Director's Forum: A Blog from USPTO's Leadership

This post is part of the Spotlight on Commerce series highlighting the contributions of current and past members of the Department of Commerce during Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Guest blog post by Angela Nguyen, Primary Patent Examiner, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Spotlight

Fike Corporation

Founded in 1945 and headquartered in Blue Springs, Missouri, USA, Fike has grown to become a globally recognized supplier doing business with Fortune 500 companies. Our highly skilled workforce designs and builds precision-engineered solutions and provides a personalized customer service experience for businesses around that world that want peace of mind from experiencing consequences of serious financial loss or a devastating disaster.

OTHER ARTICLES
Engineering Tech

Remote work: Engineering’s perspective on humanizing the remote work experience

Article | August 24, 2021

At GitHub, working remotely has been in our DNA from the start. With over 80% of our engineers working remotely before COVID-19, the team has established some amazing best practices that foster a strong collaborative environment, inspire creativity, and a bit of levity with the ultimate goal of building trust within teams. What’s it like for GitHub engineers to work remotely?

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Engineering Tech

Infrastructure Policy Watch: measuring India's progress on SDGs, Canada consults on infrastructure priorities

Article | July 14, 2022

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI), an Indian government policy commission, has published its SDG India Index and Dashboard 2020-21 report on progress against the UN Sustainable Development Goals at the state level in India, its third annual report. The main theme of this year’s report is ‘partnerships’, with NITI aiming to highlight the pace that can be achieved by working together in pursuit of the goals, as well as shine a light on the quiet but effective partnerships working away in the background. As part of this, the report sets out actions that have been taken across the 11 areas of the collaborative advantage framework to drive forward progress on SDG indicators. In the accompanying index, all Indian states and union territories are scored and ranked on each SDG, alongside progress over the year.

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Robotics and Automation

How investing in infrastructure can build a better quality of life

Article | July 13, 2022

Every five years, in the approach to the Welsh Parliament /Senedd Cymru elections, I put together a Manifesto for ICE Wales Cymru outlining our recommendations for the future with the aim of influencing the new ‘order’ and achieving what we consider to be important goals. This year our report is making three main recommendations in the areas of Resilience, Skills and an Infrastructure Pipeline.

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Engineering Tech

Midyear Deals in Engineering 2022

Article | July 13, 2022

Recent M&A activity has slowed slightly in 2022, owing primarily to economic and geopolitical uncertainty. In the short term, deal activity is expected to remain stable. This continued investment is expected to be driven by capital availability, private equity (PE) investors, and strategic balance sheet strength. Despite a drop in deal volume in the last quarter, deal activity remained consistent with pre-pandemic levels. Volumes in the four quarters ending in the first quarter of 2022 exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 18%. Deal values fell in the last two quarters due to fewer megadeals (deals worth at least $1 billion), as companies became warier of complications arising from government approvals. With the exception of construction machinery, North American activity drove deal volume growth over the last four quarters across all engineering and construction (E & C) subsectors. This region saw a shift toward local, strategic investor transactions, emphasising the impact of global economic headwinds. Prospects for Engineering Transactions Despite headwinds from slowing economic activity, rising interest rates, and cost pressure from rising material costs, increased competition for labor, and ongoing supply chain issues, the outlook for E & C sector deal activity remains positive, driven by the continued availability of capital and bolstered by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The recent improvement in the performance of the residential market is expected to continue, owing to historically low interest rates, a housing gap caused by underbuilding over the last decade, the millennial generation entering prime home-buying age, and housing inventory near all-time lows. The non-residential market is expected to expand, but the outlook varies by sector. Transportation, manufacturing, and education are expected to benefit from infrastructure spending, while construction spending on offices and hotels is expected to decline, owing to continued remote working and business travel trends post-pandemic. “E&C deal activity is expected to remain stable due to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, private equity and corporate dry powder, realignment of end market exposure and acquisition of new technologies to support operations, despite the impact of inflation, supply chain disruption, labor shortages, and the war in Ukraine.” - Danny Bitar, US Engineering and Construction Deals Leader in the United States

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Spotlight

Fike Corporation

Founded in 1945 and headquartered in Blue Springs, Missouri, USA, Fike has grown to become a globally recognized supplier doing business with Fortune 500 companies. Our highly skilled workforce designs and builds precision-engineered solutions and provides a personalized customer service experience for businesses around that world that want peace of mind from experiencing consequences of serious financial loss or a devastating disaster.

Related News

Engineering Tech, Construction

RJC Engineers Strengthens US Capabilities with the Acquisition of Kordt Engineering Group

GlobeNewswire | March 24, 2023

Leading design and consulting firm RJC Engineers (RJC) strengthens their capabilities in the United States by acquiring Kordt Engineering Group (KEG). This acquisition allows RJC to serve the entire North American market better and for KEG to provide clients with the added capacity, depth, and experience of RJC. The firms will continue to provide structural engineering, façade engineering, structural glass engineering, and more. RJC has fourteen locations across Canada and is now in Las Vegas and Reno. “RJC is excited to further establish ourselves in the United States through acquiring KEG. Our firms and people have worked together for over a decade and share a history of successfully delivering projects throughout the United States,” said Mike Moffatt, Executive Principal of RJC Engineers. “Our strategic expansion into the US allows RJC to bring its expertise in many building sectors and service offerings to a broader client base.” KEG is a structural engineering firm with offices in Las Vegas and Reno. The firm provides timely, efficient structural designs for many building types, from commercial retail to landmark buildings. KEG has a strong signature client base across North America and into Europe, with a reputation for client service and people-focused culture akin to RJC’s. Stephan Kordt founded KEG and is now President of US Operations with RJC. A respected engineer and trusted leader, Stephan’s reputation for delivering quality projects within tight deadlines is well-earned. His deep technical knowledge, industry relationships, and ability to develop elegant and appropriate structural solutions make him highly sought after throughout the United States. His projects include The Watermark, Project 63, Crystals at CityCenter, Golden Gate Hotel and Casino Expansion, Venetian Casino Resort and Venezia Hotel Tower, and the World Market Center. Theodore Droessler (Ted) is Vice President of US Operations with RJC. Ted has a strong background in quality assurance and management. He has helped manage design professionals and technical staff for the delivery of projects ranging from single-storey luxury residential projects to commercial structures. His projects include 5G upgrades to existing communication buildings, load testing of deep foundations and redevelopment of older masonry structures to include change of occupancy. “We are thrilled to join forces with RJC and look forward to working with an even wider group of clients across the United States,” shares Stephan Kordt, President of US Operations. “We will continue to deliver the high-quality client service and innovative structural engineering solutions we are known for while bringing the expanded depth of expertise, resources, and services offerings now available to us as part of RJC.” “We are delighted to welcome this talented, passionate team to RJC Engineers,” Moffatt said. “Their depth of knowledge and experience in building structures, combined with their dedication to client success, is a natural fit with us. Together, we’re well-positioned to help our clients thrive.” About RJC Engineers: RJC Engineers (RJC) is an employee owned engineering firm that celebrates creative thinking, prompt service, and technical excellence in the design and maintenance of structures. Bringing the best of RJC to every project for over seven decades, the firm integrates ingenuity and practicality to create success for their clients and their projects. RJC provides structural engineering, structural restoration, building science, parking facility design, structural glass engineering, and building energy modeling services.

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Robotics and Automation

ABB Robotics is Advancing Construction Industry Automation to Make Buildings Safer and More Sustainable

ABB Robotics | May 21, 2021

ABB Robotics is driving automation within the housing industry with new robotic automation solutions to deal with key challenges, including the necessity for cheaper and environmentally friendly housing and to scale back the environmental impact of construction, amidst a labor and skills shortage. Robotic automation offers huge potential to reinforce productivity, efficiency, and manufacturing flexibility throughout the development industry, including automating the fabrication of modular homes and building components off-site, robotic welding and material handling on building sites, and robot 3D printing of homes and customized structures. also as making the industry safer and more cost-effective, robots are improving sustainability and reducing environmental impact by enhancing the quality and cutting waste. ABB Robotics is driving automation within the housing industry with new robotic automation solutions to deal with key challenges, including the necessity for cheaper and environmentally friendly housing and to scale back the environmental impact of construction, amidst a labor and skills shortage. Robotic automation offers huge potential to reinforce productivity, efficiency, and manufacturing flexibility throughout the development industry, including automating the fabrication of modular homes and building components off-site, robotic welding and material handling on building sites, and robot 3D printing of homes and customized structures. also as making the industry safer and more cost-effective, robots are improving sustainability and reducing environmental impact by enhancing the quality and cutting waste. With the industry facing increased environmental regulation and therefore the need for less expensive buildings, robotic automation reduces waste by improving quality and consistency, which is critical when it's estimated that up to 1 / 4 of fabric transported to a vacant lot leaves as waste3. With automation and digital solutions, builders also can design waste out at the start of a project through effective building design and construction processes. With quite 200,000 vacancies for low and high-skilled workers within the EU alone in Q2 20204, the industry labor shortage may be a growing issue, with younger people postpone construction careers by perceptions that it's a dangerous occupation. Construction workers account for around 30 percent of workplace injuries and are up to fourfold more likely to be involved during a casualty vs. other sectors, with an estimated 108,000 fatalities per annum worldwide5. Robots can make construction safer by handling large and heavy loads, working in unsafe spaces, and enabling new, safer methods of construction. Using robots for the repetitive and dangerous tasks that folks increasingly don't need to try to do means automation can help support the industry's labor and skills crisis and make construction careers more appealing to children. About ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation may be a pioneer in robotics, machine automation, and digital services, providing innovative solutions for a various range of industries, from automotive to electronics to logistics. Together with the world's leading robotics and machine automation suppliers, we've shipped quite 500,000 robot solutions. We help our customers of all sizes to extend productivity, flexibility, and ease and to enhance output quality. We support their transition towards the connected and collaborative factory of the longer term. ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation employs quite 11,000 people at over 100 locations in additional than 53 countries.

