The typical sounds of the World of Concrete filled the air of the Diamond Lot at the Las Vegas Convention Center as the pounding and whining of metal handheld tools on concrete enveloped visitors.
The main difference from shows past was the amount of tools that didn’t require power cords. Major tool manufacturers used the January show to demonstrate their latest advancements in battery technology for handheld concrete tools, able to achieve as much or more power than their corded counterparts.
And the level of tool capabilities continues to increase, with everything from concrete saws and drills to battery-powered jackhammers. Companies are also rolling out battery-powered vacuums and water tanks for handling dust while using their battery-powered tools.
Contractors can now in many cases run jobsites without electrical cords, reducing tripping, electrocution and fire hazards and also making for much smoother and maneuverable work spaces.
“On a jobsite, power tends to be unpredictable,” says Chris Gregory, Bosch product marketing manager.
Should a power overload occur, in many cases an electrician has to come out to fix it, causing downtime, he explains. Power cords can get run over by scissor lifts and other equipment causing them to break. Cords should be also hung up overhead rather than lying on the ground to prevent workers from tripping over them.
“You're spending a whole lot of time and energy and money just to set that site up with temporary corded power,” Gregory says. “So what's happening is guys have gotten so used to running without a cord, they just don't even want to fight them anymore.”
