New Products

Base extends safety trainers range

safety trainers

BASE has extended its range of safety trainers with three new options, which the company says will make you feel like you are walking on air. Frisbee, Be-Shiny (pictured) and Colosseum join the existing Martin and Opera BASE trainer line-up, and have a lot in common in terms of comfort and style. Among the lightest safety trainers on the market, …

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One man cladding device review

Cladman One man cladding device review

Roger Bisby spends a day out on site with James Gibbens inventor of Cladman. I had seen Cladman featured in Inventors Corner in an issue of Professional Builder and it whetted my appetite. I have done more than my fair share of cladding and weather boarding and for me it has always been a two man job. Nothing wrong with …

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New brick colour created

UK housing market

A new red brick colour has been created for the Saint-Gobain Weber External Wall Insulation (EWI) system chosen by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) for their property upgrade programme in the Dinnington area. The weber.therm XM EWI system, finished with weber.rend RB Render Brick in the new Georgian Red colour, has been created to accurately match the established red brick …

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Why it’s worth investing in kneepads

kneepads

In this video Roger Bisby discusses the benefits of investing in decent kneepads. Roger outlines some of the latest technology used in knee protection, including a knee pad from Snickers which incorporates D30, a shock-absorbing substance which has improved impact protection for motorcyclists and sportspeople. D3O materials in their raw state flow freely when moved slowly, but on shock, lock …

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Stabila launches telescopic spirit level

Stabila Telescopic 80T

Stabila has launched a telescopic spirit level, the Telescopic 80T, which offers the right length of level for any job while saving space in the tool bag. With one spirit level to do the work of several, the Stabila Telescopic 80T can be easily extended to the length needed, doing the job of up to three fixed-length levels in one. …

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Mercedes-Benz introduces dual-clutch automatic Citan

dual-clutch automatic Citan

Mercedes-Benz Vans has introduced dual-clutch automatic transmission versions of the Citan which are priced from £15,820 and will be available from June 2016. Selected Citan 112 variants will be available to order with the new 6G-DCT automatic transmission. Citan panel van and Tourer models with the 112 petrol engine can benefit from the double clutch transmission, which combines the comfort …

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Mexco simplifies blade selection

mexco blades

I have written many articles on diamond blades over the years explaining how each type of blade works and the enduring message is that there is still no such thing as one blade that is optimised for all tasks.  As much as you might try we recognise that there is a lot of information to hold in your head when you go …

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Makita saw review: Tungsten Carbide Tipped Holesaw

Makita saw

In this Makita saw video Skill Builder reviews the Makita D-51297 9 Piece TCT Universal Holesaw Kit. The Makita saw kit can be used to cut a wide variety of materials including, vitrified ceramic, bricks, plaster board, plastics, melamine, hard woods, chipboard and MDF. It is robust and durable with strong TCT teeth which produce excellent results. Features include: The …

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Single-use moulded masks

Single-use moulded masks

Honeywell has introduced a new range of single-use, moulded masks featuring a PU foam seal that has been designed to improve safety, performance and comfort. The 800 series masks are made of high performing, humidity and low breathing resistant material making them well suited to environments where workers are exposed to hazardous materials found in dust, mist and fumes. The …

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The Cladman One Man Cladding Device

the Cladman

Roger Bisby meets James Gibbons, from Sitebuddyz, suppliers of a device called the Cladman which turns the job of putting up sidings or claddings from a two man job into a one man job. With one person cutting and one person fixing, Sitbuddyz estimates you can complete jobs at three times the speed it normally takes. Acting as a second …

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Kingspan Tribune Xe Indirect Cylinder Installation

Kingspan Tribune Xe Direct Cylinder

Pre-plumbed cylinders are usually the choice for new build where they have plenty of people to move the units into the airing cupboards before fitting the doors but I like the look of them and I  had already decided that on my next cylinder installation I was going to try a pre-plumbed unit. It isn’t that I find it difficult …

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Retecflex Re 14-5-115 review

Retecflex Re 14-5-115

Roger Bisby grinds it out with the Retecflex from Flex. In essence this Retecflex grinder and sander is an angle grinder with a fancy dust extractor attachment permanently attached to its side but it is no ordinary angle grinder. It is a 1400 watt German built angle grinder with electronic speed control, soft start and restart protection so it doesn’t …

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Bostik launches All Weather Wide Jointing Compound

Bostik All-Weather Wide Jointing Compound

Bostik has launched a new All Weather Wide Jointing Compound for paths and patios, specially formulated for use in wet and dry weather conditions. Suitable for joints from 5mm to 30mm in width, the new jointing compound requires no mixing or special tools during installation; it can simply be brushed and compacted into the joints. Once cured, it forms a …

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Volkswagen Amarok Gets Facelift and V6 Engine

New Volkswagen Amarok

The new Volkswagen Amarok is set to feature the latest generation of Volkswagen V6 engines meaning drivers can look forward to an additional litre of displacement offered by the 3.0-litre engine. The new engine will deliver 550 Nm of torque and has an output of 224 PS. Offering high torque at low engine speeds, the six-cylinder engine is said to produce …

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Stylish safety boots

Stylish safety boots

Three new models have been added to Italian premium safety footwear brand Aimont’s  Trucker range of stylish safety boots. The combination of safety, strength and reliability and a deep tread pattern that allows optimum grip on all types of surface is said to distinguish the fashionable Trucker Iceland and Scotland boots and Galles shoes. They also feature composite, rather than …

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Isuzu launches truck for all terrain

Isuzu AT35

Isuzu has bolstered the D-Max line-up with the launch of an extreme version. The new Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 is engineered to take on the most arduous terrain, according to the manufacturer. Available in either double-cab or extended-cab configurations, Isuzu says the AT35 is the most capable pick-up it has ever put on sale. It is priced from £30,995. …

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Iveco debuts new daily 4×4

Iveco flat bed

Iveco used the CV Show to premiere its New Daily 4×4 – the latest generation off-roader, built with special features to tackle tough terrain including quarries, building sites and remote locations often inaccessible to regular commercial vehicles. The updated 4×4 is said to pair a reinforced body with the driving comfort of an on-road vehicle including excellent forward visibility and …

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Toyota Proace van makes world debut

Toyota Proace van

The new Toyota Proace Van range of light commercial vehicles is making its world debut at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC in Birmingham this week with UK order books now open ahead of the official start of sales in September. Five-year warranty New Proace Van will be sold in the UK with  five-year/100,000-mile warranty, with unlimited mileage for …

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