Grading and Excavation Contractor

John Trotti

By John Trotti

The sheer size and scope of the US construction industry’s triennial extravaganza should convince even the most resolute curmudgeon that despite deepening concerns with the economy there’s still a lot of optimism about what the future holds in store. Consider these numbers:

144,600 attendees
2.28 million net square feet of exhibit space
2,182 exhibitors

As impressive as they are, the statistics don’t begin to do justice to the importance of the event and the impact it will have on construction practices for years to come. What this year’s event showed—indeed drove home with absolute clarity—was how deep an impact the digital job site has had on equipment and practices in the decade since it began to make its presence felt in the industry. The speed and thoroughness with which the machine guidance/control vendors have developed and refined their systems since ConExpo 2005 is stunning to say the least, but their feats have been matched by the manufacturers on whose equipment these systems will reside. In turn, the software purveyors’ offerings have grown in strength and user-friendliness to bridge the gap between project planning and job site production. But above all it is the emergence of the integrated job site that integrates these elements into a cohesive vision focusing our attention on solutions rather than activities.

During the five days I cruised the various venues, I had the opportunity to talk with hundreds of exhibitors of every different stripe—from purveyors of the meanest steel rippers to the most esoteric software—each with the unshaken belief that, regardless of present trends, the future was bright.

The same positive perspective carried through to attendees, many of whom came by our booth to talk about the magazine and offer thoughts on article topics.

Nearly everyone I spoke with was as eager as I to see what was new and what might make for greater productivity, but serious business concerns were no match for the joy of being turned loose in more than 50 acres of what amounted to the nation’s largest toy store.

Invention and Innovation
In past issues we’ve focused a great amount of attention on technology-related issues and the torrent of wondrous systems, tools, processes, and visions emerging in near-overwhelming numbers as we move forward in the new millennium…and that’s as it should be, since we’re here to keep you abreast of the ideas and issues that will assist you in achieving success.

The acid test, however, lies in what you make of them, particularly now when the economic climate requires a tighter-than-ever focus on the bottom line, and the key here is your willingness to innovate.

Innovation has to do with action…your action rather than that of the designer or engineer. It exists in the “real”—that is the economic and social—world of supply and demand. More specifically within the dirt-moving context, those actions have to do with converting a plan into a finished project. There’s nothing theoretical or fuzzy here. The minute you embrace a new way of thinking, adopt a different way of doing things, or adapt a new piece of equipment or tool to your business, its value is not what you paid for it, but how you make use of it.

Pushing the Envelope
There is no substitute for “hands on,” whether we’re talking about a process or a machine. The first step is to become genuinely familiar with the technology itself by reading not only the instructions but everything you can get your hands on to see what others have done. It is here that Grading & Excavation Contractor can be a valuable partner.

Next, there’s nothing like getting instructions from an expert—quite likely from the vendor as part of the sales agreement—not only stick-and-throttle activities to get the feel, but talking with them to absorb the depth of their experience.

Then it’s up to you. Those with the most experience with machine control systems (for instance) will tell you that the more they work with it the more effective they and the system become. A New Ager might think of it as bonding, but you and I know that familiarity leads to greater control; greater control leads to more innovation; and more innovation leads to ever-increasing value.

GEC - May 2008

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