New Products

Bosch GCL 2-15 review

Bosch GCL 2-15 review

Roger Bisby looks at the latest Green Beam laser from Bosch. It seems that manufacturers spent years getting people to buy red beam laser levels and no sooner had everyone got one than they introduced green beam lasers, brighter clearer, four times the visibility and ten times the price. The price has started to drop  to the point where jobbing …

Read More »

Extended range of break-back Torque Wrenches

Torque Wrenches

Designed to be robust, reliable and easy to use, the new 2R (270 N·m) and 2AR (340 N·m) torque wrenches, featuring a break-back torque signal, are the latest products from Norbar Torque Tools. The new 2R and 2AR responds to the need for a smaller model of the enduringly popular industrial break-back torque wrenches. Simple to use, the 2R and …

Read More »

Triton Jigsaw review

Triton Jigsaw review

Roger gets his hands on Triton’s pendulum action jigsaw for #powertoolfriday; find out if this cost-effective jig can cut it in this Triton Jigsaw review. Product Features: Dual axis grips and balanced body design keep the tool on the workpiece, and move the tool with improved stability 4-position mode selector with 3-stage pendulum action for optimised, fast cutting and reduced …

Read More »

Real Deals for You: Irwin Pliers review

Irwin Pliers review

In this new series of videos Skill Builder is taking a look at a selection of products from Real Deals for You, the consumer campaign which provides big brand tools at competitive prices through local independent retailers. Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand and power tool distributors, Toolbank, and created to …

Read More »

Milwaukee Heavy Duty Fest report: Part 2

quiet impact driver

In the second part of our series of videos from Milwaukee’s Heavy Duty Fest 2107 in Berlin, Sendi Spoljaric shows us the M18 FUEL SURGE ¼˝ Hex hydraulic driver, said to be the quietest cordless fastening solution on the market. Features include: – On board fuel gauge and LED light – Flexible battery system: works with all Milwaukee® M18™ batteries …

Read More »

Real Deals for You: Komelon Powerblade Review

Komelon Powerblade Review

In this brand new series of videos Skill Builder is taking a look at a selection of products from Real Deals for You, the consumer campaign which provides big brand tools at competitive prices through local independent retailers. Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand and power tool distributors, Toolbank, and created …

Read More »

Baxi extends 200 & 400 range

Baxi 200

Following the launch of its Baxi 200 and 400 Combis, boiler manufacturer Baxi has added heat only models to its super-powered range. Weighing in at just 19.5kg, the Baxi 200 and 400 Heat boilers are said to be the lightest in the UK, and include a number of time-saving features, which mean installations can be completed quickly. Available in outputs …

Read More »

Game-changing multi-tool?

Gerber Centre-Drive

Gerber has introduced the Gerber Centre-Drive multi-tool which the company claims is a game-changing addition to its range designed for real life and heavy-duty work. The tool’s one-thumb opening design allows for quick deployment of the three full size tools that are depended on the most: pliers, blades, and screwdriver. The Centre-Drive introduces an extra-long 3.2 inch magnetic bit driver …

Read More »

Real Deals for You: Leica laser review

Leica laser review

In this brand new series of videos Skill Builder is taking a look at a selection of new products from Real Deals for You, the consumer campaign which provides big brand tools at competitive prices through local independent retailers. Real Deals for You is a year-round campaign run by one of Europe’s leading hand and power tool distributors, Toolbank, and …

Read More »

Milwaukee Heavy Duty Fest report: Part 1

Milwaukee Dual Bevel Mitre Saw

In this video the Skill Builder team travel to Berlin for Milwaukee’s Heavy Duty Fest 2017. In this first episode from the event, Rich Powell gives us a demo of the M18 FUEL Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Mitre Saw, the M18 FUEL Drywall Screw Gun and the M18 FUEL SAWZALL Reciprocating Saw with ONE-KEY tracking and management technology. More detail …

Read More »

