Safety footwear gets a serious upgrade, a global sealant brand refreshes its trade range, and wall tie installation guidance arrives just as masonry work picks up through summer. Here is everything worth knowing from the UK trades today.

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Today's Key Stories

Amblers Safety enters metatarsal protection with RHEON technology

Amblers Safety, part of the Footsure group, has launched a new range of metatarsal safety boots, becoming the first brand in its category to incorporate RHEON impact-absorbing technology at the metatarsal level. Metatarsal injuries account for a significant proportion of foot injuries on UK construction sites, where dropped materials strike the top of the foot rather than the toe box. The new range is aimed directly at groundworkers, steel fixers, and heavy construction operatives. Source: Professional Builder

Geocel consolidates sealant and adhesive range with new packaging

Geocel has relaunched its sealant, adhesive, and filler range with redesigned packaging intended to simplify product selection in merchant branches. The rebrand consolidates the full lineup under a unified visual system, making it easier for tradespeople to grab the right product quickly at the point of sale. The move signals Geocel's push to strengthen its merchant channel position. Source: Professional Builders Merchant

Staifix Wall Starter Kits and HRT4 Wall Ties: new installation guidance from Ancon/Leviat

Professional Builder has published detailed best-practice guidance on installing Staifix Wall Starter Kits and HRT4 wall ties, covering channel fixing, tie selection criteria, and compliance requirements for masonry connections. The video-backed content comes from Leviat, the engineered connections brand behind Ancon and Staifix, and is aimed at bricklayers and site supervisors working on cavity wall construction. Source: Professional Builder

Knauf Insulation launches free embodied carbon calculator

Knauf Insulation has released a free, browser-based tool that lets specifiers calculate the embodied carbon of insulation products. The calculator is aimed at architects, surveyors, and M&E engineers working to meet net-zero targets and complies with emerging UK building regulations on whole-life carbon assessment. Source: Professional Builder

GRAF UK launches award-winning rainwater harvesting system

GRAF UK has introduced a rainwater harvesting range that maximises use of collected rainwater and reduces reliance on mains top-up systems. The product has received industry award recognition and is pitched at developers and self-builders working toward water efficiency compliance under planning conditions. Source: Professional Builder

Häfele UK reveals what homeowners actually want in a kitchen

New research from Häfele UK shows homeowners are prioritising multi-purpose kitchen spaces and smarter storage over premium appliances. The findings are relevant to kitchen fitters and joiners taking briefs: clients increasingly want pull-out larder units, integrated waste management, and drawer systems that make every cubic centimetre work. Source: Professional Builder

ARDEXacademy North reopens in Stoke-on-Trent

The ARDEX Group UK has announced the official reopening of its northern training academy in Stoke-on-Trent following a major renovation. The upgraded facility offers training across the full range of building and construction sectors and is available to tiling, flooring, and building envelope trades looking for CPD opportunities. Source: Professional Builder

Proctor Group Proctor Air underlay specified on luxury housebuilding site

The Proctor Group's Proctor Air breathable roof underlay has been specified for Priory Fields, the debut development from Braddus Homes, a new luxury housebuilder. The project is a case study in how smaller developers are specifying premium underlay products to differentiate build quality from volume housebuilders. Source: Professional Builder

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