I want you to think back to the year 2000. Just two decades ago. It doesn’t seem like that long ago, does it? When you compare the technology from then to now, the changes are pretty evident.
Technological advances are happening all the time. If you don’t believe me, just take a glance at the many emails I receive from manufacturers announcing new equipment and tools. It seems like there are new features, software and new ways to build something every week.
Look at a directional drill from 2000 and then look at one that was just rolled out of the manufacturing plant today. There have been some big changes in these last 20 years, but are these advances really necessary? My answer to that would be a big YES.
THINK SAFETY
The first, and probably most important reason for new technology, is to make your jobs safer.
It seems like every month we’re reading about contractors getting injured or killed by utility strikes. Most of those are attributed to user errors such as failing to locate at all and not checking locates prior to digging.
New locators hitting the market this year make locating utilities — electric, water, gas, etc. — more accurate and easier. While at the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) this past October, I checked out a locator where you could set it to scan for certain utilities while cutting out the others. It also had a locking feature so a manager can set what utility to search for and lock it in so it can’t be changed.
A manager can also look at the history of this locator and find out easily if an employee isn’t using it correctly and then fix the error.
Other safety technological advances over the past two decades on equipment include better tracking of directional drill pipe and emergency shut-offs if the equipment comes in contact with electrical currents.
BEYOND SAFETY
While safety is a big advantage to the technological advances that we’ve seen, there are others as well, including your ability to do a job better and faster and be more accurate.
How fast are you getting on a job site now and hammering out the job? Probably faster than you were back in 2000, and that is thanks to the technology on equipment you are using. There’s new features available keeping you on the right track, helping you keep a job site cleaner and getting you past obstacles you run into while digging.
Technology is making vacuum excavators smaller to fit into those tight spots you couldn’t before. They’re making the machines more powerful and making it easier to reuse material when you are finished instead of taking the time to find a dump location.
WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU
I’ve told you some ways technology has helped your companies over the past 20 years, but there is so much more. Are you still running that directional drill, vacuum excavator or other piece of equipment from 2000 or before? It might be time to go shopping.
Right now is the best time to check out the market with some big shows coming up in the industry. In February you’ll have the Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show in Indianapolis, then in March it’s CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas, and in early April it’s the No-Dig Show in Denver.
Carve out some time in your busy scheduled to visit at least one of these upcoming shows to see what is out there for your company.
WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR
Finally, welcome to 2020! I want to take this time to remind you we’re continuing to look for potential companies to profile and tough jobs to highlight, and to talk about equipment you are using.
If you are interested in having us talk to you about your company, email me at editor@digdifferent.com or call 715-350-8436.
Enjoy this issue!
