Irwin Tools Offers Trades a Chance at $1 Million

Irwin Tools has announced the kick-off of its 2010 Ultimate Tradesman Challenge that will award $1 million to the winner.

Irwin Tools is searching for the Ultimate Tradesman with competitions throughout the United States, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Poland, Denmark, Australia, and New Zealand.

Tradesmen will compete through a series of local and national events.

Trade professionals will perform a series of precise tasks in a race against the clock. Contestants will first use Irwin Vise-Grip GrooveLock pliers to remove two pipe fittings from a qualifying channel (Grip It). He will then use an Irwin square and pencil to mark three lines on a standard 2” x 4” x 24” board, at pre-marked positions. Contestant then slides the board into a cutting position, and securely clamps it to the work surface with an Irwin Quick-Grip XP600 one-handed bar clamp. Contestant then uses an Irwin Universal Hand Saw to cut the board on the line previously marked (Rip It). And finally, using an Irwin Speedbor Max Speed drill bit, contestant drills two holes in the board at the intersecting lines (Drive It), unclamps the board, places the clamp on the competition cart, and puts the board in the qualifying channel.

If the board fits accurately, the clock will automatically stop, and the challenge time will be noted. Speed; ability to remove pipe fittings; accurate marking; ability to clamp work securely; fast, straight cuts; and the ability to accurately drill holes are crucial to winning the challenge. The Ultimate Tradesman Challenge is a true test of on-the-job skills.

“Irwin Tools, and its category-leading sub-brands, has built a reputation for best-in-class products through a relentless dedication to identifying the needs of professional tradesman across the globe,” says Curt Rahilly, vice-president of marketing. “This passionate focus on the tradesmen who use our tools will extend directly to global marketing efforts that distinguish the significant contributions of those who use their hands to build and maintain the world around us. These trade professionals make a real difference in our society each and every day, and they need tools that work as hard as they do.”

Visit www.irwin.com for details on the “task,” or to see a video of the challenge in action.