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Engineering Tech

Buildertrend, the Leader in Construction Management Software, Secures Significant Investment Led by Bain Capital Tech Opportunities

Buildertrend | December 29, 2020

Buildertrend, the main supplier of cloud-based programming for homebuilders, remodelers and forte temporary workers, today reported that it has gotten a venture from Bain Capital Tech Opportunities and HGGC to quicken its development and grow the administrations it gives to clients. This first institutional venture will quicken Buildertrend's development direction through essential acquisitions and drive venture into neighboring contributions, for example, installments, information investigation and temporary worker administrations. Monetary terms of the private exchange were not revealed. Established in 2006 by Steve Dugger, Jeff Dugger and Dan Houghton, and situated in Omaha, Buildertrend is the main cloud-based development the board stage for private homebuilding, giving hearty and present day development the executives devices to more than 16,000 homebuilding, redesigning and claim to fame development organizations, their sub-contractual workers and their customers. Development groups depend on Buildertrend to maintain their organizations by normalizing planning and work processes, dealing with installments, buy and change arranges, and improving client correspondence and perceivability. "We established Buildertrend with a dream to upset the development business and make the confounded homebuilding and forte development measure more straightforward and effective," said Dan Houghton, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Buildertrend. "Bringing top notch cloud-based applications to the business has situated our foundation to be a reasonable differentiator. It was a considerable choice to welcome on an accomplice unexpectedly, and we are eager to cooperate with Bain Capital and HGGC and to use their worldwide organizations and ability scaling vertical programming organizations. This association will empower us to convey considerably more incentive to our clients across the world."

Read More

Engineering Tech, Construction

RJC Engineers Strengthens US Capabilities with the Acquisition of Kordt Engineering Group

GlobeNewswire | March 24, 2023

Leading design and consulting firm RJC Engineers (RJC) strengthens their capabilities in the United States by acquiring Kordt Engineering Group (KEG). This acquisition allows RJC to serve the entire North American market better and for KEG to provide clients with the added capacity, depth, and experience of RJC. The firms will continue to provide structural engineering, façade engineering, structural glass engineering, and more. RJC has fourteen locations across Canada and is now in Las Vegas and Reno. “RJC is excited to further establish ourselves in the United States through acquiring KEG. Our firms and people have worked together for over a decade and share a history of successfully delivering projects throughout the United States,” said Mike Moffatt, Executive Principal of RJC Engineers. “Our strategic expansion into the US allows RJC to bring its expertise in many building sectors and service offerings to a broader client base.” KEG is a structural engineering firm with offices in Las Vegas and Reno. The firm provides timely, efficient structural designs for many building types, from commercial retail to landmark buildings. KEG has a strong signature client base across North America and into Europe, with a reputation for client service and people-focused culture akin to RJC’s. Stephan Kordt founded KEG and is now President of US Operations with RJC. A respected engineer and trusted leader, Stephan’s reputation for delivering quality projects within tight deadlines is well-earned. His deep technical knowledge, industry relationships, and ability to develop elegant and appropriate structural solutions make him highly sought after throughout the United States. His projects include The Watermark, Project 63, Crystals at CityCenter, Golden Gate Hotel and Casino Expansion, Venetian Casino Resort and Venezia Hotel Tower, and the World Market Center. Theodore Droessler (Ted) is Vice President of US Operations with RJC. Ted has a strong background in quality assurance and management. He has helped manage design professionals and technical staff for the delivery of projects ranging from single-storey luxury residential projects to commercial structures. His projects include 5G upgrades to existing communication buildings, load testing of deep foundations and redevelopment of older masonry structures to include change of occupancy. “We are thrilled to join forces with RJC and look forward to working with an even wider group of clients across the United States,” shares Stephan Kordt, President of US Operations. “We will continue to deliver the high-quality client service and innovative structural engineering solutions we are known for while bringing the expanded depth of expertise, resources, and services offerings now available to us as part of RJC.” “We are delighted to welcome this talented, passionate team to RJC Engineers,” Moffatt said. “Their depth of knowledge and experience in building structures, combined with their dedication to client success, is a natural fit with us. Together, we’re well-positioned to help our clients thrive.” About RJC Engineers: RJC Engineers (RJC) is an employee owned engineering firm that celebrates creative thinking, prompt service, and technical excellence in the design and maintenance of structures. Bringing the best of RJC to every project for over seven decades, the firm integrates ingenuity and practicality to create success for their clients and their projects. RJC provides structural engineering, structural restoration, building science, parking facility design, structural glass engineering, and building energy modeling services.

