Local Inventions Ease Work Load for Contractors

Robotic Flagger Keeps Humans safe

Local companies are finding creative ways to ease the work load and lower costs for contractors all over the country.

Chehalis - A new kind of worker joins the ranks of WSDOT construction crews: the roboflagger. It was invented by Bret Goss, of FirstCall Flagging, Chehalis, Wash.

The roboflagger is WSDOT’s latest tool to make work zones safer for both driver and crews. Remotely controlled by a human flagger behind traffic safety barriers, the automated flagging device features red and yellow lights and a gate arm that lifts and lowers. The roboflagger keeps human flaggers safe by removing them from the direct line of traffic. WSDOT maintenance crews have used the roboflagger on projects in the Tacoma area, but it  was first used on the US 2 guardrail project.

advertisement

Software Improvement Aids Subcontractors

Seattle - Dexter + Chaney (www.dexterchaney.com), developer of Forefront™ Construction Suite, and Quote Software (www.quotesoft.com), maker of Quote-Express estimating software, have integrated their products for the plumbing, mechanical and HVAC markets. Labor and materials estimate information is transferred electronically from QuoteExpress into Forefront, using Forefront's Esti-Link module. That saves time and increases accuracy for the contractor by eliminating manual re-entry of estimate data from QuoteExpress into Forefront.

After the estimate information is transferred to Forefront, the contractor can review and revise any of the estimate details in Esti-Link. Forefront then automatically sets up the job detail in its job cost system and sets up the contract and subcontracts. As the job progresses, the contractor can compare job details against the original estimate.

Dexter + Chaney’s software was a finalist in the the 2006 INNOVATION Awards competition sponsored by Electrical Contracting Products.

Synthetic Textile Makes Cleanups Easier

Xextex, an Issaquah, Wash., based manufacturer, won first prize in the Water Category at the International Energy Globe Awards in Brussels. Invented by Issaquah businessman Jerry Brownstein, the Xextex completely absorb hydrocarbons and sediments from water. 

The fabric is completely porous and can be wrung out and reused. The resulting liquid can be put through a centrifuge or filtered. “It’s made of recycled polyester,” says Brownstein.  “It can be burned with only 1 percent residue so it kinda closes the recycling loop completely.”

The textile can be made into any shape or product, such as an oil boom or a mop head.

Highly efficient uses include: oil spills – where oil can be recovered and the X-TEX re-used, oil production, oil/water separators, storm water filtration, bilge cleaning, cartridge filtration, erosion control and other geo-textile and shoreline protection applications. When combined with the anti-microbial action of X-TEX-AM, it is also highly effective in the timely removal of bacteria.