This past week was the Pumper Show down in Louisville, KY and was very curious about the show so we took a drive down early on Saturday. Set up like other trade shows but there was an emphasis on end user selling for many of the vendors we talked to with show special pricing and some products even stacked up in booths. As far as the pumper products went we really had no interest although have to say I was really impressed with the Blacktie setup, classiest port-a-johns ever possibly.
Ridgid had a good sized booth and lots of interactive displays and challengers for using some of their machines. The big emphasis from Ridgid was on “going digital” with their new RidgidConnect service. It is very clear in this could be a great business tool for many plumbers, inspectors, etc. The best new product from the show was the final piece of this digital puzzle. The SeeSnake to Laptop connection system and software introduced as part of the SeeSnake LT1000. This platform sites on top of the SeeSnake Reels (fits mini & full size) and connects directly to a laptop or microExplorer ($690, Ohio Power Tool). The Ridgid LT1000 ($1756, Ohio Power Tool) also has a full waterproof touch pad to control recording and keep your gloved hands off the laptop keyboard. Software is included for full viewing of most laptops, exact specs for laptop requirements coming soon. The LT1000 will run off battery or AC power and even includes new reel feet stabilizers to keep the reel in place.
The Ridgid LT1000 will be available in a few months; more information and pre-sale will be available on OhioPowerTool.com in the Ridgid SeeSnake section as we get closer to the launch date. The LT1000 should cost around $2000 and will include a 60 free trial to Ridgid Connect which with a wireless internet card would mean inspection could go from reel to office to customer in a matter of minutes.
