Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

APS Industrial is taking a focused approach to supporting the construction industry’s electrical and power needs, backed by its partnership with key global technology providers, led by Siemens. Established just over five years ago, APS Industrial (APS) is the construction industry’s new choice, but the industrial solutions supplier is already making waves in the construction and infrastructure sectors. Providing a broad portfolio of industrial low and medium voltage electrical and automation products for the Australian market, APS is the key national distributor of Siemens, Weidmüller, Rittal, Belden, and Katko in Australia. Joining the company two years ago, Electrical Products business manager Stephen Gough says APS’ rapid growth stems from its commitment to providing quality products, with a focused approach to servicing its customers. Stephen Gough, Electrical Products business manager, APS Industrial. “We make doing business easy,” says Gough. “We simpli...

Taking a whole-of-business approach to tackle the climate challenge, McConnell Dowell Group has set itself ambitious but achievable targets to be operationally net zero and reduce its direct emissions by 45 per cent by 2030. As part of its recently launched overall strategic plan – Horizon 2030 – McConnell Dowell Group (McConnell Dowell) has established a Carbon Reduction Plan to implement strategies across the business to reduce, or stamp out where possible, the company’s impact on the environment. With the building and construction sector accounting for 39 per cent of global emissions, according to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, McConnell Dowell is taking action to address the climate crisis. Tim Walker, environment and sustainability operations manager, McConnell Dowell. Within the company’s Carbon Reduction Plan are three overall goals. Firstly, McConnell Dowell has set a target to be operationally net zero by 2030. The plan also includes a target to reduce the busi...

Displayed at the recent Inside Construction Expo, Komatsu’s Retrofitkit from its Smart Construction range is bringing conventional hydraulic excavators into the digital age. Komatsu’s Smart Construction range has taken the industry by storm, enhancing the management of jobsites around the world through technology. A Foundation Exhibitor of the 2023 Inside Construction Expo, Komatsu displayed the latest in its smart range at the event, including the Retrofitkit for hydraulic excavators. The Retrofitkit solution from Komatsu is a 3D global positioning system that includes payload – a function that measures bucket capacity – and increases the effectiveness and productivity of hydraulic excavators. Once a hydraulic excavator is equipped with the Retrofitkit, it enables the machine to perform digital construction. Tony Clear, national business development manager, Komatsu Australia. A well-established construction professional, Tony Clear joined Komatsu in November of 2022. Througho...

Coates, an Australian equipment hire and solutions provider, along with Local Government NSW, have been awarded the Industry Collaboration Award at the NSW Department of Education’s annual 2023 Training Awards. Recently held at Sydney Town Hall, the awards acknowledge exceptional achievements across categories that highlight the state’s foremost vocational learners, trainers, employers and training providers. Coates and Local Government NSW received the award after partnering to provide asbestos identification and response training to many local government employees across the state. Coates Training is a registered training organisation (RTO) and developed the one-day course in collaboration with Local Government NSW to train local government officers who, during the course of their work, may come into contact with asbestos related products. The course – restricted to local government officers – helps council workers across New South Wales properly differentiate between the differe...

Dr Gretchen Gagel looks into the state of technology adoption in the Australian commercial construction industry. By Dr Gretchen Gagel. Last month, while in the US for a Brinkman Construction Board meeting, I had the opportunity to introduce an Australian construction technology firm, Earlytrade, to several leaders in the US construction industry. Each industry leader was quite impressed with the Earlytrade model of automating early settlement discounts to facilitate the flow of working capital in the industry. But it was one statement that nearly every person made that made me cringe – “You know, we’re not really an ‘early adoption’ industry when it comes to technology”. They are right. The 2022 Construction User Roundtable study I conducted involving 44 global construction leaders verified this idea. Leaders such as the global head of construction for Microsoft, Black & Veatch, and Chevron rated technology adoption a 2.34 on a scale of 4.00 and made statements such as: “Clien...

Autodesk has announced multiple solutions to support project teams in making everyday decisions earlier, without the need for technical expertise or specialist applications. The Autodesk Correspondence tool for Autodesk Construction Cloud is now available in Australia and New Zealand. Sumit Oberoi, Industry Strategy Manager at Autodesk Construction Solutions said the company’s new capabilities, including the Correspondence tool, will provide holistic and tactical support to help construction teams prioritise tasks, assess tradeoffs, build on intuition and validate assumptions to make more informed decisions. “We have developed our Correspondence module in collaboration with our key construction customers and partners and we anticipate it will work to meet the needs of owners, head contractors and speciality contractors,” said Oberoi. In construction, about 70 per cent of rework can be traced back to the disconnect between design and what’s constructible, according to Auto...

