june 2015 cam magazine

JUNE 2015 Vol. 36 • No. 6 • $4.00

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TRAINING PAYS OFF

CARPENTRY

GLASS/GLAZINGGLASS MAGIC AT THE “QUBE”

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: THE 96FIX: THE NEED FOR SPEED

Good employees are essential to the success of your business,

and retaining your employees can be challenging. That’s why your

Association sponsors the CAM Benefit Program, a valuable group

health insurance program with a wide range of benefit options.

Combining our flexible plan design options with our competitive

pricing, we can help you provide a full array of quality, affordable

benefits for your employees.

CAM Benefit Program Group Health Insurance

Shopping for group health insurance? Let us provide your company with a competitive quote!

Medical coverage underwritten by Priority Health

Prescription drug coverage

Dental plans

Term life and AD&D

QUALITY AFFORDABILITY PROTECTION

CONTACT YOUR AGENT OR CALL US TODAY FOR PRICING AND MORE DETAILS. Rob Walters, CAM Administrative Services

248.233.2114

[email protected]

4 CAM MAGAZINE JUNE 2015 “The Voice Of The Construction Industry”®

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUSTAIN-ABILITY

12 Celebrate Energy Independence

GLASS/GLAZING

14 Glass Magic at the “Qube”

20 Ergo Robotic Solutions: Solutions for Every Glass Installation Need

CARPENTRY

22 Carpenters in the Making: Training that Pays at the Carpenter

Apprenticeship Program

26 The Real Apprentice

CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHT 28 The 96Fix: The Need for Speed

1428

22

DEPARTMENTS

6 Industry News

8 Safety Tool Kit

10 Marketing on the Level

34 Product Showcase

42 People in Construction / Corporate News

45 CAM Welcomes New Members

46 Construction Calendar

46 Advertising Index

ABOUT THE COVER

Chris Briggs, an instructor for the Michigan Statewide Carpenters

and Millwrights Joint Apprenticeship Training Fund, is shown on

the cover teaching a footing and foundations class. As part of

the class, Briggs is busy checking heights at the top of the forms.

CAM MAGAZINE JUNE 2015 5

PUBLISHER Kevin N. Koehler EDITOR Amanda M. Tackett

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Mary E. Kremposky

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Matthew J. Austermann GRAPHIC DESIGN Noelle E. Scharer DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Gregg A. Montowski ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cathy A. Jones

DIRECTORS OFFICERS Chairman Larry S. Brinker, Jr. The Brinker Group

Vice Chairman Stephen J. Hohenshil Glasco Corporation

Vice Chairman Donielle Wunderlich George W. Auch Company

Treasurer Joe S. Palazzolo Detroit Spectrum Painters, Inc.

President Kevin N. Koehler DIRECTORS Thomas R. Broad Midwest Steel, Inc.

Joseph Fontanesi Fontanesi & Kann Company Architectural Building Components, Inc.

Brad Leidal Mason Contractors, Inc.

Jennifer T. Panning Artisan Tile, Inc.

John Raimondo Roncelli, Inc.

John W. Rieckhoff C.L. Rieckhoff Company, Inc.

Kevin F. Ryan Powerlink Facility Management Services

Preston Wallace Limbach Company, LLC

CAM MAGAZINE EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE William L. Borch, Jr. Ironworkers Local Union 25

Gary Boyajian Division 8 Solutions, Inc.

Stevan Bratic Bratic Enterprises, LLC Marty Burnstein Law Office of Marty Burnstein

George Dobrowitsky Walbridge

Daniel Englehart Peter Basso and Associates, Inc. Chris Hippler Capital Letters Dennis King DMKING Consulting, LLC

Nancy Marshall Aluminum Supply Company

Rick Rys Hi Def Color

Sanford (Sandy) Sulkes International Building Products, Inc. James Vargo Capac Construction Company, Inc.

CAM Magazine (ISSN08837880) is published monthly by the Construction Association of Michigan, 43636 Woodward Ave., P.O. Box 3204, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-3204 (248) 972-1000. $24.00 of annual membership dues is allocated to a subscription to CAM Magazine. Additional subscriptions $40.00 annually. Periodical postage paid at Bloomfield Hills, MI and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER, SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: CAM MAGAZINE, 43636 WOODWARD AVE., BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48302-3204.

For editorial comment or more information: [email protected] reprints or to sell CAM Magazine: 248-972-1000

Copyright © 2015 Construction Association of Michigan. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. CAM Magazine is a registered trademark of the Construction Association of Michigan.


WhAT cAM is doiNg To Address The ProbleM

As the state’s largest construction association, CAM has been a leader in

developing strategies to address workforce issues. The Roundtables

conducted with industry leaders last year allowed CAM to share with the

committee what we are doing as an association to solve problems, such as:

• Establishing a website exclusively dedicated to workforce development.

We plan to make the CAM-CORE (Construction Opportunity Resources

Education) website the home portal for people who want to work in

construction.

• Working with the Building and Construction Trades Department and

AFL-CIO on the “Helmets to Hardhats” program that connects military

service members with construction jobs.

• Offering to partner with the State of Michigan and act as the “One Stop

Shop” for construction jobs and careers.

• Attending high schools and colleges on Career Days to share

information on trade labor wages and benefits, both short- and long-

term.

hoW The legislATure/sTATe goverNMeNT cAN PArTNer

WiTh cAM

While CAM is working feverishly to solve the workforce crisis in the industry,

Workforce Development Committee Chairman Rep. Joel Johnson (R-Clare)

did ask that the association share with the committee how the legislature

and state government can be helpful partners in this endeavor. CAM was

able to identify a few key items:

• Partnering with CAM to link job openings throughout the state on the

CAM-CORE website.

• Incentivizing experienced construction talent to return to Michigan.

• Providing funding to assist workforce programs, such as the Detroit

Registered Apprenticeship Pilot Program (D-RAPP), which is designed

to recruit/prepare Detroit residents with marketable skills and allow

them to earn and learn in high-demand fields.

• Building a sound, long-lasting partnership with CAM on all workforce

issues that is ultimately beneficial to both parties.

“CAM has the ability to be the main source for workforce development in

the construction industry. There is no need to reinvent the wheel; we can

act as a funnel to all construction interests in Michigan,” said Brinker, Jr.

The hearing closed with Brinker, Jr. and Koehler thanking the committee

for the invitation to speak and allowed some time afterward for them to talk

individually with Chairman Johnson and other committee members. “It’s an

honor when we are asked to come to Lansing to testify. I think it shows that

our leaders are aware of the job we do at CAM, and that we are partners in

the Michigan turnaround,” said Koehler.

CAM TESTIFIES TO MICHIGANHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Leaders Discuss Workforce Development

By Jason Wadaga,

V.P. of Government Affairs

Kindsvatter, Dalling & Associates

CAM Chairman of the Board and President of the Brinker Group, Larry

Brinker Jr., joined CAM President Kevin Koehler in Lansing to testify before

the Michigan House of Representatives Workforce Development Committee

in April.

This marks the second time in the past eight months that CAM has been

solicited by the Michigan Legislature to give a historical perspective and offer

solutions on how to solve the workforce development issues surrounding

the construction industry in Michigan. CAM had previously testified in the

Economic Development Committee in the Michigan Senate.

The testimony from CAM provided background on the association and

the workforce crisis surrounding the construction industry; identified the need

for young adults in construction in Michigan; summarized what CAM is

currently doing to address the workforce shortage; and outlined what the

Michigan Legislature and state departments can do to partner with CAM.

The Workforce crisis

Brinker, Jr. opened by recapping to the committee how Michigan’s

construction industry got to where it is today with labor shortages, citing

Michigan’s economic downturn over the last decade. “At the end of the past

decade’s Great Recession, the State of Michigan lost 42 percent of its

construction workforce from its peak of 214,900 in April 2000, to 124,900

in July 2013. That’s a loss of 89,300 in Michigan’s construction workforce.

Construction workers were forced to find new professions or leave Michigan

to make a living and provide for their families,” he said.

The Need To ATTrAcT YouNg PeoPle iNTo The Workforce

Compounding the problem, the current construction workforce across most

of the various trades is getting older, and many have either retired or are

nearing retirement age. Three in four construction skilled trade vacancies

through 2020 will be based on the need to replace existing workers due to

retirement. These statistics do not factor into the number of construction

professionals we are losing to other states. “While I cannot sit here today

and give you an exact number of what our industry needs to alleviate the

workforce problem, we do feel that the issue is at a critical mass,” added

Brinker, Jr.

Brinker, Jr. and Koehler went on outline how young people entering

construction trades is a win-win for both parties. They listed the benefits of

a construction career for high school students entering the workforce,

including learning a skilled trade that can be used anywhere, making a

middle class wage while not incurring any debt, receiving healthcare and

retirement benefits, and working with cutting-edge technology. “There’s a

common perception that the construction industry is strictly shoveling and

hammering all day. While we do need manual labor, a lot of the jobs we

need to fill are working with very high-tech equipment,” said Koehler.

I N D U S T R Y N E W S

uCAM President Kevin

Koehler and CAM

Chairman of the Board

Larry Brinker, Jr. at the

State Capitol in Lansing.

•

•

AMS,NIFFIRG KLIW&YELLA

•

.CNI,NOSREK


By Carl Granger, CSP

SAFETY DIRECTOR, WOODS CONSTRUCTION

There really isn’t a way to do a construction

project on planet Earth without some kind

of possible exposure to the general public.

The “Hoi Polloi,” as the ancient Greeks

dubbed them, entrust us with keeping them

safe as we pave our roads, erect our

houses, hospitals and sports arenas, and

continue to build the world in which we live.

Our most basic commitment as safety

professionals is Safety (with a capital “S”),

but with regulatory compliance often

guiding, if not leading, our company Safety

policies and procedures, our focus can be

unintentionally narrow. Keeping our

workers safe is absolutely vital… they are

our friends, family, colleagues, and our

ethical responsibility. However, we must

also widen our approach to make sure we

are keeping everyone else, including

visitors, passers-by, pedestrians, and even

trespassers, from being injured because of

our work or worksite hazards.

In an April 22, 2015 Wall Street Journal

article, ‘Around New York Building Sites, A

Little Known Threat’, the author details that

“at least once a month on average, a

passerby is injured near a New York City

construction site by anything from falling

bricks, hammers and glass to windblown

fences and collapsing sidewalk sheds.”

While we may not have quite as much

construction going on in Detroit as they do

in New York City, the challenges and

hazards of doing construction work in

public spaces are certainly as difficult to

manage.

We could spend the entirety of CAM

Magazine going over risks of legal action,

potential worst-case scenarios, definitions

of “negligence” vs. “intentional torts,” and

debating whether lawyers have the public’s

best interest at heart; but instead, let’s look

toward the principal reason we all got into

safety in the first place - to keep people

safe. Let’s not get bogged down in the

minutia of whether we are protecting our

worker, a passerby, a visitor to our site, or a

trespasser. Our goal should always be to

eliminate hazards in an effort to keep

EVERYONE safe, regardless of who they

are.

So, as you look at your worksites,

remember to look for hazards: around your

site, adjacent to your site, and if the wind

picks up or gravity happens, what

protective measures are prudent within the

areas/fall-zones surrounding your site so

that everyone goes home safe-and-sound.

Also, how should we be protecting the

public from the same hazards that we

require our workers to don hard hats, safety

glasses, etc.?

For example, if our workers are working

near sidewalks or public spaces, how do

we keep machinery, tools and materials

from becoming a hazard in “public” areas?

If a sheet of plywood is blown off a roof like

a paper airplane, where will it go? If there

are electrical cords running through public

spaces, how to we keep the guy texting

and walking from tripping on them? Tricky,

right?

The reality is there isn’t a one-size-fits-all

fix for all hazards on our sites. Keeping

people safe from themselves is a hazard we

cannot always control, but maintaining a

safe jobsite for our workers and anyone

who may be near our jobsite is certainly

something we can work towards. Due

diligence is key. It is something we are

morally and legally obligated to do, in fact.

