The best technologies of 2021 for tools and equipment

The PRO TOOL INNOVATION AWARDS (PTIA) is the "Oscar" among professional tools. PTIA Award (https://protoolinnovationawards.com ) was established in order to highlight the latest innovations and novelties in the field of tools to professionals and serious home craftsmen.

Our article below will review the most interesting winners of the PTIA 2021 Award in the Technology category. You can find winners in other categories of the instrument here!

This year we have witnessed amazing achievements in both networking and technology. This took the form of NFC (Short-range Communication) tool tracking for robotic and assistive technologies. Never has a construction site seemed so ready for a technological revolution. The only question seems to be how far will it go? and how fast will we get there? Regardless of the time frame, technologies continue to shape the safety and security of the work site. 

• Products for connections and networks

The winner is the DEWALT DCE081 Tool Connect Construction Asset Gateway (Gateway for connecting to construction sites).

Tool Connect Construction Asset Gateway is a Bluetooth reader that reports Tool Connect products to Tool Connect Site Manager via cellular and GPS. The Construction Asset Gateway eliminates the need for a phone to connect and is the optimal solution for tracking boxes of materials, tools, as well as vehicles. 

• Phones

The winner is Cat S62 Pro.

Cat S62 Pro has several exclusive enhancements that allow you to get an even more accurate thermal image that helps to find and diagnose dampness, draft, leak, hot spot, short circuit, blockage or elevated temperature.

It is equipped with a professional-level FLIR Lepton 3.5 thermal sensor, which provides a 4-fold increase in the number of thermal pixels and the highest resolution available today. The VividIR image processing technology from FLIR, used in Cat S62 Pro, allows you to achieve excellent quality, high definition and thermal image resolution.

The Cat S62 Pro has been tested to meet the tough and market-leading standards of Cat phones and exceeds the requirements for IP68 and IP69 penetration protection, as well as the US military standard Mil-Spec 810H. It has been thoroughly tested, including multiple drop tests from a height of 1.8 m on steel, with multiple falls on each side and angle. It also withstands comprehensive tests for water resistance, protection from dirt and dust, as well as at extreme temperatures. 

• Other software and applications

The winner is DEWALT HangerWorks Pro.

HangerWorks PRO is an AutoDesk Revit plug-in used by contractors in the field of mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment for automating the installation of MEP suspensions and seismic struts.

Users can switch which materials are used, as HangerWorks PRO includes many different manufacturers providing users with options: pipes, ducts, conduits and cable trays.

• Software and applications for management and diagnostics of tools

The winner is LENOX 360 LXBS360TOW.

LENOX 360 is a digital product that connects to any band saw model. It collects data from all connected saws at the enterprise or facilities and displays data in real time on information panels that can be seen on many different devices. LENOX 360 will revolutionize the industry by enabling users to better understand and analyze their work and productivity.

• Software and applications for tracking assets and materials

The winner is Hilti ON! Track 3.0.

ON! Track Generation 3.0 is a software solution that provides instant clarity and efficiency for businesses, helping to reduce operational and overhead costs. Users will receive an integrated cloud solution that provides a new level of control and access to information. 

Thanks to smart sensor tags and proactive tracking gateways, construction specialists have access to continuous and reliable tracking of all tagged assets and materials in warehouses and containers. Improved sensor tags will provide transparency on how, when and where assets are used, while new proactive tracking gateways allow remote inventory and automatic reporting. The system has also been improved to better track and manage tool accessories, making inventory and supplies management much easier.