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tools give smaller teams a better shot at hitting deadlines without compromising quality. The good news is that support doesn’t end with the product. McGarragle is taking the Genie tools on the road to UK trade shows with mock- up walls and ceilings to show exactly how the tools work in practice. He’s also investing in online resources – including Q&A guides and instructional videos – and plans to launch a Facebook user group where installers can share tips. So what’s next? McGarragle is not standing still. He’s already refining the Metal Stud Genie with variable magnet strengths and plans to make it compatible with Metsec SFS wall systems. “There’s always room to improve,” he says, “and I’m always listening to what builders say they need.” It’s that blend of practical experience and constant innovation that sets McGarragle’s innovations apart. These aren’t tools built in a lab. They’re built on-site, born from
at either 400mm or 600mm intervals. That means no more measuring, clamping, adjusting – just click into place and fix. The magnetic mechanism saves time, of course, and removes one of the more awkward and tiring parts of the job: working on your knees, struggling to hold components in place while trying to align them. And because the Genie does the spacing for you, there’s far less chance of human error – helping builders stay within spec and compliant with manufacturer installation guidelines. One builder, one tool These days, skilled labour is increasingly hard to come by and labour costs are rising – and McGarragle’s tools offer a pragmatic solution. By allowing one person to do the work of two, both the Metal Stud Genie and MF Genie 400 offer major time and cost savings. For sole traders or small teams, that can make all the difference between squeezing a job in this week or pushing it to the next. “I’ve had contractors in the Middle East saying that
once you’ve got the system set up, even semi-skilled labour can install walls accurately and efficiently,” McGarragle says. “That’s a big deal when you’re facing labour shortages or trying to manage tight deadlines.” McGarragle says feedback
from contractors who have been trialling the
tools shows a significant increase in productivity – with some reporting a full day saved across large ceiling or wall installs. The ambition behind the Genie tools isn’t just about time-saving; it’s also about accessibility. “A lot of small builders don’t always have an extra pair of hands available,” he says. “And even when they do, you want those hands doing something useful – not just holding a bit of metal in place.” That’s why both tools are being embraced by sole traders and smaller outfits who are often under pressure to deliver with fewer resources. By simplifying some of the most fiddly and time- consuming parts of drylining and ceiling work, McGarragle’s
TO
years of trial, error, and the belief that good tools should make life easier. INNOVATION
physical awkwardness of the job.
“It also acts like a dead man,” McGarragle says, “supporting the edge of the plasterboard while you’re fixing it. That’s normally a two-man job, but with the Genie, one person can handle it easily.” It’s the same principle with the Metal Stud Genie, which works with a range of wall products including C Stud, I Stud, Gypliner, and brackets. Once your base and top tracks are in place, the Genie uses powerful magnets to hold vertical studs precisely
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Master Builder
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