The big story this Monday is Amblers Safety becoming the first brand in the UK market to use RHEON impact-absorbing technology in a metatarsal safety boot, a genuine product development rather than a rebadge. Alongside that, GRAF UK is pushing its award-winning rainwater harvesting range at a time when water bills and sustainability requirements are both biting on commercial builds. It is a quiet but productive day for product launches across the building trades.

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Top stories today

Amblers Safety launches metatarsal boot range with RHEON technology

Amblers Safety, part of the Footsure group, has announced a new range of metatarsal protection safety boots. The range is notable because it is the first from any brand in its category to incorporate RHEON technology, a viscoelastic lattice material originally developed for impact management in high-performance sport. For site workers in heavy fabrication, groundworks, or structural steel environments, metatarsal protection is a specific compliance requirement, and having it built into a boot from an established safety footwear brand is a practical step forward.

Source: Professional Builder

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OX Tools SPEEDFRAME competition confirms product launch

OX Tools is running a giveaway for two sizes of the newly launched OX Pro SPEEDFRAME, which it says is designed to improve accuracy and efficiency on site. Competition activity is typically a reliable signal that a product is in active distribution. The SPEEDFRAME is positioned as a framing and setting-out tool. Details on the competition are available via Professional Builder.

Source: Professional Builder

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Knauf Insulation releases free embodied carbon calculator

Knauf Insulation has launched a free online calculator that lets specifiers calculate the embodied carbon of insulation products. Embodied carbon is the carbon produced in making and transporting a material, as distinct from the carbon saved through its insulating performance. The calculator gives specifiers a fuller picture of a product's whole-life environmental impact. This matters increasingly as Local Planning Authorities and planning consultants request lifecycle assessments on building fabric decisions.

Source: Professional Builder

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GRAF UK releases award-winning rainwater harvesting range

GRAF UK has launched its AA Eco-Plus rainwater harvesting range, which the company says is designed to maximise the use of collected rainwater and reduce reliance on mains top-ups. The range has won industry recognition. For contractors and developers dealing with sustainable drainage requirements on larger residential and commercial sites, off-mains water storage is an increasingly specified feature.

Source: Professional Builder

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Kömmerling builds on KömaDek decking momentum

Kömmerling is highlighting the growing adoption of its KömaDek system, a high-performance PVC building plastics decking product. The company is continuing to push its presence in the outdoor building plastics space. KömaDek is aimed at contractors and installers looking for low-maintenance, durable decking alternatives to composite or hardwood.

Source: Professional Builder

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ARDEX Group UK reopens training academy in Stoke-on-Trent

The ARDEXacademy North in Stoke-on-Trent has reopened following significant renovation and investment. The upgraded facility is described as a modern, highly flexible training environment covering the full range of building and construction sectors that ARDEX serves, including screeding, tiling, flooring, and waterproofing. For contractors in the Midlands and North, this expands accessible hands-on training close to site.

Source: Professional Builder

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Proctor Group's Proctor Air underlay specified on luxury development

Proctor Group's Proctor Air breathable roofing underlay has been specified on Priory Fields, the debut development from Braddus Homes, a new luxury housebuilder. The specification of Proctor Air on a pitched roof project underscores the product's position at the quality end of the breathable membrane market. For roofing contractors, underlay specified by a developer at planning stage is worth knowing about as a benchmark product.

Source: Professional Builder

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On the radar

Paslode RoofTile Nailer remains worth watching. The world's first dedicated rooftile nailer from Paslode is coming to market. We covered this in full on 3 July. If you are a roofer and missed it, read that piece here.

Makita workwear range continues to generate coverage. The brand's dedicated workwear line, sold via makitaukworkwear.com, is expanding. Covered in detail on 3 July.

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