2019 has been a landmark year when it comes to electric vehicles. So far, while highway-focused companies are capturing the most attention commercially and culturally, several exciting announcements have signaled the possibility of major shifts in the construction space that should catch the attention of eco-friendly and profit-minded professionals alike. 

Welcome back to our weekly News Roundup! We’ve got some great stories lined up for you this week, including updates on current issues in the construction industry and in-depth insights into the future of 3D printing. Make sure to stop by every Friday for the latest batch of news!

From the world’s largest unreserved live auction company to a global network of online and onsite selling channels, Ritchie Bros. today is more than an auction company – much more.

John Deere hopes to reduce its service technician labor shortage by implementing a new apprenticeship program through the U.S. Department of Labor, the company announced just last week. 

The construction industry has become progressively high-tech over the past two decades. Moving past what was once reliant on callused hands and sweaty brows, construction businesses have incrementally transformed their work environments through digitizing documents and designs, upgrading equipment with advanced technologies and connecting all ends of their operations through the IoT. Although these 21st century upgrades have contributed to permanent, positive innovation across the industry, the increase of interconnected online technology has also revealed critical cybersecurity threats which have yet to be properly understood or addressed by many construction professionals.

Automation doesn’t have to be a dirty word -- especially when it comes to construction. Despite periodic resistance from technophobes, assembly lines and automation processes have been steadily improving the way we produce and consume for over one hundred years. In the same way standardization and robotics transformed how we manufacture the automobile, modular construction is looking to reduce the time, energy and cost restraints which have long capped the efficiency of traditional building practices. As housing shortages inflate prices worldwide and put pressure on contractors to implement better solutions, recent initiatives in prefabricated construction have successfully demonstrated new frameworks for answering today’s demand and validated the viability of modular systems in the market.

It's Friday, meaning it's time to start your weekend off right with the latest news roundup from the IronPlanet Blog!

Welcome to the return of our News Roundup! Check in regularly with the IronPlanet Blog to collect and reflect on the biggest industry news. In case you missed the highlights, this was an interesting week for the construction world with both worrying numbers on the economic front and some positive takes on future market innovations.       

Roland Machinery Co. turned to Ritchie Bros.’ online marketplace to move inventory.

Health risks are just as important as safety risks. Even though we may pay more attention to the instantaneous consequences of falling from heights or electrocution, construction industry health hazards can result in comparably detrimental effects on both lives and businesses. Despite taking longer periods to manifest, oftentimes invisibly, continual exposure to health hazards over the course of employment is known to cause career-ending chronic pain, physical disabilities or even premature death.