Cryogenic technology, used by NASA and the European Space Agency to develop rocket fuel, is being used by Bahco to manufacture stainless steel tools aimed at professional electricians and heating installers.
Stainless steel hard enough for trade and industrial work has previously been too brittle. Bahco has overcome this problem by using ice hardening techniques to give its stainless steel tools superb hardness and durability.
A conventional steel screwdriver or plier set can leave traces of ‘foreign object’ debris on stainless steel screws and other fasteners. This causes them to oxidize and create extraneous rust, which is not only unsightly but can lead to serious corrosion and a threat to hygiene and safety if left untreated.
Multiple uses
Renowned for its hygienic qualities and ease of cleaning, stainless steel is widely used in clean rooms, within food and pharmaceutical manufacturing, in hotels, pubs and restaurants and in the oil and gas, automotive and aerospace industries. Its resistance to all weather conditions, corrosion and antacids makes it highly suitable for offshore applications too.
Using stainless steel hand tools benefits the installer as it will reduce costs by making the need to replace worn tools less frequent. Their introduction is timely as demand for stainless steel screws and other fixings has grown considerably over the past few years.
“This technical achievement provides further evidence of Bahco’s market-leading innovation,” says Kevin Parkes, who leads the brand’s trade tools team in the UK and Ireland.
“Our designers’ breakthrough offers significant benefits to electricians and heating installers required to work in any environment where corrosion must be avoided.”
How it’s made
Bahco’s latest stainless steel tools are manufactured in AISI 420, high strength steel with higher chromium content to resist corrosion. It is magnetic in all conditions and meets all DIN and ISO standards. Stainless steel tools are easily cleaned or sterilised and have excellent resistance to corrosion.
PRODUCT FOCUS:
The new stainless steel range includes screwdrivers and six plier types – box joint, combination, cutting, locking, long nose and slip nose. Stainless steel adjustable wrenches are also within the new range.
Stainless steel slotted, Phillips, Pozidriv or Torx screwdrivers and bits are available in a range of sizes, along with Allen keys, long ball point hex keys and hexagon and long ball end hexagon offset screwdrivers.
New to the stainless steel range are hex sockets, ratchets, extensions, speed and ‘T’ handles, also universal joints.
