Can a new, German-engineered scaffolding system replace the physically demanding and labor-intensive scaffolding system that is currently standard in the United States?
Lance Daniel with Vulcan Industrial Contractors, a fully union contractor working throughout the Southeast, organized a demonstration at our Southern District Training Trust Fund’s Atlanta training center to demonstrate the benefits of the PERI UP scaffolding system created by the German company PERI. The event was presented by a team with the Greenville, North Carolina, based construction support company AMECO, an authorized supplier of the PERI UP scaffolding system.
“I wanted the hall and us as a contractor to really see what PERI UP brings to the table,” explained Daniel. “More education and more training on the utilization side makes my job easier as a contractor.”
After the demonstration, Daniel pointed out how safe and easy it is to use the PERI UP system. Regular scaffolding often requires a lot of hammering, heavy lifting, and teamwork. PERI UP, on the other hand, is made to connect more smoothly. The three-person AMECO team assembled a test stage in less than 30 minutes.
“With PERI UP, you slide the component in, catch the tab, and it pops into place,” said Daniel. “You don’t need someone on the other end guiding it.”
Guy Borgford, who has 35 years of experience in carpentry and scaffolding, has spent the last 10 years helping AMECO with planning, design, and hands-on training.
“This demonstration is about showing the advantages of PERI UP: speed and safety,” said Borgford. “Compared to other systems, PERI UP lets builders work easier, safer, and faster, and that translates directly into cost savings during both erection and dismantling.”
During his career, Borgford has seen how union training improves both the work and the industry. A union member since 2000, he says the union’s clear training steps and skill levels help keep safety and professionalism high.
“What we’re hoping to do,” said Borgford, “is integrate this into union teaching and training, so when the guys come out of the hall and onto a site, they’re already familiar with the material. They can walk in with confidence and bring the advantages of the system right into the scope of work.”
For union contractors like Vulcan, having union members trained on the latest construction advancements provides a stronger workforce. “They’re much more skilled at the end of their apprenticeship,” Daniel said. “You get a better workforce overall. I really can’t say enough good things about the locals as far as my dealings with them.”