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W.steps Launches 3 Telescopic Ladders

This January, Hultafors Group North America is introducing its W.steps telescopic ladders to the professional market in the United States and Canada. W.steps (pronounced “vee-steps”) traces its roots to Sweden and brings with it an exacting Scandinavian design and manufacturing approach that delivers a superior product that’s safe, durable and efficient.

W.steps. is entering North America with three premium telescopic ladder lines – PRIME, COMBI and RESCUE – that are made specifically to meet the needs of tradespeople and emergency personnel.

“While the W.steps brand is new to North America, these products have been sold throughout the world since 1996 under the Telesteps brand. Telesteps, which was acquired by Hultafors Group in 2022, invented and perfected telescopic ladder technology,” says Christopher Berg, vice president of international brands, Hultafors Group North America. “Other imitator telescopic ladder brands have entered the market since Telesteps invented it, but none match the safety, durability and convenience of our products.”

W.steps PRIME Line

Designed and manufactured in Sweden, the telescopic PRIME Line ladders from W.steps are available in three ladder heights – 9.5′, 11.5′ and 13.5′. The adjustable telescopic height makes them ideal for use at a variety of commercial and residential job sites. Plus, W.steps PRIME Line ladders feature exclusive innovations that deliver safety, durability and ease of use.

Pictured: With its telescopic design, the 9.5′ PRIME Line ladder from W.steps can easily be adjusted for the task at hand.

• Adjustable Height – The telescopic design allows users to easily extend the ladder to the precise height they require and then quickly collapse it for convenient, compact transport or storage.
• Strong and Stable Rails – Made in Sweden from aircraft-grade, certified aluminum, the PRIME Line is the first and only telescopic ladder with rails that have a triangular tube design. This patented, advanced engineering delivers superior torsional rigidity that makes the ladder stronger and more stable than round tube designed telescopic ladders.
• Safety-enhanced, Comfortable Rungs – The PRIME Line rungs have grooved channels to disperse dirt and moisture and are 3 1/8” wide to provide more comfort, reduce muscle fatigue and help prevent slipping. In fact, the rungs are 30% wider than competing products. With safety and comfort in mind, the rungs are designed to be level to the ground at an optimal 75-degree ladder angle.
• Secure Base – The PRIME Line has contoured rubber feet to establish solid contact with the ground or floor to help prevent slipping and provide a stable platform to more safely perform tasks. The 11.5′ and 13.5′ ladders have patented, integrated, adjustable stabilizer bars that provide two additional points of contact for even more stability.
• Adjustable Safety Feet – This add-on accessory allows each ladder leg to be adjusted individually to ensure the ladder has full, level contact on uneven surfaces.
• Solid Rubber Top – The top rails are capped with durable rubber to prevent sliding and damage to walls and can be adjusted individually to accommodate uneven or obstructed surfaces.
• Secure Locking – Red Safe-Lock tabs visually indicate if each rung is properly locked in place.
• Convenient, Controlled Closing – To eliminate accidental unlocking, users must push two buttons to initiate the ladder’s closing mechanism. To avoid pinched fingers, which is a common occurrence with competing products, the PRIME Line has a patented slow close system.
• Easy Transport – Constructed from lightweight, yet durable, Swedish-made aluminum, W.steps ladders are easy to carry and stow thanks to their telescopic design. The 9.5′ PRIME Line ladder folds down to 2′ 5″ and the 11.5′ and 13.5′ collapse to 2′ 9″ and 3′ 1,” respectively.

Pictured: The 9.5′ telescopic PRIME Line ladder from W.steps collapses to 2′ 5,” making it easy to carry and store.

• Third-party Certification – As part of its commitment to safety, W.steps PRIME Line ladders have gone through rigorous testing and are Type 1A ANSI-certified. The ladders are also currently undergoing CSA certification.

In addition to adjustable safety feet, PRIME Line ladders have a full complement of innovative accessories, including ground spikes, carry bag, tool tray, wall mount and spare parts.

The W.steps PRIME Line telescopic ladders come with a one-year warranty and have an MSRP of $359 for the 9.5′, $399 for the 11.5′ and $599 for the 13.5′ model. They are available online at Acme Tools and through Hultafors Group North America dealers nationwide.

For more information, visit wsteps.us.

Introducing Great Stuff™ Wide Spray – a new one-component broad coverage spray foam that​ expands up to one inch, creating a durable, airtight and weather-resistant seal. Available​ exclusively at Lowe’s and lowes.com, this all-in-one insulating foam sealant is an excellent​ solution for air sealing large gaps, irregular surfaces and hard-to-reach spaces.

Designed for fast application, Wide Spray offers a quick, easy way to seal wide gaps and tight spaces and adheres to both vertical and horizontal surfaces without sagging. Its lightweight, shake-and-spray design makes covering large areas effortless, helping users complete tough jobs with greater efficiency.

With a simple, hassle-free formula that requires no complex setup, mixing, coveralls or respirators*, Great Stuff™ Wide Spray can streamline the process, helping to save both time and money.

Each box contains:

• Two 18 oz. cans of Great Stuff™ Wide Spray, covering up to 60 linear feet when sprayed in a 4” wide band
• Two white cone nozzles, spraying up to 4” wide for more precise sealing in tight spaces
• Two blue fan nozzles, spraying up to 6” wide for broad coverage from a distance

The fan spray from the blue nozzle is perfect for top plates, corner bottom plate
junctions, California corners and HVAC junctions, while the cone spray from the white nozzle is ideal for picture framing, rim joints and attic can lights.