If you have questions on how to be most

effective at protecting the public, please

take a look at the ANSI Consensus

Standard: ANSI/ASSE A10.34-2001

(R2005), Protection of the Public on or

Adjacent to Construction. It is a great place

to start. Also, if you Google “Lawyers and

Construction Liability,” you will get just shy

of 32 million hits worth of lawyers with all

the claims they have won stemming from

alleged worksite negligence. And don’t

forget to ask your peers, colleagues and

mentors - in fact, the CAM Safety

Committee is a fabulous place to ask a

question.

Anticipating, identifying and abating or

eliminating hazards allows us to have a

safer worksite for our workers and anyone

else who just happens to be nearby. Stay

safe out there – and thanks for keeping it

safe for my son and me as we admire the

new construction project going on just

down the street!

About the author:

Carl Granger is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP)

and has been in the field of safety and human

resources for over 15 years. He is currently the

safety director for Woods Construction and the

president of the American Society of Safety

Engineers (ASSE) Greater Detroit Chapter. Carl is an

active member of the CAM Safety Committee and a

past presenter at the CAM/ASSE Safety Leadership

Conference.

CONSTRUCTIONAMONG THE

“HOI POLLOI”

Visit us online at www.cammagazineonline.com CAM MAGAZINE JUNE 2015 9

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Dave Pomaville & Sons, Inc. Warren MI 586.755.6030

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to your business. Updates on your site are as

important as regular maintenance on your

equipment.

Your website is not a marketing cost; it is the

cost of infrastructure. Your home page is the

modern equivalent of your shop front. It is the

online presence of your company and,

increasingly, the hub for other marketing like e-

newsletters, AdWords campaigns, and more.

The chAlleNge of chANge

At Capital Letters, many of our CAM clients are

family-owned. We work with founders as well as

second, third, and even fourth generations, and

listen to the differences between the generations

regularly.

BY CHRIS HIPPLERPRESIDENTCAPITAL LETTERS

The national statistics for family-owned businesses are sobering. According to

the Family Business Institute, about 30 percent survive beyond the founder’s

generation, and just 12 percent make it to a third. Why is it so hard to sustain a

family-owned business?

The nature of family-owned businesses is complex and idiosyncratic, so there

is no single answer. Key to a successful transition, though, is engaging the next

generation and developing a strong online presence for the company.

relATioNshiP MArkeTiNg

Relationship Marketing - a tried-and-true practice that dates back centuries - is

how most family-owned companies were founded, and continues to be the

bedrock for growth.

Bill Hughes, president of Innoquest, Inc., an engineering and manufacturing

firm, put it this way: “When I’m working with another family-owned business,

I’m working with someone who is able to make the decisions necessary to fix my

problems on the spot. If a fellow business owner tells me he will do something,

I know I can take it to the bank.”

But for second and third generations, relationship marketing is not enough,

especially when it comes to prospecting for new customers.

esTAblish A sTroNg oNliNe PreseNce

The Internet has changed how business is done. Your website is the beginning

of the online presence of your company and, increasingly, the Web is the preferred

way people research businesses.

Today, relationship marketing has to work hand-in-hand with online marketing.

Your website is your single most important marketing tool, and its health is vital

WANT TO STRENGTHENYOUR FAMILY-OWNED

BUSINESS? MAINTAIN A STRONG ONLINE PRESENCE!

FAMILY BUSINESSES ARE CRUCIAL TO THE

NATIONAL ECONOMY. THERE ARE 5.5 MILLION

FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED

STATES. THEY ACCOUNT FOR 57 PERCENT OF

THE GDP AND EMPLOY 63 PERCENT OF THE

U.S. WORKFORCE, ACCORDING TO FAMILY

ENTERPRISE USA.

FAMILY BUSINESSES HAVE

BEEN AROUND FOR

CENTURIES, BUT DID YOU

KNOW THAT THE WORLD’S

OLDEST DOCUMENTED FAMILY

BUSINESS IS A CONSTRUCTION

COMPANY? ACCORDING TO

WILLIAM T. O’HARA, OF

BRYANY UNIVERSITY, THE

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

KONGA GUMI BASED IN OSAKA,

JAPAN WAS FOUNDED IN 578.

“WHY DO WE NEED A WEBSITE?

EVERYBODY KNOWS WE DO

GOOD WORK.”

“MARKETING IS ONLY AS GOOD

AS A FIRM HANDSHAKE.”

“ADVERTISING IS AN

UNNECESSARY EXPENSE.

JUST JOIN THE COUNTRY CLUB.”

“WE LAUNCHED A WEBSITE

FIVE YEARS AGO.

WHY DO WE NEED AN UPDATE?”


Old ways die hard, and for good reason;

some of those ways work. Relationships are

important. Ill thought-out advertising is an

unnecessary expense. And shaking hands

with a regular customer to seal a deal is as

good as it gets.

But to endure, a family business

must remain relevant. It must change,

and in 2015 the Internet is integral to how

business is done.

“It's always, always, always easier to not

change," says psychologist Dr. Mike Lyons.

What works to preserve the status quo can

be a death sentence for families in business

together.

Two universal qualities of long-lived family

businesses are their ability to create a

respectful dialogue across generations, and

their investment in adaptation and

innovation. Maintaining a strong online

presence is key to that innovation.

Chris Hippler is the President of Capital Letters and

specializes in developing marketing strategies, websites,

and online marketing. He writes this column specifically

for CAM members and can be reached at (734) 353-

9918, or www.capitallettersmarketing.com. A list of

periodicals, books and organizations that deal

exclusively with family owned businesses can be found

on our website.

“Solutions for the Glazing Industry”Mission Statement

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Proud to be a member of CAM. Serving the Construction Industry in Southeast Michigan. Specializing in curtain wall, window and storefont repair, replacment and upgrades.

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Kick off your Fourth of July holiday week at

the Michigan Renewable Energy Fair

(MREF). The Michigan Renewable Energy

Fair, now in its 15th year, is Michigan's

premier event bringing people together to

learn about renewable energy and

alternatives which create sustainable

lifestyles for homeowners, businesses and

municipalities of all sizes.

During the past 14 years, interested

citizens gather each summer at the fair to

learn about renewable energy, energy

efficiency, and other sustainable lifestyle

practices. Over the years, friendships have

been forged, businesses have grown, and

a welcoming sense of community has

flourished surrounding the fair attendees

and exhibitors. As Michigan’s renewable

energy and energy efficiency economy has

grown, so has the fair.

This fair provides opportunity for families,

small businesses, kids of all ages, and

students a chance to learn about ways to

save money in homes and businesses by

becoming more energy efficient, and how

to invest in renewable energy to get a return

on their investment. The MREF draws

attendees from all over the Midwest to learn

how to take steps to become more energy

independent and learn from others the

practices that can make your family or

business more sustainable. Be advised the

fair is not your typical tradeshow – it

combines family fun with local food, hands-

on activities, and small-sized workshops

where you can ask questions to engaging

speakers. The music and food are thrown

in good measure to insure a festive

INDUSTRY NEWSSUSTAIN|ABILITY

BY DOUGLAS ELBINGER

ENERGY SYSTEMS ANALYST,

NEWMAN CONSULTING GROUP, LLC

[email protected]

CELEBRATE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

atmosphere!

The MREF is the place if you have

questions! Have you ever wondered…

• Does solar make sense on your home?

• Does solar work in Michigan?

• What about the installation process?

• Would new windows make sense in

your home?

• Is there a way you can replace your

propane pig?

• How can I find hidden energy savings

in my home and business?

• What is an energy audit?

• How you can grow enough food to

feed your family?

• How you can replace your roof with a

cool energy saving roof?

• How to build a Net Zero home, or even

what IS a Net Zero home?

• What kind of power does an electric

vehicle have?

• How can I get a charger for my electric

vehicle?

• How can I go off grid?

You and your family can take away

answers to these questions and much

more. At the fair you can see these new

technologies and learn how they work in a

low-key, no pressure, FUN atmosphere. If

you have questions, you can talk to

installers, contractors, manufacturers and

utility representatives in a relaxing

environment so you can make friends as

well as informed choices.

Among the many special guests, the

keynote speaker on Friday, June 26 is Mr.

Patrick King, vice president of Suniva, the

company that recently opened a solar panel

manufacturing plant in Saginaw and plans

to bring hundreds of jobs to Saginaw

County over the next three years. According

to Suniva's website, "Suniva is the leading

American manufacturer of high-efficiency,

cost-competitive PV solar cells and

modules. The company is known worldwide

for its high-quality solar products, patented

low-cost manufacturing technology, and

long-term reliable performance."

learn smart energy solutions

at the Michigan renewable

energy fair

June 26 & 27, 2015

ingham county fairgrounds,

Mason, Michigan


The Great Lakes Renewable Energy

Association (GLREA) takes special pride in

the Kids Tent and Activity Area on Saturday

from 9 am - 3 pm, so your kids can enjoy

fun and games just like you! In addition, on

Saturday, June 28, there will be a drawing

in which 10 high school students are

awarded a $500 scholarship to be applied

toward tuition at a college of their choice.

Last year, GLREA awarded scholarships to

graduates entering college or a technical

school in a STEM field. This was a huge

success last year, and we will continue the

tradition this year.

There are a variety of different workshops

which run through the day both Friday and

Saturday, so you are able to select from

several topics you may be interested in. The

workshops start on the hour and run about

50 minutes. Energy efficiency and

renewable energy are not one-size-fits-all;

solutions are as individual as people.

New this year will be an area where local

artisans and crafters can participate in the

fair and give visitors and opportunity to buy

local! The fair organizers are looking for a

variety of small businesses and hobbyist to

be involved in the “BUY LOCAL Artisans

Area.” Visit www.GLREA.org for more

information.

Everyone is welcome! Come to the fair

whether you have an interest in energy

efficiency or you are just looking for a

pleasant day trip the weekend of June 26 &

27. For those so inclined, there are excellent

camping facilities at the fairgrounds so you

can make a weekend out of it. For more

information, visit http://fb.ingham.org/

There is a small gate fee which helps

defray a portion of event costs; however,

there is a free “Independence Pass”

available - GLREA Members get free

admittance to the fair. Join GLREA today

and be the first to get information about the

fair and gain free admission. To make

membership easier, the GLREA is offering

half-off on student, individual and family

membership during month of June 2015.

See you at the fair!

About glreA:

For over 34 years the Great Lakes Renewable

Energy Association has been helping

consumers in the Great Lakes Region to

understand the benefits of using renewable

energy. GLREA has been helping businesses

connect with consumers to learn about new

technologies and products. GLREA has been

a strong voice with policy makers in helping

them understand the benefits that renewable

energy brings our region. GLREA is the oldest

and largest renewable energy association in

the region.

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The Future is under construction in downtown Detroit. For the

glazing industry, it may have already arrived at 611 Woodward

Avenue. In late April 2015, Ergo Robotic Solutions’ wonder

machine rolled into town from Queensbury, New York and parked

in front of the “Qube” in downtown Detroit. The Qube, also known

as Chase Tower, is occupied by one of Quicken Loans’ sizzling

offices in The D; the building is also the new home of WXYZ-TV’s

downtown Detroit studio. Built in 1959, the building’s many lives

BY MARY E. KREMPOSKYASSOCIATE EDITOR

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MODERN MIRROR & GLASS CO.

G L A S S / G L A Z I N G

G L A S S M A G I C

pThe upper areas of the glass lite were scored

and carefully removed in manageable two-to-

three-foot pieces, while the lower third of the

glass was pulled out in one piece.

uA Saturday morning in late April found the

crew of Modern Mirror & Glass Co. removing

an over-18-foot-tall glass lite on the Qube,

also known as the Chase Tower.

