Built for those who want to get the job done right, Work IQ Tools’ IQ Vise System™ is a heavy-duty, all-terrain vise that grips stronger, adjusts faster, and withstands tough conditions while improving efficiency, precision, and overall job site workflow.

Designed for Builders Who Demand Smarter Tools

The IQ Vise System™ was built with today’s homebuilding professionals in mind, offering:

• IQ Vise™ – A high-performance articulating vise that locks in multiple positions, allowing builders to work smarter, not harder.
• IQ Vise Jaws™ – Swappable jaw inserts designed for different materials and shapes, keeping workpieces secure and minimizing damage.
• IQ Connect™ – Plug-and-play accessories that provide extra functionality, freeing up hands and making complex tasks simpler.

Whether you’re framing, finishing, or crafting custom pieces, the IQ Vise System™ helps you work faster and with more accuracy—so you can focus on delivering top-quality results.

Located in suburban Detroit, Blue-Ray Mechanical, Inc. has evolved from a residential heating, cooling, and boiler company to offering dozens of services to both commercial and residential clients. Nearly 75 years old, the third-generation, family-owned and operated company serves half a dozen counties in the Detroit metro area.

Partners Matt Landelius  and Wes Evans and their growing team of 16 staff members pride themselves on keeping up with the latest industry innovations and sharing them with customers. “We were one of the first companies to convert from coal to natural gas, seeing the environmental and sustainability benefits. The HVAC industry is constantly seeing innovative technologies, and it’s our duty to stay up to date with these trends,” said Landelius.

The BitRip app and BR Code labels were first conceived in military operations. The app was built for simplicity of operation, with the ability to add checklist forms for frequently inspected items like HVAC equipment, ladders, and fire extinguishers. The labels are built for durability, with indoor and outdoor versions available.

Landelius  and Evans have roughly 21 years of experience apiece with Blue-Ray, and throughout that work experience they’ve sought a better way of tracking things like HVAC equipment, maintenance logs, personal protective equipment, etc. For example, Landelius  explained that tracking just the HVAC equipment and its maintenance for one of their customers (with 36 retail stores) involved a very hefty and unwieldy black binder. “I was using this binder and typing all this stuff up as I was getting the information and then I have this big black binder in my work van with me that I have to keep flipping through,” he said.

So, it was a welcome discovery when Landelius  first learned about BitRip® and BR Code™ labels. The app and labels offer a unique new way of connecting physical objects with a vast amount of customizable data and tracking every scanned location.

Dirty Rapidly Changing Environments

BitRip co-founder Nick Dimitruk initially conceived this solution in field combat operations more than a decade ago, while serving in the Middle East as a U.S. Marine. “We were in dirty, rapidly changing, dangerous places and using expensive, mission-critical gear. We realized that people in other industries had the same headaches, stress, and urgency to get the mission done quickly and effectively, so we invented this technology,” Dimitruk said.

When Blue-Ray Mechanical Partner Matt Landelius first saw BitRip® and BR Code™ labels he quickly envisioned time resulting from their ability to connect physical objects with a vast amount of customizable data and tracking every scanned location.

Many of the same conditions are present in the rooftop HVAC spaces and mechanical rooms where Blue-Ray field technicians spend their time. Landelius  saw BR Code labels and BitRip at a local supply house and immediately envisioned BitRip helping to eliminate the need for that big black binder.

“I tried it with a few (rooftop) units just to see how it would work and then I created a file for that store and then added all the units to it and I was able to send it to Wes and invite him into the project and that way he had it in his phone before he went there,” he recalled of that first trial. “We just rolled it out really quickly and it was really easy to use,” he said.

Now Blue-Ray staff uses the solution daily, replacing a lot of pen and paper and sticky notes and the need for staff to physically look at folders to access information. “We were really paper based, so BitRip makes it a lot easier,” Evans said.

Blue-Ray puts BR Code labels on rooftop units (RTUs), boilers, hot water systems, and other equipment, takes a photo of the manufacturer information tags, model and serial numbers, and specifics like refrigerant levels. Having all this information available so quickly and easily on a phone or mobile device “really helps out if someone calls and needs it.”

