minutes every time one of the job’s 300-plus Viega^® MegaPress^® XL^®fittings was installed. In total, the Press Tool saved the CRW crew 125 hours—more than five days—on the project.

Work started during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Columbia Gas of Virginia had been eyeing the large undertaking for years. The parking garage, located at a Worldgate Plaza office building in Herndon, VA, was built in the 1980s with indoor gas meters. The utility needed the meters moved to the exterior.

Utility managers were motivated to get the long-delayed project done. A Columbia Gas line had been placed on the property five years earlier, and the line was just sitting there—dead. The utility contacted CRW and asked for a price. However, CRW’s original bid for an all-weld project was considered too high.

Pivoting to Press Tools

Rudy Ford, president of CRW, was evaluating solutions to get the deal done when he viewed a Milwaukee Innovation display during a socially distanced mini-trade show sponsored by the Mechanical Contractors Association of Metropolitan Washington. Talking to Sales Representative Hyojon Robbins at the event, Ford saw 4” cordless “jaws” on a table. Ford commented, “Wow, that’s ProPress for copper,” and Robbins replied, “No, that’s up to 4” MegaPress for steel.”

Inspiration struck Ford. Milwaukee’s products were the solution for the parking garage project. Robbins confirmed that the tool is fully compatible with 2½” to 4” Viega MegaPress XL fittings for steel pipes. Ford said, “I literally left the tool display, came back to the office, and repriced the job that same day based on labor savings.” Robbins worked with Viega to go over the features and benefits of the tool, and Ford consulted with partners at Viega, too.

“I wanted my guys to work,” Ford said. “It was during COVID-19, so the garage was empty. We needed the work, and this was an opportunity to make the price attractive to Columbia Gas.”

Ford lowered the bid 15 percent based on labor savings alone. “We just went for it,” he said.

Savings Plus Safety

Because welders use an open flame even in tight spaces, a hot work permit is required, along with a second person for fire watch. These steps are not needed with the Press Tool, and neither are materials such as welding gas, filler material, torches, or cords. With welding, a wet system must be drained. The Press Tool using XL rings connects wet systems, skipping the draining stage and saving time.

Even during COVID-19, a few dozen cars were parked in the garage. Safety precautions in an open, active parking garage include protecting vehicles by cordoning off areas. Screens are set up to shield pedestrians from possible arc flash. Smoke and exhaust from welding must be cleared out of the air. Because CRW used the Long Throw Press Tool, none of those precautions were needed on the jobsite.

CRW Foreman A. J. Hodges summed up the advantages of the new approach. “We worked with 5,000’ of pipe on 19 different lines. Pressing made the whole job easier. The Press Tool made a dramatic difference to me and the work, plus it was easy to use,” said Hodges.

Hodges, a welder, put the project finish time into perspective. “If I had been welding, I’d only be a quarter of the way done.” He confirmed that no gas leaks were found in presses made on the 5,000’ of pipe. Ford added, “The gas company likes the results. They take pictures every time they’re out there.”

For more information, visit www.milwaukeetool.com. MCAA thanks Milwaukee Tool for being an MCAA sponsor.

MILWAUKEE TOOL Eases McGilvray Mechanical’s Transition to OSHA Silica Compliance

To meet new, stricter Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) standards for how much silica dust workers could inhale, McGilvray Mechanical partnered with MILWAUKEE TOOL to implement productivity-focused dust collection solutions. “At a time when many manufacturers were still trying to figure out how to address this standard, the MILWAUKEE team was very knowledgeable with regard to the new requirements and were able to apply their knowledge of our business to their offered solution,” said Kurt Lewis, director of operations at McGilvray.

For McGilvray, the OSHA standard on silica dust is not just a legal priority—it is a moral one. “We’re not doing this simply because its expected of us now,” said Lewis. “We’re doing this because it’s right.”

