ToolBUSINESS+HIRE A note from The Editor


Is published 10 times a year by:


Airstream Business Communications Ltd, Wiston, Coppice Way, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 4NN, England, UK.


Annual subscription (UK): £35.00 Others on enquiry All Enquiries to the Airstream office: Tel: 01444 440188 Fax: 01444 414813 e-mail: info@airstream.co.uk www.toolbusiness.co.uk


Editor/Director Anne Hall


Advertising Manager Direct tel: 01444 450071 annehall@airstream.co.uk


Assistant Editor Linda Oxley


Editorial/Circulation tel: 01444 440188 editorial@airstream.co.uk


Production Manager David Paddick


Design and Artwork by DEP CREATIVE LIMITED


Printing by GEMINI PRESS LIMITED


I am writing this at the beginning of a momentous week for the country as by the time you read this (barring any last minute change of heart!) we will have officially started the process to leave the EU. There will be a sense of relief on the part of many, not least the powers that be within the EU, that at last we can move on to the next stage. In the past months, Peter Brett and I have had many conversations with those within the


industry about Brexit and the impact it will have on their situation. As with all major change, feelings have covered a wide range, from those who are looking forward to embracing the challenge, to those who are very concerned about what the future may hold. The immediate effect of a weakening sterling put many companies in a difficult position


having to pay more for imports, therefore having to make decisions on how much of the price increase can comfortably be passed on to the consumer. There is a general feeling that we will all need to brace ourselves for price increases in the future. On the other hand of course the changes in the exchange rate has had a positive effect on exports, making our home-made goods less expensive. Listening to Radio 4 this morning I agreed with the sentiment that the most important


consideration has to be the economy - those deciding policy need to keep that very much at the forefront of the negotiations. In our conversations, the attitude was often expressed that this was a challenge to be faced head on and new opportunities grasped to move forward to make this country as prosperous as possible for us all. We will look forward to more interesting discussions as events unfold! In the Spring Budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond unveiled new ‘T-Levels’ that he hopes will be seen as a viable alternative


to A-levels. The list of 15 technical routes includes construction, engineering and manufacturing, with part of the course including a work placement. There will, of course, be challenges to the industry to accommodate these, as well as being encouraged to take on more apprentices. With a survey conducted by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors warning that there are already EU workers voting with their feet and leaving the UK owing to uncertainty over their rights to stay post- Brexit, this is an important initiative. However, much more needs to be done in the future to fill the ever-widening skills gap in these industries. In the past month Peter has visited two companies to find out how they operate. First of all he visited Birchwood Price


Tools in Nottingham to visit their newly-opened showroom and learn about the ethos of the company. Closer to home he visited a THS member and independent high-street retailer, Fixing and Powertool Center in Redhill in Surrey. You can read his reports later in the magazine. On page 5, Peter has written an article entitled ‘What’s in your abrasive?’ accompanied by a review of a range of abrasives


from National Abrasives. There are also reviews of some extra-strong, double-sided sticky tape from Everbuild and a Brushless Straight Finish Nailer from Hitachi. Peter and I visited two shows, FFX near Maidstone at the end of February, and this month, The Great Southern Toolbank


Show at Newbury Racecourse. I hope you enjoy reading all these articles in the magazine. You can also visit the website www.toolbusiness.co.uk to see more product news, and the WhyBuy page for a shorter version of the reviews. There is also an archive section where you can look back at previous editions. At the end next month we are looking forward to visiting Troy Means Business, being held at Silverstone on 27th April – the report on that show will be in the June edition.


contents


Unsolicited material is accepted on the understanding that Airstream Business Communications Ltd. is not liable for its safekeeping. Although every effort is made to ensure that companies included in this magazine are reputable, Airstream can give no guarantees in this regard and readers must deal with them at their own risk. Entire contents copyright ©Airstream Business Communications Ltd 2010 All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form without written consent is strictly prohibited.


telephone 01444 440188


Product News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Voice of the Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 What’s in your Abrasive? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 National Abrasives Independent Review . . . . 6 Celebrity Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 ’Smart’ Technology Special . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Hitachi Independent Review . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 BPT Company Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14


If you wish to express an opinion on any subject covered by ToolBusiness+Hire magazine you can write to: ToolBusiness+Hire c/o the Editor, Anne Hall, or e-mail (info@airstream.co.uk)


Charity News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Everbuild Independent Review . . . . . . . . . . 17 THS Company Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Toolbank Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Show News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 FFX Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Company & Hire News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 ToolBusiness+Hire Directory. . . . . . . . . . . 28


Toolbusiness+Hire magazine receives editorial contributions from many different sources, we endeavour to ensure all information contained in the magazine, including claims about products’ performance and any company’s market position are accurate. However we cannot accept responsibility for any omissions or errors in material we reproduce in good faith, either in contributions from individuals or companies, or in advertising reproduced within Toolbusiness+Hire. All information contained within this magazine is provided for general information purposes only and on the understanding that none of the content herein constitutes legal or other professional advice. The application and impact of laws can vary widely depending on the specific facts involved. We have made every attempt to ensure that all information contained within this magazine and our associated web site has been obtained from reliable sources, but all such information is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness or accuracy. We provide no warranty of any kind, express or implied, as regards the information herein, and disclaim all liability and responsibility for any loss that may arise from reliance on information contained within this magazine. In the case of a specific problem or query, professional advice should be sought.


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