With Feet Sore, We Are Home

Welcome home from World of Concrete! I hope you’ve recovered, taken stock of the stack of business cards, and maybe even signed that purchase of a new machine, tool, or product. Later in this issue, you’ll find a handful of pages of the many happenings we saw during the show (see page 16). But with the show taking up three convention center halls and three outside lots, we aren’t able to fit in everything. Check out the pages and then find more in an online collection with additional images and happenings.

Despite doing as much as we could—we weren’t able to see EVERYTHING from the show. (There’s only so much time in the day.) For that, I pose a question: What was the one thing that stood out for you?

It’s been years in the making, but one thing we did notice was the doubledown on the battery-powered tools and equipment. Lithium-ion batteries have been around for sure but each year manufacturers seem to take advantage of the comments customers like yourselves are telling them. It’s working. Keep it up.

From just off the top of our heads, expect 50+ new cordless tools and likely more major equipment machines to be battery-powered by the end of the year (and we’re greatly underestimating). On top of that, it’s the further advancement and integration of communication technology for asset management and tracking. These solutions are becoming more intuitive and smart. Not only will they allow contractors to know how much battery life a pack has, but its location, what it’s powering, how long, maintenance reports, and more. One brand even gave us a chance to preview a collection of prototypes.

How far will cordless take us? We don’t know until we find that bubble, but the further expansion of battery technology is clear. While there are some advantages— the solution has to be right for you, the work you do, and your company.

Yes, we put in miles every day. Maybe next year we’ll track. Anyone up for a challenge? World of Concrete 2024 returns for its 50th year, January 23-25. It’ll be your chance to be in Vegas before the city hosts the Super Bowl.

But wait! There’s More!

Don’t think our tradeshow season is over; we’ve only just begun. It’s been years since but 2023 marks the return of CONEXPO on US concrete. I don’t know about you but our calendar is getting packed and meeting requests are filling our inboxes. To help us all out keep everything straight, our friends at Equipment Today put together a guide for the show. Find the digital edition through our library at issuu.com/forconstructionpros.com. See you out there!

ADVISORY BOARD

Kim Basham

KB Engineering Cheyenne, Wyo.

James Baty II Concrete Foundations Association Mt. Vernon, Iowa Dennis Purinton Purinton Builders, Inc. East Granby, Conn.

Jim Cuviello Cuviello Concrete Polished | Stained | Crafted Stevensville, Md.

Chris Klemaske T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc. San Diego, Calif.

EDITORIAL

Editor Jonathan Kozlowski jkozlowski@acbusinessmedia.com

Managing Editor Gigi Wood gwood@acbusinessmedia.com

Technology Editor Charles Rathmann crathmann@acbusinessmedia.com

AUDIENCE

Audience Development Manager Angela Franks

PRODUCTION

Senior Production Manger Cindy Rusch crusch@acbusinessmedia.com

Art Director Marcy Murphy

ADVERTISING/SALES

Sales Representative Mike Worley mworley@acbusinessmedia.com

Sales Representative Nikki Lawson nlawson@acbusinessmedia.com

Sales Representative Tadashi Soma tsoma@acbusinessmedia.com

Sales Representative Kristin Pride kpride@acbusinessmedia.com

AC BUSINESS MEDIA

Chief Executive Officer Ron Spink

Chief Financial Officer JoAnn Breuchel

Chief Revenue Officer Amy Schwandt

Chief Digital Officer ...................................... Kris Heineman

Brand Director, Supply Chain & Green Industry Jason Desarle

Brand Director, Construction Sean Dunphy

VP, Audience Development Ronda Hughes

VP, Operations & IT Nick Raether

Content Director ............................................ Marina Mayer

GM, Online & Marketing Services Bethany Chambers

Content Director, Marketing Services Jess Lombardo

Director, Demand Generation & Education Jim Bagan

CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS

P.O. Box 3605, Northbrook, IL 60065-3605 (877) 201-3915 | Fax: (847)-291-4816 circ.ConcreteContractor@omeda.com

LIST RENTAL

Sr. Account Manager Bart Piccirillo | Data Axle (518) 339 4511 | bart.piccirillo@infogroup.com

REPRINT SERVICES

Tadashi Soma (800) 538-5544 ext. 1267 tsoma@ACBusinessMedia.com

Schönox FP & HS Sturdy

The Schönox FP, one-part filling and priming compound, allows flooring professionals to prime and fill substrates in one step. The second product introduction provides a 10-lb. bag version of Schönox HS Sturdy, the company’s repair and smoothing compound with its patented hybrid active-dry technology. Tight project timeframes and limited numbers of skilled flooring professionals necessitate effective subfloor products and processes. Schönox FP, filling and priming compound, combines tasks, dries fast and works with a wide variety of substrates. Schönox FP integrates with Schönox repair, patching, smoothing and self-leveling compounds, providing contractors with a new technology, matching their fast-paced schedules.

