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Express Mount Brackets Win 2023 Pro Tool Innovation Award

RailFX® received a prestigious 2023 Pro Tool Innovation Award for the new Express Mount Brackets™. 
A panel of judges, composed of contractors, construction business owners, tradespeople, and media professionals, have tallied the votes for the world’s most innovative products in the construction and outdoor power equipment industry. In its eleventh year, the Pro Tool Innovation Awards brought to light an impressive assortment of pioneering power tools, hand tools, tool accessories, and fasteners. Products were submitted by leading industry manufacturers, showcasing a remarkable breadth of innovation.

Here’s what the PTIA judges had to say about the RailFX Express Mount Brackets™:

Traditional cable railing systems look great, but they require a complex process of drilling through posts and can be a pain to get perfect-looking results. The RailFX Express Mount Brackets take so much of the headache out of the process, that it’s very approachable, even for DIYers who have never installed a cable railing system. Using a drilling template, you can easily ensure each bracket installs at exactly the right height. They screw directly into the side of the post, so there’s no need to drill through them. The hardware installs on the outside of the posts, leaving your view from the inside as one that reveals the look of cable without the hardware.

“Innovation comes in many forms. Pro Tool Innovation Award Winners push boundaries. They typically introduce features no one has ever seen, create new battery-powered solutions, redefine what compact tools can do, or even design products at a lower price than you would otherwise expect for the performance they deliver,” stated Kenny Koehler, Editor-in-Chief. “The work of teams and individuals who dare to think outside the box can be seen all over the Pro Tool Innovation Awards,” he added.

In a rigorous evaluation process spanning several dozen man-hours, the PTIA judges sifted through hundreds of cutting-edge power tools, hand tools, fasteners, products, and accessories. The selection of winners was based on a variety of critical factors. The awarded products stood out for their innovative features, superior power delivery, revolutionary ergonomics, technological advancements, improvements in jobsite safety, or exceptional value. The 2023 Pro Tool Innovation Award winners are a testament to the companies and products that propel the construction, landscaping, automotive, and manufacturing industries forward. These industry-leading products merit recognition for their role in driving progress within their respective fields.

This year, 99 different manufacturers and brands submitted over 465 products in dozens of categories for a chance to take home a 2023 Pro Tool Innovation Award.

In a statement reflecting on the 11th annual Pro Tool Innovation Awards, Executive Director Clint DeBoer expressed admiration for the ongoing innovation in the industry. “This marks our 11th year of hosting the PTIA Awards, and each year we witness an increasing level of innovation from both large and small companies.” DeBoer added, “Every Pro Tool Innovation Award celebrates a product developed by people who really believe that the standard we’re used to is no longer good enough.”

Click here to learn more about the award winning RailFX® Express Mount Brackets™.

For more about the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, visit protoolinnovationawards.com.

2022 Photo Contest Winners

Thank you to all who participated in 2022 RailFX Photo Contest. The photos submitted to the 2022 Contest showcase the wide variety of views enhanced by RailFX railings. From interior staircases and sprawling balconies to oceanfront decks and patio porches, we enjoyed seeing all the incredible RailFX railing projects completed this past year. A huge thanks to our judges for completing the difficult task of voting to determine our winners.

First Place: SJ Reus Construction

SJ Reus Construction of Watertown, MN installed this railing and took home first place in our 2022 Photo Contest! This project, submitted through our ProFX Rebate program, features waterfront views, beautiful fall foliage, and unobstructed views thanks to RailFX Cable Railing. 

Reminder to licensed contractors: Photos included with your ProFX rebate submission automatically qualify for our photo contest. Congratulations to SJ Reus Construction for taking advantage of these two great programs and earning cash back for choosing RailFX. 

Dealer: ABC Arrow Building Center in Watertown, MN

Second Place: Jessica Peterson

Jessica Peterson submitted photos of her interior staircase remodel and won second place! These photos demonstrate how cable railing can truly open up any space and modernize the interior of a home. This staircase railing utilizes our RFX400 Top Rail, which allowed for a natural maple hand rail that matched the flooring to be installed on top.

Dealer: Hilltop Lumber in Alexandria, MN

Installer: Todd Loeffler Construction & Masonry in Alexandria, MN. 

Third Place: LKJ Contracting

Our third place winner made a *splash* with this before and after photo contest entry! LKJ Contracting gave the exterior of this home in New York a serious upgrade with RailFX railing. Now the homeowners can enjoy their back deck and view of the pool in style. Wonderful work, LKJ Contracting!

Dealer: Sider Lumber & Supply Co

Want to see your RailFX project featured here? Submit your RailFX railing photos to the 2023 Photo Contest! The contest runs through December 31, 2023, so be sure to submit your photos for a chance to win big. Visit our photo contest page for prize details, full contest rules, and to enter to win.

Earlier this year, we announced the top three winners of our annual photo contest showcasing projects using RailFX aluminum railing systems. It is always amazing to view the creativity of each project, not only using our products but for the pure, simple joy of seeing the fantastic applications and views. Our aluminum railing systems — cable, picket, or glass infill — offer durability, safety, and open sightlines so the homeowner can enjoy their view, whether the ocean, the mountains, the forest, or their backyard.

It’s no surprise to anyone today that outdoor living is a top priority for homeowners, whether designing for expansion or overhauling to suit their needs today, creating a balance of work, entertaining, and relaxation. As the market continues to demand outdoor products, we’re pleased to see RailFX chosen for so many projects.

Congratulations! Our judges had their work cut out for them this year. Without further ado, below are the top three entries, two of which are homeowners.

The 2021 Contest Winner: Kirch Improvements used RailFX 400 series in white aluminum posts and railing and stainless-steel cable infill for this Okauchee Lake project for house and boathouse decks, offering the homeowner the ultimate in clear views. The use of a white aluminum railing, a standard color from RailFX, compliments the contemporary white house design.

lake deck railing

Our second-place winner, Mark Goldberg, is a homeowner from Astoria, Oregon, which sits on a steep hillside above the mighty Columbia River. Mark installed a RailFX aluminum railing system with a glass infill to act as a windscreen while still offering a clear view.

The third-place winner and People’s Choice Award went to the Berardo home in Northern California. Berardo’s installed a RailFX aluminum cable railing system in a silver finish to blend in and not distract from the view of the Carmel Valley to the Pacific Ocean.

We thank all who participated this year. It was a pleasure to see all the projects using RailFX aluminum railing systems. Please keep sending us your project photos. We’d love to feature them on our website and a testimonial blog. Email sales@railfx.net to share your project photos.

We are excited to announce that Nationwide Industries is joining forces with PrimeSource, one of the largest specialty branded building products companies in the country. PrimeSource and Nationwide will use their extensive resources to continue efforts to build the best service and support platform in the industry.

“PrimeSource loves what we have done with the business over the past 30 years,” says Neil Yeargin, CEO of Nationwide Industries. “This acquisition will broaden our business platform and deliver high-quality products and services to our customers. We look forward to our continued growth with PrimeSource.”

To learn more, click below for the full announcement from PrimeSource. Should you have any questions, please reach out to your sales representative.