New Standards

McGilvray Mechanical, based in Pompano Beach, FL, has been a leading provider of commercial mechanical HVAC services in southern Florida for more than 60 years. McGilvray—along with 676,000 other employers nationwide—faced stricter standards for dust management beginning September 23, 2017.

OSHA sought to bring worker protections to the forefront with its construction standard on respirable crystalline silica, 29 CFR § 1926.1153. Silica is found in materials like concrete, tile, rock, stone, and brick. Exposure to silica dust can be a major cause of lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease.

OSHA has spent the past year ensuring that the final rule is followed, even making room for “good faith” efforts by employers if they show that they are on track toward compliance. However, many construction companies have faced steep fines. In the first six months after the standard went into effect, OSHA found 117 violations, 80 percent of which were considered “serious.”

Workforce Impact

While the cost associated with arming workers with the tools they need to be compliant has often been steep, companies like McGilvray understand that the long-term protection is priceless. As soon as OSHA announced the standard in 2016, McGilvray began making sure they met the best interests of their workers.

“Because we have a workforce of more than 65 doing a wide range of commercial mechanical work, along with the implementation our new retrofit service division, we knew the recently implemented standard would impact our workforce in their daily activities, so we spent a significant amount of time making sure we did it right,” said Lewis.

The company performed numerous trainings and assessments to ensure employees were informed of the hazards associated with respirable silica, and leadership educated themselves on the specific tasks in the workplace that could result in exposure and how to implement compliance methods that protect employees.

“It was a comprehensive undertaking which did not take away from the most important goal of keeping our greatest resource—our employees—safe,” said Lewis.

Partners in Compliance

Key to all of this was making compliance as simple as possible by partnering with MILWAUKEE TOOL, the global leader in heavy-duty jobsite solutions for the construction trades. Its productivity-focused dust collection solutions help make compliance simple for companies and their workers, so they can stay focused on their work.

“I simply told them what we needed, and they met this need by outfitting our team with solutions that made compliance easy,” said Lewis. “Throughout the entire process they offered the consultation, training, and support to successfully achieve our operational staff safety goals.”

Seamless Transition

McGilvray made their compliance seamless by using MILWAUKEE’s HAMMERVAC™ Dedicated Dust Extractors in conjunction with their current M18 FUEL™ 1-1/8″ SDS Plus Rotary Hammers. These extractors are compliant with OSHA Table 1 and use the same replaceable certified HEPA filter as other HAMMERVACS, which filter 99.97 percent of all particles greater than 0.3 micrometers. Making the transition even easier, these tools feature an inline, dedicated design engineered to directly connect to and be powered by the tool, and they are fully compatible with the wide range of M18™ tools the McGilvray team already uses in their work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7IvkOzuPDw

McGilvray was also introduced to MILWAUKEE’s new DUST TRAP™ Drilling Shroud—the first OSHA compliance solution that meets objective data requirements without the use of a vacuum. This universal accessory gave the McGilvray team the flexibility to remain compliant even when not using the HAMMERVACS.

“With the availability of these tools, which eased our implementation transition, we gained peace of mind that our employees weren’t being exposed to dust during our critical drilling applications, while allowing us to provide a safer work environment and leading compliance in south Florida,” stated Lewis.

For more information, visit www.milwaukeetool.com. MCAA thanks MILWAUKEE TOOL for being a benefactor of MCAA19, sponsoring the Tuesday night reception, and co-sponsoring the dessert party.

Spaeder Saves Weeks on Layout with DEWALT HangerWorks

To meet an engineer’s demanding criteria for embedding hanger assemblies into concrete slabs for a new seven-story building, Wm. T. Spaeder Company used DEWALT HangerWorks™ software, not only achieving the difficult task but saving weeks of layout time as well. HangerWorks also improved the prefabrication process by enhancing labeling and reporting in Spaeder’s building information modeling (BIM) program.