AT T H E “ Q U B E ”

include stints as the National Bank of Detroit Building, the Bank

One Center, and now Chase Tower or the Qube.

The 1960s building now has a definite 21st Century vibe, but no

matter the era, building maintenance is a must. Two cracks in the

corner of the Qube’s slightly-over-18-foot-tall exterior lobby window

called for its replacement as a preventive measure, said Gary A.

Boyajian, project manager for Modern Mirror & Glass Co. Bedrock

Real Estate Services selected this experienced Roseville glass and


glazing company to undertake the delicate replacement operation,

having worked with the firm on previous projects in downtown

Detroit, including work within “the Z” parking structure.

Having seen the Ergo Robotic machines in action on a Baltimore,

Maryland project, and having used a related piece of equipment

on the Federal Reserve Building in Detroit, Modern Mirror & Glass

embraced the use of Ergo Robotic’s GM 2000-12 model to lift and

set this towering piece of glass effortlessly and seamlessly into

place. Such machinery has been available for less than 10 years

in various forms, but Ergo Robotic Solutions has taken it to a new

level of development, said Jerry Nudi, Ergo Robotic Solutions co-

owner and partner.

glaSS handling With FineSSe

The magic is in this well-engineered machine’s articulation abilities.

“One of the things that impressed me the most about the abilities

of these machines is that in addition to handling that large of a

weight – at the Qube the glass was 1,200 lbs. – is how the operator

can control the movement,” said Boyajian, a veteran project

manager for Modern Mirror and a glass consultant with Division 8

Solutions.

A crane goes either up or down or in or out, but Ergo Robotic

Solutions’ six model lines can pivot, tilt and rotate each glass lite

on a different axis and in infinitesimal gradations of movement.

“This machine has very delicate, intricate abilities as far as

movement,” said Boyajian. “The beauty of this machine is that it

allows the operator to move the glass as little as a 1/16th of an

inch or 1/32nd of an inch. The operator can virtually wiggle the

glass into the opening and place it where it needs to go. Compare

that to six guys straining and struggling to lift a lite of glass into its

final place with each one of them carrying as much as 200 lbs.”

A glazing crew’s collective muscle power is needed not only for

the final setting of the glass lite, but also for the initial removal from

the delivery truck. Glass lites are usually shipped with the long

dimension oriented horizontally for safety reasons and for

protection of the glass. Given its articulation capabilities, an Ergo

Robotic Solutions’ machine easily rolls the glass off the delivery

truck from a horizontal to a vertical position. This is a godsend for

the crew who typically use only a rolling block and their own

physical strength for this maneuver.

The Ergo Robotic glass installation machine can manipulate the

glass almost with the ease and precision of a human arm. This

dream machine can even transport the glass lite through areas of

limited clearance, raise it up and then set the glass into the curtain

wall frame or channel. The crew then secures it into place.

Safety and speed are clear benefits of this well-engineered

product line. Back strain is reduced, and installation is accelerated,

because these wheel-based machines also have the ability to move

with the glass. This helps the crew, the contractor, and the

building owner. “The Ergo Robotic glass installation machines

speed up the process, so that the building interior’s exposure to

the elements is reduced to only a minimal amount of time,” said

Boyajian. “I have nothing but good things to say about Ergo

Robotic Solutions.”

No wonder one of the website videos of this amazing piece of

glass-handling equipment begins with the intro music to the classic

movie, 2001 Space Odyssey. “We make an excellent articulating

mechanism with a superior engineered suction system,” said Nudi.

“It is very exacting.” Nudi is not hesitant in saying, “We have the

best articulating unit in the business.”

Smooth operatorS

Hydraulic valves, in part, give the Ergo Robotic machines its finely

calibrated articulation. “They have a type of hydraulic valve that

allows for the finest bit of movement,” said Nudi. “It operates like

a gas stove in the sense that you can turn it on as much or as little

as you want. Our machines do not have a number one or a

number two setting; the movement range is infinite.”

Smooth operation is another hallmark of the Ergo Robotic

product line, again thanks to its hydraulics. While some

equipment lines of this ilk use electric motors, Ergo Robotic

machines operate on a hydraulic system, adding smoothness,

strength and durability to the finesse of its movements. “A

hydraulic system is just more reliable, and that is why backhoes

and other large pieces of equipment have a hydraulic system,” said

Nudi.

Ergo Robotic Solutions’ long list of enviable attributes, include

having a compact profile that allows the machines to fit through a

standard door and set glass from the floor of a building interior, if

necessary.

As a bonus for the U.S. workforce and the customer, the entire

product line is made in the USA. “We are the only ones making a

machine like this in America,” declares Nudi. Rather than await

delivery of machines or parts from “across the pond” in Europe or

even beyond, Ergo Robotic Solutions offers next-day delivery of

parts and equipment in an emergency and a high level of “home-

grown” service.

The glass installation machines are also well-made by a highly

skilled, in-house team. “We are fabricating metal pieces from raw

metal,” said Nudi. “We have certified welders who weld these

machines together from steel plates. We cut, weld, drill and grind

all the metal right in our shop. Other than the hydraulic and

electrical components, we outsource very little.”

Setting an 18-Foot-tall glaSS lite

All of these benefits were important to the Qube’s window

replacement. The 10-foot-wide and almost story-and-a-half-tall

window fronts the main lobby and rests about seven feet above

the ground. More importantly, this immense window is tucked

under an overhang or soffit skirting the entire lower level of the 14-

story building located on the edge of Campus Martius.

According to Boyajian, the position of the glass gives the

advantage to the GM 2000-12 over a conventional crane.

“Because the glass is underneath this soffit, the question becomes,



‘How would we get a crane up above to lift

it?” said Boyajian. “We would have to come

straight in with a boom, and even then we

are limited. The crane doesn’t have that

finesse of control. It can’t rotate the glass

lite, or maneuver or manipulate it. The

crane would carry the weight of the glass

and get it close to the opening, but then the

crew must push and lean on this piece of

glass to make sure it goes where it is

supposed to.”

Boyajian believes that the use of the Ergo

Robotic Solutions machine sliced

installation time by a third to a half over the

use of a crane. The ERS machine also

eases the permitting process by reducing

the time reserved for lane closures, and

given its greater mobility, the GM 2000-12

eliminates the need to set a heavy crane

into position on a tight, urban site.

Overall, the entire installation took only a

few hours on a Sunday morning. “The

machine arrived from New York, picked up

and rotated the piece of glass into the

proper position, drove it right into the

opening in the frame, and set it,” said

Boyajian. “Two men in our crew were

positioned on the building interior with

suction cups to grab and hold the glass.

Before the machine released the glass lite,

we installed glass stops to make sure it

didn’t fall. We secured it into place, and

Ergo Robotic drove the machine back to

New York. We were finished with the

installation later that morning.”

Watching the Big liFt

An audience of peers in the glazing industry

watched the “big lift” on a Sunday morning

in late April. “I mentioned it to a couple of

the guys I compete with in the glass

business,” said Boyajian. “When they heard

about what we were doing, several of them

said, ‘I am going to come down with my

lawn chair and watch this take place.’”

The work, however, began long before

the actual lift. Finding a fabricator capable

of producing, packaging and shipping such

a massive piece of replacement glass was

the first concern. Only a few such glass

fabrication companies exist in North

America. What better company to fit the bill

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GCA GLAZINGCONTRACTORSASSOCIATION

“A Continued Search for Industry Excellence”

• Highest Standards• Industry-Wide Collaboration• Cutting-Edge Technology• Training and

Educational Seminars• Social Gatherings• Promote Association at

State and Local Levels

GCA MEMBERSCurtis GlassEdwards Glass Co.Glasco Corp.Madison Heights Glass

Modern Mirror & GlassNational EnclosurePeterson Glass Co.Universal Glass & Metals

43636 Woodward Ave. • Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

(248) 972-1132www.gcami.com

An association of qualified, knowledgeable,dependable and responsible contractors, our members stand committed.


than one with a website named

www.BigAssGlass.com. The company is

actually called Architectural Glass of North

America or AGNORA. “They are located

about two hours north of Toronto,” said

Boyajian. “They probably have as large

capabilities, as far as production, as any

company I have ever dealt with. There is

only a handful in the country that can do

this.”

The “show” began on Saturday April 25.

Modern Mirror & Glass took delivery of the

new glass and began to remove the existing

window in small pieces. “We cut out the

broken glass piece by piece throughout the

course of the day, scoring and breaking it

into small, manageable pieces,” said

Boyajian.

He gives a play-by-play offering a glimpse

into the glazier’s world: “The six- to eight-

person crew removed the screw-applied

stops on the glass, and scored the glass

with a wheel that actually puts a groove in

the glass. One person scored and placed

pressure on the glass to make it crack,

while another placed suction cups on the

glass. As soon as the glass broke free, he

lifted it and set it down on the scissor lift.

Each piece of glass was two or three feet

and weighed about 45 to 50 lbs. The glass

is half-inch glass that weighs about 7

pounds a square-foot.”

The area was cordoned off, preventing

curious bystanders from entering within 50

feet of the jobsite. Clad in safety glasses,

hard hats, Kevlar sleeves and Kevlar gloves,

the experienced team proceeded carefully,

because the existing glass was aged, brittle

and annealed – all factors making the glass

more inclined to cracking irregularly or in

unexpected ways. “The Chase Tower was

built before glass was typically tempered,”

said Boyajian. “Also, no one had the

capabilities back then to temper glass of

that large of a size.”

To prevent the upper crack from

spreading, the crew scored the glass in the

area of the crack, effectively encompassing,

isolating and removing that piece first.

“They then pushed out that piece of scored

glass and worked across the top of the

glass one piece at a time like a jigsaw

pErgo Robotic Solutions’ product line has well-engineered articulation abilities. The GM 2000-12 - and other ERS machines - can pivot, tilt and

rotate each glass lite on a different axis and in infinitesimal gradations of movement.

qThe GM 2000-12 works its magic on a

Sunday morning install at the Qube in

downtown Detroit.



18205 WEAVERDETROIT, MI 48228

Call: 313-838-1040Fax: [email protected]

Fire-Rated Glass

Float Glass

Laminated Glass

Aluminum Framing

Fabrication

Mirrors

Accessories

puzzle,” said Boyajian. “We worked it down

to a point where they pulled the last third of

the glass out in one piece.”

After removal, Modern Mirror & Glass

secured the opening with plywood on

Saturday, removing it on Sunday. Ergo

Robotic Solution arrived early Sunday

morning with its trailer loaded with the GM

2000- 12. “It looked like an easy job for us,

and a difficult job without us,” said Nudi in

speaking of the actual lift of the towering

replacement window. Ergo Robotic easily

lifted the glass into place, inserting it

through some standing columns. After

about two-and-a-half hours they were back

on the road. The drive to Detroit actually

took far longer than the actual work.

reaching higher

Once home in Queensbury, New York, the

Ergo Robotic team returned to what it does

best: engineering and manufacturing new

models and envisioning advances in glass

installation technology. “About a year ago,

we made a machine that can reach up to

20 feet high – the GM 2000-20,” said Nudi.

“No one had ever offered that before. Now

we are working on a glass installation

machine that will go even higher, perhaps

even over 25 feet.” This model may

possibly debut in the marketplace in

September 2015.

Ergo Robotic Solutions is currently

examining how to adapt the amazing

articulation abilities of its machines to

forklifts and other large pieces of

equipment. Basically, the lift machine would

provide the height and the Ergo Robotic

product would offer the articulation ability.

“The forklift or other large equipment lift

could make use of the functions, precision

and delicate finesse of the Ergo Robotic

glass lifter,” said Nudi. “That way they don’t

necessarily have to buy the full machine.

They will be able to buy a part of it – the

articulation part.”

