The 2026 Masonry Innovations Words: Justin StengelBe the first to know what's to come in the new year! The masonry industry is always advancing, from new material color-ways to brand new technology, see what our MAP Members are bringing to the table in 2026!Hydro Mobile - P-MA SystemHydro Mobile’s new P-MA system redefines how workers access P-Series platforms. Engineered for speed, safety, and simplicity, this motorized access solution delivers a cost-effective and time-saving alternative to traditional methods.Traveling up to 35 ft/min (11 m/min) and carrying up to three workers simultaneously, the P-MA eliminates the inefficiency of climbing masts or relying on external stair towers and manlifts. Powered by a compact 208-volt single-phase electric hoist, it connects easily to site power or a portable generator for seamless operation.With its dual wire-rope lifting system and multiple integrated safety devices, the P-MA ensures secure, stable travel without the need for additional fall protection. Designed for both routine access and emergency evacuation, the P-MA brings the next level of safety and productivity to every P-Series job site. EZ Scaffold - 100% Fall Protection SystemEZ Scaffold proudly introduces our 100% Fall Protection System, designed to keep masons safe without slowing them down. This revolutionary system provides the continuous protection required by many contractors and industrial sites while allowing full, unobstructed movement for maximum productivity. See it in action at The World of Concrete, where the EZ Scaffold Personal Fall Protection System will be demonstrated live. Compatible with both the EZ Scaffold Heavy Duty Crank Up Scaffold and EZ Scaffold Mast Climber, it’s the smarter, safer way to the top. Contact us or visit our booth and experience safety without compromise. Stabila - Line Receiver RL 230 RGDesigned with your needs in mind, this advanced line laser receiver delivers accurate detection of pulse-modulated line lasers, whether red or green, and even across long distances or in bright sunlight. Dual digital displays on both sides illuminate at the touch of a button, ensuring clear readings from any angle. Visual arrow indicators and switchable acoustic signals (adjustable from 85 dB to 105 dB) provide intuitive guidance for aligning with the laser’s reference plane. With two selectable sensitivity settings between ±3/64” (1mm) and ±1/8” (3 mm), all users can tailor performance to the task at hand. Built for demanding environments, the unit is waterproof and dust-proof to IP66 standards and features versatile mounting options, including a leveling-rod bracket and magnetic attachment. A clear battery status indicator and a long 45-hour runtime add to its reliability. Compact yet robust, with a 3.5” (90 mm) receiver window, this laser receiver is an essential companion for professionals requiring pinpoint accuracy on the job site. PROSOCO - Tool & Equipment CleanerWhen your tools and equipment are covered with cement buildup, splatter, or slurry, fill a bucket with PROSOCO’s new Tool & Equipment Cleaner, toss in your tools, and let them dwell until the solution turns yellow, indicating it’s reached a neutral pH and the cleaner is no longer reacting. You can even reuse the solution to clean additional tools until it turns yellow! Ready-to-use, water-based, and non-caustic, Tool & Equipment Cleaner safely and quickly dissolves cementitious buildup from tools made of metal, plastic, fiberglass, glass and rubber, as well as machinery and equipment. It works on truck mixers, drum mixers, dosing equipment, forms and accessories, concrete pumps, scaffolding, concrete grinding and polishing equipment, and more. Leave tools submerged in the solution overnight or longer, if necessary, to loosen heavy buildup. It will not damage or corrode exposed aluminum, copper, or galvanized metal, and contains no harsh acids, caustics or solvents. https://prosoco.com/product/tool-equipment-cleaner/iQ Power Tools - iQ1550The iQ1550 is built for professionals who need serious cutting power without the complications of water, slurry, or heavy cleanup. With a massive 21.5 inch blade and an impressive 8-inch depth of cut, the iQ1550 delivers performance that rivals traditional wet saws while keeping the work area clean and productive. Its integrated dust control system captures debris at the source, which helps reduce airborne particles and creates a safer environment for crews and clients.The saw’s engineering focuses on precision, strength, and day-long reliability. Contractors can cut block, brick, and pavers with speed and consistency while avoiding the hassle and downtime that water-based systems create. The iQ1550 is tough enough for the heaviest masonry applications yet simple to operate, transport, and maintain. It stands out as a modern solution for job sites that demand cleaner cutting, higher efficiency, and dependable power in one professional-grade package. Construction Robotics - Mule Rover2025 was an incredible year for on-site MULE mobility with the “MULE Rover” package featuring Construction Robotics’ Smart-Lifting MULE Technology integrated with the AlmaCrawler 3.0BL auto-leveling track base for easy site access and faster installation of CMU site