You have to love trade shows. They're a chance to get out of the office, travel to cities that perhaps you haven't seen before, network with others in your field and partake of a myriad of educational seminars.

And then there's the show floor itself, with sometimes hundreds of manufacturers exhibiting all the new products they've just introduced or will be bringing to market shortly. Showing product is, after all, the reason manufacturers will go to the time, trouble and expense of attending a trade show as an exhibitor.

Take the recent National Kitchen & Bath Association's K/BIS Show, held in Chicago Apr. 21-23. More than 900 exhibitors were there touting their newest products to eager attendees. Indeed, the K/BIS Show is fertile ground on the new products front.

We scoured the aisles of the K/BIS, sifting through all the consumer-oriented features and benefits and discovered several new things that are right up the contractor's alley. You might want to take note of this stuff:

Pros Only

What is it?
The Pro Series of toilet repair parts.

Who makes it?
Fluidmaster.

The details:
The Pro Series is an assortment of 14 toilet repair parts and kits designed by professionals for professionals-the stuff you've got to have on your truck. The Pro Series will be available only to professionals through authorized wholesale supply houses. The series includes:

• PRO45, a fill valve with improved flow dynamics that make it quieter;
  
• PRO45B, a fill valve with a brass shank at the bottom for extra durability;
  
• PRO45C, a combo kit with the PRO45 fill valve and the heavy-duty PRO55 flapper;
  
• PRO45K, a complete tank overhaul kit featuring the Pro45 fill valve, PRO57 flush valve and PRO61 tank lever;
  
• PRO15, a direct replacement ballcock-style fill valve with a brass arm;
  
• PRO15C, a combo kit including the PRO 15 ballcock and PRO53 universal flapper;
  
• PRO53, a heavy-duty flapper with a kink-free metal chain;
  
• PRO54, a chlorine-resistant, heavier-duty version of the PRO53;
  
• PRO55, adjustable flapper with all the benefits of the PRO53 with a float on the chain for adjusting water volumes;
  
• PRO55R, a 3-pack of the PRO55 so you can do every toilet in a customer's house;
  
• PRO57, an exclusive flush valve with an adjustable flapper and a kink-free stainless chain;
  
• PRO57K, a kit with everything needed for a flush valve replacement, including gaskets, bolts and a PRO55 flapper;
  
• PRO61 and PRO64, replacement tank levers to fit most big-name tanks. Self-tightening lock nuts will stay secure over time.

Bottom line:
Product differentiation.

Want to know more?
Check out your wholesale supply house, call (949) 728-2000 or visit www.fluidmaster.com.

Baseboard Radiant

What is it?
A center-connection radiator for radiant hydronic heating systems.

Who makes it?
Myson, Inc.

The details:
Putting in a radiant hydronic heating system that uses baseboard or wall-mounted radiators can sometimes create little hassles for the installer, especially when you're trying to pipe up a unit with very limited connection options.

Well, fret no more. Myson's T6 IVC Radiator minimizes the occasional piping headache because it features a 2-inch central connection as well as the standard four-corner connections, providing quite a bit of planning, layout and plumbing flexibility-just connect your piping at the most convenient location and get on with the job.

Available in 18 different sizes up to 24 inches and lengths of nearly 79 inches, the T6 IVC radiator can replace up to 29 feet of baseboard units and deliver up to 16,036 BTU/Hr.

Bottom line:
Makes your radiant installations easier.

Want to know more?
Call (800) 698-9690 or visit www.mysoninc.com.

Mega-Flush

What is it?
Korky 3-inch Flush Valve

Who makes it?
Lavelle Industries

The details:
With many of the toilet manufacturers out there these days going to 3-inch flushing systems for better performance, there is a greater need to have available replacement parts if one of those units should fail.

Lavelle's Korky 3-inch Flush Valve boasts impressive overflow capacity and the flapper and seal are both made from Chlorazone rubber, which is designed specifically to withstand chlorine and toilet tank cleaners. Chances are it's going to have a pretty long service life.

Bottom line:
Parts are good.

Want to know more?
Call (800) LAVELLE or visit www.lavelle.com.

A Better Mousetrap?

What is it?
EverClean faucets with Speed Connect Drain

Who makes it?
American Standard

The details:
OK, sometimes plumbers make house calls to, "fix a drain" in a bathroom sink. Often the fix is a simple adjustment of the rod-and-lever linkage under there. While you're there, why not up sell the customer to a new faucet that will look good and never need adjustment? That's where the EverClean Faucets with Speed Connect Drains come in.

EverClean faucets come in four finishes-chrome, brass, satin nickel and stainless steel-and feature Speed Connect drains. But the Speed Connect Drains are the real stars of the show.

They're simple-the popup actuator lever on the faucets are built with only 5/8-inch of travel. A mechanism in the faucet itself converts the up and down motion of the popup actuator lever on the faucet into a rotary motion. The rotary motion is carried to the drain body by a cable similar to a speedometer cable in a car-an outer sleeve protects a rotating inner cable that's attached to the drain body with a threaded fitting. The inner cable engages a mechanism in the drain body that runs the popup in the sink up and down. The cable never needs adjusting, the drain body seals tight without having to use plumber's putty and tight undersink spaces are no longer a problem.

Simply put, the Speed Connect Drain setups used with the EverClean faucets replace traditional popup actuator mechanisms-which can have up to 14 parts that need assembly and adjustment-with a simple cable that installs without tools. You're done with the job and on to other things in record time.

