11 minute read
IT & TECHNOLOGY
by subcusa.com
Hilti Opens Up Its ON! Track Tool Tracking App To Help Enable Contractors To Manage More Than Jobsite Assets
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
Hilti North America, an innovator of tools, technology, software, and services to the commercial construction industry is leading a fundamental shift in how customers run their businesses with the launch of ON!Track Unite, a new open Application Programming Interface (API) for software integration. The platform transforms what is often complex and manual-based into a seamless digital experience, unifying data from multiple sources, increasing data quality and consistency, and automating processes involving ON!Track Tool Tracking and Asset Management and other software.
In 2015, Hilti launched construction asset management solution ON!Track to help solve problems related to managing assets, services, workers, and safety certifications. The company is building on the software with the release of ON!Track Unite, an add-on which makes using ON!Track even more efficient and unified. The open API facilitates a seamless exchange of data between ON!Track and other applications construction professionals use to run their businesses.
The platform is designed to support two main integration scenarios. Customers can use off-the-shelf integrations available on the marketplace or create their own integrations by leveraging the ON!Track Unite open API. Developers can rely on guidance and modern API documentation on the ON!Track Unite hub to easily build scalable integrations. Construction software players can offer joint customers a pre-built integration between ON!Track and the application they develop or distribute, which can be listed on the integration marketplace. The marketplace already includes many integrations, including Fieldwire, Trackunit, and Procore. Hilti has plans to offer even more integrations soon.
In recent years, Hilti has made major investments to digitize the construction industry and extend its digital Internet of Things (IoT) portfolio. Today's announcement follows the brand's recent acquisition of the project management software Fieldwire, a partnership with Trackunit in the heavy equipment telematics space, and the launch of Nuron, an all-new 22-volt cordless platform with built-in connectivity. "This API-first approach assists in enabling integrations with other applications so that ON!Track Unite can be catered to the exact needs of every customer, providing a unified experience, and unlocking new business value," said Thibaud Lefebvre, Senior Director of Tools Services at Hilti North America. "Customers who utilize the ON!Track Unite platform will experience a step change in how they operate their businesses because it avoids the duplication of manual data entries, helps to correctly allocate asset and consumables costs, and opens the door to increased tool crib transparency. We believe this technology will help our partners make better data-driven decisions and take productivity to new heights."
Fleet customers of Hilti's all-new cordless tool platform, Nuron, can leverage the innovation for a fully connected experience. The tools generate data which is then stored on the Nuron batteries and sent securely to the cloud during every charge without any operator interaction. The data collected includes information on tool usage, charging location, and battery state of health. Those insights are accessible through ON!Track and will be accessible on the ON!Track Unite open API in the near future.
"This is what customers expect from Hilti – valuable solutions to help their businesses modernize, which will lead to limitless growth and profitability," said Lefebvre. "We understand data is a critical asset that must be highly prioritized. This launch represents a key piece of the open ecosystem of integrated applications that we are expanding and affirms our commitment to the digital change journey."
Hilti will proactively discuss and offer support services to customers who decide to implement ON!Track Unite. The platform is available now for U.S. and Canadian customers. The global rollout will continue in 2023.
Hilti supplies the worldwide construction industry with technologically leading products, systems, software, and services that provide construction professionals with innovative solutions and superior added value. In North America, there are more than 3,800 team members who share Hilti's corporate culture based on integrity, teamwork, commitment, and the courage to embrace change. Hilti calls Texas its North American home since relocating its headquarters to Plano in 2015.
To learn more about Hilti, visit www.hilti.com.
Source: Hilti
New Bluetooth® LE Wireless MCUs
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
Texas Instruments (TI) recently expanded its connectivity portfolio with a new family of wireless microcontrollers (MCU) that enable highquality Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE) at half the price of competing devices. Featuring best-in-class standby current and radio-frequency (RF) performance, the SimpleLink™ Bluetooth LE CC2340 family is built on the foundation of TI’s decades of wireless connectivity expertise. Pricing for the CC2340 family will start as low as $0.79, making it affordable for engineers to add Bluetooth LE connectivity to more products. For more information, see www.ti.com/cc2340. "Industrywide, 5 billion Bluetooth® enabled devices are forecast to ship in 2022," said Mark Powell, CEO of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the standards organization that oversees Bluetooth technology. "The commitment and involvement of Bluetooth SIG members like Texas Instruments allow Bluetooth technology to meet the growing demands for enhanced wireless connectivity in a wider range of applications. I am grateful for the contributions of our membership in delivering innovative solutions that benefit the Bluetooth ecosystem and help broaden the adoption of Bluetooth technology." "The adoption of Bluetooth LE is accelerating and our embedded world demo of the CC2340 family will show you how to quickly and easily add the technology to any application," said Marian Kost, vice president and general manager of Connectivity at Texas Instruments. "The new MCUs will provide high-quality RF and power performance at an affordable price, backed by unrivaled technical support and internal manufacturing capacity investments that will help meet our customers’ demand for years to come."
Implement high-quality RF Implement high-quality RF and power performance at an and power performance at an affordable price affordable price
The CC2340R2 and CC2340R5 wireless MCUs, offering flash memory of 256KB and 512KB respectively, provide exceptional flexibility for engineers and ample space for application code. Additionally, with the proliferation of Bluetooth LE applications, designers need additional memory capacity to easily update software remotely. The new wireless MCU family features 36KB of RAM with over-the-air download support.
The new MCUs include industry-leading standby current of less than 830 nA, which is 40 percent lower than competing devices. The reduction in standby current helps extend battery life for up to 10 years on a coin cell battery in wireless applications such as electronic shelf labels and tire pressure monitoring systems. The CC2340 family also features an operating temperature range of –40ºC to 125ºC to help ensure a stable connection across applications, from industrial sensors and medical laboratories to outdoor environments such as EV chargers or smart meters.