walls, foundations, and SRW retaining walls. Crews saw exponential boosts in production with MULE effortlessly handling the weight of the units being installed, and relocation on site was a breeze with AlmaCrawler’s patented bi-leveling technology navigating slopes and uneven terrain. The combination of electric drive, self-leveling technology, and intuitive operation makes this “MULE Rover” package remarkably user-friendly and job-site-ready. For more information email info@construction-robotics.comSee it in action at http://youtube.com/construction-robotics Crown Construction Equipment - WBT36-GH5The Crown WBT36-GH5 36” walk-behind power trowel now features a Quick-Pitch system to rapidly and easily adjust the angle of the trowel blades. This model comes standard with a 5.5HP Honda GX160 engine and four finish blades. It uses a heavy-duty centrifugal clutch covered by a fully enclosed belt guard. It has a foldable and height-adjustable handle with easy access controls for the operator, including the blade throttle lever, and an emergency switch. Its blades' speed ranges between 70-140 rev/min. A lifting bail comes standard for easy transportation.Hultafors - Extendable Box LevelsBuilt for durability and accuracy, the extendable box beam levels adapt to fit jobs where standard lengths can’t. The telescopic extension customizes the level’s reach, while integrated rulers on both the frame and extension clearly show the total extended length, ideal for measuring and taking inside dimensions. A manual lock-out secures the extension at any desired length for repeatability. The magnified center vial ensures best-in-class visibility, and all vials are triple secured using our patented mounting system for unmatched durability and reliability. For accuracy, both gauging edges are precision-milled on the same plane, maintaining uniform contact across the full extended length.Available in 2 sizes, the 24" model extends to 42" and the 48" model extends to 80" Bon Tool - Freestranding Base PlateKeep block walls level and plumb while saving time and money! This free-standing base plate allows you to start laying block without needing a level! (Pictures show the walls can continue as high as needed. If you sight the poles that extend above the walls, you’ll see how perfectly plumb they still are with each other.) Using the top hole of the base plate to support the first pole allows you to lower the pole, slide it out from under the others, and reuse it again. Poles above will be secured to the wall using brackets and Tapcons while you recheck and maintain plumb. This system has increased production by 50 or more block per man per day. It’s as simple as just adding the next pole while checking every 4’ or so for plumb. On brick veneer, just add another pole instead of raising them. Options are endless! Westlake Royal Stone Solutions - Ranchers EdgeEldorado Stone®, a Westlake Royal Stone Solutions brand, highlights Ranchers Ridge™, a distinctive color-way inspired by the sunbaked tones of Western landscapes. Blending cream, sand, russet, and gray hues, Ranchers Ridge brings rustic yet refined warmth to both exterior and interior applications. Available in Eldorado’s RoughCut® and Fieldledge® profiles, this palette captures the natural character of weathered stone while aligning with design trends that celebrate earthy textures and organic palettes. Ranchers Ridge exemplifies Eldorado Stone’s continued innovation in color design, expanding creative possibilities for architects, builders, and homeowners alike. Belden Brick - Metallic Brick ColorsThe Belden Brick Company is exploring the next evolution of architectural finishes with our Metallic Brick Colors, now in development through an innovative double-firing process in a roller hearth kiln. This specialized kiln enables precise control of time and temperature, unlocking visual effects not achievable in a traditional tunnel kiln.What truly sets Metallics apart is the visual depth and dimension they bring to masonry. The interplay of metallic sheen and natural texture highlights every contour, making surfaces shimmer with subtle brilliance. On textured finishes like Weather-Tex, light dances across the surface like facets on a diamond, capturing attention and redefining the aesthetic potential of clay masonry.As Belden continues refining this process, Metallics represent a glimpse into the future of how brick can capture both texture and light in extraordinary new ways. Glen-Gery - CasablancaGlen-Gery Corporation, a premier brick manufacturer that is part of Brickworks North America, proudly introduces Casablanca, the 2026 Brick Color of the Year, a hue that seamlessly elevates both residential and commercial design. More than a material, Casablanca tells a story of resilience and refinement. Its organic, sun-bleached aesthetic evokes warmth and permanence, grounding spaces while allowing a full range of architectural styles to shine. Whether defining a contemporary facade or complementing a traditional structure, Casablanca provides the foundation for not just buildings, but legacies. Part of the acclaimed Sioux River Series, Casablanca draws inspiration from the rocky formations and flowing waterways of the Midwest. Its natural textural depth and