BALTIMORE (November 7, 2006) - GearWrench. today announced that is received the 2006 Best of What's New Award from Popular Science magazine in the Home Technology Category for its X-Beam Wrench. Introduced earlier this year, the new X-Beam was among thousands of entries for the coveted annual award. The X-Beam is on display this week in New York's Grand Central Terminal as part of the Popular Science Best of What's New Live Showcase.
"Best of What's New is the ultimate Popular Science accolade, representing a year's worth of work evaluating thousands of products," said Mark Jannot, editor of Popular Science. "These awards honor innovations that not only influence the way we live today, but that change the way we think about the future."
The X-Beam features a patent-protected wrench handle design that increases the hand contact area by up to 500 percent over traditional wrenches. One end of the X-Beam wrench is forged at a 90-degree angle from the other end, and the tapered handle is thicker on both sides than a standard wrench.
The X-Beam is designed uniquely to fit the user's hand for optimal ergonomic benefits, comfort and control. At the box-end, the wrench features a ratcheting mechanism and a 75 percent reduction in silhouette clearance (open-end outline), which allows access into tight spaces.
"We are honored to receive the Best of What's New Award from Popular Science for the innovative X-Beam Wrench," said Jeff Svoboda, president of Danaher Tool Group. "At GearWrench, we strive to develop new products that respond to specific user needs and the X-Beam is a perfect example as it addresses growing demand for hand tools that reduce fatigue without sacrificing power or control."
An independent test conducted on behalf of the Arthritis Foundation yielded a favorable review of the X-Beam and its acceptance as the first hand tool in the organization's Ease-of-Use commendation program.
About GearWrench
GearWrench is a premier professional hand tool brand from Danaher Tool Group, one of the largest hand tool manufacturers in the world. Since the launch of the original patented 5-degree ratcheting wrench, the GearWrench brand has continuously led the industry with breakthroughs in pass-thru ratchets, sockets, screw/nut drivers, pliers and specialty tools. More than 70 million GearWrench products have been "Professionally Tested" throughout the world. Additional information about GearWrench is available online at www.gearwrench.com.
About Danaher Tools
Danaher, a diversified technology leader, designs, manufactures and markets innovative products and services with strong brand names and significant market positions. Driven by strong core values and a foundation provided by the Danaher Business System, Danaher's associates are pursuing a focused strategy aimed at creating a Premiere Global Enterprise. Additional information about Danaher Tools is available online at www.danaher.com.
About Best of What's New
Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year; breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners?the Best of What's New?are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since the debut of Best of What's New in 1987. Best of What's New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 10 categories: Automotive, Aviation & Space, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, General Innovation, Home Entertainment, Home Tech, Personal Health and Recreation.
About Popular Science
Founded in 1872, Popular Science is the world's largest science and technology magazine; with a circulation on 1.45 million and 6.5 million monthly readers. Each month, Popular Science is published by Time4 Media, a subsidiary of Time Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.