In another development, Ergo Robotic

Solutions has added a hydraulic winch onto



Ergo Robotic Solutions, Queensbury, New

York, launched its business only a year-

and- a-half ago. The company, however,

has a deep knowledge base; its co-partner

is none other than Bart Knotts, one of the

original masterminds behind the intricate

engineering of these amazing glass

installation machines. Knotts co-

developed this glass installation piece of

equipment as minority partner in another

company. Knotts has now brought his

expertise to Ergo Robotic Solutions,

working in partnership with Jerry Nudi to

rehabilitate and transform the entire

product line. “We’ve increased the number

of models to create a line of machines to fit

every need and size,” said Nudi.

Current product lines include the Power

Lifter PL 1000, GM 800, GM 1200, GM

2000-12, GM 2000-20 and the SkyHook-

WPI. The Power Lifter 1000: Imagine a

dolly that you can load your glass on and

push it through a standard-sized door.

When you get to the lift site, the dolly

transforms into a heavy lifter.

The other machines increase in lift

capacity and maximum height, beginning

with the GM 800 and moving all the way

up to the GM 2000-20, a machine

introduced in 2014 that does exactly what

its name suggests: lift a maximum of

2,000 lbs. and reach a maximum height of

20 feet, six inches.

The SkyHook-WPI can lift up to 4,000

lbs.; custom SkyHooks can be built to

handle up to 6,000 lbs. “In one video on

our website, the SkyHook is hanging from

a crane and lifting a 10-by-20 skylight in the

air that weighs about 3,200 lbs.,” said

Nudi. “The SkyHook even set the skylight

on an angle on top of a seven-story

building in New York City.”

Overall, Ergo Robotic Solutions currently

offers six product lines with more on the

way. Visit www.ergoroboticsolutions.com

for a full description of the company’s

machines and Web videos of the

equipment in action.

pGiven its articulation capabilities, an Ergo Robotic Solutions’ machine

easily rolls the glass off the delivery truck from a horizontal to a vertical

position. This is a godsend for the crew who typically use only a rolling

block and their own physical strength for this maneuver.


ERGO ROBOTIC SOLUTIONS:SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY GLASS INSTALLATION NEED

its glass manipulation machine. “Our glass manipulation machine,

paired with a hydraulic winch, will now handle up to 2,000 lbs.,”

said Nudi.

In terms of market segments, Ergo Robotic Solutions machines

are not only being used on glazing jobsites across the country, but

area also being used in glass manufacturing and handling facilities.

The company is also considering branching out into servicing the

pre-formed concrete products and stone market, as well, Nudi

added.

Modern Mirror & Glass can now add yet another successful

downtown Detroit project to its portfolio. Other recent projects

include installing large radius glass pieces on The Albert in Detroit’s

growing and increasingly vibrant Capitol Park. At the Qube, three

great companies came together to create a better future for Detroit

and all of southeastern Michigan: Bedrock Real Estate Services,

Modern Mirror & Glass, and a friendly “visitor” with an amazing

machine – Ergo Robotic Solutions.


ARE ALLARE

Our operators worked hard all day. But what really made the project a success was the supporting cast. The service team who maintained the crane. The logistics team that planned the lifts. The safety team that ensured everyone was ready for, really, anything. And this team is part of a much bigger team, the ALL Family of Companies.

© ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp., an Equal Opportunity Employer

Highland, MI | 419-693-0421 Lima, OH | 419-223-9010 Oregon, OH | 419-693-0421

www.allcrane.com

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-Online

The Michigan Statewide Carpenters and

Millwrights Joint Apprenticeship Training

Fund (JATF) is all about building the next

generation workforce for Michigan’s

construction industry. The Fund’s own

tools of the trade not only include power

drills and nail guns, but a set of innovative

programs with the power to attract more

applicants and to hammer home the

fundamentals of the carpentry craft.

The past recession left a significant “trade

drain” in Michigan. The state lost over

82,000 skilled trade construction jobs and

saw employment drop by 40 percent

between 2007 and 2009, according to a

2013 report of the Michigan Bureau of

Labor Market Information and Strategic

Initiatives, quoted by Construction

Association of Michigan (CAM) Chairman,

and President of the Brinker Group’s L.S.

Brinker Company, Larry S. Brinker, Jr. at

CAM’s Annual Meeting in February 2015.

Both the economy and workforce

development, however, appear to be

turning the corner. In the Detroit area, every

Wednesday from 9 am to noon, applicants

walk through the doors of the Detroit

Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Training

School on Farrow Street in Ferndale.

“We have approximately 350 apprentices

currently at our Ferndale facility, and that is

a sign that things are getting a bit better,”

said Michigan Statewide Carpenters &

Millwrights JATF State Training Director

Donald G. Kissel, who oversees training

programs in seven apprenticeship schools

spread across Michigan from Marquette

and Grayling to Fennville in west Michigan

and east to Mason and Saginaw. The

BY MARY E. KREMPOSKYASSOCIATE EDITOR

TRAINING THAT PAYS AT THE CARPENTER

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

CARPENTERS IN THE MAKING:

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MICHIGAN

STATEWIDE CARPENTERS AND MILLWRIGHTS

JOINT APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING FUND

C A R P E N T R Y

pDetroit Carpenters Apprenticeship School students are hard at work in

the field learning the carpenter’s craft. CAM’s Director of Labor

Relations and Government Affairs James Oleksinski, M.A., J.D., LL.M.,

serves as a management trustee for the Detroit Carpentry Joint

Apprenticeship Training Committee.

pThe Michigan Carpenter and Millwright Training Program offers

evening enhancement classes for journeymen, including such

innovation classes as Best Practices in Healthcare Construction.

The class teaches how to take periodic air samples, how to seal

an area, and how to employ HEPA filtration operations.



Detroit Carpenters JATC services Detroit

and southeastern Michigan.

Fifteen years ago, the Ferndale training

facility alone had 1,100 students. “That

number gradually went down starting in

2008,” said Kissel. “We got down to below

300 students, and it stayed there for a

couple of years. But we are now seeing an

increase in apprentices, and in contractors

looking to hire new apprentices.”

The anemic economy of the recent past

produced an extremely competitive

business environment. Contractors were

inclined to keep the most seasoned,

productive and experienced journeymen

working for the last seven years. “The

market was so tight that when contractors

were bidding these jobs there was not a

whole lot of play in any of these projects,”

said Kissel. Essentially, contractors had to

focus on a select cadre of productive

journeyman. These forces played a part in

the decrease in apprenticeship numbers.

In looking to the future, Kissel says, “If we

had 500 apprentices in this school that

would be a good sign,” said Kissel. “If we

had 800, that number would be a sign of a

real resurgence.”

Making a new PaCT


Millwrights JATF is doing its part to boost

the number of applicants and apprentices.

One of the biggest “carrots” attracting an

applicant to apprenticeship training is the

“earn as you learn” approach. Each

apprentice earns more than the minimal

cost of tuition and books. According to the

Michigan Carpenter and Millwright Training

Program website

www.realapprenticeship.com, “During the

apprenticeship term, the apprentice is paid

an ascending scale of wages, ranging from

50 percent of the journeyman’s scale when

training begins to 95 percent during the

fourth year of apprenticeship.”

Under Kissel, the Michigan Statewide

Carpenters and Millwrights JATF has made

apprenticeship training even more attractive

through an initiative designed to create both

new apprentices and new construction

professionals. An apprentice is not only

paid for attending class, but credits can be

applied to a future Associate Degree in

construction management at a community

college. The actual initiative is called the

new Pathway to Apprenticeship &

Construction Technology (PACT) Program.

Kissel has recently been crisscrossing

Michigan to forge a series of articulation

agreements with several of the largest

community colleges in southeastern

Michigan, including Macomb Community

College (MCC), the first educational

institution to come on board. Kissel is using

the written agreement between MCC and

Michigan Statewide Carpenters and

Millwrights JATF as a template for other

community college liaisons.

To date, “Graduating from our four-year

program will give students 32 credit hours

towards an Associate Degree at five

different community colleges, including

Macomb, Monroe, Delta, Oakland and

Henry Ford Community Colleges,” said

Kissel. “We are trying to create the same

articulation agreements with all 28

community colleges in Michigan.”

Five trades are involved in the articulation

agreements, including the Michigan

Carpenter and Millwright Training Program,

as well as training programs for brick layers,

operating engineers, laborers and

electricians. “Telling an individual that our

apprenticeship program could be a

pathway to college is one of our many

selling points,” said Kissel.

pThese carpenter apprentices are part of the Michigan Regional Council

of Carpenters and Millwrights that represents 14,000 carpenters and

millwrights across Michigan.

C A R P E N T R Y

pThe apprentices shown above are taking part in an aerial lift

training class.


The PACT Program can also be a

stepping stone to a Bachelor’s Degree.

Ferris State University will allow apprentices

to use an Associate Degree from a

participating community college as a

springboard to earning a Bachelor’s Degree

in construction management from Ferris

State.

aCCess for all

Other initiatives promise to repopulate the

scaffolds and scissor lifts on jobsites in

Detroit and across Michigan. Kissel points

to “Access for All” as an example of a

successful outreach program for gathering

motivated, hard-working people into the

trades.

Michigan Works! Association and SER

Metro-Detroit, two workforce development

organizations interview applicants, typically

selecting 15 people per class. Applicants

take a drug test and the ACT WorkKeys

test, “a job skills assessment system that

helps employers select, hire, train, develop

and retain a high-performance workforce.

This series of tests measures foundational

and soft skills and offers specialized

assessments to target institutional needs,”

according to the WorkKeys website.

In operation for the last three years,

“Access for All” is a no-cost, nine-week

program involving 40 hours a week of

hands-on training, as well as OSHA 30.

“People are introduced to five different

trades, including carpentry, operating

engineers, electricians, bricklayers and

cement masons,” explained Kissel. “We

talk to participants and then they come to

our facilities for hands-on activities. At the

end of nine weeks, they have a better idea

of what they want to do for their future.”

CusToM Classes

Michigan Statewide Carpenters and

Millwrights JATF continues to host career

days to boost the number of applicants and

apprentices. “We are constantly

conducting career days, particularly in the

City of Detroit,” said Kissel. “A lot of it has

to do with projected growth in Detroit. We

are also seeing growth all around the State

of Michigan.”

The Michigan Regional Council of

Carpenters and Millwrights

(www.hammer9.com) is also instituting

OSHA 30 classes to prepare City of Detroit

residents for the new Red Wings arena and

other Detroit projects. “Usually an OSHA

30 class is good forever, but some owners

are now requiring anyone who hasn’t taken

an OSHA 30 in the last three years take the

class over again.”

The Michigan Carpenter and Millwright

Training Program also offers courses to fit

Since 1891 the members of the Carpenter Contractors’Association of Detroit have been establishing andupholding the highest quality standards for our trade.Integrity and craftsmanship are the foundation fromwhich we’ve built the longest operating carpenter contractor group in the area.

Call Us Today For Membership Information.

CARPENTER CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION - 2015 ROSTER

Carpenter Contractors’ Association of DetroitP.O. Box 46445 • Mt. Clemens, MI 48046586-783-1625 • Fax: 586-783-1845

B.R.D., Inc.Brighton(248) 486-4110

Conquest ConstructionLivonia(734) 458-1800

Huron Acoustic TileMt. Clemens(586) 783-1625

R.E. Leggette Co.Dearborn(313) 584-2000

Russell Plastering Co.Detroit(248) 543-6575

Wally Kosorski & Co.Clinton Twp.(586) 791-1100

C A R P E N T R Y


market conditions. “Right now, there is interest in taking our bridge

formwork class, because of the road work that may possibly be

coming out of Proposal 1 Michigan Safe Roads,” said Kissel.

Journeymen also reap the benefits of the Michigan Carpenters

training facilities. The statewide facilities offer evening

enhancement classes for journeymen, ranging from the staple

certification courses in scaffolding and rigging to innovative classes

such as Best Practices in Healthcare Construction.

