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Cologne, Germany -- From the International Hardware Fair in Cologne, Germany, a torque wrench, a cutting plier and triple-blade cutting tool earned innovation awards.

Koelnmesse, organizer of the 2012 International Hardware Fair, and the Central Hardware Trade Association (ZHH) jointly awarded the “EISEN 2012” innovation prize for the top tool products, industrial supplies, fastening and connection systems and fittings.

The winners are:

Jacuzzi Group Worldwide, a manufacturer of bath and spa products, announced that it has expanded its product portfolio to include a new collection of energy-efficient tankless water heaters, which will be available exclusively at select Lowe’s stores and Lowes.com. 

Powered by natural gas or propane, Jacuzzi tankless units heat water as it is needed. They use up to 30% less energy than a traditional tank-style water heater.

Acuity Brands expanded its LED indoor ambient lighting portfolio with the launch of the Z Series LED striplight by Lithonia Lighting.

The Z Series luminaires are compact, low-profile solid-state strips that deliver long maintenance-free performance in a wide range of retrofit and new construction applications, including uplight and downlight in commercial, retail, manufacturing, warehouse, cove and display. The Z Series luminaires join the portfolio of versatile Lithonia Lighting LED indoor ambient lighting products. 

A triumph for the “light bulb freedom” movement, which opposed the phaseout of traditional incandescent bulbs starting Jan. 1, 2012, may turn out to be a hollow victory. Supporters had hoped to delay the implementation of the new energy-efficient light bulb standards with a rider on the 2012 Omnibus funding bill. Congress passed the bill right before Christmas, along with the light bulb rider, which bars the Department of Energy (DOE) from enforcing the planned phaseout of 100-watt energy-inefficient incandescent bulbs.

West Chester, Pa.-based Air King added the do-it-yourself, snap-in BFQ80 exhaust fan to its line of ventilation fans. 

The BFQ80 is an 80 CFM, 2.0 sone exhaust fan offering an Energy Star-qualified solution for residential ventilation needs, the company said.

“What makes the BFQ Series unique is the simple, one-person installation system,” said Jeff Kenkelen, president, Air King. “Most ‘traditional’ fans utilize either a hanger bar or mounting tab system, while the BFQ is installed using a convenient mounting bracket.”

Lowe’s has added two new brands to its bulb assortment, one a new manufacturer in the LED residential market and the other utilizing a new lighting technology.

Samsung Electronics will release its first LED lighting solutions for the U.S. consumer market through Lowes.com and at select Lowe's home improvement retail stores nationwide. The bulbs include A19, PAR20/30/38 and MR16 bulbs -- all designed to replace traditional incandescent, halogen and CFL bulbs throughout the home.

The demand for paint and coatings in the United States is expected to rise 7.8% annually through 2015, according to a study by The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based market research firm. The market is expected to expand strongly in both volume and value terms, rebounding from the declines of the recession-impacted 2005 to 2010 period.

Bradford, Pa.-based W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. launched its Tec X collection, described as a brand extension with an emphasis on modern design.

The 28 individual models in the collection include features such as one-handed opening and closing, pocket clips, anodized aluminum handles, AUS8 blades and titanium coatings.

As founder of the home channel’s leading Internet retailer of power tools, Don Cohen of ToolKing.com has as good a perspective as any on the trends shaping the power tools market.

His observation: “Faster, smaller, cheaper, better — that’s where products are going,” Cohen said. “There are more technology-enhanced products that are better looking, and better working, than ever before.”

Melville, N.Y.-based Leviton Manufacturing has acquired Obvius, a provider of solutions to collect energy information.

According to Leviton, the Obvius acquisition allows the company to offer the most complete line of lighting and energy management solutions. A complementary strategic addition to Leviton’s current line, Leviton now offers solutions to meet all measurement and verification-based opportunities, such as smart metering, energy data information, load management and LEED rating achievement.

The Lowe's brand Kobalt announced the addition of 18-volt and corded power tools to its line. 

The new line of cordless tools also ensure that power will never be a problem for users, as all Kobalt 18V tools are compatible with both Kobalt lithium-ion, as well as nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries.