Power Tools: Building Up When Economy's Down

Incentive: Merchandise

Power Tools: Building Up When Economy's Down
June 22, 2009

By William Ng

Demand for power tools and hand tools is ratcheting up as the deep economic recession continues and pennywise homeowners look to save money by working on house projects themselves instead of hiring outside help. As a result, power tools are increasingly redeemed as awards, and tool manufacturers have introduced “intelligent” products designed to make jobs easier for the amateur handyman.

When the economy slows down, says James Berliner, president of Power Tool Incentives, in Matteson, IL, “people not only tend to do projects that they would normally hire out, they tend to spend more time around the house instead of traveling, so [home] projects that had been on the back burner are moved forward.”

In the motivational products market, cordless and multi-tool sets—known as combo kits—using lithium ion battery technology are booming in popularity. Lithium ion batteries have several advantages over traditional nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries. “Lithium ion is a great upgrade because the battery packs are lighter, charge faster, and hold their charge longer,” says Larisa Mendenhall, director of individual awards for ITA Group, based in West Des Moines, IA. “This has advantages for both men and women…tools become easier to use. They are lighter yet have more power.”

Berliner, who represents Bosch Tools and Skil, says both manufacturers have introduced latest-generation lithium-ion-powered products and combo kits. Another brand that Power Tool Incentives carries, Dremel, has been offering tools with lithium ion batteries in the last few years, he says. “Lithium ion is a little more pricey than NiCd, but the power and weight advantages and the ability to hold charge justify the difference.”

At a time when the economy is constraining or forcing back incentive programs, the tools category has remained steady for ITA Group, according to Mendenhall. And as more people decide to strap on their work belts and take out their worktables, they want to be locked and loaded with a full range of gear to tackle a variety of jobs around the house. Incentive participants are trading up to large combo packs when redeeming their points for tools, says Mendenhall, with DeWalt being ITA Group’s best-selling brand.

Power in Numbers
DeWalt has a line of combo kits, with some featuring as many as nine cordless 18-volt handhelds using its XRP lithium ion battery technology capable of 2,000 recharges. The DCK675L kit, for instance, encompasses a hammer/drill, driver, reciprocating saw, cutter, power wrench, and floodlight. Each of the two XRP battery packs in the kit weighs 1.5 pounds, the same as a 12-volt NiCd pack, and is smaller. Each modular pack charges up fully in one hour and can be switched among the tools.

Bosch has come out with its Litheon full-range line of 18-volt tools. The manufacturer offers two- and four-tool combo kits as part of the line, such as the CLPK40-180 four-tool arsenal of hammer/drill/driver, reciprocating saw, circular saw, and flashlight with two Litheon FatPack batteries, which charge up in 30 minutes. Like other lithium ion batteries, the FatPack units have minimal self-discharge—Berliner says lithium ion packs can store a charge for up to 18 months—and they have no so-called memory effect that reduces battery capacity over time.

Skil’s 2895LI-20 18-volt combo kit features a drill/driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, pivoting-head flashlight, and two PowerPlus System lithium ion battery packs. The packs, which weigh up to 50 percent less than NiCd packs, work after a one-hour charge or can be put away for 18 months without a problem. Skil also has the 2895LI-15 two-tool (drill/driver and circular saw) combo kit, and its other lithium-ion-powered handhelds include palm-size screwdrivers, power cutters, and power wrenches.

Black & Decker is targeting amateur self-fixers with its Smart Select Technology, found in its portable cordless drills, jigsaws, and screwdrivers. Smart Select uses application icons that are easy to follow for users; they choose the relevant application and the tool automatically adjusts its settings to optimize itself for the job. The series’ Mouse Sander, for instance, tells a novice craftsman how much pressure to apply, while the Accu-Mark Level has built-in sliders for marking hang points for picture frames.

Of course, an ongoing trend among all tool manufacturers is improving the usability and ergonomics of their products. They range from making their handhelds lighter—aided now by the lighter and more compact lithium ion battteries—to employing soft-touch grips for more comfortable extended use, to quick-change collars and clamps for fast removal and insertion of bits and blades. Some even sport onboard lights for better visibility while working in low-light spaces, and LED indicators showing various operating conditions.

Incentive Magazine

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