Procedures learned in this class can be applied to renovation

projects in offices, food courts and other occupied buildings. “The

class teaches how to take periodic air samples after sealing an

area, during tear-off and after HEPA filter operation,” said Kissel.

“We teach how to seal off work areas by covering HVAC ducts and

how to properly remove materials in sealed containers to be loaded

onto wheeled dumpsters and safely removed. We are even trying

to insert the class and its protocols into the specifications for

healthcare projects.”

geTTing on The saMe Page

As another recent initiative, the Michigan Statewide Carpenters and

Millwrights JATF is in the process of aligning the content offered in

all seven schools. The goal: A uniform curriculum in all of its

Michigan training facilities that is in sync with apprenticeship

schools across the country. “The Carpenters International Training

Center has created a curriculum that they are trying to get everyone

to use throughout the country,” said Kissel. “Everybody will be on

the same page.”

The generic core curriculum will be paired with region-specific

content that caters to the different industries, weather patterns and

other variables in different regions across Michigan and the nation.

Instructors will follow the same outline and use the same materials,

making the content of a particular course the same across all

apprenticeship facilities. “If a person transfers from one facility to

another, we are going to know that the training was the same in

both,” said Kissel.

Kissel has already begun creating a uniform curriculum in the

Mason, Saginaw and Detroit area facilities. The idea is to have

these nearby facilities “at the same level and teaching the same

content so that we can move students back and forth between the

three,” said Kissel. With a uniform core curriculum, apprentices

can not only more easily circulate among different training schools,

but contractors can be more comfortable knowing that each

apprentice has absorbed a set body of knowledge and skills.

As the summer construction season begins in earnest, slightly

more apprentices are now available to hammer together the

increasing number of projects sprouting up in Detroit and across

Michigan.

Today, both the economy and workforce development are on the

rise, and the Michigan Statewide Carpenters and Millwrights JATF

has a firm handle on a host of initiatives to build the workforce

needed to rebuild Detroit and Michigan.


who:


Millwrights JATF has been reaching out to

apprenticeship applicants across the state.

“Our biggest target now is 18- to 26-year-

old applicants,” said Kissel. The

apprenticeship program, however, is open

to all ages.

where:


Millwrights JATF has seven schools,

including millwright training in Warren;

millwright training in Fennville near Grand

Rapids; carpenter and floor laying training in

Mason south of Lansing; carpentry training

in Saginaw and Grayling; carpentry and

millwright training in Marquette; and

carpentry and floor laying in the Detroit area.

how:

Visit the Detroit area facility on any

Wednesday and fill out an application

between 9 am and noon. The applicant is

given a list of contractors, and their first

“assignment” is to be sponsored or hired by

one of the companies. Once hired, the

individual gains a letter of sponsorship,

returns to the apprenticeship training facility

and fills out the required forms for

registration with the U.S. Department of

Labor. The next step is a drug test. A clear

result then leads to attendance at an

orientation day. Or call 248-541-2740 to get

more information about the other training

facilities.


Millwrights JATF has several initiatives that

permit direct entrance into the

apprenticeship program. Helmets to

Hardhats is a program that welcomes

veterans directly into apprenticeship

training. “All they have to do is go the

Helmets to Hardhats website H2H.com and

register,” said Kissel. “Veterans then come

to our facility and show us their DD214

paperwork. They are admitted into the

program, but must find a contractor to work

for before continuing.”

Participation in Job Corps is another

direct route into a life in the trades. Job

Corps participants must bring their

certification of completion from the Job

Corps program to the respective

apprenticeship training facility.

Another recent program is for City of

Detroit residents. “After filling out an

application, we would send a letter of

invitation after a few months to come to our

facility and take the WorkKeys math test,”

said Kissel. “Anyone scoring a Level Five

out of seven levels, seven being the highest,

has direct entry into our program.”

how long:

Once accepted in the four-year

apprenticeship program, the apprentice

attends 16 classes and receives on-the-job

training. Apprentices take four classes a

year; each class meets once every two

weeks for three months. “Students are

working on the jobsite for those two weeks

in between each class session,” said Kissel.

“Our program is 90 percent on the job

training, and the student gets paid for

attendance.”

Because apprentices travel farther

distances to attend Marquette and Fennville

classes, the classes are conducted as block

training. Apprentices attend classes for an

entire week and for four weeks out of the

year. Unlike traditional schools, each

apprenticeship class lasts an entire eight-

hour day.

how MuCh:

The cost of apprenticeship training is

minimal compared to even a semester at a

university. “There is some out of pocket

expense, but if they’re working for one of

C A R P E N T R Y

The Real Apprentice


our contractors, they’re being paid to come

to school, so theoretically, the training is

free.” said Kissel.

The economics are clearly in the

apprentice’s favor. “If you are working for a

contractor you’re being paid to come to

school, plus all the benefits that a

journeyman receives proportionately,” said

Kissel. “When you graduate after four

years, there are no student loans to pay

back, and you have four years invested into

a pension and an annuity. You are now a

journeyman and well on your way to a

career that pays sustainable wages as a

carpenter, millwright or floor layer.”

The apprentice also receives a 10 to 12

page history booklet on the United

Brotherhood of Carpenters. “The booklet

explains the history of how the carpenters

union came to be, and details some of the

trials and tribulations throughout the years,”

said Kissel. “The booklet shows them that

people actually worked hard for the amount

of money we are making right now, along

with the benefit packages.”

Beyond the apprentices themselves, the

taxpayer also gets a good deal. “We are no

burden on the taxpayers,” said Kissel,

“because everything is funded by the

Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters.

Everyone who is a carpenter, millwright or

floor layer pays into the apprenticeship

fund, making us a self-funded program.”

whY:

Apprentices not only learn the craft of

carpentry, millwright and floor laying; they

also learn how to build a life. “We are not

just training carpenters, millwrights and floor

layers,” said Kissel. “We are creating

positive, responsible, productive members

of society.”

Life lessons include time and money

management. “We even have a little

program on Excel where we show them

how to manage their budget,” said Kissel.

“We introduce them to this budget when

they first come into the program.”

The entire Michigan construction industry

also clearly benefits from the skills, training

and commitment of the next generation of

carpenters, millwrights, and floor layers.

Since 1952

1-800-693-1800

SALES RENTALS

ERECTIONSSHORING

SWING STAGING SCAFFOLD PLANKSFALL PROTECTION

TRAINING

DELIVERYSCAFFOLDING

TRASH CHUTESEXPERT DESIGN

ANDSAFETY SERVICES

MDOT reopened this seven-mile stretch of

I-96 more than two weeks early. As lead

contractor, Dan’s Excavating coordinated

an expert project team and completed the

project in 167 days, well ahead of the 180-

day schedule.

Photo courtesy of G2 consultinG GrouP


“the 96fix” was not only the largest single-

season, single-construction contract

awarded in MDot history, but under the

leadership of Dan’s excavating, inc., shelby

township, the project ran at a pace never

before attempted in Michigan. As lead

contractor, Dan’s excavating coordinated a

project team with an extensive breadth of

engineering and construction expertise,

including G2 consulting Group, llc, troy;

c.A. hull company, Walled lake; Ajax

Paving industries, troy; and nicholson

construction, Kalamazoo.

MDot led the design and management

of the $150 million project that rebuilt a

seven-mile section of i-96 between us-24

and newburgh road. Work included

rebuilding 56 lane miles of freeway, repairing

37 bridges, reconstructing 22 ramps, and

installing new lighting and utilities. thanks

to this hard-driving project team, this heavily

used stretch of freeway in livonia ultimately

reopened more than two weeks early.

the citizens of southeastern Michigan

were elated and grateful. An estimated

10,000 to 15,000 people celebrated the

opening of i-96 on september 21 by

walking, running, biking or skateboarding

along the newly constructed highway –

another first for Michigan, MDot, and an

infrastructure project!

Michigan Governor rick snyder was

equally pleased. “reconstructing i-96

addressed our state’s infrastructure needs

that are critical to our future and our

continued comeback,” said Governor

snyder in a press packet submitted by G2

consulting. “congratulations to MDot and

the construction team who collaborated

and used new innovations to complete this

project ahead of schedule and on-budget.”

the “Pit crew”

the entire project demonstrates

collaboration of owner, engineer and

constructor at its best. over 50 MDot staff

was assigned to coordinate this project.

MDot used an innovative e-construction

system to coordinate construction

documents. While the system has been

piloted on two small projects, this was the

first time on a project of this size. MDot

also used ltP tracker, a Web-based

program to certify payrolls, and B2G now,

which tracks DBe payments.

Dan’s excavating was responsible for

managing 3,000 line items in less than 180

days.

the team beat the schedule despite

facing such challenges as a 350-year storm

event that flooded some areas of the project

site with over 48 inches of water, as well as

contending with night-time restrictions on

bridge demolition. Despite these hurdles,

the team completed the project in 167

days, well ahead of the 180-day schedule.

G2consulting Group’s critical

geotechnical and construction engineering

expertise also kept the project moving

forward. running beneath and adjacent to

i-96 is a network of civic infrastructure,

most notably a 48-inch diameter Detroit

Water and sewerage Department water

supply pipeline that provides fresh water to

a major portion of western Wayne county.

needless to say, it could not be

compromised. G2 consulting designed 11

earth retention wall systems that

safeguarded the pipeline and other assets

during the excavation phase, while

minimizing construction materials and

reducing construction time.

three firms acted as project partners,

providing key expertise and personnel

during the project:

• c.A. hull company was the lead

subcontractor responsible for bridge

repair and reconstruction.

• Ajax Paving industries was the lead

subcontractor responsible for concrete

paving.

• nicholson construction provided the

pressure grouted anchoring system for

the retaining walls.

A BenchmArk Project

from roadways to water and wastewater

facilities, Michigan has a tremendous need

for infrastructure repairs in the coming

years. the approach used on this large-

scale construction project provides a

valuable benchmark to the design and

construction engineering profession.

the i-96 project offers a case study in

efficiency. the project team maintained a

The 96fix:

High-Profile Project Completed in 167 Days

The Need for Speed

C O N S T R U C T I O N H I G H L I G H T


keen focus on reducing materials used,

maximizing materials reused and shortening

the schedule, all while meeting the

challenge of implementing the most up-to-

date federal standards on an existing

highway project. to this end, Dan’s

excavating implemented computerized

stringless paving, using an automated

machine equipped with a 3D model and

GPs to eliminate the need for traditional

staking to steer the concrete paver.

G2 consulting’s approach to construction

engineering also focused on these goals,

often developing barrier wall designs in a

day. complex engineering was a key “tool”

in both planning and implementing

construction strategies. specific areas

included not only designing the 11 retaining

walls to protect critical underground

infrastructure and applying new federal

design guidelines to an existing highway

system, but also crafting careful

topographic evaluations to maintain

overpass clearances, providing cost

analysis to determine value of construction,

and preparing both bridge and bridge

foundation design.

mile mArker one: A FAst-PAced

schedule

the project team leveraged construction

and engineering know-how and technology

gained from decades of experience to

complete this project. from a project

superintendent with 40 years of field

experience and schematics taped to the

wall in the project office, to MDot’s

innovative electronic filing, document and

payroll tracking systems and Dan’s

excavating’s GPs-guided paving

equipment, the team used every traditional

and innovative tool available to complete

this project in record time.

the project management approach to

this project was completely driven by

schedule, from MDot’s bid structure to

project planning by the construction team

to construction engineering focused on

reducing time and materials at every

opportunity.

the bidding approach was crucial.

