Business news 7/27/18

HCSS to award 13 weekly scholarships from June to September leading up to the $10,000 Intern of the Year grand prize

June 25, 2018—Construction industry software developer, HCSS, has opened registration for its fourth annual $50,000 Construction Intern Awards scholarship program for students in construction-related fields. A new twist added to this year’s program features 13 weekly contests—running from June 4 through September 2—that will award 12 scholarships valued at $2,000 and one special $4,000 scholarship. In all, 17 scholarships will be awarded with the grand prize, $10,000 Intern of the Year scholarship and three $4,000 Finalist scholarships announced in November. Also new this year, student interns can receive up to two weekly scholarships and remain eligible to receive the grand prize Intern of the Year scholarship.

CASE, F&W Equipment provide equipment support for tornado cleanup

June 22, 2018—CASE Construction Equipment and heavy equipment dealer F&W Equipment provided veteran-led disaster response organization Team Rubicon with equipment for use as part of Operation Cedar Crest, a cleanup operation spurred by three EF-1 tornadoes and one microburst that touched down on May 15, 2018, in Connecticut. The severe weather left more that 150,000 residents without power and blocked more than 428 roads. Team Rubicon deployed 44 members to the affected site, totaling 1,068 hours of volunteer work and 75,000 ft of debris moved. Team Rubicon brought the community a potential savings of $31,600 in materials and labor.

CM Labs releases industry’s first simulation-based crane Signaller Training Solution

June 19, 2018—CM Labs announced the release of its new Signaller Training Station, a simulation-based solution that is the only one of its kind in the industry. Designed to work in conjunction with CM Labs’ Vortex Trainer and Advantage simulators, the Signaller Training Station allows trainers to simultaneously engage multiple students in a single exercise. While one apprentice operates a virtual crane via the Vortex simulator, another uses the Signaller Training Station to provide guidance. The trainee signaller can move around a realistically simulated worksite to inspect the lifting area, identify potential hazards, gain a clear view of all site activity, and provide hand signals to direct the crane operator via webcam and picture-in-picture display. Together, trainees either fail as a team or succeed as a team. The result, says CM Labs, is new operators that are simply better prepared for any worksite, as they are learning critical skills before engaging with real cranes.

Atlas Copco Power Technique names new general manager

June 12, 2018—Atlas Copco Power Technique is pleased to announce that Mikael Andersson will be appointed General Manager of its North American Customer Center effective July 16, 2018. Andersson will lead the company in growing each of its core product categories—air, power and flow—within the contractor, dealer and rental segments across the U.S. and Canada. Andersson brings a wealth of industry and institutional knowledge to his new role. A Swedish national, but having been based in the U.S. for 12 years, Andersson, most recently, was Vice President of Business Control for Atlas Copco’s Compressor Technique Customer Center, a role he has held since 2009. During this time, he oversaw many strategic growth initiatives including acquisitions, logistics enhancements and business development.