May 19, 2008

BCIT researcher’s patented Heavy Tool Support Arm gets ready to lend a hand

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

An inventor based in Burnaby is hoping to give a helping hand to construction companies.

BCIT researcher Gordon Thiessen invented a device to help construction workers who need to hold heavy power tools in an overhead position for extended periods of time.

The Heavy Tool Support Arm (HTSA) clamps to a vertical post, scaffolding or a tripod and supports heavy portable jackhammers, drills and other power tools.

The product idea was conceived as a solution for workers who strain and sprain their backs and necks holding these tools up manually.

He recently closed a deal with a concrete restoration firm to sell the device.

The heavy-tool support arm has been patented by BCIT’s Applied Research Liaison Office (ARLO).

In December 2007, Thiessen incorporated his own company, GT Automation Inc., to assemble and sell the HTSAs. GT Automation reached an important milestone last week, when the company sold two of the HTSAs to Polycrete Restoration.

“I delivered two arms to a company (Polycrete Restoration), which has specialty tools that will be adapted to the arm. They hope to use the arm on the jobsite in a couple of weeks,” he said.

Initially, the company will use the HTSAs to repair cracks in the roof of a parking lot ceiling.

The job requires workers to chip away loose material around cracks and then reseal the ceiling.

The arm is assembled at GT Automation’s facility in Langley, B.C.

“I get a lot of different pieces made by outside contractors and assemble them in Langley,” Thiessen explained.

“We are still working out a price structure and making small improvements. The price range depends on what tools they want to adapt. The standard package is priced between $4,500 and $5,000.”

So far, GT Automation has sold five support arms and licensed the device to a company in the United Kingdom.

Two of the arms were sold to a paper mill to hold pneumatic chipping hammers.

Another arm was sold to a Washington State construction company for overhead chipping of concrete and concrete repair. This firm is also doing overhead chipping with pneumatic tools.

The HTSA received one of 75 awards for the World’s Best Technologies (WBT) on March 27 at the WBT Showcase in Arlington, Texas.

The WBT attracts private investors, venture capitalists, and senior licensing executives who are interested in viewing the largest collection of undiscovered technologies from the top universities and research institutions in the world.

However, Thiessen didn’t travel to Arlington for the WBT show.

Robert Duncan and James Wells from BCIT’s Applied Research Liaison Office (ARLO) attended the event.

“The HTSA represents the very best in polytechnic innovation. The invention is practical, ingenious, and solves a real-world problem,” said Rob Duncan, director of ARLO.

“For BCIT, this is a huge win because it shows the pay-off from investing in technology, intellectual property protection, and commercialization.

“The HTSA getting selected as one of the World’s Best Technologies is a truly remarkable achievement for the entire BCIT community.”

A year ago, the device also won an expert’s-choice award at a convention in Las Vegas.

“In January 2007, BCIT sent myself and a prototype to a trade show called World of Concrete. The intent was to get exposure and attract the attention of major tool manufacturers,” said Thiessen.

“This didn’t happen, but there was lots of interest from end users. BCIT suggested I start a spin-off company to address this low-volume demand.”

Thiessen, who is a research associate in automation and electronics at BCIT, started work on developing the device for the Workers Compensation Board in 2001. He is a BCIT graduate with a diploma in mechanical engineering, as well as robotics and automation.

“Having spent the last 10 years working in BCIT’s Technology Centre doing applied research has been a dream job for me,” said Thiessen.

“Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I incorporated a company, GT Automation, under the support of BCIT and ARLO, to manufacture the award-winning HTSA.”

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