MDot structured the contract as an “A + B

bid,” meaning that in addition to the cost of

work proposed by contract bidders, MDot

assigned the value of $150,000/day to the

number of days proposed in the schedule.

these two numbers were added to select

the winning team.

in response to this approach, Dan’s

excavating was $30 million and 40 days

less than the next nearest team. Dan’s

Project Manager Joe Goodall summarized

the company’s approach: “you have to

start from the outside of the roadway and

work in. Most of the work lies at the

perimeter of the roadway – that’s where the

roadway construction critical path lies.”

in terms of project coordination, Dan’s

excavating knew that when the clock

started ticking on this project schedule

(when the highway was closed to traffic) all

eyes would be on the project team to get it

done quickly. three months before actual

work was launched on this important

roadway, numerous preconstruction

meetings were held to discuss every aspect

of the project. Because of these crucial

meetings, every team member knew exactly

what their role was, and what their tasks

were prior to a single lane closure.

think before you speak, became think

before you build. some of the key

p“The 96fix” was the largest single-season, single-construction contract project awarded in MDOT history. Work included rebuilding 56 lane

miles of freeway on a seven-mile stretch between US-24 and Newburgh Road in Livonia.

Photo courtesy of G2 consultinG GrouP


questions answered during preconstruction

meetings included:

• Where is the existing underground

infrastructure, and how do we protect

it during excavation and construction,

while minimizing materials used and

the schedule?

• how do we manage the enormous

amount of material that we will need to

remove and reuse?

• how do we accomplish the demolition

work required, while keeping

construction traffic flowing and the site

safe?

• how do we orchestrate over 300

workers on a site at one time?

once construction was launched, each

member of the project team was committed

to maintaining the schedule. G2 consulting

remained on call throughout construction.

often when a problem was identified in the

field during the day, the engineering team

came up with a solution that very night to

keep progress moving the next day.

mile mArker two: eArth

retention systems

the widening of i-96 produced over 800,000

cubic yards of fill. this immense volume of

material was moved while maintaining the

schedule and without jeopardizing existing

underground infrastructure, thanks to G2

consulting’s design of the retaining wall

systems.

During design, the team collaborated on

the earth retention system required to secure

the critical 48-inch water supply line. in

locations where the excavation zone of

influence enveloped the water line, structural

elements were identified as critical, and the

design team specified “zero movement.”

nicholson construction’s pressure grouted

anchoring system was installed as close as

safely possible to the utility bottom. Where

the water main was outside the critical area,

open cut techniques were used to reduce

sheeting, reducing material costs and

schedule significantly. the team

implemented pre-developed contingency

plans twice to stabilize sloughing slopes in

this critical area. this approach minimized

construction time, minimized materials used,

and maintained a flexible plan to provide

corrective action if required during the course

of the construction project. All of this was

accomplished while maintaining near zero

movement within the zone of influence of the

critical utility identified early during the bid

phase of the project.

Mile Marker Three: SustainableDesignthe project incorporated sustainable design

principles and exercised environmental

awareness through two primary initiatives:

eliminating waste by minimized

consumption and reusing materials, and

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G2 Consulting designed 11 earth

retention wall systems that

safeguarded vital infrastructure,

including a 48-inch-diameter water

supply pipeline that provides fresh

water to a major portion of western

Wayne County.

Photo courtesy of DAn’s excAvAtinG

C O N S T R U C T I O N

H I G H L I G H T

lowering energy consumption by installing

leD lighting.

no steel, concrete or soil was landfilled

on this project. in addition, the new lighting

maximizes energy efficiency. on a project

this size, the resulting efficiencies are

significant. sustainability by the stats:

• two mobile crushing operations reused

410,000 tons of crushed concrete

• repurposed 1,200,000 yards of soil

• recycled 200 tons of steel

• installed 500 leD lights

Dan’s excavating constructed two mobile

crushing operations on the project site to

minimize transportation of materials.

recycled aggregate from the plant provided

subgrade for the 11.5-inch, non-reinforced

concrete used to construct the new highway.

this stretch of i-96 between telegraph

and newburgh road carries about 70,000

commuters (one way) each day. Displacing

this level of traffic overloaded alternate

routes quickly. i-696, i-275 and many

surface streets were congested hours

before and after typical rush hours.

residents knew they would experience

inconvenience. local residents and

businesses, however, voted to close the

freeway to get work done more quickly and

at a lower cost, versus adopting the option

of only partially closing the freeway – a more

expensive approach that would have

resulted in a two- to three-year project.

completing the work two weeks early, not to

mention protecting critical underground

infrastructure, honored the commitment

made to local residents. every effort possible

was made to beat the schedule, and the

stellar results show the merits of the entire

project team. every driver cruising along i-

96 can thank MDot, Dan’s excavating, G2

consulting Group, along with c.A. hull

company, Ajax Paving industries and

nicholson construction, for a job well done.

-Information provided courtesy of G2 Consulting, LLC

The following is a list of thecompanies and individuals that heldprime roles in the team’s structure:Design Team:

• MDot - Gorette yung, transportation

service center Manager

• MDot - Adam Penzenstadler, senior

Project Manager

MDOT partnered with the following

design firms:

• hntB Michigan, Detroit, okemos -

Peter Kinney, Project Manager

• Parsons Brinckerhoff Michigan, Detroit,

lansing - William Zipp, Project Manager

Construction Oversight Team:• MDot – Gerard Pawloski, senior

Project Manager

• MDot – William erben, resident

engineer

MDOT partnered with the following

consultant group:

• Prime vendor, Great lakes engineering

Group, lansing – Amy trahey, Project

Manager

• sub-vendor, hntB Michigan – victor

frendo, Project Manager

• tetra tech of Michigan, Brighton, Ann

Arbor – robert Daavettila, Project

Manager

• sub-vendor, Parsons Brinckerhoff

Michigan – David Wilson, Project

Manager

• sub-vendor, surveying solutions, inc.,

st. Johns – Jeff Bartlett, Project

Manager

Contractor Team:• Prime contractor, Dan’s excavating,

inc., shelby township – Joe Goodall,

Project Manager and Kirk cooley,

Assistant Project Manager

Dan’s Excavating partnered with the

following subcontractors:

• Partner and Paving subcontractor, Ajax

Paving industries, troy – hugh

luedtke, Project Manager

• Partner and Bridge subcontractor, c.A.

hull co., inc., commerce township –

randy rosso, Project Manager

• Partner and Grouted Anchor tiebacks,

nicholson construction company,

Kalamazoo – Dan A. thome, Pe.,

regional Manager

CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHT

tDan’s Excavating constructed two mobile

crushing operations on the project site to

minimize transportation of materials.

Recycled aggregate from the plant provided

the subgrade for the 11.5-inch, non-

reinforced concrete used to construct the

new highway.

Photo courtesy of DAn’s excAvAtinG



I96Fix Project Stakeholdersowner: Michigan Department of

transportation (MDot)

engineers: MDot, G2 consulting Group,

llc, troy, Ann Arbor

lead contractor: Dan’s excavating, inc.,

shelby township

• reconstructed seven miles of highway

• rebuilt 56 lane miles of freeway

• repaired 35 bridges

• reconstructed two bridges and 22 ramps

• constructed 11 retaining walls

• 78,000 feet of new storm sewers

• 16,000 feet of special barrier walls

• Placed 350,000 cubic yards of concrete

and 850,000 tons of stone

• 1,200 drainage structures

• 1,200 castings

• repurposed 1,200,000 yards of soil

• reused 410,000 tons of crushed concrete

• 500 leD lights

• 3,000 schedule items

• no steel, concrete or soil landfilled

• completed in 167 days

The following subcontractorscontributed to the I96Fix:

• Misc. critical concrete Approach Work

– GM and sons, inc., Whitmore lake

• curb & Gutter – Doan companies,

ypsilanti

• landscape Plantings and seed and

Blanket – Wh canon, romulus

• surface coating of concrete - G and

M Painting, riverview

• Bridge Painting – civil coatings and

construction, valparaiso, in

• resteel – Black swamp steel, holland,

oh

• epoxy flood coating and Geotextile

separator Placement – Progress

company, romulus

• large Diameter sewer rehabilitation –

national industrial Maintenance, east

chicago, in

• Patching – florence cement, shelby

charter township

• fencing – riteway fence company,

sterling heights; future fence

company, Warren

• surveying – Anderson, eckstein and

Westrick, inc., shelby charter township

• temporary Barricades – Poco, inc.,

canton

• Permanent signs – Action traffic

Maintenance, flint

• striping – PK contracting, inc., troy

• sidewalk – f and M concrete

construction, Westland

• video of sewers – Advanced

underground inspection, Westland

The list of project participants was provided courtesy

of the owner, engineer and/or contractor.

THE ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP

C O N S T R U C T I O N H I G H L I G H T


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are independently adjustable and can be moved horizontally and

vertically and locked into place.

The 48 Watt LED light emitters produce

8,640 lumens combined and will illuminate a

workspace 675’ L X 450’ W in size. Included

with this LED work light is a waterproof

transformer which allows operators to run the

unit from standard 120-277 VAC electrical

outlets. The 25 foot chemical and abrasion

resistant SOOW cord is fitted with a standard

straight blade plug for easy connection to

common wall outlets. This versatile work light

can be used as an overhead light, pedestal

light, and just about anywhere a portable and

economical, yet powerful illumination is needed.

Larson Electronics carries an extensive line of

LED light towers, portable power distributions,

explosion proof lights for hazardous locations,

portable work lights and industrial grade LED

area lights. You can view Larson

Electronics’ entire line of lighting by

visiting them on the Web at

larsonelectonics.com. You can also

call (800) 369-6671 to learn more or

(214) 616-6180 for international

inquiries.

Larson Electronics WAL-M-3X48LED-120 LED Work Light

Andersen Flaps is pleased to announce the

expansion of its revolutionary aerodynamic

Eco-flaps® splash guard line with the

addition of an 18-inch-wide splash guard

that can be paired with wide-based tires.*

Available in custom lengths, the new 18-

inch-wide splash guard is backed by

Eco-flaps standard two-year warranty. The

custom length option means less surface

blocking airflow behind these tires, allowing

better highway fuel economy. Shorter-length

flaps also reduce the risk of catching when

backing over curbs.

The new 18-inch-wide splash guard offers

the same innovative design that reduces

wind resistance (drag) to improve highway

fuel economy and reduces excessive road

Eco-flaps® Splash Guards Expand to Include 18-Inch Widthsspray by redirecting airborne water to the

pavement rather than into passing or trailing

vehicle’s lines-of-sight.

This new size of Eco-flaps splash guards

is manufactured of the same durable, high-

impact nylon as all Eco-flaps. This

high-grade nylon enables them to withstand

extreme conditions, providing longer life than

competitive flaps.

For more information about an Eco-flaps

dealer or distributor in your area, please

contact us at (866) 543-5277 or visit us at

www.ecoflaps.com. *For maximum spray

reduction, fleets should combine their wide-

based tires with 24-inch-wide Eco-flaps

splash guards. The extra Eco-flaps width will

trap more water during inclement weather.




Our Primary Client Goals:Protect Your Assets • Control Your Costs • Provide Exceptional Service

ISO 9001:2000Certified Co.

OAKLAND INSURANCEINTEGRITY • COMMITMENT • SECURITY

INSURANCE BONDING

8031 M-15, Suite 100, Clarkston, Michigan, 48348www.oaklandinsurance.com

Ph 248-647-2500 | Fax 248-647-4689

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Fire ProtectionSpecialists

Jackson Associates, Inc.

www.JacksonAssociatesInc.com

DESIGNINSTALLINSPECTMAINTAIN

1111 W. Oakley Park Rd.Walled Lake, MI 48390

248-669-5155

New Uptime RacksTM Computer-RoomCooling System Features MovinCool® AirConditionerClose-Coupled Design Delivers Cool Air Directlyto IT Equipment, Uses no Additional Floor Space MovinCool®, a brand of DENSO Corporation, announced

that its CM12 air conditioner is being used to power the new

Uptime RacksTM Modular Rack Cooling System 13. The

MRCS13 is manufactured and distributed by Computer

Room Uptime, a Colorado company. MovinCool supplies

the CM12 units to Computer Room Uptime on an OEM

basis.

