DEWALT

Towson, Md. – October 16, 2026 -- DEWALT's DALE drilling robot has cut project timelines by more than 300 weeks across 44 data center construction phases, and TIME has named it to its Best Inventions of 2026 list in the Robotics category.

DALE, an autonomous downward drilling robot, was developed by DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker brand, in collaboration with mobile robotics company August Robotics. TIME editors and correspondents selected 300 winning innovations based on originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.

DALE drills up to 10 times faster than conventional methods on live jobsites

On live data center jobsites, DALE has reached drilling speeds up to 10 times faster than conventional methods. The robot has drilled more than 385,000 holes with over 99% accuracy.

Atlanta – October 16, 2026 -- White Cap and DEWALT will present a combined $175,000 donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on Sunday, October 18, at Phoenix Raceway, marking the fourth year of their joint partnership.

DEWALT adds $25,000 through October in-branch product sales

DEWALT will contribute an additional $25,000 through purchases of select DEWALT products at participating White Cap branches throughout October. The retail-linked mechanism ties charitable output directly to distributor sales volume during the campaign month.

Towson, Md. – – October 07, 2026 -- DEWALT's autonomous drilling robot DALE has cut data center construction timelines by more than 300 weeks across 44 project phases, earning the Stanley Black & Decker brand a win in Fast Company's 2026 Next Big Things in Tech Awards.

DALE drills up to 10 times faster than conventional methods

Developed with global mobile robotics firm August Robotics, the fleet-capable downward drilling robot was selected from more than 1,000 applicants across over 30 award categories. DEWALT was the only tool manufacturer represented in the program, placing in the 'Enduring Impact: 15+ Years in Business' category.

Shanghai – September 28, 2026 -- Mikala Sposito, a 21-year-old welding student from Washtenaw Community College, won a bronze medal at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, becoming the first woman to represent the United States in the Welding skill category.

Nine-member U.S. delegation competes against global field of 1,400

The 2026 WorldSkills USA team, comprising nine SkillsUSA state champions, competed Sept. 22-27 in Shanghai against skilled professionals from 73 countries and regions across 64 skill categories, including seven new emerging occupations.

Two U.S. competitors secure Medal for Excellence with 700+ point scores

Elizabeth Brown, 22, of Missouri, earned the Medal for Excellence in Cooking, ranking among 19 of 45 competitors globally to score above 700 points on the WorldSkills scale. Brown's preparation was backed by Unilever, ZWILLING and Smithfield Foods.

Towson – September 23, 2026 -- A DEWALT survey of 534 WorldSkills competitors across more than 60 countries found that 76% believe technical and vocational skills are increasingly critical to the global economy, yet 51% say too few young people are entering the trades.

Survey exposes gap between perception and enrollment pathways

While 71% of respondents said the public image of skilled trades has improved, 52% reported being steered toward traditional academic paths versus just 14% encouraged into vocational careers. The disconnect starts early: 45% said young people are not exposed to skilled career opportunities soon enough, and 53% felt direct pressure to pursue university over trade training.

Brookings, S.D. – September 16, 2026 -- Northern Tool + Equipment has launched its fourth annual student vehicle build program at Flandreau Indian School, tasking 14 career and technical education (CTE) students with transforming a 1976 Ford F-350 utility truck into a rolling showcase of skilled-trades careers for display at the 2027 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Build IV marks the program's first placement at a tribal school and its first gender-balanced student team

Half of the Flandreau Indian School Build Team is female, a program first for Northern Tool's four-year-old initiative. Students will handle welding, fabrication, automotive repair, paint, bodywork and design work on the truck throughout the 2026-2027 school year, working directly alongside industry professionals rather than watching contractors complete the work.