Creating Connectivity

“It makes it very easy to communicate with other techs or customers. It’s right there on our phones,” Landelius  said. “It makes a really good tool as far as being in the field for right on the spot, connectivity, and being able to figure out what we need and when we need it,” Evans added.

For RTUs, Landelius  generally scans the BR Code, then enters the name of the unit, the customer who owns it, what rooftop number it is, he then takes a photo of the tag and adds a note for its filter and belt sizes and whether any service has been done. He creates another note that serves as a service log.

All of this information is securely stored in the cloud within the BitRip app, and the Blue-Ray team controls who has access to the information. They appreciate that the labels can be locked so that people don’t get in there and “play around.”

Being able to remotely access key information like this before visiting a jobsite has been a true game changer, Landelius said. Evans said that another area where the app and labels are providing value is increasing billing transparency. Having a service log associated with the label that is right on the HVAC equipment that shows what repairs were performed, and when, is extremely valuable, he said.

“Everything seems to be going to connectivity through your phones…so, having BitRip to be able to share with other techs in the field I think will just shorten time on the phone, time waiting, time going to supply houses. You’re going to be able to share this exactly with another tech or your homeowner or business owner or property manager, and I think it’ll really shorten up the time that we’re wasting either being on the phone or driving to get parts after the fact of getting to a job when you could have come with parts,” Evans said.

The BitRip and BR Code label solution is “easily affordable,” according to Evans. He said that not having to carry a laptop or an iPad on a jobsite to input data is a bonus. Landelius  added that the minimal cost of BR Code labels is easily built into any project’s billing. They have been using the heavy-duty BR Code labels and have been impressed with their ability to stay where they’re placed.

No More Black Binders

Landelius  said that the unpopular task of updating the big black binder for each client is becoming outdated thanks to this solution. “We change units regularly at all these different buildings. I have to update that thing once a month and that requires me to be at home with the computer and sit there and I’m not the greatest typer so I’m just pecking away at the keyboard, but now, I don’t have to do it.”

Blue-Ray Mechanical puts BR Code labels on rooftop units (RTUs), boilers, hot water systems, and other equipment, and then they typically add a photo of the manufacturer information tags, model and serial numbers, and specifics like refrigerant levels.

He added that communicating with dozens of text messages and phone calls/voicemails each day multiplied by four technicians going to different jobs throughout the area eats up a massive amount of time. That time is now being spent more productively thanks to BitRip and BR Code labels.

BitRip has seen a huge adoption in the safety inspection tracking sector with checklist forms for different items like ladders, fire extinguishers and personal protective equipment. And Blue-Ray is considering  using BitRip for those types of applications as well.

“BitRip makes it easy to be able to share and transfer information. I think it’s just going to make it easier the more jobs we go to, the more stickers we put up. I think in a couple of years, we might have the majority of our main accounts and residential, commercial, light industrial tagged up,” Evans said. As Blue-Ray continues to evolve Landelius  and Evans are excited to see how this digital technology can continue to improve their bottom line.

Welcome back to our weekly update. Today is January 31, 2025. Here at Mechanical Hub, we are heading into our busiest travel period of the year with a myriad of industry shows to be conquered. On this update we’ll head back down to Vegas as Eric shows us some cool stuff from the Milwaukee Tool booth at the World of Concrete. I just got back from RIDGID in Elyria, Ohio, and Eric shows us a new Bosch Heat Pump Water Heater install.

New Milwaukee Tools from World Of Concrete

What started as a fairly innocuous Contractor Spotlight turned into something much deeper. For Yossi Wachtel, president of Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, Los Angeles, the impact of the LA fires just hits different. “When the fire started, our typically overbooked dispatch board dropped to 25% capacity, but Los Angeles will rebuild so that’s not what keeps me up at night. What really shakes me is hearing a customer say, ‘Why fix the plumbing when we might not have a house to come back to?’ That’s not just a cancelled appointment, that’s a neighbor facing the unthinkable,” says Wachtel.

Monkey Wrench’s service area—Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, West LA, Altadena—has been affected. “These aren’t just dots on our dispatch map, they are homes where we’ve fixed leaks, installed water heaters, and built relationships over years. Now many of those same homes are in harm’s way. These aren’t just statistics on a news report. These are people we live with, shop at the same supermarkets with, go to the gym with, and work with.”

