Technology

Companies that specialize in retrofitting homes in California against earthquake damage are reporting a surge in business following the Japan earthquake, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. 

Firms interviewed by the newspaper said they are receiving a threefold increase in phone calls, particularly in Southern California, where the Northridge earthquake caused 60 deaths and 5,000 injuries in 1994. 

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. expanded its M18 Lithium-ion system with the new M18 Cordless 3/8-inch Right Angle Drill Driver.

The 18V right angle drill with an adjustable clutch provides eleven torque settings, plus one drill mode, for control in close-quarter fastening applications.

“The combination of a 3.75-inch total head length and an integrated Electronic Clutch make this tool the most compact 18V Right Angle Drill Driver in the industry,” says Christian Coulis, senior product manager for Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with DeVilbiss Air Power Co. of Jackson, Tenn., has issued a voluntary recall of certain air compressors due to a fire hazard.

Lowe's promoted four executives to key positions in merchandising, store operations and strategic planning. Here are the executives and their backgrounds:

Hardwood moldings manufacturer Artistic Finishes launched a new marketing theme that brings a "new consumer-focused element" to the company's marketing program. The theme of its "Beginnings" campaign is "The finish is just the beginning."

It’s a bad idea to spend too much time thinking about the past. But it’s impossible to know where we are going unless we know where we’ve been. In that spirit, here are the top 12 most-viewed stories of 2010 — one from each month — that appeared on HomeChannelNews.com:


January: “Home Depot cuts 800 jobs” 


February: “Mixed results for Ace Hardware” 


March: “84 Lumber closes 10 stores in 10 states” 


April: “At Lowe’s, a Sunday-hours lawsuit”


President Barack Obama called the Lowe's store manager who helped guide customers and employees to the back of his store moments before the front was ripped apart by a tornado. The president thanked manager Michael Hollowell for his actions, according to a press release from the White House.

The Sanford, N.C., store was one of many buildings damaged by dozens of tornadoes that brought destruction to North Carolina on Saturday, when 21 people were killed by the storm. 

Costello's Ace Hardware intends to open two new stores by early April, bringing the Long Island, N.Y., hardware company's store count to 17.

The new stores will be located in East Islip and Smithtown, N.Y. 

"We feel that we have a market that can support independent stores," said president Mike Costello in an interview with Home Channel News. "And as we find the right locations, we just keep going for it."