Southwire will use the CEDIA Expo 2014, September 10-13, as the stage upon which it will unveil a new line of more than 40 voice-data-video (VDV) tools. “The new VDV tools complement Southwire’s full line of low-voltage cable products,” the company said, “and extend Southwire’s innovative tools-and-equipment line, introduced in 2013.” The new VDV tools—42 in all—will be on display at the Southwire/Coleman booth (#376) at CEDIA.
“Installers are passionate about the tools in their tool bag,” commented John Payne, Southwire’s product director for VDV, test and measurement. “Our objective is to build professional tools that exceed our customers’ expectations for quality, performance and features—tools that make a difference on the real-world jobsite.”
The company pointed specifically to the T100PK Professional Tone and Probe Kit (pictured) as one product that exceeds user expectations. “Market research demonstrated that installers find the test leads on most tone generators to be frustrating because they hang loose and get tangled easily with other tools in their tool bag,” Southwire explained. “With an innovative tone-generator design, Southwire has found a way to easily store and test the leads in the tester body, completely eliminating the problem.”
“It’s an installer-focused product-development approach—the same approach Southwire has successfully used to maintain leadership in the wire and cable market for years,” Payne said. “And each VDV product has its own innovative story. Our goal is to improve installer jobsite productivity by creating a set of quality tools that take advantage of our knowledge of wire and cable.”
The 42 new tools include cable cutters, stripers, crimpers and punchdown tools, as well as cable tracers and testers. “The Southwire Tools and Equipment product line offers a robust selection of hand tools and a professional array of meters and test equipment, as well as larger contractor equipment serving areas such as cable pulling, hole making, conduit bending and accessories used in both commercial and residential installations,” the company concluded.
The products are available nationwide at retail outlets as well as electrical, electronic-wholesale and tool-supply houses.