Jonathan Marsh, chief technology officer and division manager of virtual design and construction at Spaeder, based in Erie, PA, was so pleased with the outcome, he posted his thoughts on LinkedIn. “The craziest hanger load on slab validation we have ever done,” wrote Marsh. “A big thank you to DEWALT HangerWorks for saving us weeks!”

Extra Caution, Extra Headaches

Because of an experience with structural failure caused by overloaded slabs, the engineer for this project was determined to be particularly cautious about the loads added to the slabs as the mechanical and electrical systems were coordinated for the building. At first, the engineer wanted to avoid any attachments to the slab.

After discussion with the construction management team, the engineer gave Spaeder an alternative. They would be permitted to hang from the slab as long as they used concrete embeds prior to the pour and could demonstrate to the engineer’s satisfaction that they had met specific criteria.

The engineering criteria were not as simple as circles or squares surrounding each embed location. The criteria represented accumulative loads for a section of concrete 2’ wide and extending from one beam to another at every hanger location. The engineer gave Spaeder maximum weights for areas of overlap and even specific criteria based on distance from beams.

These demands could have posed a giant engineering nightmare, because the building needed approximately 25,000 hangers embedded in the slab. In fact, the criteria were so complex they required three pages of explanation. The challenge was presented to three separate subcontracting companies, who also needed to find a way to come together and work out the best available slab loads to accommodate all the building systems. Finally, all of this coordination, design, and planning had to happen fast. Construction of the building had begun, and anything in the slab had to have an embed installed prior to pouring concrete.

Handled with HangerWorks

DEWALT’s HangerWorks software is a plug-in for Autodesk Revit™ that automates the placement and design of hangers and seismic bracing for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems. Complex engineering calculations are built in to the tool that enable it to size hanger assemblies based on the weights of the MEP system, including contents (e.g., water, wire, or air), and determine hanger locations based on building code requirements and user-defined project standards. With HangerWorks, Spaeder tackled two critical problems.

First, HangerWorks allowed Spaeder to make basic point load calculations for loads that were not static. Given the involvement of multiple subcontractors, the team needed to balance all of the systems’ weights to avoid overloading any areas of the slab. With real-time reporting of loads, Spaeder could easily and quickly relocate hangers to redistribute loads to areas of the slab with available
capacity.

Spaeder modified the heat map using HangerWorks, attached it to the various hanger rods throughout their model, then gathered load data to demonstrate to the engineer that all the criteria had been met.

Second, HangerWorks succeeded in communicating the slab loads graphically in a way that everyone could understand and that alleviated the engineer’s concerns. The heat map feature in HangerWorks proved to be the perfect tool to communicate the areas of impact to the slab loads resulting from the coordination process. While the criteria given to Spaeder by the engineer were too complex to allow for use of the out-of-the-box heat map, Spaeder used HangerWorks to create a modified heat map, which they attached to the various hanger rods throughout their model. Those rods then provided individual load reports, allowing Spaeder to successfully demonstrate to the engineer that all the criteria had been met.

Moreover, the HangerWorks heat map provided a guide to enable the building owner to make good decisions about future installations within the building. “Upon creation of our first heat map and presentation to the engineer, Spaeder received applause from the owner’s representatives and members of the design and coordination team for having met the challenge and been able to pull together a workable solution,” said Marsh.

Prefab Pays Off

Had DEWALT HangerWorks served only to provide engineering calculations, it would have been well worth Spaeder’s investment, Marsh observed. HangerWorks also delivered on the prefabrication side, enabling Spaeder to automate their BIM of materials, hanger spool sheet, and prefabrication labels. By quickly modifying their existing hanger fabrication workflows to work in conjunction with HangerWorks, Spaeder leveraged the software’s enhanced reporting functions to produce better labels, improved fabrication drawings, and more useful field installation drawings. The drawings included information vital to the foreman’s understanding of the installation process and helped with sizing of strut channel and other secondary support materials. In addition, Spaeder ended up being paid to lay out fire protection and sheet metal anchors, as they were already controlling the hangers for all the trades on the project.

