By stuartguthriecadge BIM • Construction • Digital Construction • • • • • 0 Comments

We Are One: BuildingPoint UK & Ireland turns 1

Today (21st September) marks 1 year since the launch of BuildingPoint UK & Ireland.

So what better time to look back at all what we’ve achieved over the past 12 months?

First things first, who are we?

Although BuildingPoint may be 1, we trace our history back much longer than this! Before September 2022, you probably knew us as KOREC Construction – the digital construction division of KOREC Group – one of the world’s largest and most successful Trimble distributors.

In order to better serve the UK & Ireland’s construction sectors, we made the decision to rebrand to BuildingPoint – joining an existing global family of over 20 BuildingPoint companies from across the USA, Australia and Europe. This closer collaboration with our partners allows for knowledge-sharing and best-practice – benefits which we pass onto you, our customers!

We’ve Grown…

Starting off with just 2 team members (Sam Hough & Kevin Colwell), our team has expanded rapidly to deal with increasing demand.

We’re proud to introduce our whole team to you;

Why not connect with them on LinkedIn to access all the latest hints, tips, and product updates

We’ve got the Greatest Solutions

Thanks to our close partnership with Trimble Construction Field Technology, we’ve access to the latest, greatest and most efficient digital construction solutions, spanning layout, floor flatness verification, clash detection and as-built model creation. These include two solutions recently launched – the Trimble X9 laser scanner, and the Trimble Ri robotic total station. Not even to mention Spot the robot dog!

We’re Getting Involved

We want to be an active member of the digital construction sector, driving innovation and increasing productivity right through the construction process. Which is why we’ve got involved in a number of industry bodies, including;

The Finishes & Interiors Sector – we’re a proud supporter of this not-for-profit organisation that represents the £10 billion FIS sector. See all the members here.

Supporters of BE-ST (Built Environment – Smarter Transformation), providing training time & materials –  allowing BE-ST to provide fully-funded training in digital construction skills and technologies for educators and SMEs across Scotland.

We’re Winners!

Unsurprisingly, Trimble’s cutting-edge solutions are already garnering awards and praise from the industry. Spot the Dog won the ‘Best use of Digital Technology in a Construction Project’ at the 2022 Construction Computing Awards – alongside customer BAM Nuttall.

Our solutions are once again shortlisted in the 2023 awards including for Product of the Year (Trimble X9), Construction Software (Trimble Connect), and Channel Partner of the Year (BuildingPoint!). See the whole shortlist and vote for your winner, here.

We’re Looking Ahead

Far from resting on our laurels, we’ve got exciting plans for the coming months. In October we’ll be hosting our own event focussing on the FIS membership, and how our innovative solutions can turbo-charge their on-site efficiencies. These include replacing outdated, inaccurate and slow tape measures with quick, repeatable digital setting out.

The following month, November, we are excited to be collaborating with our Trimble digital construction partners on a 4-day, online webinar course that covers every single stage of the digital construction process, and how Trimble has a solution for each and every stage.

Our partners in this exciting endeavour include;

Make sure you’re following our social channels (links at the bottom of the page) for more on these upcoming events and how to take part.

BuildingPoint UK & Ireland are proud to supply the highest quality Trimble surveying equipment and BIM solutions to the construction industry. 

Our mission is to empower you to measure, map and manage the natural and built environment with ease. If you have any questions about BIM technology and software, or you’d like to hire Trimble survey equipment, our knowledgeable team is always on hand to help, just get in touch! 

By Lucy Hamilton 3D Laser Scanning • AR/MR • Construction • • • 0 Comments

CASE STUDY: Technology for a ‘get it right, first time, every time’ ethos

Download a PDF of the case study here

Walsh Steel Detailing has invested in Trimble 3D Laser Scanning and Mixed Reality technologies as part of a process that both vastly improves their site/office workflow and ensures that there will be no surprises for their clients or team when an intricate project goes to site.

“If we didn’t have this technology, we simply couldn’t do the work we are doing. We are market leaders for two reasons, our people and the technology that we have invested in.”

Damian Walsh, Managing Director, WSD

Established in 2017, Walsh Steel Detailing Ltd was the result of founder Damian Walsh spotting an under resourced area of the market that he felt could be well serviced by his steel industry knowledge, contacts and interest in technology. Aware that there was a shortage of steel detailers in Ireland and that there would be good take-up  for a company that could provide an ‘on-demand’ service to smaller fabricators, he therefore launched Walsh Steel Detailing.

Based in Co Mayo, the new company would focus on meeting the needs of those fabricators that often found themselves unable to tender for works because they did not have the capability to produce drawings to the required level or were unable to justify the costs of a full-time draftsperson and relevant software. The aim of WSD would be to offer advice early in the detailing process backed up by extreme attention to detail and a ‘get it right first time, every time’, ethos to ensure that there would be no surprises when a complex project went to site.

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By Lucy Hamilton Construction • Construction Robotics • Uncategorised • • • 0 Comments

LJMU’s School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment are Leading the Way With Robotic Dog Investment

Investing £150K into cutting edge educational tools, The School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment at Liverpool John Moores University is the first in Europe to make use of ‘Spot’ the robot dog to revolutionise their teaching and research.

