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By Staff Report Were there an official launchpad for new building products, it would most likely be the International Builders Show. Each year, IBS draws tens of thousands of building industry pros from around the globe for workshops, seminars, and more than one million square feet of exhibit space. For builders as well as a healthy showing of LBM dealers, a primary goal of this annual event is to explore the exhibit floor in search of the "next big thing." Despite the current housing downturn—or perhaps because of it?—innovations were in abundance at the 2008 IBS, held Feb. 13-16 in Orlando. While the levels of innovation ranged from incremental improvement to the creation of entire product categories, one thing was clear: your builder, remodeler and homeowner customers will have access to better products than ever before. This year, as we do every year, LBM Journal's editors combed the aisles, met with hundreds of manufacturers, and brought back volumes of new product information to sift through for our "50 Hot Products from IBS" feature. Fifty of the best are featured in the following pages. (Note: The products are listed in no particular order; the numbers don't indicate a ranking. In our view, all are worthy of a closer look.) Incidentally, the title isn't 100% accurate, as we actually feature 51 products this year. The additional one is Dow's new Styrofoam SIS Plus, which is shown on page 12. Design House Ironwood Collection Design House, a registered brand of DHI Corp., has expanded its WholeHouse matching home package program with the Ironwood collection. Every product in the Ironwood collection, including lighting, ceiling fans, locks, faucets, and bath accessories, has been designed to incorporate subtle details that define this collection. The Ironwood Collection includes 22 products across five different product categories. All Ironwood products feature a statuary bronze finish, which is a dark bronzetone with a texture that creates a tactile as well as visual experience. Ironwood joins 17 WholeHouse Home Packages, making it simple for builders to provide matching products throughout a home. www.todaysdesignhouse.com ; 800.558.8700 DeWALT NANO Technology DeWALT has introduced 18V NANO Technology— exclusive 18V NANO Phosphate Lithium Ion batteries that are compatible with the existing DeWALT 18V 38-tool system. The company says this will provide users with increased versatility and the ability to select the best chemistry to meet job site needs. NANO Technology is a proprietary technology from DeWALT that delivers to the user longer cycle life, lighter weight, greater performance, and an expanded system of tool offerings. DEWALT 18V with NANO technology features exclusive batteries that are designed with unique Nano-Phosphate lithium Ion cells that provide users with increased battery durability and cycle life, offering up to 2,000 recharges. The battery will be compatible with the existing system of DeWALT 18V power tools produced since 1996. The new tools will launch with an innovative charger capable of charging 7.2V—18V NiCd, NiMH and Li-Ion batteries.

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