Read More

Robotics and Automation

ABB Robotics is Advancing Construction Industry Automation to Make Buildings Safer and More Sustainable

ABB Robotics | May 21, 2021

ABB Robotics is driving automation within the housing industry with new robotic automation solutions to deal with key challenges, including the necessity for cheaper and environmentally friendly housing and to scale back the environmental impact of construction, amidst a labor and skills shortage. Robotic automation offers huge potential to reinforce productivity, efficiency, and manufacturing flexibility throughout the development industry, including automating the fabrication of modular homes and building components off-site, robotic welding and material handling on building sites, and robot 3D printing of homes and customized structures. also as making the industry safer and more cost-effective, robots are improving sustainability and reducing environmental impact by enhancing the quality and cutting waste. ABB Robotics is driving automation within the housing industry with new robotic automation solutions to deal with key challenges, including the necessity for cheaper and environmentally friendly housing and to scale back the environmental impact of construction, amidst a labor and skills shortage. Robotic automation offers huge potential to reinforce productivity, efficiency, and manufacturing flexibility throughout the development industry, including automating the fabrication of modular homes and building components off-site, robotic welding and material handling on building sites, and robot 3D printing of homes and customized structures. also as making the industry safer and more cost-effective, robots are improving sustainability and reducing environmental impact by enhancing the quality and cutting waste. With the industry facing increased environmental regulation and therefore the need for less expensive buildings, robotic automation reduces waste by improving quality and consistency, which is critical when it's estimated that up to 1 / 4 of fabric transported to a vacant lot leaves as waste3. With automation and digital solutions, builders also can design waste out at the start of a project through effective building design and construction processes. With quite 200,000 vacancies for low and high-skilled workers within the EU alone in Q2 20204, the industry labor shortage may be a growing issue, with younger people postpone construction careers by perceptions that it's a dangerous occupation. Construction workers account for around 30 percent of workplace injuries and are up to fourfold more likely to be involved during a casualty vs. other sectors, with an estimated 108,000 fatalities per annum worldwide5. Robots can make construction safer by handling large and heavy loads, working in unsafe spaces, and enabling new, safer methods of construction. Using robots for the repetitive and dangerous tasks that folks increasingly don't need to try to do means automation can help support the industry's labor and skills crisis and make construction careers more appealing to children. About ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation may be a pioneer in robotics, machine automation, and digital services, providing innovative solutions for a various range of industries, from automotive to electronics to logistics. Together with the world's leading robotics and machine automation suppliers, we've shipped quite 500,000 robot solutions. We help our customers of all sizes to extend productivity, flexibility, and ease and to enhance output quality. We support their transition towards the connected and collaborative factory of the longer term. ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation employs quite 11,000 people at over 100 locations in additional than 53 countries.

Read More

Engineering Tech

Buildertrend, the Leader in Construction Management Software, Secures Significant Investment Led by Bain Capital Tech Opportunities

Buildertrend | December 29, 2020

Buildertrend, the main supplier of cloud-based programming for homebuilders, remodelers and forte temporary workers, today reported that it has gotten a venture from Bain Capital Tech Opportunities and HGGC to quicken its development and grow the administrations it gives to clients. This first institutional venture will quicken Buildertrend's development direction through essential acquisitions and drive venture into neighboring contributions, for example, installments, information investigation and temporary worker administrations. Monetary terms of the private exchange were not revealed. Established in 2006 by Steve Dugger, Jeff Dugger and Dan Houghton, and situated in Omaha, Buildertrend is the main cloud-based development the board stage for private homebuilding, giving hearty and present day development the executives devices to more than 16,000 homebuilding, redesigning and claim to fame development organizations, their sub-contractual workers and their customers. Development groups depend on Buildertrend to maintain their organizations by normalizing planning and work processes, dealing with installments, buy and change arranges, and improving client correspondence and perceivability. "We established Buildertrend with a dream to upset the development business and make the confounded homebuilding and forte development measure more straightforward and effective," said Dan Houghton, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Buildertrend. "Bringing top notch cloud-based applications to the business has situated our foundation to be a reasonable differentiator. It was a considerable choice to welcome on an accomplice unexpectedly, and we are eager to cooperate with Bain Capital and HGGC and to use their worldwide organizations and ability scaling vertical programming organizations. This association will empower us to convey considerably more incentive to our clients across the world."

Read More

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