SOLA WINS A 2021 PRO TOOL INNOVATION AWARD

Words: Margaret Foster
Aurora, IL, September 29, 2021: This week SOLA received a Pro Tool Innovation Award for the BIG RED digital levels with Bluetooth®. A diverse panel of judges made up of contractors, construction business owners, tradesmen, and media professionals came together this year to vote on the most innovative construction and outdoor power equipment industry products in the world. As judging wrapped up for the 9th annual PTIA Awards, 2021 revealed a particularly competitive mix of tools, accessories, fasteners, and other products submitted by some of the top manufacturers from around the world. Here's what the Pro Tool Innovation Awards judges said about the BIG RED digital levels:
 
“SOLA gives you just about everything you could hope for on a digital level: a backlit screen to make sure you can always read it, automatic screen rotation based on your working angle, audio cues to help guide you, and Bluetooth connectivity to make use of SOLA’s Measures app. Since this is a SOLA BIG RED level, you can count on it being accurate and having SOLA’s easy-to-read vials as a backup to the digital readout.”
 
After pouring over several hundred power tools, hand tools, fasteners, products, and accessories, PTIA winners were judged and eventually chosen based on a combination of factors. These included innovative features, advanced power delivery, groundbreaking ergonomics, technological advancements, advancements in jobsite safety, and value. This year's PTIA winners represent the innovation leaders in the construction industry with recognition for having best-in-class products that are truly ahead of their time.
 
This year, 89 different manufacturers and brands submitted over 470 products in dozens of categories for a chance to take home a 2021 Pro Tool Innovation Award.
 
"This is our 9th year hosting the PTIA Awards and we continue to be amazed at the level of innovation revealed through manufacturers' relentless pursuit of innovation. We saw phenomenal innovation in the areas of jobsite efficiency, safety, and productivity. Bold technology and advanced features also dominated new construction technology with advances that resulted in never-before-seen products. We continue to see increases in cordless tool run-time and battery capacity as well as smarter designs that take advantage of the latest breakthroughs in material science. While average products see incremental change, Pro Tool Innovation Award winners truly distinguish themselves in the industry and deserve particular recognition," said Clint DeBoer, Executive Director of the Pro Tool Innovation Awards. "Business owners, builders, contractors, and tradespeople can look to the PTIA Awards to find new products that help them work more quickly and safely and create greater work efficiencies while reducing costs."
 
For more information about the SOLA BIG RED digital levels with Bluetooth technology please visit https://www.sola.at/en-us/news/big-red-digital-levels-with-bluetooth.

About: Tools
What Mason Contractors Don't Know Is Costing Them Money
July 2026

Most mason contractors can tell you exactly what a job should cost before it starts. Bid labor hours, material takeoffs, and crew rates per square foot. The numbers are on paper, and they look right. What most can't tell you is whether those numbers held

Preserving Masonry Aesthetics with Concealed Lintel Systems
July 2026

Masonry has long been valued for its ability to create buildings with character, permanence, and visual appeal. Features such as arches, deep reveals, corbelling, and decorative brickwork continue to be popular design elements in modern architecture. Howe

The Sync Up: Aligning Schedule, Labor, and Logistics in Masonry
July 2026

A masonry contractor is only as good as the crew standing on the staging. You can source the highest-grade block, line up the perfect mix, and have every submittal approved weeks in advance, but production ultimately depends on the stamina, skill, and phy

Color Trends Shaping Today’s Masonry Projects
July 2026

Homeowners today are coming into projects with a lot more opinions than they used to have. Between social media, home shows and contractor sites, most customers already have a look in mind before you even quote the job. For masonry contractors, having a