The new carpentry saw from Festool, the HK/HKC, has just won a 2016 Editors’ Choice Award from Tools of the Trade and a 2016 PTIA (Power Tool Innovation Award) from Protool Reviews. Launched just last month, the Festool HK/HKC Carpentry saw, with integrated guide rail and other performance features, allows users to make exact and repeated cuts in dimensional lumber and sheet goods anywhere the material is located versus the status quo of taking the material to the tool or to the jobsite sawhorse set-up.
 
“We are thrilled about the recognition from industry leaders such as Tools of the Trade and ProTool Reviews Power Tool Innovation Awards, says Leo Zirkler, Vice President of Marketing at Festool USA.  “We’re also extremely pleased about being recognized in two other categories at ProTool Reviews: our ETS EC Brushless sanders won the Electric Sanders category and our new DWC 18-4500 Drywall Gun won the Cordless Drywall Screw Gun category.” 
 
The Festool HK/HKC Carpentry Saw is equipped with plunge-cutting for cut-outs with easy depth control and release. The integrated pendulum cover with riving knife automatically retracts when combined with FSK and FS rails for a fast return to cover position. With the HK/HKC Carpentry Saws, users can make accurate and repeatable cuts with minimal equipment and in minimum time.
 
See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4xwxJEeGhA
 
Festool’s new carpentry saw is available in both corded [HK] and cordless [HKC] models. The HKC is part of Festool’s Power Select platform, which features a variety of purchase options, as well as interchangeable batteries and chargers across its entire line of cordless power tools for construction, trim carpentry, woodworking and remodeling.  The HKC can be purchased with [HKC Set or HKC Plus] or without [HKC Basic] the charger and two 18v 5.2 Ah Li batteries. HK/HKC highlights include:
 
Versatility - Cross-cutting with ease or ripping materials to size, HK saws are adept at all
circular saw tasks while bringing a higher degree of efficiency, repeatability,
accuracy, and quality of cut unlike any other circular saw before.
 
Repeatability – When used with FSK Guide Rails with integrated angle stops, making accurate, repeated cuts is not only easy it is also fast thanks to the integrated retraction
feature.
 
Efficiency – Perform practically all jobsite cutting tasks with one tool. Making repeated cuts
is faster than other methods while also providing accuracy in one step.
 
For complete specifications of the HK/HKC, go to Festool USA or Festool Canada.
 
 
About Festool USA
Founded in Germany in 1925, Festool is known for its innovative, precision-engineered power tool solutions.  Based in Lebanon, IN, Festool USA offers a comprehensive lineup of power tools and system accessories, designed to boost productivity through efficiency and high performance. For more information, visit www.festoolusa.com or www.festoolcanada.com.

Festool USA and Festool Canada has just introduced the DWC 18, a high-speed, 18v, collated drywall gun. The DWC 18 is equipped with a magazine attachment for using commonly available collated screws, on-demand push and drive system (no need to hold the trigger), electronic cut-off, precision depth control, user-serviceable magazine, and an EC TEC brushless motor. The DWC 18 is quiet, efficient, and accurate, for faster installs with less fatigue for any drywalling application.
 
“Because the DWC 18 is the first drywall gun that Festool is introducing in North America, we set the design bar extraordinarily high,” says Leo Zirkler, Vice President of Marketing. “It was purpose-built to actually make hard work less hard – it’s much quieter, faster and accurate than anything else we’ve seen – so you can run the tool for longer periods of time without as much fatigue.” 
 
The DWC 18 is part of Festool’s Power Select platform, and can be purchased with [DWC Plus] or without [DWC Basic] the charger and two 18v 5.2 Ah Li batteries. DWC 18 tool highlights include:
 
Magazine (Included in both Basic and Plus)
Auto-feed magazine (included with DWC Basic and DWC Plus versions) features tool-free removal, precision depth control, quick-release button for removing collated screw strips, and field strip capability for easy maintenance and long-life.
 
Accuracy – Sink screws consistently and precisely (to 1/256”) with mechanical and electronic depth control with automatic cut-off to prevent overdriven fasteners saving material as well as time in re-work to achieve quality results.
 
Efficiency – With motor speed of 4,500 RPM, coupled with the auto-feed magazine using collated screws, makes fast work of hanging sheets while the impulse-drive functionality provides exceptional battery life.
 
Durability - EC TEC brushless motor technology, robust internal parts, and serviceable magazine, the DWC 18 is built for heavy-duty fastening work in the most demanding applications and backed by the Festool-exclusive Service All Inclusive featuring a three-year warranty.
 
For complete specifications of the DWC 18, go to Festool USA or Festool Canada.
 
The DWC 18 Drywall Gun is part of Festool’s 18v Power Select platform, which features a variety of purchase options, as well as interchangeable batteries and chargers across its entire line of cordless power tools for construction, trim carpentry, woodworking and remodeling. Power select allows both new and existing customers to determine the delivery scope of Festool tools, providing them with a number of options and packages for batteries, chargers, and accessories. From “tool only” to a full set of two batteries, a charger and accessories, Power Select includes an entire 18v Li ion line of tools with an interchangeable platform.
 
