The editors of Woodworking Network screened dozens of innovative products to be launched in 2021. Some of these products were unveiled at the first trade show during the pandemic, and live demonstrations were held, and some products were awarded at these exhibitions. Others we have the opportunity to try and actually use. Another thing this year is the official FDMC Editor's Choice badge. We hope that the selected products can be worn with pride, because they represent breakthrough innovations that serve the woodworking industry and improve efficiency and productivity. Below is a purely subjective list of some of the best products we have seen this year.
Best robot product LestaUSA, Lesta self-learning robot and trolley system LestaUSA stated that by using self-learning robot and trolley system, wood product manufacturers can complete 50% more furniture without hiring. The Lesta robot replicates the painter's precise movements in the teaching mode, from the angle of the gun to the trigger pull. Even the specific rotation of each component on the cart is replicated. Repetitive tasks can now be automated, allowing employees to focus on quality and production. The system can be used on existing or new trolleys. The product won the Vision Award winner at the AWFS Expo in Las Vegas, and editor Will Sampson actually tried to program the robot himself.
Best stationary machine product Felder Group USA, PCS-Preventative Contact System Since SawStop started using hot dogs to showcase its saw safety technology, people have been trying to come up with better systems, but few industrial sliding table saws are offered. Felder Group's new PCS (Preventive Contact System) changed this situation. It is a saw safety technology for industrial saws, designed to ensure the safety of the operator by detecting the movement of the saw blade within a certain threshold. This triggers a safety mechanism that quickly lowers the saw blade under the saw table before it touches any flesh. This technology won Felder a Vision Award at the AWFS Expo.
The best finishing tool Guffey system, PivotLine finishing system Sometimes, in order to speed up the finishing speed, it has nothing to do with the actual finishing, but with how you handle the parts to be finished. These are some of the ideas behind the PivotLine finishing system developed by Nathan Guffey of Guffey Systems. He came up with a way to promote vertical spraying and eliminate the treatment of wet parts, and to make all sides of ordinary cabinet parts sprayable without waiting for one side to dry. Guffey developed the system initially for use in his own cabinet shop. He collaborated with engineering and design company APTUS DesignWorks to develop the system to make it modular and suitable for any store. Stores that use the system with whom we have spoken said that it has completely changed their organization process.
The best safety products ISOtunes, Link Aware and Pro Aware Reactive Hearing Protection We have previously reviewed ISOtunes Link and Xtra 2.0 ear protectors, which are paired with your Bluetooth device, allowing you to listen to music and answer calls while wearing hearing protectors . But these devices can still suppress all external sounds, which may prevent you from hearing colleagues trying to get your attention. Now the company has introduced two new models, ISOtunes Link Aware and ISOtunes Pro Aware. They all have situational awareness functions, which can protect you from noise only when the noise reaches a dangerous level, and allow you to hear normally when the noise level is not dangerous. We tried these in the store and were surprised that they worked well even when they suddenly made a knocking sound like a nail gun. In addition, the wireless Bluetooth connection still allows you to answer calls or listen to music.
The best tool product Spyder, Stinger Mach Blue drill bit If the drill bit is designed to be as attractive as a sports car, the Spyder Stinger Mach Blue drill bit is it. Its blue coating is jaw-dropping, 100 times more holes or black oxide than titanium drills. The drill bit is eight times faster than the titanium drill bit. We can't say these exact claims, but when we tried them in the store, we were surprised to find that their performance was actually better than more traditional industrial drill bits. These are drills with hexagonal shanks designed for most cordless tools. They are specially branded and sold for Lowe's Home Furnishing Center store. But the 10-piece set includes 1/16 to 3/8 inch drill bits for drilling wood, metal, and other materials, which can be easily added to any woodworking toolbox. We abused them in the shop, drilled beveled holes in the metal, and were surprised by their ability to support them.
The best CNC automation product Northtech Machine LLC, iDovetail Northtech stated that its CNC iDovetail combines real-time interactive 3D drawing and is the first dovetail tenon machine with X, Y and Z axis servo positioning, making it the same as inverted CNC machine tools Function. It has a small footprint and is very suitable for precision end work, such as mortises and tenons or stair tread returns. It can be used for wood or plastic materials. This shows that CNC technology is even suitable for smaller woodworking production. It won the Vision Award at AWFS.
The best new material product Palram Palight BuildBoard Palram Americas launched PALIGHT BuildBoard, which is a foamed PVC that can replace wood composite boards such as medium density fiberboard, particleboard and plywood. Palight Buildboard panels are designed to extend the service life and are ideal for manufacturing cabinets, closet storage systems and components. The porous polymer composition is resistant to moisture, mold, mildew and bacterial growth. Editor Will Sampson tried this product in his store and was interested in its possibilities.
The best software product Nordfab pipeline, Quick-Fit visual 3D pipeline design tool Nordfab stated that its Quick-Fit Visual is a free and easy-to-use online tool for designing pipeline installations. QFV provides automatic calculation of pipe size and system requirements. The company stated that users can output quotations and visualize 3D plans, purchase all components required for installation, and obtain the information needed to perform the installation. Users can also export .dwg drawings for use by CAD tools. This product won the Vision Award on AWFS.
Best Material Handling Products Nemo Power Tools, Grabo Pro-Lifter 20 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner One of the most dangerous things in any woodworking operation has nothing to do with cutting tools or powerful machines. This is heavy work for materials and finished products. There are many tools that try to make these tasks safer, but few can take advantage of the elegance and versatility of Nemo Power Tools' new Grabo Pro-Lifter 20. The rated weight of this handheld cordless machine exceeds 300 pounds. We tried it in the store and found that it is suitable for a variety of materials, including wood, plasterboard, and ceramic tiles.
The best edge banding product Pinske Edge, Edge Butler Pinske Edge's Edge Butler is designed to make edge banding faster and easier by reducing downtime switching between strip colors. You can hang the straps of all the colors you need on the trolley on the day, and then push the trolley to the edge banding machine to start strapping; the company says that it is no longer necessary to walk back and forth to get the next band color. The stand can be fully adjusted to suit various heights, and the butler has different sizes to suit the width and thickness of each band. It won the Vision Award at AWFS.
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William Sampson is a lifelong woodworker. Since the 1980s, he has been a small-scale entrepreneur and an advocate of lean manufacturing. He served as the editor of Fine Woodworking magazine in the early 1990s and founded WoodshopBusiness magazine, which he eventually sold and merged with CabinetMaker magazine. He helped establish the Cabinet Manufacturers Association in 1998 and became its first executive director. Today, as the editor of FDMC magazine, he has more than 20 years of experience in the professional woodworking industry. His popular "In the Shop" tool reviews and videos appear in FDMC every month.
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