British Construction Industry Awards 2023

Product Innovation of the Year

This category recognises an innovation in products for design or construction that is boosting overall project outcomes.

Winner

J-Strut – Prop Smarter

Judges’ comment “Resolves a very common problem, by revolutionising the users’ experience”The J-Strut is a temporary steel prop that lets operators use a cordless impact driver to make height adjustments instead of a manually operated handle, reducing time and labour costs on projects, while making the job safer and easier.

It was developed because working with temporary steel props has become too time-consuming, labour-intensive and fraught with the risk of injury. Making the necessary height adjustments takes physical effort and holding a prop in the desired position while carrying out an adjustment is an awkward job for one person, especially if the threads are rusty and caked in concrete or the handle is obstructed by a wall.

A pinched finger between the metal sleeves or between handle and wall is an occupational hazard.

Builders often strike the prop’s collar to adjust it, but a glancing blow or slip of the handle can result in injury, while knocking out a prop could be catastrophic.

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