THE FUTURE OF BLUE TOOLS

Tapepro Drywall Tools. This Australian-based manufacturer has grown to international acclaim in recent years, known for its wide range of automatic taping and finishing tools. We sat down with Tapepro to learn what the future holds for the company and their tool collection.

Q: Blue Line USA has been a household name in the wall & ceiling industry for 20 years, known for its iconic blue tools. Can you tell us about your decision to move forward as Tapepro Drywall Tools?

A: Blue Line has been a staple brand in the US market for many years. Its sister brand, Tapepro Drywall Tools, has operated on an international scale, receiving high commercial success in Australia and other countries. As Tapepro continued to develop, leading to the release of several new tools on the market, it was time for us to unify the brands to prevent confusion among our customers. We have decided to promote and support Tapepro Drywall Tools in the US while providing the same high-quality tools, replacement parts, and services for all Blue Line and Premier customers.

Q: Tapepro invests heavily in research and development, improving its tools to give contractors the latest “Professional Edge”. How would you define an exceptional tool? What qualities do you strive for in your collection?

A: The aim of our collection is function. Our tools must fulfill a functional need as cleanly and effortlessly as possible. The design should be robust enough to withstand daily professional use but do so in an effective way. Our designs anticipate the needs of the finisher. Reducing operator fatigue is a key component of our ergonomic construction. As a result, our tools are easy to use, easy to clean, and easy to repair – all this while delivering consistent professional results.

Our research and development has lead to several innovations such as:

• The SuperLite Automatic Taper combines carbon fiber technology with titanium side plates for an ultra-lightweight taper. Weighing at 2.65kg, this is one of the lightest tapers on the market. Learn More

• The Booster Automatic Flat Boxes eliminate the need to apply pressure when running skimming coats over flat joints.Learn More

• The Twister™ Flat Box Handle allows the flat box to be rotated for a more natural position when applying finishing coats from the ground. This handle extends from 39" to 63" and has 4 different positions. Learn More

Q: Could you tell us how your collection came into being and how it best serves the professional contractor? What key areas do your automatic taping tools take drywall to the next level?

A: Bob and Stan Ames invented the first automatic taping and finishing tools, the designs of which are so familiar to us now and form the basis of many tool brands today. After a long period in which the brothers expanded their range and developed multiple businesses, they created a second generation of tools known as Premier. Our collection carries on the Premier tradition with our replacement parts still retaining their compatibility even today. Tapepro shares Premier’s focus on production, developing tools with larger capacity, robust design, and durable materials for withstanding regular use. We take pride in knowing our tools fulfill these standards while staying easy to use and easy to clean.

Some people may think automatic taping and finishing tools are over-engineered but considering the demanding environment for which they are intended and how quickly professionals are having to adapt to stay competitive – automatic taping tools are a smart investment. Not only do they reduce operator fatigue while ensuring professional-level results; they let you do more in less time, keeping you profitable. Who doesn’t want that?

Q: Could you tell us about your manufacturing process?

A: Our team at Tapepro designs and develops all the latest tools and improvements in-house. We also outsource rapid prototyping and many manufacturing processes. By doing this, we can leverage advanced manufacturing techniques without bearing all the cost, keeping the Tapepro collection competitive. There is no doubt the pandemic has affected freight costs and transit times, but our team remains committed to providing quality tools at a fair price to all our customers.

Q: On that note, could you share with us the products you are most excited about this year? What should our customers be on the lookout for as we head into another season?

A: Absolutely! Anyone interested in purchasing a range of our automatic taping and finishing tools, we highly recommend the combination sets available on walltools.com. We are also introducing some of our latest products to the US market including:

• Tapepro Mud Box® Pro has all the ease of a banjo, but the functionality of a bazooka. Apply tape and joint compound simultaneously while the cutter and creaser wheel take care of the rest. Learn More

• Flat Boxer Kits protect your flat finishing tools in a durable, shock and water resistant tool case designed to extend the life of your tools. This kit comes in four configurations with either the traditional Blue2 or T2 Flat Boxes along with a Recess Plate, Bumpers and Blade Kits. Learn More

• SuperLite ProReach Extendable Flat Box Handle is everything you want in an adjustable handle. Not only is it lightweight with a temperature-stable carbon fiber tube, but it also extends from 39" to 63" for maxium reach. Learn More

We do have new tools on the drawing board, and the latest news is always available on our social media feeds. Be sure to include Tapepro in your preferred social media platform. We're on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

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Blue Line USA is now Tapepro Drywall Tools. Curious to learn more? Be sure to check out our Blue Line USA FAQs page on our website for additional information. You can also email us at info@walltools.com.