QuikGrade

www.QuikGrade.com
QuikGrade was founded by myself, Buck Morris in Omaha NE. The purpose of starting QuikGrade was to develop and bring to market my patented invention of a Laser Receiving Smart Rod that will easily determine elevations with a one step calibration.

Transits and laser levels have been utilized in the construction industry for some time and serve as very basic tools for determining changes in elevation.  However, they take a degree of expertise and experience that the current workforce simply does not possess.  As a result, using current technology, mistakes in elevation calculations occur at a much higher frequency than desired, leading to inefficiency and increased cost.  
The advent of the laser level sped up the construction industry by performing the work of a transit, but with one man instead of two. Laser levels are a great tool for determining elevations on a job site. Although currently, it is time consuming and mistakes occur often. The problem lies with the grade rod being too simple, and requiring inversely related calculations to determine elevations. 

 

I set out to create QUIK•GRADE to help and eliminate these errors and I’m proud to say we have accomplished that goal. In our field tests, we have realized improved measurement speeds that are 5-10 times faster than that of traditional laser level processes, while also reducing or eliminating error. The number of elevations my company is able to determine accurately has increased dramatically when using this device. 

Brief Description of the Device:  The QUIK•GRADE device utilizes rotary laser level technology and reduces most of the human error involved in the measurement process. The device reduces this error by reducing the user calculations, which would normally be required to determine elevations using a traditional grade rod.  In the QUIK•GRADE device, the grade rod is outfitted with a large number of sensors so that the entire grade rod acts as a receiver.  The output of these sensors is coupled to a control unit, allowing a user to visualize readings and control the rod and calculations being made. This control unit can be replaced with an app and cell phone. A control unit vs cell phone will be preference and could be two different options and price points.  

 

Utilizing the QUIK•GRADE device, a user can input a benchmark elevation while measuring a laser signal at the benchmark elevation. From there the user can move the rod up and down and check elevations throughout the site accurately. The user can also set a desired target elevation; then the control unit will display one or more indicators (e.g., up/down arrows) to a user for rod height adjustment of the grade rod necessary to achieve the desired target elevation. More simply, the control unit will automatically tell a user whether to cut or fill at a specific location in order to achieve the desired target elevation. 

 

When determining a target elevation, the keypad can be used like a construction calculator, easily converting from ft to inches with the click of a button. 

 

App development will allow the user to connect via Bluetooth to the rod and control the unit from the users phone. This app will also allow you to record the points to a pdf of the blueprint. This can be used for as-builts, construction planning and development, and just surveying a property.

 

Incorporation of GPS would allow a user to easily determine elevations and location anywhere on a jobsite. GPS would further reduce the need of a surveyor, even more than QUIK•GRADE already has. 

 

Prototype:  I have been working on QUIK•GRADE for the last 4 years.  We have developed multiple high-end prototypes and are nearing production.  

 

Patent Status:  The first of several Utility patent applications has been granted. We have filed international placeholders as well in the EU, AU, and others.

 

Construction management professors at UNL’s Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction said the industry exhibits significant need for such an innovation, and managers said a number of sectors could benefit from improved readings. Initially, they would focus their sales efforts on general contractors and concrete contractors as well as surveying, grading, and excavating companies and utilities

Eager to reduce costs, construction companies could embrace the disruptive technology as measurements reliably could be taken by lower wage labor and mistakes could be caught before they require costly fixes. Surveying and mapping companies, too, could implement the innovation as a solution that allows them to employ crews of lower-skilled workers who track initial survey measurements.

QuikGrade currently requires $312,000 in tooling, $1,290,960 in inventory for 500 units, $119,830 for final production prototype development and potentially $100,000 for developing a lithium ion battery. The lithium ion battery may not be needed and needs further assessment. 

I have received a quote to value engineer QuikGrade to bring production costs down. Which they think they can do. I currently have a quote to do that for $40,000.  They say it may not be that much though. I am awaiting further information on that.

Currently I have over $300,000 invested into developing QuikGrade and securing our patents, not including a $50,000 Grant from the State of Nebraska.

I am looking for a motivated investor who has the vision to see the difference QuikGrade can make on the market.
Many business have expressed  interest in purchasing units from QuikGrade when it comes on the market.

Please visit our website at www.QuikGrade.com and show your friends in the civil construction market to help determine for yourself whether you think QuikGrade will be a successful product.

Thank you for your time,
Buck Morris