For more information, visit anchors.dewalt.com/anchors.

Shinn Mechanical Couples Milwaukee Tool and Victaulic to Go Extra Mile on Seattle Tunnel Project

Under pressure to make up for lost time on a huge tunneling project, Shinn Mechanical Inc. used cordless Milwaukee tools to install Victaulic grooved couplings on an innovative piping design, shaving months off the original schedule. “Pairing Victaulic couplings with Milwaukee tools allowed us to finish a job scheduled to take eight months in only 10 weeks,” said Mike Shinn, company founder.

Setbacks Squeeze Schedule

Seattle’s SR 99 tunnel project is a 2 mile tunnel with a double-decked roadway inside. Part of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program, it will replace the original viaduct, built in the 1950s, with an underground tollway that bypasses downtown Seattle, clearing the way for new public space on the city’s waterfront.

To bore the full length of the tunnel, a 57’-diameter boring machine was built specifically for the project. Called “Bertha” after Bertha Knight Landes, the city’s first female mayor, it was the world’s largest earth pressure balance tunnel boring machine.

Bertha set to work on the SR 99 tunnel in 2013, boring from south to north. The project progressed until December 2013, when damage to the machine’s seal system prevented it from completing the job. The repairs took two years and the machine restarted in December 2015.

By the end of 2015, Bertha was back at work but was stopped in her tracks again in January 2016 when a barge in Elliott Bay damaged some piers and a sinkhole developed near the project site. Until a safer worksite could be ensured, work was suspended, resulting in a hiatus that lasted until April. A year later, Bertha reached the north end of the tunnel.

After two years of delays, the tunnel had finally been fully excavated, but the work was not nearly complete.

Shinn Mechanical Swivel Joint — Shinn Mechanical engineered its own swivel joint to custom-fit the angle and the dimensions for each joint, fabricating the parts in a single day. With Victaulic’s Style W77 coupling, “We were able to cut our pipe to length and install the two-bolt couplings without mitering any joints,” said Mike Shinn, company founder.

Creative Design Saves Time

The contracts for the project’s major construction programs had been awarded years in advance. With the tunnel finally completed, work began immediately. A team began setting precast panels to create a road deck, and specialists started on the electrical and construction work.

Tasked with installing the enormous drain system for the tunnel, Shinn Mechanical was one of several companies on the worksite. It had won the job by designing a customizable header that decreased fabrication time in the curved tunnel, where every pipe had to be custom fit. Instead of trying to find an existing part that could be modified, Shinn Mechanical took things a step farther. “We came up with a better design,” said Shinn. “We are innovative, and we’re always looking for more cost-effective solutions.”

The capacity, reliability, and compatibility of the Milwaukee tools “enabled us to maximize work hours in a challenging environment.”

— Mike Shinn, Founder, Shinn Mechanical Inc.

Shinn Mechanical engineers designed a swivel joint that uses a pivot to allow the angle and the dimension to be fitted for each joint. Two plates slide against one another at a set point in the middle to allow the arms to be adjusted to accommodate varying tie-ins. Workers took measurements to determine the angles, and Shinn used those dimensions to fabricate the parts in a single day, cutting a three- to four-day turnaround into 24 hours.

With these parts in hand, Shinn Mechanical was ready to begin the largest tunnel project it had ever undertaken, and the company looked to its trusted partners for execution.

Partnering for Success

Victaulic and Milwaukee Tool brought nearly two centuries of collective experience to the table. Shinn explained that the reliability and ease of installation of Victaulic couplings has made them the grooved mechanical
coupling of choice for Shinn Mechanical.

The gradual bend in the tunnel limited pipe lengths for the drain system to 28’, requiring approximately 350 pipe joints on the main line alone. With pipe diameters ranging from 2” to 20”, pipe size presented as much of an installation challenge as the number of joints.

