【安全誠行】創新充電式工具 低碳安全破局限 【Safety Walk with Thomas】Innovative Cordless Tools Brings Low-carbon and Safety to New Levels
From hand tools and accessories to heavy-duty power tools, innovation is the key to improving performance. Milwaukee Tool Asia , a power tool company known for its lithium-ion technology, has gone to the frontline and the Hong Kong Institute of Construction to introduce its tools and gather ideas for developing new products through user experience. Ir Thomas HO, Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and Mr. CHAN Kim-kwong, Council Member of the CIC, visited Milwaukee's Asian headquarter in Hong Kong earlier. They learnt how the team broke new grounds to make traditional industrial tools to emit less carbon and create a safer work environment.
Highly Compatible Battery System Unleashes Poential
Traditional industrial tools are mostly fuel-powered, emitting exhaust gas and causing pollution, which may affect the health and safety of construction workers. In addition to power tools, Milwaukee has developed the MX FUEL? battery-compatible system which is suitable for all products in the same series, including 350mm cut-off saw, 25 KG demolition breaker, handheld drill and other cordless industrial tools. The cordless tower light with a maximum of 27,000 lumens is also battery operated and can extend up to three meters tall by just pressing a button. Mr. CHAN Kim-kwong, believes that the innovative cordless feature helps a lot on reducing the risk of electricity leakage.
Machine Learning and Auto-stop Technology
In the era of big data, machine learning has become a major trend. The printed circuit boards (PCB) of Milwaukee collect data such as the strength of users and the duration of force, and then analyzing and applying it to improve while developing the next generation of products. In addition to the pursuit of performance, safety is also an important consideration for power tools. When using large tools with high torque, the drilling could be easily skewed causing reaction force. Novice users may easily get injured. The team has therefore added the "AUTOSTOP?" function to the product, which automatically stops the tool when it senses deviation from the drill hole, greatly reducing the chance of accidents.
CITF Helps Popularize Innovative Power Tools
The Construction Industry Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) actively encourages the industry to adopt innovative construction methods and technologies that promote productivity, uplift quality, improve site safety and enhance environmental benefits. Milwaukee (Hong Kong) currently has four tools on the pre-approved list, including the LED long-range stand light, handheld core drill, demolition breaker and cut-off saw. The team is also applying for a power supply system to be added to the list so that more construction companies and workers can access and use power tools.
Exchange with Hong Kong Institute of Construction
The team wants to change the traditional way of working in the industry and believes that it is most effective to start with educating the younger generation. They visited the Hong Kong Institute of Construction earlier to give talks and exchanges ideas. Students were given chances to try out a variety of power tools with an aim to help them understand and become familiar with the latest tools before they start working in the construction industry. Mr. Jackie CHAN, Commercial Director of Milwaukee (Hong Kong), said that not only the young trainees were enthusiastic, the instructors were also thrilled to try new technologies and solutions. He hopes to regularise the exchange program, so that safe and low-carbon power tools will benefit the industry. Ir Thomas HO also expressed his enthusiasm and hope that this is just the beginning of the collaborative effort to bring power tools and more construction innovations to the frontline and build the future together.
领英推荐
從手工具、配件以至重型電動工具，創新均是提升效能的不二法門。電動工具公司美沃奇（Milwaukee）以鋰電池技術見稱，團隊更走到前線及香港建造學院介紹工具，並透過廣納用家體驗研發新產品。建造業議會何安誠工程師及議會成員陳劍光先生，早前到訪美沃奇設立於香港的亞洲總部，了解團隊如何破舊立新，令傳統工業工具更低碳及安全。
兼容電池系統突破限制
傳統工業工具多數倚靠燃油推動，排放廢氣容易造成污染，濃煙及遍地電線的工地環境，更會危害工友健康及安全。美沃奇除了主打電動工具，近年亦研發兼容電池系統MX FUEL?，電池適用於同一系列所有產品，包括鋸片直徑350毫米的切割機、25公斤鑿地機、手持式鑽孔機等無線工業工具。而無線塔燈亦以電池驅動，按掣可伸展至三米高，最高提供27,000流明光線。議會成員陳劍光先生欣賞工具設計以前線工友角度出發，指工具毋須拉電線，能夠避免「跳掣」或漏電的風險。
機器學習及自動煞停
進入大數據時代，機器學習（Machine Learning）功能成為大趨勢。美沃奇（香港）的印製電路板（PCB）電路板能收集用家力量大小、用力時間長短等數據後，再加以分析及應用，改良下一代產品。除了追求效能，安全亦是電動工具設計的重要考量。使用大型工具時扭力較大，容易出現鑽孔偏歪，從而產生反作用力，新手用家或因經驗較淺而受傷。團隊因此為產品加入「AUTOSTOP??」功能，當感應到工具偏離鑽孔，便會立刻自動煞停，大大減低意外機會。
CITF助創新電動工具普及
建造業創新及科技基金（CITF）積極鼓勵業界採用創新建築方法及科技，藉此促進生產力、提高建造質素、改善工地安全及提升環保效益。美沃奇（香港）目前有四項工具已在預先批核名單之列，包括LED 長距離工作燈、手持式鑽孔機、鑿地機及切割鋸，團隊同時正為一款電源供應器申請加入名單，藉此鼓勵更多建造業公司及工友應用電動工具。
與香港建造學院交流
團隊深信若要改變業界傳統的工作方式，從年輕一代開始最為有效。他們早前到訪香港建造學院講解及交流，更讓學員親身嘗試多款電動工具，務求助他們在正式投身建造業工作之前，了解及熟習使用最新的工具，日後便更得心應手。完成交流活動後，美沃奇（香港）商務總監Jackie表示，不但年輕學員為之踴躍，樂見導師亦非常歡迎新事物。他更期望將交流活動恆常化，讓更多業內人士接觸安全低碳的電動工具。團隊與時並進，亦為教育年輕人出一分力，建造業議會主席何安誠工程師亦表示受他們的熱情感染，希望這只是合作路途的開端，往後能夠把電動工具及更多建造創新技術帶到前線，共建未來。