New generation Isuzu D-Max pricing and range announced

New generation Isuzu D-Max

Isuzu has announced the range line up and pricing for its new generation D-Max which arrives in the UK this Spring. The range line up from the much-loved D-Max is retained; Utility, Eiger, Yukon, Utah and Blade with a range of single, extended and double cab variants available. Prices start from £15,749 The entry-level Utility D-Max, priced from £15,749 (CVOTR) …

Read More »

DeWalt XR FLEXVOLT demonstration

DeWalt XR FLEXVOLT

Roger visits the Professional Builder Live show at Alexandra Palace and finds out more about the new DeWalt XR FLEXVOLT battery technology with Mark Bippus. XR FLEXVOLT is a range of 54V power tools that offer runtime and performance which has never been seen before – for the first time, professional tradesmen can reliably undertake heavy-duty construction applications without the …

Read More »

Tackles damp that’s difficult to reach

damp-proof coatings

The Drybase range from Safeguard Europe – the UK specialist in damp-proofing and waterproofing technology – has been designed for use when it is not possible to protect building materials and interior surfaces from the sources of dampness, like rain penetration or rising damp. The collection of damp-proof coatings, coverings coatings and membranes can be used for protection against a …

Read More »

Worker loses leg in “accident that should never have happened”

Construction boss jailed

A Canvey Island engineering firm has been sentenced for health and safety breaches after a worker suffered life-changing injuries. Southend-on-Sea Magistrates’ Court heard that on 10 June 2015 Felix Trefas, 27, a welder for F. Brazil Reinforcements Ltd, was making large steel reinforcing cages which were moved by overhead travelling cranes. When one of these cranes broke down, a colleague …

Read More »

Screwfix opens 500th store

Screwfix opens 500th store

Omnichannel retailer, Screwfix has opened its 500th UK store at Lumina Park, Enfield, north London, marking a major milestone in the retailer’s expansion of its store network. Since opening its first store in Yeovil in 2005, Screwfix has grown significantly and has opened one store per week for the past six years meaning 90% of the UK population is within …

Read More »

Festool Kapex KS 60 Sliding Compound Mitre Saw demonstration

Festool KS 60 Sliding Compound Mitre Saw

In February Skill Builder was invited to Festoool’s UK HQ for an exclusive demonstration of the new Festool Kapex KS 60 Sliding Compound Mitre Saw. In this video Philip Beckley, Festool’s training officer, provides a comprehensive demonstration of the new machine and talks through some of its key features and benefits. www.festool.co.uk

Read More »

The wearable technology revolution in working clothes

wearable technology revolution

Snickers Workwear has always been well-known for its modern designs, innovative functionality and market-leading fabric technology. Now its WorkTrousers are getting even ‘smarter’ with the integration of technology to improve performance and wellbeing at work. Wearable Technology is already woven into our daily lives through smartphones, fitness devices, sports clothing and accessories – to help monitor and improve performance. A …

Read More »

Welsh properties get thermal upgrade

webertherm

External Wall Insulation by Saint-Gobain Weber has been specified for the thermal upgrade of social housing properties in Bangor and Y Bala, North Wales.  They have been transformed with the application of the webertherm XP External Wall Insulation (EWI) with u-values that have been dramatically reduced while the aesthetics of the properties have been changed completely.  Residents are praising these …

Read More »

Van Guard roof rack review

Van Guard roof rack review

Roger Bisby installs a new Van Guard roof rack. When I sold my old Mercedes Vito I sold the roof rack with it. It was a Van Guard roof rack made for the van so there was little point in keeping it besides I really fancied the look of the new Van Guard roof rack with the aerodynamic Ultibars. All …

Read More »

Eurocell offers BIM in a basket

BIM Centre

Eurocell, the UK manufacturer, distributor and recycler of window, door, conservatory and roofline products – has reimagined the way designers and specifiers access its BIM models. The result is the BIM Centre, where finding and downloading the right BIM models is quick and fast, and updates are delivered automatically. Users can sign up free to the BIM Centre in minutes …

Read More »