“Victaulic’s Style W77 coupling was exactly what we needed for the SR 99 tunnel project,” said Shinn. “We were able to cut our pipe to length and install the two-bolt couplings without mitering any joints.”

Flexibility combined with a grooved joint that is easy to install in tight spaces and accommodates deflection made Victaulic’s Style W77 AGS™ flexible coupling the right component for the curved tunnel. This one-of-a-kind coupling with a two-piece housing eliminated the need to flange or weld, allowing for a safer and faster installation of the large-diameter pipe. Victaulic’s Installation-Ready™ technology, which improves efficiency under normal circumstances, was invaluable on a worksite where spare parts could be more than a mile away.

“There was no extra walking to get forgotten parts,” Shinn said, and that minimized unproductive time. “I didn’t consider any other coupling for this job.”

The drain Shinn Mechanical installed carries rain and surface runoff, as well as water laden with brake dust, oil, and gasoline deposited by the cars using the tunnel. A proprietary Victaulic nitrile gasket, designed for use with petroleum based products, was supplied with the Style W77 coupling Shinn Mechanical wanted for this project.

Right Tools for the Job

Wet conditions, limited access to electrical power, and long distances to the work area precluded the use of corded tools on the jobsite. Shinn Mechanical looked to Milwaukee’s industry-leading M18 FUEL™ technology for impact wrenches, band saws, vacuums, drills, and stand lights, which were indispensable in the dark tunnel. All these tools run on the same 18-volt battery system, meaning the Shinn Mechanical team did not have to spend valuable time searching for the right batteries and chargers—everything was completely compatible. This kind of tool reliability meant work in the tunnel could progress without interruption to rapidly install the drain line.

However, because of the massive amount of 20” Victaulic couplings, Shinn was skeptical that cordless tools would be up to the task. “We had zero confidence cordless tools would work on those [couplings],” said Shinn. “But as soon as we fastened down the first coupling with the cordless Milwaukee impact wrench, we were blown away that it was actually able to deliver the torque to get the job done.”

The Milwaukee Tool impact wrenches proved to be a perfect match for installing the Victaulic couplings. Providing 1,400 foot-pounds of break-away torque, these tools aptly tackled the myriad of coupling sizes. And they could do all of it without the hassle of pneumatic hoses.

“The tools performed without a hiccup,” Shinn said. “They were seamless, which enabled us to maximize work hours in a challenging environment.”

Milwaukee Tool Stand Lights — The gradual bend in the 2-mile long tunnel limited pipe lengths to 28 feet, which required approximately 350 pipe joints on the main line alone and made Victaulic’s flexible coupling the ideal choice. Shinn Mechanical found that Milwaukee’s cordless stand lights not only lit up the dark tunnel but also stood up to the harsh conditions.

Milwaukee’s cordless stand lights were particularly critical to the project because they could provide light when the tunnel was without electricity. These lights not only illuminated huge areas, but they also held up to the wet conditions deep in the tunnel.

“Pairing Victaulic couplings with Milwaukee tools allowed us to finish a job scheduled to take eight months in only 10 weeks.”

— Mike Shinn, Founder, Shinn Mechanical Inc.

Each light stood on support legs that could be immersed in water with no detriment to the tool or its light output. The Shinn Mechanical team was so efficient at joining pipe that they outpaced the team laying the precast road panels. “It turned into a bit of a competition, but most days, we’d end our shift with 10’ of pipe sticking out the front end of the road,” Shinn explained.

More than two miles of the line was hydrotested without a single leak. “We’ve done a lot of tunnel work in the area,” Shinn said, “but there has never been anything like this in the state of Washington.”

Leveraging its trusted partnerships, Shinn Mechanical delivered an innovative and durable solution in record time. The tunnel is scheduled to open in early 2019.

