Category: <span>2019</span>

Category: 2019

RT3 member NRCA is named Most Trusted Construction Trade Association

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BUILD magazine has named NRCA the Most Trusted Construction Trade Association as part of its Construction & Engineering Awards 2019. According to BUILD magazine, the Construction & Engineering Awards honor companies and organizations in the construction and engineering sector who form the backbone of the industry, working daily to build a better future for all.

“We are honored to receive this recognition” says Reid Ribble, NRCA’s CEO. “Since 1886, NRCA has responded to its members’ needs and worked to improve the roofing industry for all stakeholders. For more than a century, we have built our reputation around the trust of those in the greatest industry in construction. Thank you, BUILD magazine, for this recognition.”

To learn more about becoming a member of the Most Trusted Construction Trade Association, NRCA, visit their membership information page.

About NRCA

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) is one of the construction industry’s most respected trade associations and the voice and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. NRCA’s mission is to inform and assist the roofing industry, act as its principal advocate and help members in serving their customers. NRCA continually strives to enhance every aspect of the roofing industry.

About the Construction & Engineering Awards

The ever-popular Construction & Engineering Awards, launched in 2015, remain a key part of BUILD magazine’s awards program portfolio. Incorporating all variation of enterprises across the construction and engineering disciplines who thrive in this dynamic sector, the Construction & Engineering Awards engage in the process of honoring those whose work may span civil, commercial, energy, residential, industrial and infrastructure projects. We have awarded the companies from this sector who form the backbone of the industry, working day-in-day-out to build a better future for all, and we look forward to doing so each year!

Source: NRCA

Roofing Technology Think Tank Announces Innovator of the Year

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Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, awarded the Innovator of the Year award to Curtis Sutton of Carthage, Tennessee-based Rackley Roofing. The award was presented at the 2019 Best of Success Conference in Miami.

“We had many great nominations and it was very hard to narrow the field down to just one,” stated Anna Anderson, Award Task Team Leader and RT3 Board Member. “We selected Rackley Roofing because they embrace technology and have demonstrated that they are early adopters when it comes to implementing new innovations.”

In an interview after the presentation, Reid Ribble commented on the importance of innovation in roofing, saying, “Given the workforce demands and the changing technology, the companies that are innovating are going to be winning. Innovation really matters if we are going to reach out to that new, young 18-, 19- or 20-year old worker who still sees roofing as something hot and dirty and not something technologically advanced.”

Curtis Sutton, President of Rackley Roofing commented on winning the award, “It’s an honor because innovation is one of our six core values. Innovation is driven in our company. Innovation to us also means being open to change. We lead everything with technology in the decisions we make in our company.”

Sutton brings a respect for the traditional craftsmanship of a professional roofer and passion for the latest technological innovations. Under his leadership, Rackley has introduced industry-leading technologies like Rackley RoofCheck and Rackley RoofView. They have implemented the use of virtual reality safety headsets that allow everyone to experience being on a roof and learn best safety practices. The company is beginning the use of in-ear translators that can translate speech into any language and dialect.

As a founding sponsor of National Women in Roofing and a member of RT3, the company is committed to always innovating and learning about new technologies and solutions that will help advance the roofing industry overall.

About Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)
Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) strives to find innovative technology solutions to be used within the roofing industry. RT3 provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully. The organization will encourage and enable contractors to embrace technology as they seek to grow their businesses. With a commitment to disseminate technology advancement information, RT3 will help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry. Learn more at www.rt3thinktank.com.

Photo: (L-R) Jill Bloom, Publisher, Roofing Contractor; Michelle Boykin, COO, Rackley Roofing; Curtis Sutton, President, Rackley Roofing, Anna Anderson, CEO, Art Unlimited; Charles Antis, CEO, Antis Roofing.

RT3 member Ken Kelly named Top Contractor of the Year

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Kelly Roofing, a roofing contractor dedicated to serving their industry and state with care, consistency, and communication, received recognition as a Top Contractor of the Year by Roofing Contractor Magazine.

“Ken has a great roofing story, from being thrust into leadership at such a young age to navigating a family business through ups and downs over decades,” said Roofing Contractor Publisher Jill Bloom. “But beyond his business success, he’s the kind of guy you want to surround yourself with because he’s organized, motivating, and inspirational.”

