In many parts of Germany, Trotec is already a household name. The brand name Trotec stands for premium quality products and superior service – at a price that everyone can afford. And because the name Trotec has become synonymous with indoor climate control and metrological solutions it hardly comes as a surprise that we are one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of a whole range of state-of-the art dehumidifiers, humidifiers, oil and electric heaters, infrared cameras and measuring and monitoring devices in Europe.

What does surprise some of our customers, however, is the sheer variety of applications which our machines, appliances and monitoring meters and measuring devices are suitable for and how often they are used in the course of a normal day …

The day in question began with me picking up on a project which is very close to my heart. I am restoring an old antique wardrobe which dates back to the turn of the 20th century and which has suffered considerably at the hands of time to its original splendour.

I couldn’t resist buying this fine piece of furniture, because I seem to be drawn as if by magic to such beautifully crafted items which have borne witness to a bygone age – and because the seller whose stall I stumbled on was giving it away for a song. Little did I know, however, that my wardrobe would kindle a genuine interest in my landlord, who also happens to be a carpenter and that with his help – and an array of machines and measuring devices from Trotec – my wardrobe would end up looking more beautiful than I could have possibly imagined. But first things first …

My landlord-cum-carpenter is a very meticulous and methodical man. He leaves nothing to chance. So when he produced a laser distance meter to measure out the surface of the rear panels, side walls and doors to determine just exactly how much wax he would be needing to treat the surface I nodded appreciatively to myself, especially when I saw that the meter he was holding was a BD15 one of our extremely popular measuring devices in the MultiMeasure Basic Series. My landlord not only measured out each surface quickly and with the greatest of ease, he also used the BD15 to add up the results he had obtained, which then allowed him to conclude that a medium-sized tin would be perfectly sufficient to restore the wood’s natural shine.

I spent hours sanding the surface to ensure that the thick layer of varnish that had been slopped onto my wardrobe was carefully removed. My landlord had learned of my progress and offered to lend me a hand waxing the wood. I naturally assumed that we could start straight away and accompanied him down to the cellar to where my wardrobe was standing. But instead of applying the wax, my landlord pulled out not one but two measuring devices from Trotec: a thermohygrometer, which he used to check the temperature in the cellar and a BM20 moisture meter which he used to double-to check whether the wood of my wardrobe was dry enough. As it happens the wood was, but the temperature was too low to work with wax and he therefore instructed me to bring along one of the electric heaters I had told him so much about so that we could then begin to wax the wood and protect the wardrobe’s surface while maintaining the its natural colour and grain.

I brought a TDS 50 electric heater home from work the following day and installed it in the cellar just as my landlord had said. The TDS 50 notched up the temperature in the room in no time and when it had reached a comfortable level, my landlord pried open the tin and we slowly and tenderly applied the wax in flowing circular motions circles as we breathed new life into the old yet beautifully charming wood.

Now all that’s left for me to do is to polish my wardrobe which now stands pride of place in my small but cosy flat – and to thank my landlord with a bottle of his favourite tipple. Thanks to him and jut a small selection of the professional machines and devices which are all available from Trotec I can now rest assured that all has been done to ensure that my wardrobe will survive the turn of the next century.

Trotec. Not just another name.

A friend of mine recently returned from a well-earned holiday which she spent in Portugal. And from what I was able to gather she had a lovely time, lapping up the sun and lying on the beach, wrapped in a beach towel, watching bronzed young men eager to impress onlookers with a display of their effortlessly acquired beach volleyball skills. Did I say wrapped in a beach towel?

Well, according to her account of what she experienced on holiday, it wasn’t the little mites, bless them, kicking up sand and jumping around excitedly as they built sandcastles and dug their warrens of trenches, or the athletic posers feigning a game of beach volleyball that bothered her most while she tried to unwind and enjoy her trip down to the beach – it was the wind.

Because although my friend was well aware of the fact that the holiday resorts along stretches of the Atlantic coast are recognised as not always being the calmest of places, she had not counted on ending up lying on a beach cocooned in a large Terry towel if she were to have any chance of braving the gusty squalls and strong winds that were whipping up the sand, whirling sunshades around and tearing at the billowing windbreakers.