For more information, visit www.victaulic.com and www.milwaukeetool.com.

JH Kelly Keeps Tabs on Tools with Milwaukee Tool’s TICK

JH Kelly recognizes how much time and money it stands to lose when tools are lost or stolen. To avoid delays on the job or, worse, the cost of replacing expensive equipment, they adopted Milwaukee Tool’s One-Key^™ system, the first digital platform for tools and equipment. Now, with the addition of Milwaukee Tool’s TICK^™ equipment tracker, they can manage inventory, recover tools quickly—and even locate lost items.

With One-Key, JH Kelly can track tools in real-time and customize compatible products. Through the One-Key inventory management functionality, a contractor creates a central place to manage all of their tools and equipment across their network of jobs and operators by using a free web and mobile app. By putting the information where it can be easily accessed, JH Kelly keeps a pulse on the location of tools and equipment at all times.

The TICK—a professional-grade Bluetooth^™-enabled tracking device, takes One-Key’s tracking technology to the next level. Designed to withstand the harshest jobsite environments, the TICK is just over 2” in diameter and can be easily attached and hidden from sight on any product, so JH Kelly can track anything in their inventory. A more cost-effective solution than RFID tracking, the TICK pairs with the One-Key app, providing tool records and locations whenever any device with the app comes within 100 feet of the Bluetooth range of the piece of equipment to which the TICK is attached.

JH Kelly employs close to 800 employees across a variety of trades, from carpenters to electricians. Jack Vanderford, electronic tool technician, is responsible for managing the company’s vast array of tools—quite an undertaking given the sheer footprint of the company, which operates throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Vanderford noted that one of the biggest contributors to tool loss within the company is the fact that employees move around a lot—from state to state—and often tools are never checked back in after use. With the assistance of TICK and One-Key-enabled tools, Vanderford can now actively keep an eye on where everything is or was last seen.

“Before One-Key, if someone took a tool without proper documentation to a jobsite, we were at a loss as to where it was,” said Vanderford. “With tracking capability inside One-Key power tools, and now with the TICK tracker, we have been able to manage inventory and recover tools and equipment easily.”

Milwaukee Tool’s TICK tracker technology is “priceless for the insight it’ll lend our entire company. If I could put one on everything one day, I would.”

—Jack Vanderford, Electronic Tool Technician, JH Kelly

Most often Vanderford will find these tools were taken to the next jobsite without being checked back in. Thanks to Milwaukee Tool’s technology, however, he could also find tools that were taken somewhere they should not have been—like a user’s garage.

“This extra layer of communication is vital. Currently, we have a system to check tools and equipment in and out of the shop, but it’s up to employees to update us on where tools are,” said Vanderford. “Now, if I’m uncertain about the location of equipment or an employee hasn’t checked in with me, I can do some quick research on my phone through the One-Key app to have visibility into what’s going on.”

Vanderford plans to bring more than 800 more TICK tool and equipment trackers into his company, but he said that is just a drop in the bucket for a company of JH Kelly’s size.

“That amount [of TICK trackers] is only going to cover a certain percentage of our overall inventory—forklifts, cranes, scissor lifts, chain falls—but in the end it’ll be priceless for the insight it’ll lend our entire company,” said Vanderford. “If I could put one on everything one day, I would.”

However, JH Kelly’s experience has shown the value of the trackers and the app even when they are not incorporated into every tool. The company reports that in one situation, they recovered stolen tools with the tracking app. They were able to reclaim seven cordless tools and 14 batteries, even though only one item was a One-Key-enabled tool.

For more information, visit www.milwaukeetool.com.

Icon Mechanical Streamlines Inventory Management and Cuts Costs with Milwaukee Tool’s ONE-KEY™ App

In search of a way to track equipment efficiently, Icon Mechanical took advantage of Milwaukee Tool’s ONE-KEY™, the first digital platform for tools and equipment. Now, it has a full picture of the company’s allocation and location of equipment and has experienced a noteworthy increase in tools being returned. “It’s made our jobs so much easier,” said Frank Dickerson, warehouse operations director for Icon.

