Way Engineering was skeptical that automated welding could deliver the high quality they demanded, but Tecnar’s Rotoweld 3.0 technology proved so effective, the company purchased a second machine just three months later. The Rotoweld is also helping Way Engineering adapt to the industry-wide shortage of skilled welders.
New Lone Worker Safety Model Program Introduced at MSCA24
Lone workers are the focus of a new model safety program introduced by MCAA Chair Renee Fiorelli at MSCA24. The Lone Worker Safety Model Program helps contractors identify risks and hazards and ensure adequate systems are in place to protect those who work by themselves where assistance is not readily available when needed, or who do not have the benefit of interactions with others.
Doubling Shop Productivity with Novarc Technologies Inc. & W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc.
W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc. saw a 200-percent increase in shop productivity and a 12-fold increase in weld productivity by implementing Novarc Technologies Inc.’s collaborative Spool Welding Robot (SWR). They are also realizing a 100-percent pass rate on radiography tests (RTs). The SWR has reduced W.W. Gay’s dependence on highly skilled welders, of whom there is a global shortage.
Chain Hoist Simplifies Install & Saves Labor with MILWAUKEE TOOL & Hooper Corporation
Switching from manual hoists to MILWAUKEE TOOL’s M18™ Compact 1-Ton Chain Hoist with ONE-KEY™, Hooper Corporation minimized the physical demands on its workers while making installation much easier and decreasing downtime. Using a cordless chain hoist takes less time to set up and also allows Hooper’s team to get into more tight spaces, increasing efficiency overall. MILWAUKEE TOOL is a benefactor of MCAA25.
Avoiding Turbulence with SLOAN & P.J. Dionne Company
P.J. Dionne Company found that using Sloan’s AER-DEC® Integrated Sinks helped make a complex installation at Logan Airport a more collaborative effort. (SLOAN is a benefactor of MCAA25.) Sloan’s AER-DEC Integrated Sinks contribute to the airport’s sustainability goals while offering high standards of hygiene and efficiency.
How to Choose the Right Heater for Your Project Featuring Herc Rentals
Whether you are managing a construction site, factory, warehouse, or other project site, you need your operations to run smoothly, but there is one variable you can never control: the weather. With some planning and the right heater, you can help prevent the effects of cold temperatures from snowballing.
Seamlessly Integrating Software & Fab Tools with PypeServer & Bassett Mechanical
Transferring data between different software programs and the fabrication shop exposed Bassett Mechanical to inefficiencies and potential for errors, so they adopted PypeServer software to streamline the process, which has saved time and cut down mistakes. A full-service contractor, Bassett Mechanical specializes in designing, fabricating, installing, and maintaining mechanical systems across several industries. Tyler Petersen, Bassett’s vice president of manufacturing, turned to PypeServer for seamless integration between Bassett’s multiple design software programs and the fabrication tools in the shop.
Improving Efficiency & Morale with Customized Software with Procore & McKinstry
After multiple failed attempts to implement project management software that worked for everyone, McKinstry finally found success with Procore. The customized product from Procore increased efficiency, cut delays, and improved morale. Procore is a benefactor of MCAA25.
Additional Pipe Cutter Increases Capacity & Trims Waste with Watts Specialties, LLC & Progressive Mechanical, Inc.
Progressive Mechanical, Inc. added a second Watts pipe cutting machine to keep up with shop demand, gaining capabilities and cutting waste. Progressive Mechanical has fabrication shops in Clawson and Bay City, MI.
Increase Sales and Customer Satisfaction with XOi & J.M. Brennan, Inc.
With XOi, J.M. Brennan, Inc. was better able to show customers exactly what their projects needed and why, resulting in increased sales and revenue. Tracking their key performance indicators (KPIs) with XOi, J.M. Brennan has seen their closure rate for field quotes increase by 10 percent, among other improvements.
Highlighting Plumbing’s Past & Future with NIBCO, INC. & the Rex Martin NIBCO Interactive Museum
NIBCO INC. unveiled the Rex Martin NIBCO Interactive Museum on November 12, 2024, coinciding with NIBCO’s 120th anniversary. The museum offers a unique and enriching experience from a historical perspective, interactive learning, inspiration, community impact, and career opportunities. Not just a place to learn about the past, it’s a place to get excited about the future of plumbing and the opportunities it holds. NIBCO INC. is a major sponsor of MCAA25.
Monitoring Fab Projects in Real Time with MSUITE & McCarl’s
By swapping out Excel spreadsheets for MSUITE software across multiple fabrication shops, McCarl’s Industrial and Mechanical Contractors now has real-time visibility into their workflow, not the two-to-three-day lag time. Adopting a fully digital platform has optimized workflows and increased operational efficiency.
Advances in Oil-Free Compressors: Copeland Explains
In the air- and water-cooled chiller markets, oil-free compression technology is emerging as a more efficient, quieter, more easily applied, and easier-to-maintain alternative to legacy screw compressors. For original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end-users of mission-critical chillers in large HVAC applications, oil management adds costs and complexities to system designs—which typically result in declining energy efficiencies throughout their lifecycles.
Simplify Tagging, Save Time Featuring Marking Services Inc.
An energy company in the Southeast teamed up with Marking Services Inc. (MSI) to replace its outdated labeling systems across their electricity generating plants, saving time and labor. Working closely with the company, MSI developed a standardized labeling system to help with safety, compliance, maintenance, and emergency response at the company’s many plants (including solar and hydroelectric facilities). As a result, the company implemented a labeling and asset management program using more than 500,000 labels. MSI’s field team ensured proper and precise installation, which in turn saved the energy company time and labor.
Beacon Economics Report Offers a Strategic Decision-Making Tool for Service
The 2024 Beacon Economics Market Report for MSCA is here! This essential report delivers up-to-the-minute insights and data-driven analysis tailored for mechanical service contractors. Uncover updated key trends for 2024, including market shifts and economic forecasts that directly impact your business. This study is an invaluable resource for looking at market trends that will help guide strategic decisions and keep you competitive. Don’t miss out on this powerful tool—download the new report today!
Helpful Habits of Successful Plumbing Estimators: Thoughts from McCormick Systems
Cultivating successful estimating habits should make creating fast, accurate bids a seamless process, so you win more plumbing jobs. Here are seven things to consider as you cultivate better estimating habits.
Explore BIM Related Cost Overrun Impacts with MCAA’s Management Methods Bulletin & New Change Orders Edition
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and sheet metal (MEP/SM) contractors are normally at the forefront of Building Information Modeling (BIM) activities on a construction project. Substantial BIM cost and time overruns have occurred on many projects due to the fluid boundaries between coordination and design. MCAA’s Identifying, Quantifying and Preventing BIM Related Cost and Time Impacts Management Methods Bulletin explores the factors that contribute to these overruns, allowing contractors to better plan for them. The bulletin is now included in a 2024 edition of MCAA’s Change Orders, Productivity, Overtime—A Primer for the Construction Industry. MCAA members can download both resources free as a benefit of membership. Printed copies of the Change Orders resource are also available for purchase.
Small Steps, Big Wins: Staying Ahead with Cumulative Learning Featuring Tyfoom
For mechanical contractors, staying competitive is a constant battle. But that doesn’t mean you need to make big changes that take a lot of time, effort, and money—it’s about making small, steady improvements over time in processes and people that add up to remarkable results. Focusing on marginal gains and cumulative learning offers a practical way to boost efficiency, reduce risks, and retain top talent—all while building a smarter and more capable workforce.
