LBX Company, maker of Link-Belt excavators, supported the Construction Challenge Regional Rally in Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb. 7, where nearly 200 teenagers competed to move on to the Construction Challenge finals in Knoxville, Tenn., May 19 to 23, 2009.

Fifteen other regional rallies occurred across the United States the same weekend, with more than 2,000 participants in total. Each rally had two to three teams advancing to the finals.

Developed and implemented by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and Destination ImagiNation (DI), the Construction Challenge is a Career Education Initiative designed to help develop the workforce of the future. Teen participants competed and solved three challenges using teamwork, creativity and problem-solving.

• Infrastructure Presentation: Teams researched infrastructure issues (roads, bridges, water and sewer) prior to the competition, and at the rally they were assigned one of the four to present. The presentation was required to associate both a local and an international example to the issue, and to explain how the issue related to quality of life:

• Manufacturing Design: Teams designed and built a piece of equipment based on criteria and reproducibility in manufacturing. Teams were required to design detailed schematics and demonstrate the equipment’s ability to complete a pre-determined task.

• Service Tech Simulation: Teams repaired a piece of equipment based on technical drawings and schematics. The teams had access to customer support which had access to detailed schematics, preventive maintenance tips and troubleshooting information.

“It was so exciting to see teams work as a unit to complete the challenges. The teamwork and creative thinking are inspiring,” said Amy Lindon Maddox, marketing communications manager of LBX. “LBX is proud to do its part to ensure the workforce of tomorrow is filled with workers who will have this creative energy and who appreciate what AEM and Destination ImagiNation have done to bring awareness of careers in the construction industry to the attention of Construction Challenge participants.”

These challenges are designed to inspire teams to examine issues directly related to the construction industry, a workforce that is facing severe shortages in the near future. Consider this:

• The average age of today’s construction worker is 52.

• Due to baby boomer retirements, the construction industry is seeing a growing workforce shortage.

• The construction industry will need to add 1,000,000 jobs to the workforce by 2012.

LBX is a team sponsor which will provide: entry fees and challenge materials for the Construction Challenge Championships in Knoxville; room and board for 5 to 7 team members and 1 adult team manager; special excursions.

LBX Company makes Link-Belt excavators, scrap/material handlers and forestry equipment. These products are sold through an independent dealer network located throughout the Western Hemisphere.

For more information on the Construction Challenge, visit www.constructionchallenge.org.

For more information on LBX and its Link-Belt excavators, visit www.lbxco.com.

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