Game-Changing Technology

When Dickerson first heard about ONE-KEY from his Milwaukee Tool sales representative, he was a bit skeptical. “You just never know if what you’re hearing about is just a sales piece or the real deal,” said Dickerson. “I’ve been in warehouse operations all my life, and sometimes you run into situations where you’ve been oversold.”

Dickerson is responsible for managing and maintaining the company’s growing list of equipment. The company specializes in the design, fabrication, installation, modification, and ongoing service of process piping, power piping, boiler making, industrial equipment installation, and HVAC for health care, laboratories, pharmaceutical, educational, and commercial buildings—so the equipment list is extensive.

First introduced little more than a year ago, Milwaukee Tool’s ONEKEY combines tool and software technology into a tool management solution that provides a better way for work to get done for any size company. This technology can help solve user problems and frustrations the industry has never before been able to address.

The application offers a variety of functionalities to increase company and user productivity—including the ability to track tools in real time, customize M18 FUEL™ ONE-KEYcompatible products, and generate reports for electrical terminations with key electrical products. In getting started, Dickerson was particularly interested in ONE-KEY’s simplified tool and equipment management function.

Through the ONE-KEY inventory management functionality, a user can create a central place to manage all of their tools and equipment across their network of jobs and operators—all through the free-to-use web and mobile app. Putting information where it can be easily accessed allows users to keep track of the location of their tools and equipment at all times.

“At the time, we really didn’t have any system in place to track our equipment, so the idea that ONEKEY would allow me to do this all in one place—and for free—was incredible,” said Dickerson.

Up and Running

In February, Icon began working with Milwaukee Tool and implementing the inventory management functionality of ONE-KEY. “It wasn’t hard to get started with, and we received a really positive response right away for how streamlined it made our entire inventory process,” said Dickerson.

When tools and equipment are brought to him after job completion, Dickerson is able to bring up the ONE-KEY app on his phone, confirm a tool came from the correct jobsite, verify the serial number, log it back into the system, and receive it back into the warehouse. When equipment is ready to be allotted to the next jobsite, he just needs to go into the app, add the person and what jobsite it is going to, and close the app. And this process works with every tool he has—not just Milwaukee tools.

“I can’t say enough how easy it is to learn and use,” said Dickerson. “Just to see how easy it would be for my staff to use, I equipped them with some smartphones and got them up and running with ONE-KEY. The adoption of the system has been received very well…. My entire staff is now using it on a daily basis. It’s that simple—anyone can use it.”

Before using ONE-KEY, Dickerson had a hard time locating tools. Tools would not always make it back to the warehouse. The new system has led to full accountability for the entire company.

‘A Feature for Everyone’

ONE-KEY is opening the door to the first-ever fully connected jobsite. It has already started to noticeably and positively affect the productivity and performance of companies taking full advantage of its features.

“Everyone has a smartphone these days anyway,” said Dickerson. “ONE-KEY is free, and it’s simply a no-brainer. With the ability for ONE-KEY to introduce new functionality to tools even well after purchase, I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to use it. There’s a feature in ONE-KEY for everyone—you just need to try it out,” he said.

Given the success he has seen with the inventory management feature, Dickerson plans to introduce other features of the ONE-KEY system to Icon—everything from using the app to configure Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL ONE-KEY-compatible tools to improve the end of line quality control process to keeping a virtual eye on where these tools are in real time.

“Before we started with ONE-KEY, we weren’t a dedicated Milwaukee customer. After our experience here, I’m committed to purchasing Milwaukee,” said Dickerson. “We’ve been going through some growth and we’re going to have a lot more jobs. My goal is to use ONE-KEY for every resource it has. Absolutely.”

For more information, visit www.milwaukeetool.com.