So how come nobody has come up with the idea of not only checking out water temperatures and the air temperatures at holiday resorts but also wind speeds – preferably before somebody ends up stuck on a beach in the middle of a medium-sized sandstorm?

Of course there are those who would scoff and for whom the winds can hardly be strong enough. Kite gliders, yachtsmen and blokarters love rough winds and balmy breezes. According to my friend there was even a group of surfers who said that they had come from all the way from Australia just to tame the big waves that thunder down on the shores of the Portuguese coastline.

So wouldn’t it seem to be a good idea to measure wind speeds at popular beach resorts so that holidaymakers can decide what kind of a holiday they would like and what kind of winds they are likely to expect?

There are in fact already websites like BBC Weather which cater for tourists who would like to check out the weather as well as short and long-term forecasts before they set off for their holiday destination. And if it’s wind speeds you’re most interested in, you can visit www.windfinder.com and find an abundance of in-depth information on the prevailing wind conditions.

But when you have arrived at the holiday destination of your dreams, there is no longer any need for you to rely on third-party information when you want to check out wind speeds. The BA 05 anemometer is an easy-to-use handheld measuring device designed to provide you with accurate and reliable information on wind, air and gas flow speeds which can be displayed in either feet per minute, metres per second, kilometres or miles per hour and knots. Such a wonderfully handy measuring device is ideal for water sportsmen and women who choose their equipment – and select their tactics – according to the type and strength of the winds.

From what my friend told me, the wind did finally abate after another two days and she was able to spend the rest of her holiday basking in the sun on the beaches of her Portuguese seaside resort In between the lively, little toddlers and the brazen, bronzed beach volleyballers.

Well, you can’t have everything, can you?

You, however, can have the best of both worlds by going straight to our online shop and buying your BA 05 now. That’s because we have a super special offer which is on for all eight of the new handheld measuring devices in the MultiMeasure Basic series. But hurry, hurry, hurry – offer must end soon!

We all look forward to the summer. To the long, warm evenings sitting outside street side cafes or stretching out on patios; to bright, sunny, carefree days lounging in the sun or relaxing in the shade; to the vibrant, captivating colours and the sweet scents and evocative smells that are the mark of every much-loved and well-tendered garden.

And being a nation renowned for its green fingers – unlike the Germans who according to a saying they have pride themselves on their green thumbs – we enjoy spending endless hours shaping and styling shrubs and hedgerows, trimming bushes and manicuring lawns and generally spending just about every spare minute we have pottering around in our own little refuge.

There’s always something to do in a well-kept garden. Especially, of course, at this time of the year. In fact sometimes the days just can’t be long enough depending on the size of the garden that you are lucky enough to call your own. If you are already into self-sufficiency – or simply love the taste of home-grown produce – and are fortunate to have your own vegetable patch, then now is generally the time to harvest some of the early plants like carrots, cabbages, cauliflower, courgettes and kale and time to sow or replant others like Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, chicory and – peas.

You may want to give your lawn a treat and sprinkle it with fertiliser – also home-grown if you prefer. The grass clippings that many people are only too glad to get rid of when they have mowed their lawn are full of nutrients which put back the goodness into the soil. But as is the case with most gardening tips, and indeed many other areas in life, moderation is the key.

And what about every gardener’s pride and joy? Flowers. Glorious, full-bloomed, delicate, luscious, beautifully cultivated flowers. Flowers in every possible shade, colour, size and form.

What do they need to flourish? How do you know what the best possible place for your prized flowers and plants is?

There are a number of things that you have to consider when it comes to finding the right location for the plants and flowers in your garden. Soil composition is a major factor: some plants and flowers like acidic soil while others thrive on alkaline soil.

Exposure to sunlight is at least as important: some flowers need more sun and others more shade. The BF 05 lux meter from Trotec can help you to determine just what the light conditions in any part of your garden, greenhouse or conservatory are and tell you if the place you have chosen is right for your flowers or plants. The lux meter measures light exposure in lux (lx) or foot candles (fc) and provides you with reliable and accurate information regarding the amount of light that your plants will get or are already getting.

And because the temperature and the relative humidity are also important we have a further reliable and accurate measuring device that can help you to keep a vigilant eye on climate conditions both indoors and out.

The BC 05 thermohygrometer is designed to determine climate conditions and measure the air temperature between -20°C and 60°C and the relative humidity from between 0 and 100%. This makes it ideal for climate monitoring in the floristry industry and in greenhouses.