But what really matters to Wachtel is that Monkey Wrench is a community business, and right now the community needs something different than plumbing services. They need support, resources, and reassurance. “So, while our phones might be quieter today, our commitment to this community has never been louder. We’re here for whatever our neighbors need—whether that’s emergency plumbing assistance or just someone who knows the area and can point them toward help. This isn’t about business anymore. It’s about being there for our community when they need us most. To all our customers, employees, and fellow Angelenos: Stay safe. Material things can be replaced, lives cannot,” says Wachtel.

The Spotlight

Yossi Wachtel’s path to plumbing was anything but traditional. After studying in rabbinical college in Australia, Wachtel found himself drawn to the trades through construction work. What started as painting closets evolved into a fascination with the mechanics of plumbing. In 2007, Wachtel moved to California and founded Monkey Wrench with just one truck. Today, we operate nearly 50 trucks and employ around 100 team members, serving residential customers throughout Los Angeles.

“I discovered plumbing in my late twenties while working in property management. What captivated me wasn’t just the technical aspects; it was the opportunity to be someone’s hero. Every call was a chance to solve problems and make a real difference in people’s lives. After three years learning the trade, I took the leap to start my own company,” recalls Wachtel.

Wachtel has always had that eye for business. “I’ve always been entrepreneurial—I started my first business at age seven,” says Wachtel. “But with plumbing, I saw a clear need for professionals who could deliver exceptional customer service.”

And, because Wachtel is an ordained rabbi, he uses what he’s learned in his plumbing business. “While I chose plumbing over rabbinical work, I still apply those teachings about ethics and service to others in how we run our business.

The Narrative, Reworked

According to Wachtel, and many others enjoying a career in the trades, college isn’t the only path to success. He says that the trades offer an incredible opportunity to build a rewarding career without student debt. “At Monkey Wrench, we have technicians earning six-figure incomes, and more importantly, they’re making a real difference in people’s lives. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about your job being outsourced or replaced by Artificial Intelligence,” says Wachtel.

According to Wachtel, the industry should partner more with high schools, create clear career advancement paths, showcase modern technology and tools, highlight success stories and emphasize the entrepreneurial opportunities. “We need to change the narrative about trade careers. It’s not just about unclogging toilets—it’s about problem-solving, using advanced technology, and helping people.”

Mentor and Relation Ships

Wachtel says that his greatest mentors have come through Nexstar Network. “They taught me that being a great plumber isn’t enough; you need to be a great business person too,” says Wachtel.

Not only did Wachtel find mentorship through Nexstar, he says that joining Nexstar was a game-changer for us. “I made a significant investment in that first-year membership when I could barely make payroll—it was terrifying but turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. Continuous education isn’t just important; it’s essential. The industry evolves constantly, and if you’re not learning, you’re falling behind.”

Today, he’s passionate about mentoring others, especially through the company’s developing trade academy, which would help young people discover and develop their potential in the trades. Wachtel says it’s becoming the next big mission at Monkey Wrench. “Nothing brings me more joy than seeing our team members buy their first homes or achieve personal milestones through their careers with us.”

The biggest challenge is finding the right people who share the vision for exceptional service. But for Wachtel, the rewards far outweigh the challenges. “Recently, one of our employees became the first person in three generations of his family to buy a home. Those moments—seeing our team members grow and succeed—that’s what makes this all worthwhile,” says Wachtel.

In fact, one of Monkey Wrench’s team members celebrated their 10-year anniversary with the company. “These milestones remind me why we do what we do. It’s about creating opportunities and changing lives through this amazing trade,” says Wachtel.

While Wachtel is proud of the community he’s created at Monkey Wrench, the company is in good hands. Both of Wachtel’s sons work for the business—one is the Operations Manager, and the other works in the marketing department. “It’s incredible watching them grow into their roles and bring fresh perspectives to the company. While I hope they’ll continue the legacy, I want it to be their choice. They need to earn it and want it,” says Wachtel.

Wachtel’s Top Tips for Starting a Business

• Perfect your craft before going solo

• Join a best practices organization (it changed everything for us)

• Focus on building systems, not just fixing pipes

• Invest in your people’s growth

• Stay true to your business model—avoid the temptation of “shiny objects”