Built upon research of the effects of adaptive learning and simulation in medical training, Area9 Lyceum has evolved to now address some of the construction industry’s most pressing challenges. Why do people make errors? How do humans perform under pressure? These are just some of the questions that led to the establishment of cloud-based adaptive-learning software provider Area9 Lyceum. Area9 Lyceum’s origin story is fascinating to say the least. Starting as a venture of Ulrik Juul Christensen in the field of medicine, today the company delivers improved educational and training outcomes, backed by a scientific approach, for various industries in Australia and around the world. Where it all began As a physician by training, Christensen has long had an interest in human factors. In 1997 he launched his first company Sophus Medical, building simulators for the medicine field with a goal of discovering what leads to human errors in live operating environments. “I spent the first yea...

Understanding collaboration is key to transformation, Lentune integrates with a number of the construction industry’s key accounting and project management software packages, such as Procore, to deliver outstanding results for its customers. Jono Bonifant, CEO, Lentune. It’s crucial that the industry bands together to develop effective solutions to the labour and material shortages and supply chain challenges that are wreaking havoc on Australian construction costs. While many businesses in the sector continue to work in silos, Lentune is harnessing collaboration to break down barriers in project cost management. Spearheading Lentune’s relationships with the wider industry, CEO Jono Bonifant says Lentune can play a key role in facilitating the construction sector’s adoption of Procore Technologies’ Project Financials module . Keeping customers at front of mind, Lentune is now helping construction businesses better manage their project costs by transferring invoice...

Global elevator and escalator company KONE has announced a partnership with Dexus and its delivery partner John Holland to exclusively deliver its premium vertical transportation solution for the North Tower of the iconic Waterfront Brisbane project. The North Tower is the first step in the transformation of the Eagle Street Pier and Waterfront Place precinct into a world-class business and tourist destination. It’s set to transform the skyline of Brisbane, with KONE anticipating servicing the people flow for up to 52 lettable floors upon its completion. David Lehmann, Executive General Manager – Building & Development at John Holland, says: “Waterfront Brisbane will have a transformative impact on Australia’s Olympic city – and we’re proud to be building on our successful partnership with Dexus to bring its vision to life.” “This is a project that will set new standards in sustainable construction, and we’re thrilled to welcome KONE to the Waterfront Brisbane team.” Owned and...

Starting tomorrow, for two jam-packed days, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will be filled with passionate construction professionals sharing solutions to industry challenges as part of Inside Construction Expo 2023. From 20 to 21 September, this year’s Inside Construction Expo sponsors, exhibitors, conference speakers and industry association partners will put a spotlight on the latest in construction technology, machinery, innovations and solutions. Related stories: Meet the 2023 Inside Construction Expo Foundation Exhibitors and Sponsors Only three weeks to go until Inside Construction Expo 2023 XCMG Melbourne joins other top brands exhibiting at Inside Construction Expo 2023 With the likes of Autodesk, Komatsu, Blundstone Australia, Alfasi Hire, Porter Plant, XCMG, Mammoet Australia, Steel Blue, CR Kennedy and Wurth Australia exhibiting at the event; and more than 100 industry experts across the country joining the conference to provide their expertise – be ...

Ensure safe and efficient operation of buildings and infrastructures through electrical civil works by Cycon Monero Group. Discover the processes involved. Tons of civil engineering projects rely heavily on electrical civil works. One of them is infrastructure development. This type of development plays a vital role in the growth and progress of societies, providing the essential foundation for transportation, communication, economic activities, and public services. Through electrical civil works, the electrical systems needed to power cities, buildings, and transportation networks can be installed and maintained. When it comes to infrastructure development, the following electrical civil works must be carried out to effectively build sustainable and functional communities. 1. Power Distribution Networks One of the primary electrical civil works in infrastructure development is the establishment of power distribution networks. It involves the installation of transformers, substat...

Global engineering and construction giant Laing O’Rourke is bringing change to the plant and equipment hire sector in Australia, supported by construction software platform COINS. Laing O’Rourke is a $6 billion international operation with 70 years of involvement in the Australian construction and infrastructure industries, including nearly two decades under the Laing O’Rourke banner. As part of an expansion project more than half-a-year in the making, Select Plant Australia, a business unit of Laing O’Rourke, is offering plant and equipment hire to the wider engineering and construction sectors. Select Plant Australia innovation, systems and technology lead Omar Al-Khayat says the COINS plant and asset management platform allowed the organisation to consolidate software systems and easily transition the business model. “We’re currently going through a transition from purely an asset management business model to plant and equipment hire that’s both internal and external t...