Saxonburg, Penn.-based Brayman Construction and its affiliate, Advanced Construction Robotics, were named as among the most innovative construction firms in the country for creating an autonomous rebar-tying robot for bridge construction projects. Brayman Construction is a member of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), and along with Sundt Construction and the AGC Oregon-Columbia Chapter, was recognized as the first ever first-place winner of the AGC-Autodesk Innovation Awards announced during the AGC Centennial Celebration.

"Construction firms like this have the skill, ingenuity and determination to overcome any challenge," said Eddie Stewart, the association's president and the President & CEO of Montgomery, Alabama-based Caddell Construction. "These contractors are proving what dedicated construction professionals can accomplish."

Brayman founded its affiliate, Advanced Construction Robotics, Inc., to create and commercialize autonomous products to help solve industry-wide challenges, including construction workforce shortages. The firm's first product, Tybot, is an autonomous rebar-tying robot that will tie intersections continuously day or night without breaks or injuries. Construction crews only need to carry, place and frame-in 10 percent of the deck rebar before the Tybot can get to work. Tybot allows firms to complete bridge decking projects more efficiently, while protecting the safety of the workforce.

The association also presented Brayman with a $10,000 first-place prize. In addition to Brayman Construction, AGC Oregon-Columbia chapter was named second place winner for developing its Educator Externship Program created to help address the industry's workforce shortage challenges. The chapter received a $5,000 second-place prize. The third-place award was presented to Sundt Construction for developing an electronic estimating toolkit to help streamline the construction estimation process. Sundt also received a $2,500 prize for third-place.

Stewart noted that the association created it's first-ever AGC-Autodesk Innovation Awards to inspire members of the construction industry to craft innovative solutions to pressing industry challenges. The association announced the inaugural contest winners during its Centennial Celebration event. Stewart added that the Innovation Award showcases free thinkers within the construction industry to provide solutions to construction challenges we face.