Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 8470 2016 | TECH Tools, accessories and apps Tony Pasquarelli, marketing services manager Custom Building Products www.custombuildingproducts.com As younger and more technolog- ically-savvy contractors come into our industry, we continue to see a greater emphasis on digital resources and a decline in the use of printed reference manuals.  Tile contrac- tors and design professionals that embrace technology have a competi- tive advantage.  They have access to the latest, most up-to-date product and specification information that is constantly updated to reflect the latest standards and industry trends. Ben Szell, president European Tile Masters www.europeantilemasters.com As we all know by now, the large porcelain tile slabs/panels are here to stay. The simple reason is that it makes sense because everyone loves them. They opened up enormous possibilities for design and installation options. Initially, the tile tool industry was not ready for the demand due to the rapid changes in size, thickness, texture, weight and composition. All of these changes created new challenges. Yet we have been able to adapt quickly and stay ahead of the ever-evolving tile industry. Thanks to the factories taking the lead in training contractors and using the latest tools and techniques avail- able, we were able to generate a pool of qualified installers nationwide. Listening to our customers helps us recognize where changes are needed. We are also taking the lead in organiz- ing and conducting hands-on training seminars across the U.S. Our focus is to keep the tile industry equipped with the tools needed for the ever- changing products. We are ready and excited to meet these challenges. Ted Skaff, vice president of marketing Lackmond www.lackmond.com With the growing trend of large- format tile and porcelain tile, it is important to understand which tile blade and saw is best for the job. What size tile will determine what type of saw to use, and the type of tile (i.e. ceramic, porcelain, etc.) will determine what blade to use. Most tile installers need to cut a vari- etyoftilesrangingfromceramicstopor- celains and even natural stones. Each diamond blade is designed to be used on a specific material or set of materi- als. For example, there are ceramic tile blades, porcelain tile blades, glass tile blades and much more. Diamond blades are manufactured using a synthetic diamond combined with a metal compound to form the matrix. This, along with the actual bond of the matrix, determines what type of material it will cut optimally. There are a few factors to consid- er when selecting a diamond blade: blade life; cutting speed; what type of material is being cut; and level of finish desired. There are usually trade-offs when choosing between level of finish and cutting speed, as well and blade life and cutting speed. Faster cutting blades are usually engi- neered with a wider-slot turbo rim or segmented rim. These blades cut fast but tend to chip the material, which may be OK for a specific job. There are also blades designed with a thinner kerf which tend to cut faster due to minimizing the heat and blade drag. Also, diamond blades with lon- ger life usually have a harder bond which tends to cut a little slower than softer bonded blades. Most suppliers offer a wide range of blades to cut a variety of applica- tions and they are usually indicated on the blade and/or packaging mak- ing it easy for the operator to select the right blade for the job. Bill Russo, president Russo Trading Company, Inc. www.rtc.com As a tile and stone tool dealer exclusively, we are noticing a huge increase in the more professional As tile evolves, tools do too – especially today with brand new, never-before seen equipment needed to han- dle large format, gauged porcelain panels efficiently and safely, for both installer and the tile itself! New blades and cutters are needed to slice through these materials, and lippage control devices are proliferating to eliminate unsightly and sometimes dangerous lippage in floor and wall installations. Take a look through these comments and the products that accompany them for a catalog of new tool directions and products to answer the needs of the 2016 tile setter. – Lesley Goddin Tools of the trade – where would we be without them? And as the saying goes, “You’ve got to have the right tools for the job.”