Roofing Contractor Magazine awarded Ken Kelly, President of Kelly Roofing, the 2019 Residential Contractor of the Year award at this year’s Best of Success conference in Miami, Florida, on September 16. The Contractor of the Year award is a once in a lifetime achievement that honors contractors who are committed to giving back to their community, have outstanding leadership, and bring innovation to the industry.

Every August, Roofing Contractor Magazine compiles The Top 100 Roofing Contractors list comprised of the most successful roofing companies in America. This list has been compiled yearly for more than a decade. The rankings are based on self-reported revenue from roofing contractors in all fields across the United States. These companies also share their reasons for improvements — or failures — to help others become more successful. Out of this list, Roofing Contractor Magazine selects the top Residential and Commercial Contractor of the Year.

Kelly Roofing’s commitment to outstanding workmanship, raising leaders within the company, and using cutting edge technology has put them at the national forefront. By combining old-world values and cutting-edge technology, Kelly Roofing has earned recognition as an innovator in the roofing industry. They have been awarded the 2015 Visionary Award at Microsoft Convergence and have the distinction of being on the Top 100 Contractors list yearly since 2003, continually rising in the ranks to now sit at 52.

About Kelly Roofing

Kelly Roofing is a family-owned company, serving Naples and the surrounding areas since 1972. Serving residential and commercial property owners with customer-forward thinking has been their goal from day one. Kelly Roofing has consistently made the Top 100 contractor list since 2003, demonstrating their customers appreciate their dedication to offering only the highest quality products. All Kelly Roofing employees live by the core values of Care, Communicate, and Consistency, allowing them to provide outstanding workmanship using the most advanced methods. To learn more about Kelly Roofing, go to
www.kellyroofing.com .

 

RT3 Contractor Member Panel Hosted at NRP Leaders Summit

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By Karen L. Edwards, RT3.

The RT3 contractor technology panel was invited to present at the National Roofing Partners (NRP) Leader Summit held recently at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas.  The Summit featured the leadership teams from nearly 200 leading roofing contractors from across the country.

The Summit opened with remarks from Steve Little, CEO of NRP and Rodney Shrader, President. Attendees were excited to hear from Reid Ribble on the initiatives that NRCA is working on including their ProCertification efforts, their focus on career and technical education and the establishment of a health insurance captive that will be made available to members for health insurance coverage.

The RT3 contractor technology panel was up after Reid and was comprised of Ken Kelly, Kelly Roofing, Steve Little, KPost Roofing, Michelle Boykin, Rackley Roofing, and Josey Parks, J. Wales Enterprises. Moderated by RT3 Director Karen Edwards, the first topic was discussed by Ken Kelly on how Augmented Reality and products such as the HoloLens by Microsoft could have an impact on the industry. Technology like this makes it possible for aging workers who may no longer be able to go on a roof or physically perform a task to assist those who are on the roof virtually, actually being able to see exactly what that technician is seeing.

Steve Little shared a new technology that was born out of an RT3 meetup at Georgia Tech in fall 2017 where he met RT3 member Pointivo. The collaborative product remotely performs roof inspections and is expected to be rolled out at the 2020 International Roofing Expo in February. Steve also shared his successes with rooftop robotics, using the Mini Macaden to install modified bitumen roofing membranes with just four workers instead of the typical 12.

Michelle Boykin discussed how Rackley Roofing is using Virtual Reality for safety training for their workers. The team loves using the technology and it paid for itself within a few months after an OSHA citation was reversed once Tennessee OSHA saw their technology and commitment to safety.

Josey talked about what seemed to be the word of the day at the summit: Data. He shared how he is using artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to understand which leads are more likely to buy over others. He is also using intelligence to pair the right sales person with the right customer for improved outcomes and increased sales.

Get the latest news and technology information delivered right to your inbox when you sign up for the RT3 SmartBrief. 

Roofing Technology Think Tank Announces 2019 – 2020 Board Members

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The board supports the RT3 mission working to successfully accomplish its objectives to educate and advance the adoption of technology within the roofing industry.

York, Pennsylvania, June 24, 2019 –- Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, announced the 2019 – 2020 Board of Directors following the June 4 Virtual Meetup.

