FARGO - Dennis Lura, in the construction business for more than 35 years, says he's always been looking for ways to do big jobs with small crews. One of his brainstorms is an adjustable aluminum tube for rolling concrete.

"It wasn't a dream as much as it was a wish," Lura said. "For years we had been cutting 2-by-4s to different lengths and I thought, 'Man, it would sure be nice if we had something expandable.' But it was just a thought at the time."

The idea he turned into the Lightning Strike roller screed has brought him awards and raves from others in the industry. Lura, 53, was one of 29 winners among 137 products at this year's World of Concrete show in Las Vegas, which attracted 91,000 people and 1,700 exhibits. The screed also was named best innovation at the annual Northern Plains Inventors Congress contest in Fargo. Lura has a patent pending.

Union trainer Tom Reger, of Minneapolis, says the lightweight tube enables laborers to finish concrete without worrying about going on disability.

"In this industry, it's almost a lifesaver," Reger said. "There are so many guys who have lower back and shoulder injuries from all the repetitive motion. This eliminates a lot of that."

Roller screeds are devices that help contractors level concrete pours. The first patent on the equipment was issued in 1924. About 15 companies that sell screeds are listed on the constructioncomplete.com Web site.

Lura said he has sold "well over" 100 units so far, most of them since the Las Vegas show. At the current price of $6,199 apiece, he calls it affordable for small operators.

"I have heard from so many contractors since the World of Concrete," Lura said. "That really put us on the map. People are telling me it could be worth millions."

Some of his competitors are less impressed. Officials for Bunyan Striker, of Salt Lake City, which advertises itself as producing "the world's most efficient screed system," said the Lura screed is "not tremendously different" from its own unit.

"We see them as sort of a copy of our equipment," said Nathan Mitchell, Bunyan spokesman. "They have their version to it."

Lura said his version is different because he offers adjustable lengths of tubing that can be customized to large and small pours.

"It's a simple, fast system," Lura said.

"I like the fact that it's expandable. You don't have to buy a new tube for everything you do," said Scott Erickson, a contractor from Keiser, Ore. "There are only two other companies I know of that make something like this, but none of their tubes are expandable."

Machinist Mark Neary, who designed the prototype for Lura, said he researched a handful of other screeds and said they aren't as versatile or light as the Lightning Strike screed.

"None of them are able to power it with something you are able to carry over your shoulder," Neary said. "This would be the biggest project I've ever been involved with. I've done some that have done millions of dollars of sales and I believe this one will top them all."

One of Lura's investors, Wayne Christianson, said he decided to back the product because Lura was so excited about the idea. Christianson, of Moorhead, Minn., is Lura's dentist. He said he operated the roller in his dress clothes.

"Truthfully, I wanted to see Denny succeed," said Christianson, who would not reveal his investment. "It's a good idea, he's a nice guy and he has worked hard all of his life. In the end result, we're probably going to make some money, but I don't know."

Erickson said he became interested in the roller screed after Lura's award at the World of Concrete.

"Those people have had exposure to the other screeds for years, so winning that award is saying a mouthful," Erickson said.

Lura's coupling system that makes the tube adjustable became patent pending on Dec. 9, 2005. If the patent is approved, he said, other companies will "either have to work with us or work around us."

Michael Watchorn, the concrete superintendent at Fargo's Wanzek Construction, calls it a "can't-miss" product.

"In my line of work, if they don't have it, they're looking into it," Watchorn said. "I wish I would have thought of it.