Additional benefits, includes:

• Adheres to wood, metal, masonry, glass and most plastics
• Suitable for both interior and exterior use; apply a UV-resistant coating for best results outdoors
• Class A fire resistant for sealant applications
• Tack-free in 10 minutes, cuttable in 1–2 hours, and fully cured in 24 hours
• Can be painted, stained or sanded for a finished look

For more information about Great Stuff™ Wide Spray, visit greatstuff.com/widespray and follow @greatstufffoam on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

HammerHead Trenchless, a leading manufacturer of trenchless installation, rehabilitation, and replacement solutions for underground utility infrastructure, has released the newest addition to their product line: The PortaBurst® PB30X.

The PB30X is a portable, cost-effective and efficient method of replacing 2″ to 6″ lateral pipes in a minimum amount of time, with up to 30 tons of pulling force. “Through extensive research and development, we were able to create a system that is 125 lbs. lighter than its predecessor, while maintaining the same power,” said Mark Randa, Sr. Manager of Research, Development & Engineering of HammerHead Trenchless.

Along with being lighter than HammerHead’s previous downhole unit, the PB30X prioritizes portability and breaks down into three components. According to Randa, this allows for easy carrying into basements and overall transportation of the unit.

Having the PB30X on a jobsite provides versatility as the unit can burst sewer laterals and slit water and gas services. “With a second jaw set and 3/8” cable, this unit can be used to slit plastic and lead water services,” said Randa.

To accompany the new PB30X, HammerHead Trenchless has also released the newest hydraulic control unit, the PB13X. The PB13X comes equipped with a new tethered controller or optional wireless controller to allow the operator to be close to the pit while the control unit is further away. “Our team spent time on with customers on their job sites and saw that flexibility is key to any job site and whether they use the tethered or wireless controller, we now provide that needed flexibility,” said Randa. “Our patent pending jaw system was created to increase speed and efficiency on the jobsite while making the unit versatile to allow for bursting and slitting,” he added.

To continue to provide flexibility to customers, HammerHead is now providing stackable extraction cages and an extended Quick Grip® Burst Head line covering 2-to-6-inch options. “The stackable extraction cages now allow to fully pull in a 6-inch burst head,” said Randa. “And the new burst head line can burst through any fracturable pipe and negotiate 45-degree bends,” he added.

The PB30X, PB13X, and additional components are all available for purchase at hammerheadshop.com

RefrigiWear, a 70-year pioneer in safety apparel and insulated PPE for extremely cold work environments, now delivers a high-visibility version of its best-selling PolarForce® Bib Overalls.

Now available in high-visibility lime or original charcoal gray, insulated HiVis PolarForce Bib Overalls are meticulously designed to give mechanics, technicians, transportation workers and constructions professionals a leg up against cold and wet winter weather.

Stay Seen, Stay Safe & Stay Warm

When conditions are dangerously cold, there’s no room to compromise on protection. The secret to staying safe and avoiding accidents while working in cold weather is staying warm and staying visible.

High-visibility PolarForce Bib Overalls from RefrigiWear protect people in every cold condition, from the deep freeze of the cold storage cryosphere to the blustery heights of telecommunications towers and every job in between.

Lightweight 500gsm polyester insulation delivers industrial-strength protection from the cold. Paired with a heat-reflecting lining to trap escaping body heat and reflect it back for even more warmth, HiVis PolarForce Bib Overalls are field tested and comfort rated for freezing and subzero temperatures down to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

The outershell is made of durable, flexible polyester that stands up to wear-and-tear from tough jobs. Plus, it’s wind-tight and water-repellent, so it resists rough, wet and windy winter weather. And, with high-visibility fabric paired with reflective piping and trim, these insulated work overalls are sure to stand out on low-light, high-traffic jobsites.

Flexible & Functional

When the weather gets rough, tough RefrigiWear insulated workwear helps workers outlast and outwork the cold.

Crafted with Performance-Flex accordion-stretch panels at the waist and knees, HiVis PolarForce Bib Overalls delivery maximum mobility and range of motion without bunching or riding up, keeping the core, vital organs and lower extremities protected from the cold.

Equipped with a durable YKK® front-zip closure, draft-sealing storm flap, waterproof chest pockets, zippered hand-warmer pockets, and cargo pockets on both legs, HiVis PolarForce Bib Overalls offer practicality and functionality to meet the demands of any cold weather work. Plus, above-knee leg zippers make it quick and easy to take these bibs off without having to remove boot.

Extended Sizes Available

Available in extended men’s sizes from small to 5XL, HiVis PolarForce Bib Overalls protect workers from dangerously cold conditions so they can reach peak performance without compromising safety or mobility.

Coordinated Cold Weather Protection

HiVis PolarForce Bib Overalls coordinate perfectly with other garments, gloves and waterproof work boots in the PolarForce Collection from RefrigiWear, including the HiVis PolarForce Jacket and HiVis PolarForce Sweatshirt, now available in high-visibility lime and high-visibility orange colors.

Learn more about outfitting your team with the subzero protection of HiVis PolarForce Bib Overalls at pro.refrigiwear.com.