Productivity & Battery Power Reigned at World of Concrete 2024

Celebrating the launch of the POWERSHIFT equipment system into the concrete industry, the invited NASCAR driver Christopher Bell (Toyota Camry TRD) during World of Concrete 2024.They can increase efficiency. They can integrate some of most innovative ideas this side of green concrete. They can redesign systems to be safer, more user-friendly, decrease the working noise, etc. For me, all I see when walking the halls and endless aisles of World of Concrete 2024 (January 23-25) was productivity. Productivity not only for the contractor but from the manufacturers and exhibitors.

True, one would have been able to find new tools and equipment to help the construction professional be more productive every show, but the industry has been slowly pulling away from the pandemic years.  Allow me a bit to walk through my week and attempt to explain why I think a “productive” World of Concrete is important for the construction industry.

World of Concrete 2024 marked the show’s 50-year anniversary. Join us in celebrating year 51, World of Concrete 2025 is scheduled for January 21-23 in the Las Vegas Convention Center with educational sessions starting on January 20.

A Brief History
Comparing numbers from 1975 to today, the number of registered attendees has increased roughly 3,770%. 

• 1975 – Houston, 1,550 registered attendees, 71 exhibitors
• 1984 – Washington DC, 16,523 registered attendees, 481 exhibitors
• 1994 – New Orleans, 26,670 registered attendees, 862 exhibitors
• 2004 – Orlando, 56,106 registered attendees, 1,559 exhibitors

Husqvarna's massive booth area launched its battery-powered K540i (pictured) on its 36V system. It features a 10-in blade providing an impressive 4-in. cut and 50% more power than its 9-in. sibling. The company also displayed its new LF60i electric forward compactor as well as the re-organization (of sorts) on the diamond tooling lines - streamlining the three ranges into one easy-change system.This year hosted nearly 60,000 registered construction professionals. According to the show runners, that’s a 23% increase in attendance from the year prior. Anecdotally, people were saying that the numbers felt like “pre-COVID." Economically, this points to a good sign. I sat down with Dodge Construction Network, chief economist Richard Branch. On top of their forecast, it seems to allude that not only are contractors like yourself out there eager to reconnect with fellow pros, but very interested in looking at more products and equipment to increase efficiency - or be as productive as they can. 

Noteable Happenings from the Floor

A team from Wisconsin won the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Championship for the second year in a row. Michael Schlund and tender Aaron Kowalski laid 752 bricks in one hour. They took home a trophy, cash, and a brand-new Chevrolet Truck.

Known for quality tractors, KIOTI officially released their compact construction machine line to dealers in August 2023 (their CTL pictured, a skid steer sat behind me). These were designed to be as straight-forward as possible without a lot of the high-tech solutions from other machines. Impressively, a ton of the machinery can be accessed by an easy-to-open swing door at the back for maintenance and repair.The ever-increasingly successful Concrete Industry Management auction raised $1.8 million for their program providing funding for concrete industry management programs in Chico State, Middle Tennessee, New Jersey’s Science and Technology, Texas State, and South Dakota State. Donated auction items included a concrete mixer truck from Mack Trucks Inc. and Revolution Concrete Mixers, a Peterbilt & ConTech mixer truck, a concrete pumper donated by Alliance concrete Pumps & Pape Kenworth, and many others.

If lucky enough to walk by during the ceremony, World of Concrete 2024 attendees were even able to see a marriage in front of the WOC logo installation in the grand entrance of the Las Vegas Convention Center. A celebrity minister from Las Vegas officiated the wedding of Patricia and James Estrada on January 24 at noon. Quoted in the official announcement, James says, "I've been married to concrete for 30 years, so it was finally time I married Patricia. It felt like the right moment and right place to share the blessings my career has provided.”

The Steel Edge Women of the Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association had a demo of their talent and skill throughout World of Concrete. Here a finisher puts the last few touches to their slab.Commenting on the connections made every year at the show, Jackie James, Vice President of World of Concrete says, "The year's festivities are a true testament of what World of Concrete means to this community. It is inspiring to witness first-hand the connections that are made year after year at the show. Touching lives, fostering meaningful impact, creating memories is what we strive for. Our mission is to always serve the hard-working members of this global industry as we find new ways to unite to share experiences and learnings."

International contractors seemed to have dominated the Golden Trowel Awards, presented on January 24 by The Face Companies. Golden Trowels were awarded to Chengdu Keyixin Technology Co Ltd. (China) and The Nutcon Corporation (Thailand) both earned two, The George J. Shaw Construction Company (Kansas City), Ciclo Engengharia (Brazil), Alphapiso Tec. Em Pisos (Brazil) and Colasanti South Inc. (Florida). The Face Companies also presented Silver Trowels and one Golden Trowel Asia – an award open to only contractors in Asia.

Productivity

Celebrating its 60-year anniversary, Allen Engineering featured their ROP150-B fully-electric ride-on polisher. It uses 48V lithium ion batteries, providing a 68-in. polishing width, 150 rpn max rotor speed, and weighs 1,000 lbs.Inside and out, happenings all have the potential to affect the concrete industry’s productivity. Tool and light equipment manufacturers added to the concrete contractor’s toolbox. DeWalt, for one, launched its POWERSHIFT equipment system putting out a new line of light equipment for the concrete jobsite from surface preparation, consolidation, to core drilling. Allowing customers with a collection of FlexVolt batteries continue utilizing their investment, they also developed an adaptor – users can pop in a FlexVolt and keep working their POWERSHIFT equipment.

Milwaukee Tool increased their MX FUEL line with a submersible pump, high cycle concrete vibrator, rammer, tower light, battery extension, saw cart, rotary hammer, dust extractor, power supply, circular saw, and a duplex nailer.

Hilti also grew the Nuron line by adding efficiency and simplicity. They announced a few items on the woodworking side, a backpack-like “tool balancer” for heavy demo work, concrete finishing grinder, impact wrench, combi hammer, and a drill driver.

The battery-powered concrete equipment continued inside. The electric Somero S-94Oe produces no emissions, provides 8 hours of run time or 35,000 sq. ft. on a single charge. The company calls it "the future of laser screed technology."A crowd of people was practically always in the Diablo booth as they demoed their AMPED Rebar Demon dust extraction hammer drill bits and Steel Demon blades. The dust extraction hammer system features a sleeve over the drill bit – which, according to the company, can effectively provide up to 97% dust reduction compared to a convention drilling application. Allowing contractors to cut down on the amount of times you need to clean dust. Following up on their ability to cut down on time for the concrete contractor, Diablo’s carbide reciprocating saw blades was able to stand up to competition in dramatic demos. One situation placed the same tool attached to a 5-lb. weight in an attempt to display a fair test. The Diablo blade was able to cut through and continue with time to spare.

Diablo also showed us their AMPED Demo Demon Starlock and Universal carbide teeth, hole saw Snap-Lock mandrel system, as well as circular saw blades for framing/demo, wood, steel, JamesHardie and fiber cement, finish and plywood, as well as laminate.

GOMACO's new GT-3600 Hybrid curb and gutter machine provides an estimated 10-15% fuel savings. Its powered by a 74 hp diesel engine and a 48 volt generator/motor and four 7 kWh lithium-ion batteries to provide supplemental power when needed.Already we’ve cut down on changing batteries, decreased emissions by providing a battery-powered options, and keep the work going.

The show had only just begun; I'd barely even made it inside.