Technology

Hampshire, Ill.-based building materials manufacturer W.R. Meadows launched a new website -- wrmeadows.com.

Among the new changes are more project photos, a product spotlight for new products and new social media features. These features include a live Twitter feed, so users can follow tweets as they happen, and links to their Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube pages. 

A study on major home appliances by The NPD Group showed overall growth in the category in 2010, with an 11% increase in dollar sales compared to 2009.

Although sales for most appliances did not reach pre-recession levels, dishwashers were one exception, showing a 22% increase in dollar sales over 2009, putting them on level with 2007. 

Full-sized refrigerators and range hoods both experienced double-digit unit and dollar growth, with laundry appliances coming in just under 10% in dollar growth. 

Most propane is treated with an ingredient that smells like spoiled eggs when the tank leaks. This safety measure helps consumers detect leaks. But some of the propane in about 700 rail cars of propane gas sold in portable cylinders from Morris Ill.-based Aux Sable Liquid Products do not have sufficient levels of the odorant.

As a result, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Aux Sable Liquid Products announced a voluntary recall of the propane cylinders. 

Denver-based ProBuild redesigned its website, adding new features and functionality to streamline information access and better serve its customers, the company said.

With research gathered customer focus groups, the Denver-based pro dealer added search capabilities to ProBuild.com that provide customers with specific product and service information down to the store level.

Consumers are spending less money — nearly 20% less — on tool storage, according to data from Port Washington, N.Y.-based The NPD Group. In the 12 months ended Oct. 31, dollar volume fell to about $480 million, down 19.9% from the prior year. The decline is far from shocking in a difficult hardware environment. By themselves, tool storage products don’t fix leaks or repair roofs. But try doing multiple home improvement projects without them.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has asked members to contact Congress in support of legislation to open up lines of credit for new-housing production.

The association sent an alert to members, encouraging them to ask their representatives to co-sponsor the Home Construction Lending Regulatory Improvement Act.

Advancements in battery technology, more efficient tool engineering and ergonomic design have transformed the power tools segment in recent years. But this golden age of development and innovation hasn’t translated into sales growth, because all the major categories are in retreat, according to consumer data from The NPD Group. 


Edison, NJ.-based Starborn Industries Inc., a manufacturer of fasteners and related products for the building industry, introduced Cap-Tor, a new high-performance fastener specifically designed for use with the newest type of capstock (co-extruded) decking. 

The product also works with more traditional composite decking materials, the company said.