Go here to find out more about these two easy-to-use measuring devices as well as the other measuring devices in the MutiMeasure series. And lean back and make a cool saving into the bargain …

And we’re off! Yes, the countdown has started! During the course of the following four weeks you can save as much as 1% on each of the eight measuring devices depicted above for every day from the day you place your order until the cut-off day on August 13, 2011.

That’s right! 1% for every day! This adds up to a total massive saving of almost 30% on each item! And here’s how it works: all you have to do is order any one – or all! – of the eight models in the Trotec MultiMeasure Basic series in our online shop and you will be entitled to our Early Bird Discount which knocks a full 1% off the normal price of each individual measuring device for each day between the day you order the device of your dreams and August 13. After all – it’s the early bird that catches the worm!

But hurry, hurry, hurry – the clock is ticking! Time is running out! The longer you wait, the smaller your saving! And just to show you what you might be missing out on here’s a quick overview of the eight spanking new measuring devices:

• BA 05 Impeller Anemometer: for quick and reliable wind and current flow measurements
• BC 05 Thermohygrometer: the modern way to determine air temperature and relative humidity
• BC 20 Thermohygrometer: designed for measuring air temperature and relative humidity as well as the dew point and wet bulb temperature
• BL 30 Climate Data Logger: for climate data logging over longer periods
• BZ 05 Indoor Thermohygrometer: designed for measuring and displaying indoor climate data
• BZ 25 Co2 Air Quality Monitoring Device: for non-stop CO2 concentration measurements
• BF 05 Lux Meter: measures illumination strength and light exposure
• BB 20 Coating Thickness Meter: measures the thickness of different layers and coatings quickly and effectively

See our product catalogue for more information on this super special offer and all eight individual measuring devices!

The measuring device – or devices – which you have ordered will then wing their way to you when the countdown ends on Saturday, 13.08.2011.

But don’t dilly dally! There’s no time to lose! Order now and pay less! Special offer ends soon…

The craftsmen among our readers will know what I mean when I say that some of their customers still have some pretty outdated preconceptions with regard to their craft. But who on earth was this one particular craftsman – so unreliable, so clumsy and so inconsiderate – that even today craftsmen of all trades are still having to suffer the consequences?

When people call a carpenter, a painter or a tiler, they already have an image in their mind’s eye of utter chaos, noise and dirt and a total invasion of their privacy. Good service, respectful behaviour and up-to-date equipment are often not among the first things that cross the customers’ minds when they think about a craftsman’s pending visit … But this is exactly where you can benefit from this mess! Living up to high expectations is a hard thing to achieve – today’s customers are becoming harder and harder to please. But to exceed all expectations can be so easy when you amaze the sceptics among your customers with involvement, professional behaviour and friendly and accessible manners. And what is best of all: a satisfied customer is much more likely to recommend you to neighbours and friends!

Apart from such obvious things as punctuality, reliability or outward appearance, there is nothing that can make a deeper impression than professional equipment. And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune, because even a small investment can make a really big difference. Fumbling around with a folding rule, for example, can be make people look quite inept and it can be time-consuming, too – especially with a customer breathing down your neck while their trying to protect their valued possessions from potential harm. Yet it could all be so much easier: The BD15 laser distance meter can save you a lot of trouble and your customer from becoming a of bundle nerves. And one there’s another thing you can be certain of: whenever you use a state-of-the-art folding rule 2.0 you are showing your customers that you are keeping up with the times!

So no matter when or where the myth of the unreliable craftsman evolved – it’s about time to do away with it for good. But who am I telling … your customers will know that already!

Unique special offer now extended – and only while stocks last: Save over 40% on the BD15 laser distance meter…

The answer: neither of them is better.

The MultiMeasure Professional Series is, as the name implies, a series developed by professionals who have accumulated years of experience in the fields of fire and water damage restoration, construction diagnostics and thermographic imaging and then harnessed this experience and know-how to provide other professionals with the measuring tools they need to carry out their own specific applications.

The MultiMeasure Basic Series has the same high standard of quality and the same aspirations as the Professional Series: to provide the people who use the measuring devices with the best possible tool for their own individual applications and the best possible price for each of our products.

