
Urban Trees Need Special Pruning to Grow Tall and Strong
Identifying a dominant leader and cutting away any competing leaders when a tree is young will allow it to grow more robustly and live longer, said a local certified arborist.
There is a difference between trees that grow in a forest and trees that grow in your yard.

From Carpenter to Model Maker
What began over ten years ago as a hobby involving a small wooden boat has now become Irishman John Murphyʼs main profession.

Caterpillar Unveils Next Gen Cat Telehandler Models
Caterpillar Inc. has launched its next generation of Cat telehandlers, designed to meet the needs of both retail and rental customers.

TikTok-viral crane operator shows how he cooks and works 40 metres up in the sky
Crane operator Fadly Ahmad is popular on TikTok, with more than 40,400 followers.

January's Mental Wellness Month: Supporting Mental Health in Construction
January's Mental Wellness Month urges construction industry to prioritize mental health. Strategies include promoting open communication, encouraging work-life balance, mental health training, professional support, physical well-being initiatives, and fostering positive workplace culture.

How Machine Technology Supports Productivity, Safety
The article discusses how GPS, automation, and assistive technology in machines improve safety and productivity. Features like GPS tracking, automation in task control, and assistive tools for operators enhance efficiency and ensure safer work environments. Technology supports operators' growth and training, leading to higher profits and lower costs in the long run.

How the Utility Industry is Recruiting the Next Generation of Workers
How acute is the need for new workers in the utility industry? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS), the raw numbers aren’t high but the percentage of expected growth is staggering.

Palfinger's new remote control
Austrian crane and aerial lift manufacturer Palfinger is scheduled to launch a new P6 Radio Remote Controller for its TEC (‘Technology’) loader cranes from January 2025.
Created in collaboration with Scanreco the controller is said to complement the Palcom P7 controller and complete the TEC range consisting of 11 models between 23.5 and 124.8 tonnes.
Pine Trees Winter Care Tips
Winter can be a challenging season for trees, especially pines and other conifers. Understanding how these trees respond to the cold and what they need in winter helps to keep them surviving and thriving. In this blog, we’ll touch on some fascinating facts about pine trees and conifers, along with tips on tree health care to prep them for winter.
Crane operator unearths 500-year-old sewage pit in Netherlands. See rare items inside
While working at a plaza in the Netherlands, a crane operator noticed a beehive-like structure reemerging from the dirt. It turned out to be a 500-year-old sewage pit with several rare wooden items inside.
Demanding job for Foselev
Foselev Ardennes lifts 2.3-tonne load at a 90-metre radius to a height of 30 metres at an automotive manufacturing plant in France. “Lifting a 2.3-tonne load at a 90-meter radius to a height of 30 meters calls for a very high-performance crane,” says Christophe Blanchard.

The Latest Advancements in Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Equipment
As demand for horizontal directional drilling (HDD) continues to grow in the U.S. and globally, HDD equipment manufacturers have continued to expand their product lines. In many cases, it’s about breaking through barriers to new levels of power and performance. At the same time, advancements in technology have become a given as manufacturers seek to help their customers improve productivity, uptime, and serviceability.

MassDOT to Use Drones for Infrastructure Projects; Amherst Exploring New Downtown Designs
MassDOT secures funding for drone project aiding infrastructure projects; Amherst explores new downtown design standards with consultants to enhance city's aesthetic and functionality.

Preventing Overloads When Operating Bucket Trucks
Knowing bucket capacity and how to read a jib load chart are two critical elements of aerial device operation. While both tasks are straightforward, staying within the allowable capacity of the unit is very important. The platform capacity and material handling capacity provided by the manufacturer are not recommendations – they are absolute maximum capacities that ensure the machine is not overloaded. Overloading equipment can result in overturning or boom failure. Equipment damage may occur, resulting in costly repairs and a shortened, useable life for the aerial device.

OSHA Changes Rule, Mandates for Proper-Fitting Personal Protective Equipment
Biden administration Labor Dept. changes rule for vests, hardhats, gloves as one of its last acts. The U.S. Dept. of Labor announced Dec. 11 that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has finalized a revision to the personal protective equipment standard for construction. The final rule explicitly requires the equipment to properly fit any construction worker who needs it as protection against hazardous conditions.

Winter is Here: Stay Safe Out There
Winter can affect many areas of the country, leaving snow and ice on the ground and creating slippery conditions. Cold, ice, or snow cover does not stop utility crews from performing line work. The damage from ice and snowstorms increases the workload and urgency to finish repairs. It also brings in new crews, who work long hours, to help restore power and repair damage from broken poles, downed wires, and fallen trees. The following outlines what utility companies and their line crews must remember when it comes to operating in ice and snow.
Britlift designs bespoke frame for direct air capture facility
Britlift is helping to solve a lifting challenge for the world’s largest direct air capture facility of its kind.
Climeworks is a global leader in carbon removal via direct air capture and storage (DAC+S). Its technology draws CO₂ from the air and captures it for storage underground. The Swiss company recently opened its second facility, Mammoth, based in Iceland. It installed a 35t capacity overhead crane inside Mammoth in order to move its proprietary filtration systems called collector containers. However, it needed a bespoke lifting frame to ensure that the valuable loads were lifted safely and precisely.

Dogs trained to detect deadly tree pathogen
A highly destructive tree disease has been successfully identified by detection dogs in the UK as part of a “groundbreaking” project.
Six-year-old cocker spaniel x labrador, Ivor, detected Phytophthora ramorum, having been trained by Canine Assisted Pest Eradication in collaboration with Forest Research.
The deadly tree pathogen can be fatal to more than 150 species including larch, an important species for timber.
A variety of detection training techniques, including initial scent recognition, were used to train Ivor to distinguish Phytophthora ramorum from other Phytophthora species found in the same environments.

Tips to Remember for Aerial Device Boom Inspections
One of the most critical components to influence the productivity and the safety of the utility crew on an aerial device is the boom. The boom’s ability to elevate, rotate and position operators into place is the single biggest factor in getting operators from the ground to an aerial worksite. To help keep the boom working efficiently, inspections should be completed on a regular basis – especially daily. The following outlines tips to remember while inspecting a bucket truck boom prior to use.
Stafford tower crane in the Bahamas
Luxuary Bahamas-based hotel Goldwynn Resort & Residences has taken delivery of a Stafford STF 7022 TL tower crane from Stafford Tower Cranes.
Due to the crane’s location right on the coast Stafford said it had to take into consideration high wind factors. Despite this the crane offers a maximum reach of 230 feet and is capable of lifting up to 5,340 lbs at the tip. Safety and reliability are top of our agenda, says Stafford Tower Cranes.