You can have the greatest drill or pneumatic nailer in the world, but without fasteners, they don’t do all that much. Great fasteners can make a job easier to complete, save time and money, or simply present a new and more efficient way to work. From anchors and screws to wooden (yes wooden) nails, here are your winners for the PTIA 2018 Fasteners Awards.
Winner – Anchors
Hilti Kwik Cast KCM-WF
What they said:
Hilti designed the best-in-class Hilti Cast-in anchor KCM-WF with one goal in mind: to make every problem associated with pre-cast anchoring a thing of the past. The KCM-WF features a versatile, multi-thread design to accommodate a variety of rod diameters. It also has a reliable attachment system to make sure the head stays in place and right where you put it when the concrete starts flowing. Finally, a firm foam plug protects the interior threads from concrete intrusion. It comes in a variety of body and foam color options to color code and easily identify specific runs, helping you avoid costly mistakes and saving hours of time, effort, and expense on the job site. Combine this with our back-saving KCS-WF-ST setting tool means you can set the KCM-WF anchor quickly and easily from a standing position or when reaching through rebar.
What we say:
When you set out to improve a product with the mindset of fixing all the current frustrations, that’s ambitious. But when you pull it off, that’s innovation. Hilti’s Kwik-Cast pre-cast anchors solve a host of issues. The fact that they stay where you put them really stands out to our team. They also work against concrete settling into them, and the color coding makes it practically apprentice-proof.
Price: $1.00 – $6.00 per piece
For more information, click here.
Winner – Chemical Anchors
Hilti HIT HY 270 Masonry Mortar
What they said:
Hilti launches the next evolution in masonry chemical anchoring with the new HIT-HY 270 masonry mortar, which sets a new benchmark for anchoring into CMU and clay bricks. HIT-HY 270 is the first and only masonry mortar that incorporates SAFESET technology, which automatically cleans the hole as you drill with a Hilti hollow drill bit and vacuum, providing a safe and reliable installation that is OSHA 1926.1153 Table 1 compliant.
HIT-HY 270 gives specifiers and contractors more versatility in design and installation with improved spacing and edge distance, additional base materials, and applications. For challenging projects where the masonry strength is in question, Hilti offers a professional on-site testing service to provide project-specific masonry data. In addition, Hilti simplifies the masonry design process by launching PROFIS Masonry, which will allow engineers to design with confidence in masonry applications. Users can design and install with confidence on masonry projects with the superior masonry mortar Hilti HIT-HY 270.
What we say:
Anchoring in questionable masonry doesn’t have to be hit or miss—that would make for an expensive an inefficient way to run a business. Hilti’s combination of HIT HY 270 mortar and mesh sleeves gives you the greatest confidence in the structural integrity of your project.
Price: $54
For more information, click here.
Winner – Screws
Proferred Drywallerz Screws
What they said:
The tighter drive tolerance and extremely sharp points on Proferred Drywallerz screws equal less wobble and faster install times, saving you time and money on each and every job. Proferred had their engineers work with engineers at the Taiwanese factory to make design enhancements to the screws. The threads and points are a little sharper than standard to reduce wobble. The Phillips recess is a bit deeper and keeps the tolerances tighter. These enhancements result in 100% faster installation times and tighter drive engagement.
During the manufacturing process, the machine dies are changed out sooner than recommended in order to ensure premium quality consistency. The factory also sends the screws through a spin process after plating to remove oil residue.
What we say:
Innovating drywall screws? Is there really anything left to improve? Well, yes, actually. Proferred makes some simple but profound changes, including a sharper tip to get the drive started. It’s the consistency in the quality that really sets them apart, though. Changing the dies out earlier than necessary costs more, but it means you’ll get an exact fit every time.
Price: $27.51
For more information, click here.
Winner – Specialty Fasteners
BECK Fastener Group LignoLoc Wooden Nail System
What they said:
The revolutionary LignoLoc wooden nails are made from Central European beechwood. Using the LignoLoc pneumatic nailer, they drive quickly without any pre-drilling. They also fuse perfectly with the surrounding wood, forming an inseparable bond thanks to a lignin welding effect. LignoLoc forms no thermal bridges and leaves no traces of corrosion. You can produce pure wood joints with LignoLoc wooden nails in the same amount of time as joints with metal nails. The LignoLoc wooden nails resist fungal infestation, making them optimal for outdoor applications and areas susceptible to corrosion. Above all, LignoLoc wooden nails stand out due to their environmentally friendly properties. Beechwood remains a renewable, domestic raw material in Europe, the location for the BECK Fastener Group.
What we say:
How do corrosion-free nails sound? They sound great to us, and the BECK Fastener Group makes it happen by making beechwood nails. But it’s not your typical design that requires a pilot hole. You’ll be able to use BECK’s specifically-designed pneumatic nailer to make the installation process much easier and faster. Once in, the lignin takes over and creates a bond that won’t come loose. It’s the perfect solution for an all-wood joint.
Price: $143 (box of 1020 nails)
For more information, click here.