The self-contained CM12 needs no external refrigerant

lines and operates on standard 115-V power. The unit

delivers 13,000 Btu/h of cool air directly to the IT equipment

mounted above it, resulting in increased efficiency and lower

electricity costs, as well as saving floor space.

The MRCS13 is wheel-mounted and can be separated

into a top and bottom unit, for easy portability. The top unit

is available as a closed cabinet or an open four-post or two-post rack. Ten different sizes of

cabinets and racks allow cooling of small to large networks. Applications include primary,

supplemental or backup cooling for server or telecom closets, open office space or data

centers.

For more information about the Modular Rack Cooling System 13, visit

www.uptimeracks.com/mrcs13/. For more information about the MovinCool CM12 air

conditioner, visit www.movincool.com/portable-air-conditioner/cm12.php.

A new high-pressure water jet pump unit

from NLB Corp., the Model 350, combines

an innovative new fluid end design with a

rugged 350 hp (261 kW) diesel engine in a

unit that can be easily towed to job sites. It

is the latest model in the popular NLB 225

Series of convertible pump units.

The Model 350 is rated for a maximum

operating pressure of 20,000 psi (1,680

bar) and can be quickly converted to

operate at other pressures (8,000 psi,

10,000 psi, 15,000 psi) with a simple

conversion kit. Flows range from 26 gpm

to 63 lpm (98 lpm to 238 lpm). The rugged,

trailer-mounted unit minimizes its overall

footprint with internal gearing that

eliminates large pulleys and belts.

The Model 350 is one of many NLB

pump units that can be ordered in an

UltraGreen™ configuration, assuring

New Convertible NLB Pump Offers 350 hp with Portability

compliance with the latest Tier 4F emission

requirements for diesel engines from the

Environmental Protection Agency while

significantly reducing operating costs.

With the introduction of the Model 350,

NLB’s range of convertible water jet pump

units now includes 30 models,

more than any water jet pump

manufacturer.

NLB Corp.

(www.nlbcorp.com), a global

leader in high-pressure and

ultra-high pressure water jet

systems, manufactures a full

line of quality water jetting

pump units and

accessories for

contractor and

industrial uses.

Applications

include, tube and pipe cleaning, product

removal, surface preparation, tank cleaning,

tube bundle cleaning, pavement marking

and rubber removal, concrete

hydrodemolition, concrete and pipe cutting,

drill pipe cleaning, and more. Visit the

website or call (248) 624-5555.



With over 40 years as a leader in the

industrial and commercial lighting industry,

Larson Electronics continues its

commitment to providing high grade lighting

equipment to specialty markets with the

release of an explosion proof tool tap reel

with three explosion proof receptacle plugs.

The EPLRT3-100-HR explosion proof reel

with a tool tap provides easy management

of an included 100 feet of SOOW cord

which gives operators in hazardous

locations the ability to easily extend the

working reach of tools and lighting

equipment. This explosion proof reel is

rated Class 1 Division 1 and Class 2 Division

2 and includes the reel, the 100’ cord and

the three class matching twist-n-lock plug

receptacles. This unit is of a modular design

and is suitable for indoor or outdoor

applications and is rated for 35 amps, 1-4

conductors 600 volts, and 5-12 conductors

250 volts.

The cord feeds onto the reel assembly

through a 4 roller adjustable cable guide

with a ball stop. This reel includes an

integral spring actuated ratcheting

mechanism for positive cord management

housed within the explosion proof threaded

slip ring enclosure. The cord reel is

assembled to UL 508 table 36.1/NEC

Standards and conforms to NEMA 9 and

NEMA 4 (IP56) standards as well. This

explosion proof cord reel is ideal for use

with drop lights and tools in locations where

connection to fixed receptacles is

unavailable or impractical, and safely

extends the operational range without

creating the hazards associated with

excessive cord length strewn about the

work space.

Larson Electronics carries an extensive

line of LED light towers, portable power

Larson Electronics Explosion Proof Tool Tap Reel with ThreeReceptacle Plugs

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distributions, explosion proof lights for

hazardous locations, portable work lights

and industrial grade LED area lights. You

can view Larson Electronics’ entire line of

lighting by visiting them on the Web at

larsonelectonics.com. You can also call

(800) 369-6671 to learn more or (214) 616-

6180 for international inquiries.

Safety Today, Inc. has introduced Brass

Knuckle® CR4300 (BKCR4300) work gloves

featuring ANSI Cut Level 4 protection and a

“hold-tight” latex coating on full-finger and

palm. The crinkle grip pattern enhances

dexterity, reduces the likelihood of sprains

and minimizes fatigue. The gloves are made

of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) - a

low-lint, continuous filament yarn that is

stronger than steel on an equal-weight basis.

The stylish salt-and-pepper shell and blue

palm - plus carefully considered form and fit -

make the BKCR4300 a glove model that

workers want to wear, encouraging

compliance. This heavy-duty work glove offers

durable grip and dexterity, without bulk.

The latex coating is designed not to mar

product surfaces - ideal when processing

glass, steel and more. The glove is equally

well suited in other industries requiring

protection from large, fragile or bulky

materials, including assembly, manufacturing,

construction, automotive or recycling.

Safety Today Introduces Brass Knuckle® CR4300 Glove13-gauge, ANSI-Level 4 Cut Protection with Hold-Tight Grip

Easily identifiable by the Brass Knuckle

logo on the back of the hand, the

BKCR4300 is available in five different sizes,

each color-coded to simplify re-issuance.

For more information, contact Safety

Today USA, 3287 Southwest Blvd.,

Grove City, OH 43123. Phone: 800-837-

5900; e-mail: [email protected].

www.safetytoday.com. In Canada: 195

Savannah Oaks Drive, Ste. 6 & 7, Brantford,

Ontario, N3V 1E8. Phone: 800.263.1251.

Website: www.safetytoday.ca.



Chicago Pneumatic Construction

Equipment has introduced the Red Hawk

Road gas-powered breaker to the North

American market, featuring a powerful

breaking force, easy portability, minimum

vibration and maximum production all in

one tool, ideal for general construction,

demolition and road building applications.

The Red Hawk Road – the only gas-

powered breaker in the Chicago Pneumatic

breaker lineup – is easily transported to any

jobsite, and is designed to get the job done

faster, combining high percussive energy

with high blow frequency.

Offering the same power-to-weight ratio as

pneumatic or hydraulic breakers without any

power source or hoses, the Red Hawk Road

delivers a powerful breaking force of 60

joules. With a light weight of 55 pounds, the

breaker has a full speed impact rate of 1,440

blows per minute (bpm) and operates with a

guaranteed sound power level of 109 dBA.

The hand-arm vibration value of the Red

Hawk is 4.3 meters per second (m/s2) and

allows 50 percent longer work time with a

Red Hawk Road: ChicagoPneumatic Gas-PoweredBreaker Now Available inNorth American Markets

one cylinder, two-stroke engine. Measuring

at 36.5-inches with a width across the

handles of 24-inches, the Red Hawk Road

minimizes vibration reducing the impact on

operators while increasing productivity.

Featuring a fan-driven cooling system,

the Red Hawk Road has a recoil starter with

a decompression valve, a redesigned tank

cap, and electronic ignition for easy start-

up in any type of weather.

For more information on the complete line

of CP breakers, please visit www.cp.com.



The Michigan Chronicle

recently honored CREW

(Commercial Real

Estate Women) Detroit

member Dannis Mitchell

with a 2015 Women of

Excellence Award. The

awards are presented to

“remarkable, local, African-American

women who inspire others through their

vision and leadership.” Awards went to 55

women from the region who have been

championing economic empowerment and

diversity, supporting religious and

educational organizations, and serving the

public through politics and community

service. Founded in 1936, the Michigan

Chronicle is one of the country’s oldest

African American newspapers. Mitchell is

the diversity manager for Barton Malow

Company, Southfield. She is responsible for

driving strategies that leverage the inclusion

of underrepresented businesses and a

multicultural workforce in Barton Malow’s

commercial construction projects. She has

been a member of CREW Detroit since

2010 and has served as Communications

Committee Chair and Foundation Liaison.

Roncelli, Inc., Sterling

Heights, has announced

that Jeffrey A. Larson,

PE has joined their firm as

senior healthcare planner.

Larson brings over 27

years of healthcare

industry construction and

development experience to Roncelli, with

particular expertise in planning, design and

construction. Larson will serve in a

leadership capacity for Roncelli’s healthcare

team, providing design review oversight,

defining program requirements, facility

master planning, and functional and space

design for renovations and new

construction. He will also provide

leadership and support to project teams in

planning, budgeting, schedule

management, quality of performance and

construction product.

Barton Malow

Company, Southfield, is

pleased to announce that

Todd Doenitz has joined

their team as director. He

will lead Barton Malow’s

self-perform concrete

efforts throughout the

Midwest. With over 31 years of experience

in concrete construction, Doenitz has

engineered and overseen concrete

formwork for over 310 projects across the

country. He is a registered professional

engineer (PE) in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana,

West Virginia and Florida. He is an active

member of AGC Michigan, participating in

labor negotiations for over 20 years, and

has served in several board leadership

positions, including the 2011 Chairman of

the Board.

Lansing-based ASTI

Environmental Directors

George Kandler and

Robert Anderson recently

led a session entitled

Beyond the Phase I ESA:

Potential Issues that

Impact Timing and Costs

at the 2015 Building

Michigan Communities

Conference (BMCC) held in

downtown Lansing in April

2015. Kandler is also an

officer of the Michigan

Housing Council, and serves as their vice

president of professional services. Further,

Jeremy Efros, CPG, has joined ASTI. He

has conducted investigative activities on

environmentally impacted sites in several

states for both public and private clients. He

has worked as a Superfund Technical

Assessment and Response Team (START)

member for the USEPA in Regions IV, V, and

V and has completed numerous Phase I

and Phase II Environmental Site

Assessments throughout Michigan for all

land types uses.

Commercial Litigation • Business LawFamily & Probate Law • Real Estate Law

Employment Law • Estate Planning and TaxIntellectual Property • Appellate

Mediation • Bankruptcy

370 E. Maple Road • Third FloorBirmingham, MI 48009

Phone (248) 646-8292www.lippittokeefe.com

Excellence.Attention. Results.

• BONDS

• CONTRACTORSINSURANCE

• ENVIRONMENTAL INSURANCE

• LIFE & HEALTH(248) 355-4411

www.zervosgroup.com24724 Farmbrook Rd.

Southfield 48034

Gus E. ZervosCEO

Steve M. ZervosPresident

Angelo G. Zervos, VP

Dave Lange

Dominic Nicita

Michael G. Zervos, VP

Don Burden

Mitchell

Larson

Doenitz

Kandler

Anderson

P E O P L E I N C O N S T R U C T I O N


Ghafari Associates, Dearborn, is pleased to

announce that Thomas Gunn, AIA has joined the

firm as a senior healthcare planner. Gunn brings

nearly 40 years of architecture, planning and

project management experience to the table. He

specializes in the planning, design and

development of innovative and cost-effective

healthcare facilities; he studied advanced

healthcare planning, information technology, psychology and

statistics in the doctoral program at the University of Michigan. He

is also a licensed architect in the State of Michigan.

Eric Benington has accepted the positon of chief

financial officer for the Rudolph Libbe Group,

headquartered in Walbridge, Ohio. Benington has

over 22 years of accounting and financial

experience in various industries. Also, Kenetta

Kay Jones, human resources manager for the

Rudolph Libbe Group, has been elected vice

president community relations for the Northwest

Ohio Human Resource Association (NOHRA). She

will be responsible for overseeing outreach

opportunities and driving social responsibility for

the organization. She will also be responsible for

overseeing sponsorship packages for NOHRA

events through its Resource Partner Steering

committee and supports in-transition members to

improve job search and workforce readiness skills.