The difference between the two series is not a quality issue. It is a matter of application. The MultiMeasure Basic Series is designed for users who are looking for a low-price entry model that does not comprise on quality. These models are not equipped with all the functions and features one’s heart could desire, they are equipped with just the features and functions you would expect to find in a model that provides you with the basic means to do exactly what you want it to do – without any of the unnecessary and costly paraphernalia which you often find in more expensive models.

The models in the MultiMeasure Basic Series have been honed to meet the demands of semi-professional applications. Applications that you can carry out in your home, in the workplace, during your free-time or at when at work. Two models which illustrate the strengths and – erm, strengths – of the series exceptionally well are the exceptionally popular BC15 thermohygrometer and the equally successful BM30 moisture meter.

The BC15 is a hand-held measuring device designed to determine the ambient temperature and relative humidity in the home, the office, in production lines and laboratories and even in florists. Features like a crisp, clear, easy-to-read backlit display, soft-touch keys and min and max hold functions are all features which you would expect to find in much higher-priced models and ones which you would sorely miss on less well-equipped ones.

The BM30 measures moisture in walls, floors and ceilings using the non-destructive method. This means that you no longer have to tear any holes in your walls or ceilings or rip up floors to detect moisture before then digging deeper to determine the cause or the source. Nowadays you can comfortably rely on the meter’s dielectric measuring method to provide you with the necessary information. The BM30 is equipped with the same excellent features as the BC15: backlit display, soft-touch keys, min and max hold function and an auto power off function which saves energy and conserves battery power. As you can see, it pays to go green.

These then are the arguments in favour of each series. You decide which series is better for you, because you decide on the application.

But no matter what model you choose, or which series – the MultiMeasure Professional Series or the MultiMeasure Basic Series – you simply can’t go wrong with Trotec.

Convince yourself and see some of the benefits:

Measuring range (accuracy)

• Voltage: 0.1 mV to 1000 V (UDC ± 1.2 %, UAC ± 2 %)
• Electricity: 100 nA to 10 A (DC ± 1.5 %, AC ± 2.5 %)
• Capacity: 10 pF to 100 µF (± 3 %)
• Resistance: 0.1 Ω to 10 MΩ (± 1.2 %)
• Frequency: 1 mHz to 10 MHz (± 1.2 %)
• Temperature: -20 °C to +760 °C (± 3 %)
• Duty cycle: 0,1 % to 99.9 % (± 1,2 %)

The BE50 is not only a very versatile tool due to a lot of functions, but also a very safe instrument thanks to safety norms EN 61326, EN 61010-1 and EN 61010-02-031.

Have a look at another brand-new product of the Trotec measuring range …

Buy the BE50 digital multi-meter online and save money …

The double insulated measuring tool has a shock, dust and splashproof housing and fits the norms to protect your safety.

See for yourself – a small overview of the technical data:

• AC/DC: automatic detection
• Testing method: bipolar contact measurement
• Measuring range: UDC 12 to 690 V, UAC 12 to 400 V
• Measuring circuit category: CAT III 600 V

If you like to see more practical advantages of the BE20 please go here …

If you already like to buy a  compact voltage tester go here …

An overview of the benefits:

• Testing method: unipolar, contact-free
• Measuring range: UAC 200 to 1,000 V
• Micro-environment: pollution degree 2
• Safety: EN 61326, EN 61010-1, EN 61010-02-031
• Measuring circuit category: CAT III 1000 V / CAT IV 600 V

Get more information on the BE15 voltage detector here …

Buy a favourable voltage tester online now and save money today …

This gas warning meter can be used in the home as well as by a professional. Benefit from easy one-handed use and play it safe while checking your gas capsules or liquid gas bottles whether they are air-tight or not. An optical and acoustical alarm raises if the LEL (lower explosion level) has been reached. That means the BG30 gas detector warns you if the minimum gas concentration in the air has been reached in which an explosion can occur.

Just have a look at some technical data listed below:

• Accuracy: 50 ppm
• Standard calibration: methane
• Swan neck probe: length approx. 40 cm
• Alarm threshold / Alarm level max.: 10 % UEG / 40 % UEG
• Surrounding conditions: 0 to +50 °C / 10 to 90 % RH (non-condensing)

Have a closer look at the BG30 gas detector

Buy a gas warning meter online now