After completing their initial one-year term, Tom Whitaker, President of Harness Software, was elected to serve a full three-year term and Trent Cotney will leave the board but continue to serve as general counsel to the organization on a pro bono basis. Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited was elected to fill the vacancy and serve a full three-year term.

Heidi J. Ellsworth, Partner, RoofersCoffeeShop.com and Karen Inman, Chief Operating Officer, Antis Roofing and Waterproofing, continue as board members with two years of service remaining. Steve Little, Head Coach at KPOST Roofing and Ken Kelly, President of Kelly Roofing each have one year left in their terms.

RT3’s purpose statement is: RT3 thought leaders improve lives by discovering and leveraging technology accelerators to make our industry and roofscapes stronger. “RT3 is supported by a strong board of industry leaders,” stated Karen Edwards, RT3 Director of Communications and Member Engagement. “They are truly passionate about the advancement of the roofing industry through the adoption of technology.”

The think tank meets six times a year, four virtual and two live with a focus on learning about new and emerging technologies. Past live meetings have been held at innovative locations that help educate the group on progressive technologies that can make a difference in the roofing industry, including OMG Roofing Products, Vanderbilt Wond’ry, Microsoft Innovation Lab, Georgia Tech, BuiltWorlds and the U.S. Capitol. The next live meetup is planned for the 3M Innovation Center and Roofing Granule Lab.

Stay up to date with RT3 news and events by signing up for the RT3 SmartBrief Newsletter at www.rt3thinktank.com.

About Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)
Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) strives to find innovative technology solutions to be used within the roofing industry. RT3 provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully. The organization will encourage and enable contractors to embrace technology as they seek to grow their businesses. With a commitment to disseminate technology advancement information, RT3 will help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry. Learn more at www.rt3thinktank.com.

Roofing Technology Think Tank Seeks Nominations for Innovator of the Year Award

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The new award seeks to recognize a roofing contractor who has contributed to the advancement of the roofing industry.

York, Pennsylvania – Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, announced the launch of its first award program to recognize the Innovator of the Year.

This award was created to nationally recognize a roofing contractor that has contributed to the advancement of the roofing industry through technical innovation and/or product development in one of the following areas:

  • Production/Technology Efficiency
  • Safety Innovation
  • Client Service/Quality of Delivery
  • Employee Recruitment/Training/Retention
  • Environmental Impact

Award judging criteria will be based on innovation, results, design and strategy. The recipient will be announced in September at the Best of Success conference.

To be eligible, a roofing contractor must be licensed and bonded for a minimum of five years and have a minimum $5 million in annual revenue. They also must be a member of a professional industry association and be able to cite community enrichment ties through support of non-profits or company culture programs.

For more information and to submit an award application visit www.rt3thinktank.com/innovator-award. There is a $50 nomination fee to cover processing and award costs. Deadline for nominations is July 30, 2019.

About Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)
Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) strives to find innovative technology solutions to be used within the roofing industry. RT3 provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully. The organization will encourage and enable contractors to embrace technology as they seek to grow their businesses. With a commitment to disseminate technology advancement information, RT3 will help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry. Learn more at www.RT3ThinkTank.com.

Safety is top concern for construction workers regarding automation

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By NRCA.

A recent survey shows construction workers are more concerned about safety—rather than job security—regarding increased automation on job sites, according to www.forconstructionpros.com.

In a recent poll of construction workers conducted on behalf of Volvo Construction Equipment, 46% highlighted the increased risk to job-site safety compared with 31% who were concerned about job security. Other worries included loss of sociability (26%) and not knowing who to blame if something goes wrong (17%). However, experts say automation potentially can reduce job-site hazards.

More than half of respondents (54%) believe autonomous machines and artificial intelligence will help boost productivity, and 48% believe advanced technology will increase the speed of daily construction tasks.

Respondents between ages 25 and 44 are more likely to believe autonomous machinery could benefit areas such as productivity, speed, safety, quality and fuel efficiency compared with those age 44 and older.

Nearly half of respondents (48%) believe machine operators are most at risk of losing their jobs; three in five machine operators believe their job could become completely redundant following the rise in computer technology. Other job roles respondents believe would be at risk are engineers (21%), bricklayers (17%) and construction managers (16%). Only one in five construction workers believe no jobs will be affected at all.