Detroit-based ROSSETTI has hired

three new associates. Jerry Attia,

principal, brings two decades of

management, design and financial

expertise to the ROSSETTI team.

Kirk Phillips, architecture lead

design, includes 22 years of

experience including an extensive

background in master planning, concept and

program development, branding, retail design,

hospitality and entertainment planning. Mike

Shea, senior project manager, brings a

background of marketing, journalism and business

development to the ROSSETTI A/E team.

Grand Rapids-based Triangle Associates recently hired

Nicholas Ballou as assistant project manager, and Teresa Riley

as project administrator. Ballou’s responsibilities include assisting

with the administration and management of shop drawings,

implementing project safety and quality control programs, and

assisting the project manager with contract management. As

project administrator, Riley is responsible for assisting the project

manager with pre- and post-construction activities and preparing

Gunn

Benington

Jones

PhillipsAttia

Shea



site specific safety plans; providing

administration assistance to project

managers; coordinating project and archive

filing systems; and handling all

subcontracts, purchase orders and other

agreements relative to the conduct of the

project.

C O R P O R A T E N E W S

Stephen Auger + Associates Architects

(SA+A Architects), Lake Orion, has

announced the launch of its new website,

which can be found at www.saa-

architects.com. The dramatically

redesigned site, created in collaboration

with the SA+A Design Team and Rachael

Ross of Ross Web Design, embodies the

unique vision and passion for architecture

the firm has become known for in its 20

year history. The homepage welcomes

visitors with a clean, uncluttered and

responsive design, making the site

convenience to use from desktop as well as

mobile devices.

Michigan State University has selected

Walbridge to serve as construction

manager on its Special Housing

Needs/Spartan Village Redevelopment

project, which will be built at the corner of

Harrison Road and Kalamazoo Street. The

development will replace the apartments in

the current Spartan Village, portions of which

were built in the 1950s. Located closer to

campus, the redevelopment is expected to

serve as a gateway to MSU. Plans for the

project, which are pending final approval

from the MSU Board of Trustees, include

roughly 400,000 square feet of new housing,

a 100,000-square-foot office building for the

university’s Residential and Hospitality

Services Division, event and resident parking,

a community garden, retail and indoor and

outdoor common space. The entire property

would accommodate more than 1,200

residents and, in sum, more than 1,800

parking spaces following completion of the

redevelopment. Walbridge has teamed with

Orion Construction to assist the wood-frame

portion of the project, which includes the

new apartments planned for the

redevelopment. Orion, headquartered in

Grand Rapids, specializes in wood-frame

construction and multi-unit housing.

Neumann/Smith is the project’s architect of

record.

For the third consecutive year, Plunkett

Cooney, one of the Midwest’s oldest and

largest law firms, has been named by

American Lawyer Media (ALM) as a “Go-

To” law firm in the area of litigation for

companies ranking among the Fortune 500.

Law firms on the “Go-To” list are determined

by the “Who Represents Corporate

America” feature that appears annually in

Corporate Counsel magazine. Plunkett

Cooney is a leading provider of

transactional and litigation services to

clients in the private and public sectors. The

firm’s litigation services include appellate

law, business litigation, construction law,

environmental liability, healthcare law,

insurance law, labor and employment law,

marine liability, motor vehicle liability,

medical malpractice, municipal liability,

product liability, professional liability, title

insurance and workers’ compensation.

Established in 1913, Plunkett Cooney

employs over 150 attorneys in nine

Michigan cities, Columbus, OH and

Indianapolis, IN.

For the 12th consecutive year, Triangle

Associates, Inc. has been named one of

West Michigan’s 101 Best & Brightest

Companies to Work For by the Michigan

Business & Professional Association. Each

company’s entry was judged on its human

resource practices by an independent

research firm. Nominees were evaluated in

a number of categories including

communications; community initiatives;

compensation and benefits; diversity and

multiculturalism; employee education and

development; employee engagement and

commitment; recognition and retention;

recruitment and selection; and work-life

balance. Founded in 1918 in Grand Rapids,

Triangle Associates, Inc. is currently

celebrating its 97th anniversary and

employs more than 111 associates

throughout the country.

Troy-based G2 Consulting Group is proud

to have been selected as part of the

Design-Build team on one of MDOT’s

premier projects for 2015: The design and

reconstruction of the I-75/University Drive

interchange in Oakland County. The job

kicked off in February and is scheduled to

be completed by year-end with restoration

work planned for early 2016.

The interchange will feature Michigan’s

first “diverging diamond” interchange, a

design that Popular Science named a ‘Best

Innovation’ for its ability to allow left turns

on and off the freeway to occur without

crossing the approaching traffic flow. The

diverging diamond is a relatively new design

technology in the U.S. but has been used

extensively throughout Europe. It is

considered to be more efficient, user-

friendly and safer than other design

approaches. G2 is providing geotechnical

design services for bridge pile foundations,

MSE abutments, roadway embankments,

sign and signal foundations and peat

excavation. In December 2014, G2

Consulting Group was named as a

prequalified geotechnical engineer through

MDOT’s “as-needed” indefinite service

contract.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in

mid-April to officially commence

construction of the expansion project, The

Gathering Place, at Sparrow Hospital in

Lansing. Clark Construction is serving as

construction manager on the project.

Construction is expected to begin

immediately on the 17,000-square-foot

renovation and 4,000-square-foot addition.

The dining room and retail facility is

estimated to be completed by summer

2016. Sparrow Hospital is mid-Michigan’s

largest health system and provides some of

the most advanced medical technology

through its diverse range of facilities.

Sparrow strives to improve the health of all

people in the community by providing

quality, compassionate care to everyone,

every time.


WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS


3D IMAGING SERVICES

FLINT

AMISTEE AIR DUCT CLEANING

NOVI

BATTIATA & COMPANY, PC

OXFORD

CONCRETE CENTRAL, INC.

GRAND RAPIDS

FLEXPOST, INC.

HOLLAND

G AND G CONCRETE AND CONSTRUCTION, INC.

RAY

IDC HOMESERVICE, INC.

COMMERCE TWP

INGERSOLL MECHANICAL, INC.

WIXOM

INTEGRATED RECYCLING INDUSTRIES

WYANDOTTE

M & K BUILDERS, LLC

JACKSON

MARIS BROWN ROSSELL INSURANCE GROUP

ROCHESTER

MBM CHECK CASHING

DETROIT

METRO PROTECTIVE SERVICES

OAK PARK

NEWKIRK ELECTRIC ASSOCIATES, INC.

MUSKEGON

NVR FINISHES, INC.

WHITE LAKE

ROOKS LANDSCAPING, INC.

ADA

STERLING FIRE AND SAFETY

GRAND BLANC

UNITED RENTALS POWER & HVAC

WIXOM

USZTAN, LLC

AUBURN HILLS

VETBUILT BUILDING GROUP, LLC

DETROIT

SARGENT ROAD & I-94

et of unstable soils, U of M football and What do 40 fey havadweMichigan International Spe

Nothing if G2 couldn’t create a geotechnical construction plan for this

Smart.Results.Fast. Using a stabilization blanket and wick drains to accelerate settling, embankments were constructed in less than 3

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and wick drains to ted in less than 3

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0 ake Zurich, IL 847.353.874

Smart.Results.Fast.

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MOREARNLE ct @ about this proje www.g2consultinggroup.com/sargent_road

Troy, MI 248.680.0400 Ann Arbor, MI 734.390.9330 Lake Zurich, IL 847.353.874

Since 1985, CAM Magazine has been known as the “Voice of the Construction Industry”. In addition to being printed and

mailed to over 3,000 industry professionals and state legislatorseach month, over 25,000 more access the magazine online.

Call or e-mail to find out how CAM Magazine can helpput your company in front of our world-wide audience.

For Advertising Information Call 248.972.1115Or email at [email protected]

CAM Magazine is a publication of the Construction Association of Michigan.43636 Woodward Ave. • Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302-3204 • www.cam-online.com


Ace Cutting Equipment..............................16

Aluminum Supply

Company/Marshall Sales .......................43

CAM Administrative Services .......................3

CAM Affinity .............................................IBC

CAM Comp ...............................................35

CAM Magazine ..........................................45

CAM Membership......................................37

CAM Newsroom ........................................21

Carpenter Contractors Association. ...........24

Connelly Crane Rental Corp.......................16

Division 8 Solutions ...................................11

Doeren Mayhew.........................................27

Facca, Richter & Pregler, P.C. ....................11

Flexpost, Inc..............................................40

G2 Consulting ..........................................45

GRS Stohler Co...........................................5

Glasco ......................................................19

Glazing Contractors Association ................17

Jackson Associates...................................38

Jeffers Crane Service, Inc. .........................21

Lippitt O'Keefe Gornbein, LLC ...................42

MBM Check Cashing...................................9

MasonPro Inc. ...........................................39

Michigan Glass Coatings ...........................41

Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters

(MRCC) ................................................BC

North American Dismantling Corp ..............31

Oakland Insurance.....................................37

Oakland Metal Sales, Inc. ..........................25

Peterson Glass ...........................................9

Plante Moran ............................................13

Ronald B. Rich ..........................................33

SAAND The Glass Fabrication Company...IFC

SMRCA.......................................................9

Scaffolding Inc...........................................27

Valenti Trobec Chandler Inc/

Griffin Smalley & Wilkerson.......................7

Woods Construction Inc. ...........................33

Zervos Group ............................................42

ADVERTISER INDEX

CAM Social Outings 2015June 16 CAM Golf Outing

Baypointe Golf Club

July 14 CAM Golf Outing

Links of Novi

August 4 CAM Connect at

Comerica Park

Tigers v. Royals

August 15 Woodward Dream Cruise

Cruise Into CAM

August 18 CAM Golf Outing

Fieldstone Golf Club

September 17 Boy Scouts Building

Connections –

Detroit Historical Museum

September 22 CAM Fall Sporting Clays

Hunters Creek Club

September 28 CAM Golf Outing

Indianwood Golf

& Country Club

For more information, call (248) 972-1000 or

visit www.cam-online.com

June 18, 2015

CAM/HBA Mid-Year Economic Forecast

and State of the Industry Luncheon

Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi, MI

Presented by the Construction Association of

Michigan (CAM) and the Home Builders

Association (HBA). Hear from the experts on

the status of the Michigan economy, and how

the remodeling and construction industries

can make the most of the current and future

economy. Guest speakers are Jim Baird, CPA,

CFP®, CIMA® and W. Jay Wortley.

For more information, call (248) 972-1000

or visit www.cam-online.com

July 22 – 25, 2015

The Concrete Foundations Association

2015 Convention

Colonial Williamsburg, VA

The largest annual gathering dedicated to the

cast-in-place concrete contractor.

Construction Focus: Performance Mix Design.

Management Focus: Workforce Development.

Also includes Certification; Round Tables;

Technology Show; Awards Gala.

For more information, call (319) 895-6940

or visit www.cfawalls.org

October 5 – 7, 2015

The 2015 Polyurethanes Technical

Conference

Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando, FL

Annual conference offers a unique

convergence of industry expertise,

professional networking and regulatory issues

designed to advance this dynamic industry.

Featuring more than 80 presentations on

cutting-edge polyurethanes technologies and

chemistry-focused technical discussions, to

big-picture analysis of industry technology

trends.

For more information and registration, visit

http://tiny.cc/zx2qxx

CAMTEC June-July CoursesJune 2-3 OSHA 10

June 4 “Get a Grip!” Six Keys to Getting

What You Want from Your

Business

June 9 Project Accounting

June 9-10 Project Management & Supervision

June 10 Project Close-Out

June 11 Lead Renovator (RRP) Refresher

July 14 Confined Space for Entrant

& Attendant

July 15 First Aid, CPR, AED Certification

Please submit all calendar items no less than six weeks prior to the event to: Amanda Tackett,Editor: [email protected]

C O N S T R U C T I O N C A L E N D A R

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