Fluke has released the SB140 Sound Beacon, a tool that can generate a clean and consistent 40kHz signal that can be detected by the Fluke ii Series Acoustic Imagers while operating in ‘Beacon Mode’. Leak detection and tightness testing happens by placing the beacon inside the vessel while using Fluke Acoustic Imagers from the outside to visually locate through weld beads, gaskets, hatches or windows. The selected ultrasound frequencies travel long distances through air with minimal signal...| Building Connection
While plug-in hybrid technology is fast becoming the preferred new-energy powertrain for utilities, in the van world it’s pure electrification that seems to be edging ahead as the propulsion tech of choice. Now, Korean automaker Kia is the latest in a long string of automakers that are banking big on a battery-electric van The PV5 is the vehicle that Kia will be pitching into this space, with the futuristically-styled midsize delivery van built atop the same all-electric platform that under...| Building Connection
The construction sector is among the highest-risk industries for mental health crises in Australia. As regulatory changes focus more on comprehensive well-being and psychological resilience, micro-builders and trade professionals must adapt and offer mental health screenings as part of their safety protocols. The state of mental health in Australian construction The Australian construction industry is in the midst of a mental health crisis. Suicide rates are 53% higher for labourers in cons...| Building Connection
The day we swapped the old hammer for a battery nail-gun, the rhythm of the job changed. Quicker, cleaner, less noise and nobody wanted to go back. Artificial intelligence has the same effect, only it hits your estimating, programmes, paperwork and cash flow. You do not need a department of technicians or a six-figure budget. As a builder or head contractor, you are already used to coordinating moving parts. Add the right digital power tool and the whole job runs straighter. Build the process...| Building Connection
Peugeot Australia has given its Expert medium van a mid-life refresh for the 2025 model year, with the range being streamlined by the elimination of all manual-transmission variants as well as the entry-grade Expert City. Now available exclusively with an automatic transmission, the 2025 Peugeot Expert range opens at $48,990 for the Expert Pro short wheelbase (a $1,000 increase over the pre-facelift van) and tops out at $54,490 for the Expert Premium long wheelbase. All variants take power fr...| Building Connection
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) remain the most common injury among Victorian construction workers, often caused by hazardous manual handling such as lifting, carrying and repetitive movement. Since January 2023, WorkSafe accepted more than 3,000 injury claims from construction workers due to hazardous manual handline. Out of those, 58% affected the musculoskeletal system which most resulted in back pain, muscle strains, lumbago and sciatica. WorkSafe chief health and safety officer Sam Jenk...| Building Connection
Besides announcing the expansion of the diesel-powered T9 range, JAC also confirmed the impending arrival of a souped-up version of its dual-cab ute, which combines electric and combustion power to produce power and torque numbers that easily eclipse pretty much every other body-on-frame ute currently available – and a sizable number of proper performance cars as well. To be dubbed the JAC Hunter, the plug-in hybrid pickup is essentially a T9 with the regular diesel powertrain swapped out i...| Building Connection
Milliken has partnered with saveBOARD to launch Renasci, a resilient floor made from waste materials that can be repeatedly recycled. Carpet recycling has been a tough challenge with an estimated 90,000 tonnes of carpet waste and one million tonnes of soft plastics in landfill every year. The process shreds whole carpet tiles and soft plastics like shopping bags, pressing them into flooring planks without glue or chemical adhesives. This collaboration combines saveBOARD’s material processin...| Building Connection
R U OK? is urging tradies to ask the question any day, with new research revealing a confidence gap when it comes to having meaningful conversations about mental health. Three in four Australians believe it’s important to regularly ask someone if they’re OK, but a third remain hesitant, even when they can sense that their workmate is struggling. This is because they often feel that they might say the wrong thing, invade someone’s privacy or not know how to help and support. R U OK? boar...| Building Connection
Standards Australia has met with Parliament House in Canberra to address access to Australian standards. They identified accessibility to standards being a critical issue impacting safety, productivity, workforce capability and the delivery of housing and infrastructure that underpins the National Construction Code (NCC). Standards Australia acknowledges: The role of Australian standards in delivering safer, high-quality and consistent construction outcomes The longstanding and significant co...| Building Connection