From those who responded as part of the wider survey across all industries, 55% say they would rather lose their jobs to a human than a machine. AI could affect workers’ career choices, with 72% of U.S. respondents agreeing in some capacity they would consider choosing a job that will not be affected by autonomous machinery or AI compared with 45% of UK respondents.

Fifty-eight percent of construction workers are confident AI would not do a better job than them.

Source: NRCA

New construction strategy is to build the roof first and raise it floor by floor

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By Karen L Edwards, RT3.

The technology offers the installation of the roof as soon as possible followed by a lift system featuring modern and safe handling tools.

Building Design + Construction reported that ‘this alternative process for building tall concrete or steel buildings consists of a mobile permanent roof, a roof lifting mechanism, a protective enclosure, and a high-capacity hoist.’

According to information on the company’s website (upbrella.com) the technique allows for the construction of multi-story buildings without cranes and starting with a mobile, permanent roof. The roof can then be raised by a lift system which allows for the creation of a construction area. A carrier is used to transport workers and materials to the construction area.

Next, a protective enclosure made of metal and canvas is installed up to the parapet, sheltering the construction site against adverse weather while the roof lifting mechanism allows for the roof to be moved upward as each story is completed.

In theory, this allows for floors to be built, sold and occupied while construction of additional floors can continue in sync with the sales cycle or pause if needed. The mobile, permanent roof can remain on the building if it has the desired geometry or it can be adapted at the end of the project. See the technology in action in this company video.

Upbrella says that this new technology brings many benefits to the project, including:

  • Eliminating irritants of open construction
  • Reducing business risks associated with pace of sales
  • Lowering insurance costs
  • Taking weather out of the equation with no lost work days
  • Reducing disruption and allowing the occupation during the construction process to optimize occupation rates.

Upbrella Construction is a subsidiary of 3L Innogenie and a certified general contractor for Upbrella Technology. 3L Innogenie is a team of engineering specialists who develop products and technology for the construction industry.

Stay up-to-date with the latest technology stories related to the roofing industry when you sign up for the RT3 Smart Brief e-news.

Roofing manufacturer’s robotic arm improved safety and created a more diverse workforce

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By David Huval, RoofConnect and RT3 member.

OMG Roofing Products recently hosted the RT3 Live Meetup at its headquarters in Agawam, Massachusetts where RT3 members were treated to hearing from employees Todd Emmonds on the company’s use of robotics and automation in production and Peter Shadwell on their rapid prototyping process in their research and development department.

Sometimes you have to take a leap

RT3 members learned that OMG dedicated massive resources into becoming one of the most innovative manufacturers of roofing products in the industry. They decided to “take a leap of faith” and buy a robotic arm they could study and develop even though they didn’t have any previous experience with robotics.

The company was searching for a way to eliminate the repetitive motion that an employee was subject to by removing six pounds of fasteners from the production line every few seconds and placing them in the packaging. They put massive effort and resources into coding, programming and developing the robotic arm.

After rigorous testing, the robotics were introduced on the production line, creating increased productivity while simultaneously making a safer and healthier environment for their employees.  OMG’s use of automation and robotics created new career opportunities for women and older workers in roles that used to be filled by men, due to the physical nature involved.

3D printing for prototypes

OMG has an innovative and dedicated research and development department that encourages “wild ideas” from all employees. The company uses industry-leading innovation and techniques to develop new products for the industry in-house. Using computer programs like CAD, paired with 3D printers and CNC machines, they can develop and test new products much faster and with less capital investment than ever before.

After prototypes are 3D printed, they are subject to rigorous testing in OMG’s in-house testing lab which simulates all kinds of conditions and stresses that the products could potentially be subject to in the field.

Headquartered in Agawam, Mass., OMG Roofing Products is a leading manufacturer of commercial roofing products including specialty fasteners, insulation adhesives, drains, pipe supports, edge metal systems and innovative productivity tools. The company’s focus is delivering products and services that improve contractor productivity and enhance roof system performance. For additional information please visit OMGRoofing.com.

Learn more about membership in RT3 at www.rt3thinktank.com.

David Huval leads the marketing efforts for RoofConnect.