Professional Electrician catches up with the team at ToughBuilt to find out why the US manufacturer of tools and accessories is taking the UK market by storm.
All of us will remember 2021 for different reasons, and for ToughBuilt it will go down as the year the company launched its European operation. In its native North America, the extensive range of products enjoy near iconic status amongst trade professionals and have a huge following thanks to their levels of innovation and their ability to help make common trade tasks quicker, easier and, ultimately, more productive. Right from the get-go, the manufacturer was able to offer electricians revolutionary products designed and engineered by trade professionals for trade professionals.
The business’ strapline ‘We Don’t Build Ordinary’ is truly reflected in ToughBuilt’s unique range of products, which includes sawhorses, knee pads, massive mouth tool bags, totes, mitre saw stands, roller stands, hand tools as well as its unique ClipTech system of belts and pouches. Each product is backed with a 25-year guarantee if users register their purchase within 30 days.
New products and innovations
The start of 2021 also saw multiple product launches, extending the range with knives and shears, which all stay sharp for twice as long as other comparable knives, and the Pro Grade Aviation Snips, which deliver ten times more cuts than regular snips. The release of the range of rugged Massive Mouth Hard Body Rolling Bags followed in mid-2021, complete with wide openings, providing what is described as exceptional accessibility and storage capability. The material is hardwearing, with heavy-duty rivet reinforcement rivets to withstand the most challenging job site demands. Furthermore, they’re compatible with the attachable ClipTech pouches.
Then, in October, the tools and accessories expert brought us its Scraper Utility Knife which allows trade professionals to seamlessly transform from a utility knife to a scraper. “The Scraper Utility Knife combines two frequently used tools in one handy product,” comments ToughBuilt’s Matthew Handley. “It can be used as a utility knife to cut all manner of materials or as a scraper to remove paint, sealants, putty, adhesives and labels from surfaces like windows, mirrors and tiles. What’s more, switching between these two functions is as simple as pressing a button.”
#KneelSmartKneelSafe
As well as new products and choices, the manufacturer also introduced a safety initiative to the professional market in 2021. Given its position as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of knee pads, ToughBuilt knows more than most about knee safety and the damage that can be caused if knees aren’t afforded the correct levels of protection. Indeed, the company is so passionate about this subject that it launched its #KneelSmartKneelSafe campaign last year in Europe, which aims to raise awareness of the need for greater knee protection. As Matthew explains: “ToughBuilt would like to see knee pads treated with the same importance as hard hats or eye protection when it comes to personal protective equipment. After all, the consequences of not using them can be every bit as devastating.”
ToughBuilt on the Road
2021 also enabled the manufacturer to take to the road and to make its UK debut at exhibitions. One of the most important and successful events was the ELEX and ToolFair exhibition at Sandown in Surrey, where product demonstrations, a free ClipTech pouch to every visitor and the chance to win a ToughBuilt XL Rolling Massive Mouth bag in a head-to-head foot-golf challenge were just some of the attractions on offer. To cap the year off, a ’12 Days of Christmas’ promotion was staged in December where €20,000 worth of products from across the entire range were given away.
Going one further
No matter how impressive 2021 was, the brand intends to go one better in 2022, as Matthew explains: “ToughBuilt’s European presence continues to grow all the time and an increasing number of trade professionals are beginning to appreciate why we are the category leader for products like sawhorses, knee pads and hand tools in the US and further afield. “Ambitious plans for 2022 include many more innovative product launches and appearances at various nationwide shows. Given our flair for intelligent product design, it’s safe to say that any new launches will feature ground-breaking technology and patent-pending innovation.”
He concludes: “We don’t want to reveal too much at this time but what I will say is it’s definitely worth watching this space.”
To browse the full ToughBuilt range click here