Engineers are also able to expand RF performance and connection range with an output power up to +8 dBm, the industry’s highest among competing Bluetooth LE wireless MCUs. In addition, the CC2340 devices feature an integrated RF balun to enable a simpler design with fewer external components, leading to cost savings.
Enable broader adoption of Enable broader adoption of Bluetooth LE technology Bluetooth LE technology
With the increased memory, longer battery life, and wider temperature range at an affordable price, engineers can enable more connected everyday applications such as: • Medical devices: In glucose meters, for example, the CC2340 MCUs’ standby current of less than 830 nA leads to an end-product shelf life of 18 to 24 months and two weeks of active Bluetooth LE operation on a coin cell battery. • Building automation: Smart-home hubs can take advantage of the CC2340 MCUs’ wireless protocol support and output power range up to +8 dBm. • Personal care: For products such as an electric toothbrush, the CC2340 wireless MCUs offer low power consumption in sleep mode, and can extend battery life.
Integrate Bluetooth in two Integrate Bluetooth in two minutes or less minutes or less
At embedded world this week, visitors to TI’s booth can use the SimpleLink CC2340 LaunchPad™ development kit to establish a Bluetooth LE connection in two minutes or less. Throughout the show, TI will demonstrate how its products can help engineers overcome edge AI, connectivity, and automotive design challenges. To view virtual demos and related white papers, technical articles, and on-demand training, see TI.com/embeddedworld.
To simplify implementation, engineers can connect with TI applications engineers through the TI E2E™ Bluetooth support forum. Engineers also have access to the proven, royalty-free Bluetooth LE software stack, which TI has supported and kept updated since 2010.
Package, availability, Package, availability, and pricing and pricing
To get started with the CC2340 wireless MCUs, customers can request samples as well as a development kit (LP-EMCC2340R5) priced at US$39. The new wireless MCUs are expected to be in volume production in the first half of 2023.
Pricing for the CC2340 family will start as low as US$0.79 for 1,000-unit quantities. To learn more about the new wireless MCU family, see www.ti.com/cc2340.
Connectivity solutions to match Connectivity solutions to match your design needs your design needs
The CC2340R2 and CC2340R5 wireless MCUs are the latest addition to the SimpleLink portfolio that provides innovative connectivity solutions to serve the industrial, automotive, and personal electronics markets.
TI is developing affordable, quality, and low-power wireless MCUs, certified modules, and transceivers, along with complete software offerings to fit any RF design need.
For more information, see www.ti.com/wireless.
By Subcontractors USA News Provider
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020, Non-Hispanic Blacks held 5.1% of construction jobs, compared with their 11.8-percent share of total employment. Recent information from Zippia highlights that 6.2% of all construction workers are women, while 93.8% are men. The most common ethnicity of construction workers is White (58.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (24.5%) and Black or African American (10.7%).
Though this sector lags behind other industries when it comes to diversity, more construction companies are being proactive to further their strategies for increased inclusion, as a more diverse workplace surges employee productivity, satisfaction, and performance.
To help drive more diversity in this field, Tellepsen and Texas Southern University (TSU) have formed a new partnership agreement focused on positively impacting the success of TSU students who are focused on career pathways in the construction industry.
Tellepsen is a full-service construction company with a timeless commitment to building for future generations. They are a family of companies powered by decades of experience in solving the toughest challenges across market sectors. Tellepsen is passionate about creating a safe environment where anyone can do their best work, succeed in their career, and have a positive impact on others. As Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country, Tellepsen believes its company should strive to reflect that diversity. "Together with Tellepsen, we will transform lives,” said TSU president Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young. “A partnership done well is a win for our students, the companies that partner with us, and most importantly for the University’s mission of transforming lives. We look forward to the ways in which this partnership will prepare our students to succeed in careers in the construction industry and beyond." Together with Tellepsen, we will transform lives,” said Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young Texas Southern University - President TSU president Dr. Lesia L. CrumptonYoung. “A partnership done well is a win for our students, the companies that partner with us, and most importantly for the University’s mission of transforming lives. We look forward to the ways in which this partnership will prepare our students to succeed in careers in the construction industry and beyond.
Tadd Tellepsen
Tellepsen Builders President/CEO
I’m so proud of TSU and I’m proud of Tellepsen,” said CEO Tadd Tellepsen. “We are both Houston’s hometown teams. Tellepsen has a tradition of giving back to the community for over 100 years. We have been cornerstones of this community and now we’re going to do it as a partnership. We want the best and brightest from Houston. And if they come from TSU, they’re coming from Houston’s hometown team.
The agreement is a multifaceted fiveyear strategic partnership between Tellepsen and TSU. It is designed to support the entire student experience in four distinct areas: experts in action, facilities and equipment, internships, and student financial support. "I’m so proud of TSU and I’m proud of Tellepsen,” said CEO Tadd Tellepsen. “We are both Houston’s hometown teams. Tellepsen has a tradition of giving back to the community for over 100 years. We have been cornerstones of this community and now we’re going to do it as a partnership. We want the best and brightest from Houston. And if they come from TSU, they’re coming from Houston’s hometown team."
Tellepsen will work in partnership with TSU’s College of Science, Engineering, and Technology along with the Division of Research and Innovation to ensure instructional equipment software and materials are representative of those used in the industry. It will also aggressively recruit TSU students to participate in its internship program, and much more. This is a five-year partnership with an estimated value of $500,000.
This partnership propelling more diversity in construction will hopefully encourage other construction companies to follow suit. Tellepsen and Texas Southern University working together will open doors for the next generation and underrepresented to succeed in their respective careers in the construction industry.
For more information, please visit www.TSU.edu and www.Tellepsen.com.