versatile tone make it adaptable to a wide array of mortar joints and finishes, ensuring design flexibility for architects, builders, and homeowners alike. Casablanca, and others within the Sioux River Series, are available in a modular (3-5/8” x 2-1/4” x 7-5/8”) and builders' special size (3” x 2-13/16” x 8-5/8”). Hangtite - X4 & X15 Blended CementHangtite® Blended Cement Products continues to lead innovation in masonry materials with its X-4 and X-15 Polymer-Modified Manufactured Stone Veneer Bonding Mortars—engineered for superior adhesion, durability, and workability. Both Hangtite® X-4 and X-15 Mortars meet demanding requirements of ANSI A118.4, ensuring exceptional bond strength and long-term performance under varying environmental conditions. Hangtite® X-4 delivers a smooth, creamy consistency ideal for vertical installations and stone veneer applications, while Hangtite® X-15 provides enhanced polymer content for maximum flexibility and impact resistance. Together, they represent Hangtite’s commitment to safer, high performance, silica-free technology—advancing cleaner job sites and healthier working environments. By combining modern polymer science with professional-grade usability, Hangtite® X-Series mortars empower installers and specifiers to build stronger, longer-lasting, and environmentally responsible projects—cementing Hangtite’s role as a materials innovator in the next generation of construction solutions. Quick Headers - Quick Headers XLQuick Headers is pleased to introduce the new Quick Headers XL shoring system, engineered specifically for the demands of 12” block applications. In the past, masons often “sistered” two 6” Quick Headers to span openings in heavy-duty structural walls. The new XL system delivers that same trusted performance in one solid system that is stronger, simpler, and faster to set.Measuring 8.75” wide by 4.25” high, Quick Headers XL provides a generous 8.75” block-setting surface, leaving only a 1.5” overhang per side. The reinforced 4.25” vertical walls deliver the added strength needed to support the increased weight of 12” block and grout, while maintaining the same proven arching action that defines Quick Headers.Developed directly from mason feedback, Quick Headers XL brings the same safety, time savings, and cost efficiency trusted by contractors and now scaled up for the most demanding projects. Check out the XL at WOC 2026! Spherical Block LLC - Arched Roofing SystemSpherical Block, LLC is developing a new arched roofing system made from concrete sections produced on a block machine. These arches are reinforced with FRP rebar, which is grouted in a core hole of the concrete sections. The arch assembly is tilted up for easy installation. This technique is very high-strength, affordable, fireproof, and will not rot, rust, or decay. It is an improvement over wooden and metal roofing trusses in common use. An initial engineering model has been assembled. A patent is currently pending on this idea, and pre-production prototype testing is underway. These arch sections may be assembled like wooden trusses with a span between them, or they may be assembled as a continuous masonry roof for extreme weather events. These reinforced concrete arch sections may also be 3-D printed. This roofing system is best assembled atop CMU walls. CrewTracks - GeofencingAs your trusted solution for ensuring the right people are in the right places, CrewTracks now takes it a step further.Geofencing creates a virtual boundary that defines the exact area for employee clock-ins and outs. This powerful feature revolutionizes time tracking, providing improved accuracy and significantly minimizing discrepancies and timecard fraud.This innovation increases employee accountability by issuing prompts or requiring clock-in within designated areas, encouraging on-site presence. Geofencing enhances transparency, giving you valuable, data-driven insights into your crew's attendance locations to proactively resolve disputes.Admins can easily enable and customize this setting for each job. With comprehensive data reporting in the web app and guided cues in the mobile app, Geofencing helps you maintain accurate job site attendance, boost accountability, and streamline your entire workforce management process. Embrace the future of site control with CrewTracks. Masonry Direct - Online SupportAt Masonry Direct, innovation means breaking barriers between manufacturers and contractors. Our website gives top masonry manufacturers visibility in new markets while helping contractors get fast, expert answers, without the wait.Through our integrated live chat at masonrydirect.com, contractors can connect instantly with our knowledgeable team to get product guidance, installation insight, or help selecting the right materials for their projects. This personal, real-time support has transformed how professionals source masonry materials online.By combining manufacturer partnerships with responsive customer service, Masonry Direct makes it easier than ever for contractors to order with confidence and keep their projects moving. It’s not just e-commerce, it’s a connection built for the trades. A huge thank you goes out to all the MAP members that contributed this year!About: Industry News