It might have four legs and love a walk but you won’t find ‘Spot’ barking or looking for cuddles. That’s because it’s an all-terrain robotic dog that is being used to streamline civil engineering and construction surveys.

LJMU bought Spot from and is fully supported by BuildingPoint UK and Ireland – the construction arm of Liverpool-based mapping and surveying equipment specialists, KOREC Group. 

However, it was actually designed and developed by American robotic company Boston Dynamics. It also features a 3D Laser Scanner by Trimble.

Between them, Trimble and Boston Dynamics have created an agile, easy-to-use four-legged robot. Perfect for accessing areas that are difficult or unsafe.

It can be pre-programmed or remotely controlled which means it can be used to quarry out surveys in the most hazardous conditions. It can even be controlled by workers who aren’t onsite.

It can also be used to carry out repetitive survey tasks, so skilled surveyors are free to do more technical jobs.

How is ‘Spot’ changing the way the department works?

“LJMU is really at the forefront of what is happening within the construction industry which is currently undergoing a digital revolution. Not only is Spot an important addition to construction sites from a health and safety perspective but also a significant reminder that if the construction industry is to overcome a skills and labour shortage, then this is just the sort of technology to attract a new, motivated generation of engineering surveyors.

Spot is presently active on several construction sites following investment by major construction companies so for LJMU to already be preparing the next generation of engineers in this way will be of considerable importance for the industry as a whole.”

– Sam Hough, BuildingPoint UK and Ireland Business Manager
Left to right: Ben Lewis (KOREC Group) Dr Layth Kraidi (LJMU), Sam Hough (BuildingPoint UK and Ireland) and Dr Fiona Borthwick (LJMU). 

“We’ve been excited about Spot for a very long time, so we’re pleased that we now have our robot dog up and running. It’s a great plus for our students that they will be familiar with this technology before they go full-time into the industry, and we look forward to further exploring Spot’s capabilities and options for different payloads.”

– Dr Fiona Borthwick, Interim Subject Head of Civil Engineering and Built Environment
‘Spot’ has its inbuilt 3D Laser Scanner calibrated by the BuildingPoint UK and Ireland Service Centre

Who are KOREC and BuildingPoint UK & Ireland?

Established Trimble Geospatial Distributor,  KOREC Group, is one of the largest and most successful in the world and has been for over 25 years. They’ve been active in the construction market since they were formed in the 1960’s.

In 2019, the Trimble construction side of the KOREC Group started operating as KOREC Construction. Then in September 2022, BuildingPoint UK & Ireland joined the global BuildingPoint network.

This network supports the entire collection of Trimble Buildings’ solutions to markets around the world. They help construction companies to be more productive, stick to schedules and keep on budget. They even improve collaboration by improving coordination and project transparency.

Who is LJMU School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment?

The School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment at Liverpool John Moores embraces bright and creative thinkers, offering them accredited academic courses as part of a vibrant community. Thanks to its expert staff and committed students, the school has a history of remarkable research, first-rate facilities and strong links with industry leaders too.

Both their undergraduate and postgraduate programmes have impressive employability rates. The school also supports a large number of postgraduate researchers as they complete projects across a range of subjects. 

The school is internationally recognised and runs programmes in conjunction with partners based in Malaysia, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Hong Kong.

By Lucy Hamilton Construction • Construction Robotics • Digital Construction • • • 0 Comments

Success at the 2022 Construction Computing Awards

The 10th November saw the winners of the 2022 Construction Computing Awards announced at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London City. Over 200 guests gathered to see the outcome of the readers’ online voting and the judging panel’s deliberations.

And of course BuildingPoint UK Ireland was right in the thick of it!

Sam Hough (Business Manager) and Abel Varela Abelleira (Senior Applications Engineer) were delighted to be guests on the Trimble table which saw four awards picked up during the evening including a joint effort with Building Point UK and Ireland!

🏆 Best use of Digital Technology in a Construction Project: Trimble Buildings with Boston Dynamics Spot Robot at BAM Nuttall Ltd with BuildingPoint UK and Ireland.
You can read all about BAM Nuttall and Spot here.

The newly established BuildingPoint UK and Ireland team was also runner-up in Team of the Year 2022 reflecting the great work they’ve done in this short space of time.

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By Lucy Hamilton 3D Laser Scanning • Case Study • Construction • • • 0 Comments

Taking Hillcrest Structural From Paper Plans to Point Clouds

Helping Hillcrest Structural lower costs, improve accuracy and save time by switching from manual measuring and dumpy levels to point clouds and robotic measurements.

Download the PDF here

On site with the Trimble RTS773

Based in Fareham, Hampshire, Hillcrest Structural is a steel contractor specialising in the design, supply, fabrication and erection of structural steel and ancillary systems throughout the UK. The company has its own in-house design division, production facilities and site team, a set up that enables it to offer a complete solution to its clients as well as a range of useful cross department experiences for employees.

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