Bottom line:
Why hasn't somebody come up with this before now?

Want to know more?
Call (800) 524-9797 ext. 1689 or visit www.americanstandard.com.

Studless Mounting

What is it?
Secure Mount Anchors and Grab Bars

Who makes it?
Home Care by Moen.

The details:
If you have to install grab bars in a shower or other enclosure to meet ADA or other requirements, often the location of the studs in the wall determines the placement of the grab bars. Even then you might run into a situation in which you can't get all three (or however many) screws on both mounting flanges screwed into a stud, opting instead to rely on just one or two to do the job.

Moen's Secure Mount anchors eliminate the problem since you don't have to find studs at all. In fact, any ADA- ASTM- ANSI and CSA-compliant grab bar can be mounted using the Secure Mounts anywhere you have a wall, including 1/2- to 5/8-inch drywall, drywall with tile, drywall with marble or even into a fiberglass tub surround from 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick. In testing, the Secure Mount Anchors held up to 1,500 pounds during static load testing when installed in 5/8-inch drywall with marble.

The key is the Secure Mount Anchors. They're a patented "D"-shaped design that use physics principles to brace securely. Just locate your bar, drill a 1 1/4-inch hole, insert the mount, lock it in and mount the grab bar of your choice. There are also Secure Mount Grab bars available that feature a patented flange design that makes it easy to connect the bars to either Secure Mount Anchors or to multiple points in a stud.

Bottom line:
Quick. Easy. Rock-solid.

Want to know more?
Call (800) 882-0116 or visit www.homecare.moen.com.

Multipurpose Valve

What is it?
HydroClean Water Fill Valve.

Who makes it?
HydroClean by MSJI, Inc.

The details:
Again, it's about making your customers happy. The new HydroClean Water Fill valve allows the installer to calibrate the proper water flow without compromising flush efficiency.

Also, the unit's TurbuJet (yes, that's spelled correctly) releases a high-powered stream of water with each flush that stirs up and removes sediment and rust from the tank while preventing slime buildup on the flapper. Finally, and best of all, the HydroClean Water Fill Valve actually detects leaks and notifies bystanders with an audible signal.

Other features include a thumbscrew adjustment and a float lock that allows for minor repairs in the tank without having to shut off the water. There's also a positive-locking mechanism that allows for height adjustments without having to remove the valve from the tank and its Smart Nut lets you install it in there without having too break out a wrench. The catch is that it won't be widely available until the fall.

Bottom line:
Developed by a fourth-generation plumber for plumbers.

Want to know more?
Call (815) 741-9768 or visit www.hydrocleanEZ.com.

Corner Throne

What is it?
Titan Triangle Tank Toilet.

Who makes it?
Eljer

The details:
Well, aside from the, "space-saving functionality," the Titan Triangle Tank Toilets are gravity-fed units aimed at giving contractors, designers and builders a convenient way out of a cramped situation, bathroom layout-wise.

Available in 15-inch plain rim, 15-inch elongated rim and 17-inch elongated rim designs, the TTTT's also boast features like a streamlined trapway for single-flush bowl evacuation, dual water feed jets and a large, stable footprint.

Bottom line:
Small bathroom? No problem. Corner installation? No problem.

Want to know more?

Call (800) 423-5537 or visit www.eljer.com.

Steam Control

What is it?
TEMPO/Plus Steam Controls.

Who makes it?
mr.steam

The details:

Installing a steam generator is becoming one of the more popular shower enclosure modifications among remodeling and upgrading homeowners these days. That's great, but effectively controlling the steam is a big plus.

Enter the TEMPO/Plus controls from mr.steam. Featuring microprocessor controlled temperature mapping for even heat and an in-shower digital display, the TEMPO/Plus Controls are also compatible with the wireless infrared TEMPO/Remote Control.

Yes, you read correctly-a wireless infrared remote control. To use in the shower. The TEMPO/Plus also retains preferred settings in its memory, has on/off/pause modes and can be located either inside or outside of the shower enclosure.

Bottom line:
A remote control. In the shower.

Want to know more?
Call (800) 76-STEAM or visit www.mrsteam.com

Dog Therapy

What is it?
Jentle Pet Whirlpool

Who makes it?
MTI Whirlpools

The details:
Jetted whirlpool tubs specifically for pets are what you would call a niche market, to be sure. But the MTI Jentle Pet units feature all the features of their bigger, human-sized brethren in a small package. And, if your bathroom remodeling customer also happens to be a pet fancier with an older companion animal that could use a little pampering, so much to better.

Jentle Pet Whirlpools are made from cast Lucite acrylic so any scratches that may occur can be polished out. The Jentle Pet may be equipped with five full-size point-massage whirlpool jets, air volume control, a 1 bhp pump and MTI's patented Fill-Flush whirlpool cleaning system.

The MTI Jentle Pet Whirlpool, which measures 48 inches long, 30 inches wide and 25 inches deep, has been designed specifically to provide a comfortable, therapeutic, safe environment for dog bathing. Movable retaining rings are supplied for tethering if desired and both a fill spout and hand shower make the bathing process easy, and a single-handle hot/cold mixing valve is included.

Bottom line:
It's unusual.

Want to know more?
Call (800) 783-8827 or visit www.mtiwhirlpools.com