2006 Tool Trends Watch - ttnet Marketing Blog

2006 Tool Trends Watch October 18, 2007

Posted by wenbi in : Tools , trackback

ttnet.net - [2006/01/23]

In “Practical World“, a world-famous tool fair held in Germany, we catch a glimpse of upcoming tool trends. Hand tools cannot emphasize on ergonomics and practical designs too much, especially on griping comfort of asymmetric handle design and new materials applied to ensure nice sense of touch. For instance, the major feature has a pronounced bulge on the right side that fills out the hollow beneath the ball of the hand to perfectly fit user’s hand. New screwdrivers have special “stopper zones” design to keep from rolling off a table. They are not only differentiated in their sizes, contours and centers of gravity but also adopting smaller and rounder handles, which enable more user-friendliness, time-efficiency and precision in operating. Adjustable torque has a growing concern. The newest electronic torque wrench, apart from enhanced precision, feature a large LCD display and data storage function, allowing recorded settings to be sent to a PC through an interface for further processing, which standbys for computer users. Open-end wrenches come in integrated ring ratchet wrenches to be used in difficult to access places while traditional ratchets seem too large and somewhat cumbersome in use.
Coping saw is designed in converting with a few simple hand movements into sickle saw or pad saw, which enables users to easily and safely fasten workpieces and further innovates to self-contained clamping system, with separate components jointed with many different arrangements to provide sophisticated multifunctional flexibility and single-hand operation clamp with a single turn of a knob, switching the tool from a clamp into an expander.
In power tool sector, rechargeable power tools in help of lithium ion technology make life easier. These cordless rechargeable gears are lightweight, compact and easier to handle due to the use of small lithium ion rechargeable batteries, primarily used in mobile phones and digital cameras. Higher power output is significant. For example, heavy hammer drills and chisel hammers with multistage overload clutches are designed with long-lasting power, friendly to user operation on hand. Now, laser technology for projecting precise cutting lines onto workpieces that often seen on professional-grade stationary panel saws and miter-cutting saws has turn to a must-have feature of hand-operated saws for DIY lovers.