TOOLFAIR - REPORT A Toolfair deal MATTERS By PETER BRETT
‘Ally Pally’ plays host to the first Toolfair of 2019
IT seems as though we all need a kickstart to the new year and the TOOLFAIR (along with ELEX2019, PLUMBEXPO and Professional Builder Live) is a good way in. Alexandra Palace is a magnificent venue - if a draughty one, as some exhibitors near the entrances pointed out to me - and it features lots of free parking too.
Visitors to tool shows are always on the lookout for new ideas and bargains and, as far as I could tell, there were deals aplenty on offer, although not as much in the way of new kit because it is a bit too early for ‘launch season’.
No stopping HiKOKI
It seems as if there is a limitless appetite for innovation at HiKOKI as the rebrand has taken hold and the end users are used to the changes. I spent a fair amount of time trying out the new HiKOKI Multivolt mitre saw on the stand. I believe this is a Japanese-built tool and the quality shows, with a set of smooth operating controls and a definite feeling that this is the improved second generation of cordless mitre saws. It has power and sophistication and I wasn’t the only one to notice it because a few sales had already been confirmed.
Torque Tools from Wiha
Wiha continues to focus on marketing its range of small torque tools for electricians and fitters - certainly worth a look for quality VDE tools. I also had a try-out of the Wiha BiCut pliers. In standard mode they will easily cut copper wires, but for heavier items like security chains, a simple press of a button doubles the cutting force by changing the fulcrum point. I was impressed enough to get a pair, out of respect for the arthritic twinges in my thumbs.
Elsewhere, but in the same product territory, is Wera. The company has turned
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its attention to focusing on specific trade kits [read the review of the Plumbkit on pages 18 and 19]. Innovation is built into Wera’s DNA, so end users should always take a turn past the stand just to make sure that they are keeping up.
Vacuuming with V-Tuf
The message about harmful dusts has finally landed and various dealers that I have talked to tell me that small building
outfits are increasingly investing in M-Class vacs for small site work. Having introduced an M-Class mini vacuum at around £100 a couple of years ago, V-Tuf has followed up with a bigger machine that may be more practical for use on machines and bigger sites. Again, very competitively priced and with a range of vacuuming tools included, it should be popular with users who need M-Class performance at a reasonable price.
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