About Festool USA
Founded in Germany in 1925, Festool is known for its innovative, precision-engineered power tool solutions.  Based in Lebanon, IN, Festool USA offers a comprehensive lineup of power tools and system accessories, designed to boost productivity through efficiency and high performance. For more information, visit www.festoolusa.com or www.festoolcanada.com.
 

Question: We have an employee on FMLA who is required to have an updated CPR certification for licensure purposes.   As an employer, we outsource CPR vendors who come into our clinics to recertify employees. This employee is on maternity leave and fully released to return to work with no restrictions, however the employee is on her last weeks of child bonding. The employee wishes to come in to one of our clinics to recertify CPR. Should we allow the employee to take the CPR course even though the employee is on FMLA? Would we be violating the employee rights even though it's the employee who wishes to attend the CPR course?
 
Response: If the employer agrees to it, we are not aware of any law that would prevent the employer from allowing the subject employee to voluntarily return to work for the CPR certification course prior to the conclusion of her Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave.  It is up to the employer to decide whether to require that she conclude her FMLA leave as of that time or resume the leave when the CPR training ends.
 
Employees who are eligible for FMLA leave and who seek to use it in connection with bonding with a newborn or newly-adopted child or a child placed in foster care can take as much leave, up to 12 weeks, as they so choose (assuming they have not previously utilized any FMLA leave in the same 12-month period).  Leave must be provided continuously when it is taken for this purpose, but employers are not required to provide leave on an intermittent or reduced schedule basis for this reason unless the employer agrees to do so.  Thus, if the subject employee is presently on continuous FMLA leave to bond with a newborn baby and is medically cleared to return to work, then if she would like to return to work to participate in the CPR class, we are not aware of any law prohibiting her from doing so. If she wishes to resume whatever remaining FMLA she may have after the course completes, she can do so only if the employer agrees, because this arguably would be in the nature of intermittent leave under the Act (see page 52 at https://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/employerguide.pdf ).  If the employer agrees to the arrangement, it should be cognizant of the precedent it is setting, as others may want – and expect – a similar accommodation in the future.  (We assume from the inquiry this is the first situation of its kind.  If it is not, the employer should follow its past practices to avoid discrimination and retaliation concerns here.)
 
As a best practice the employer should secure documentation from the employee indicating that it was her choice to return to work for the CPR class and that this is not something the employer forced or required her to do while she was otherwise on FMLA leave.
 
 © 2014 Advisors Law Group, All Rights Reserved
To learn more about the Federated Employment Practices Network®, contact your local Federated Marketing Representative, or visit www.federatedinsurance.com.

​REHAU announces the launch of a new line of fully fabricated custom cabinet doors for modern kitchens and baths. This product line gives customers the option to choose between high-gloss, polymer glass, matte and natural textured woodgrain surfaces in more than 50 finishes and timeless colors. By offering fully fabricated doors, REHAU is making it easier for cabinet makers, regardless of their volume, to take advantage of the growing demand for modern components.
 
“We’re beginning to see a trend away from face frame cabinets to frameless slab doors, which look amazing with contemporary materials in modern interiors,” said Jesse Collins, senior marketing specialist with REHAU’s furniture solutions division. “High-gloss, glass and matte surfaces also work well when mixed with materials such as wood and brick to create an industrial or loft-style design.”
 
The new cabinet line features slab-front doors in an expanding range of surfaces that offer a manufacturing-friendly alternative to high-end lacquered and glass finishes.  Headlining the cabinet door range are three collections –
RAUVISIO brilliantTM mirror high-gloss, RAUVISIO crystalTM polymer back-painted glass and FENIX NTM® nanotech matt surfaces. New this fall is the RAUVISIO terraTM textured woodgrain surface and several more high-gloss and matte options.
 
The cabinet doors are all banded with REHAU LaserEdgeTM for a seamless, modern look. This allows cabinet makers large and small to offer the high quality and durability of REHAU surface materials without the need for costly upgrades and investment in specialized machinery. Use of REHAU LaserEdge banding allows for perfect color matching and will ensure that the quality of the cabinets will not decrease over time.
“REHAU offers a complete modern cabinet door solution, with control over the entire process to ensure high-quality at every stage,” said Dr. Thomas Troeger, vice president of REHAU’s furniture solutions division. “We produce seamless doors and ship within a week in quantities as small as one door, making modern accessible to any woodworking shop and extremely easy for designers to spec for any size project.” 
 
In addition to finished doors, most of the modern surfaces are also available as pressed boards and matching REHAU LaserEdgeTM for customers who are equipped to finish their own boards.
 
To learn more about the REHAU custom cabinet door line, visit http://na.rehau.com/cabinetdoors.
 
For more information, contact: REHAU, 1501 Edwards Ferry Rd., N.E., Leesburg, Va., 20176. Phone: 1.800.247.9445. Fax: 1.800.627.3428. E-mail: rehau.mailbox@rehau.com. North American Web site: www.na.rehau.com.
 
REHAU delivers “Unlimited Polymer Solutions,” and is the premium worldwide brand for polymer-based innovations and systems in construction, automotive and industry. The company generates continuous growth through its expertise and innovative capabilities in materials development, systems design and surface technology. Approximately 20,000 employees at more than 170 locations around the world ensure success of the independent, privately held company.