https://CONC.me/u4nd9a

Panasonic TOUGHBOOK G2

The Panasonic TOUGHBOOK G2 is a rugged 2-in-1 detachable tablet with optional keyboard that features a modular design and user-removable expansion packs (xPAKs). With three modular expansion areas and up to 36 different xPAK combinations, users can customize the TOUGHBOOK G2 with features and functions such as a serial port, thermal camera, barcode reader, quick-release SSD and more. Despite its modular design, the device is backwards compatible with most TOUGHBOOK 20 and G1 docks. Featuring a 10.1-in. display and powered by Intel CoreTM i5 and i7 vPro processor (with Intel vPro technology), the TOUGHBOOK G2 is available with Windows 10 Pro. An evolution of the TOUGHBOOK G1 tablet and TOUGHBOOK 20 laptop, the TOUGHBOOK G2 combines computing power with enterprise security and device management benefits. To accommodate longer work schedules, the TOUGHBOOK G2 offers 18.5-hour battery life as standard for operations across manufacturing plants, utility fields, in federal civilian agencies and on the front line. Additionally, the TOUGHBOOK G2 now features three programmable buttons for customizing access to applications and shortcuts.

https://CONC.me/3pqopy

3D Silicate-Free Concrete Densifier by Ameripolish

Ameripolish’s 3D SF Densifier is a non-silicate densifying agent designed to add improved abrasion resistance, stain resistance and water repellency to exposed, colored and polished concrete with ion-exchange technology.

• Offers superior performance

• Improves the slab’s overall durability

• Designed for warehouses and retail floors https://CONC.me/u96dts

Ameripolish 3D SF is great for grind and seal or traditional polishing jobs, minimizing dust for healthier indoor air quality, and offers improved abrasion and stain resistance over conventional silicate densifiers. 3D SF was designed using ion-exchange chemistry to harden concrete surfaces. It is ready to use and covers 500-700 sq. ft. per gallon, depending on concrete porosity.

The iQ1550 Dry-Cut Masonry Saw from iQ Power Tools

Milwaukee Tool WORKSKIN Warm Weather Hardhat Liner

Milwaukee Tool has expanded its lineup of workwear with the introduction of the WORKSKIN Warm Weather Hardhat Liner. The custom-built fabric is engineered to be breathable and wick moisture away from the body. This solution dries quickly and keeps users cool while working in warmer conditions. Constructed with flatlock seams and a four-way stretch fabric, the new hardhat liner is designed for next-to-skin comfort. To prevent odor-causing bacteria, the liner features anti-microbial technology and moisture-wicking layers. The WORKSKIN Warm Weather Hardhat Liner is designed for use with hard hats and safety helmets.

https://CONC.me/s5bssz iQ Power Tools’ iQ1550 masonry saw is a huge leap forward in cutting technology. This is not your grandfather’s masonry saw. Whether materials to-be-cut are small or large, this tool is designed to save cutting time and increase productivity. The iQ1550 can tackle any jobsite, dry cutting and eliminating the dust cloud, allowing workers to increase their efficiency and productivity while maintaining a safe work environment. Equipped with a 230v Super Duty 3 HP saw motor and 3HP vac motor, it can handle cutting through 8” wall blocks and capture the dust. It’s integrated dust collection chamber holds 75 pounds of dust and with the automatic filter cleaning system maintenance is simple. Highly portable, the iQ1550 is equipped with high-floatation tires, forklift pockets, and a center lift point to make transportation easy.

• 21.5 in. Q-Drive blade with a 8 in. depth and a full 16 in. length of cut

• Saw Dimensions: 32-in. wide by 67-in. high by 51-in. length

• Unmatched cutting speed https://CONC.me/f3upco

Designed with soft start technology, the iQ Power Management System controls the power ramp up without the spike and the automatic filter cleaning system. Easily transported around the jobsite, the cutting performance and speed of the iQ1550 along with integrated dust collection makes it the ultimate saw for serious masonry and hardscape professionals.

ACI Resource Centers — Southern California, Chicago/Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic (Coming Soon!)

Helping meet the increasing need for ACI knowledge through hands-on training, educational offerings, and on-demand access to ACI Certification programs. Designed for the trades, contractors, inspectors, designers, and engineers, ACI Resource Centers are a great fit for new-hire onboarding, employee education, and customer or member training. Learn more at ACICertification.org