Brinley Buckley-Roberts, Brand Manager at Carl Kammerling International, the home of C.K Tools, discusses why premium hand tools are worth more than ever during a cost-of-living crisis.

As we have entered 2023, many of us will struggle to remember a time when we tracked our spending as closely. Price hikes are diminishing profits and each and every purchase is being made with extreme caution and forward planning. The cost-of-living crisis has altered the way we think about expenditure in both our personal and professional lives.

Decision time

While cost cutting may have become a necessity, the old adage ‘buy cheap, buy twice’, has never been truer. Tool choice always requires careful consideration. For any electrical contractor, an inadequate tool can lead to downtime, a slow work rate, and ultimately an un-forecasted replacement purchase, all impacting bottom lines. A tool that delivers a poor finish can lead to reputational damage and kill repeat business. At their worst, poor tools can be unsafe.

While electricians have hard decisions to make, so too do wholesalers. Towing the line between understanding the challenges impacting customers and giving sound advice may prove a difficult balance. A bad recommendation from the service desk will result in a lack of trust in the stockist.

Perhaps now more than ever is the time to invest in premium tools. In challenging times, it makes sense to be fully equipped to deliver speedy, top-quality results, safely, and without the threat of unexpected expenditure. Investing in premium hand tools can really make a difference in both the short and long-term for contractors and stockists alike.

Considerations

So, what should you look for when purchasing tools?

There are several elements to consider, and a few key areas that separate premium tools from the rest: the R&D process; the source of the materials; the engineering and manufacturing procedures; the quality control and accreditation. Each element undergoes a constant review as new materials, manufacturing techniques, or industry requirements are uncovered, with the effectiveness, durability and safety of the products always top of mind.

Research and development can mean many things but for C.K Tools this means listening intently to what the industry is asking for. C.K utilise a panel of professionals to not only find solutions to problems, but to also find the existing product evolutions that will make the job that much more efficient. From there, the NPD team goes into design and considers the aesthetics, the ergonomics, and of course the materials. There’s no product without a clear rationale; each one is meticulously planned, refined, prototyped and tested.

Precision engineering

Material choice is of great importance to C.K Tools and has contributed considerably to a reputation built over more than 200 years. In the most part C.K procure steel from and manufacture products in Germany, in particular the North Rhine, which is world-renowned for its steel production. The region’s steel has varying levels and mixes of chromium, which has excellent corrosion resistance, vanadium, which works as a deoxidiser and reduces wear, and molybdenum, which when combined with chromium gives greater strength and impact resistance.

Not content with its premium grade steel, the North Rhine is also known as the industrial heartland for tool manufacturing. The steel mills, chemical and water treatment businesses, and manufacturing plants all reside there and have developed great ways of collaborating over the years to ensure that the potential of the raw material is not lost through the processing and engineering stages.

C.K Tools has been working with its current manufacturing partners since 1904 and there’s a reason for it; in today’s market it is very rare that products are manufactured to the very peak of excellence but with German engineering practices that’s a given. Precision engineering requires a number of inputs and with hand tool manufacturing that starts with the quality of the die – the item used to stamp the shape of the tool in the steel. Utilising a mixture of CAD and CNC, dies can be cut to within a tolerance the equivalent of a human hair, delivering a near perfect product with every stamp

Other engineering techniques are then used to ensure our products offer outstanding longevity. Induction hardening is a process we use to ensure that parts of products – such as the jaws on pliers – are hardened to withstand heavy usage and ensure long-term performance. It involves electromagnetically heating up the steel and then rapidly cooling it to maintain the desired properties.

The precision engineering techniques don’t stop at the steel; hand tools must be inherently comfortable and safe to handle. To ensure this, every single screwdriver handle is injection moulded directly to the steel, giving the ultimate torsion-proof bond for increased reliability, durability, control and comfort. These touches all contribute to an easier and faster working experience: profitable efficiency.

Investment

A premium product isn’t just premium because a brand says it is; when other bodies endorse a product you know it sits above the rest. Across certain lines, C.K Tools’ products are VDE certified, which is the highest form of independent safety testing in the electrical trade, while the majority achieve GS (Gepruefte Sicherheit) and DIN (Deutsche Institut) accreditation, which are German standards that indicate performance and quality.

Paying a premium price for a tool may seem counter-intuitive during a cost-of-living crisis, but it’s important to understand what you’re paying for and how it will impact the work you produce. C.K Tools understands its customers; understands the requirements of each and every job; and is unwavering in its pursuit of precision engineering the perfect product to sell and to use. Yes, German engineered products come with a premium, but rest assured, they’ll be the best investments you’ll make.

Discover more here

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Lots of us are finding ourselves struggling with the increase in our basic household bills, not to mention rents and mortgages. We’re seeing more and more people in the awful situation of not being able to pay bills, having to choose between putting the heating on or eating, and spiralling into debt because there just isn’t any more money.

Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) want to offer some practical advice to make sure you’re receiving all the help you should be and where you can go for extra support. We’ve loads of information on our website but here’s a snapshot of the key things you can do:

Don’t ignore it: Although it might feel like a way out, it’ll only make things worse and become a bigger problem.

Benefits check: Are you getting everything you’re entitled to? We work with an amazing Charity called Step Change and they have a range of tools that most of our clients use. Check out a free benefits calculator – www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators.

Know your priority debts: Council tax and rent/mortgage arrears are priority debts, meaning they need to be addressed to stop legal action or eviction. Make sure you have informed the relevant people if you’re behind and try to work out a payment plan. If you’re behind on your rent, you may qualify for the Breathing Space Scheme. This could give you up to 60 days respite from interest, fees, and court action.

Do a financial MOT: Go through all your incomings and outgoings and be honest about what’s essential. Is your car too expensive? How many takeaways a week are you having? Do you need every streaming subscription? These are the type of things that should be cut back before you miss a rent/mortgage payment. We’ve got a great budgeting tool that can help – www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/budgeting/budgeting/work-out-your-budget/

Gas and electricity bills: There’re lots of different schemes, grants, and government help for your fuel bills, we’ve highlighted the main ones below, but full details can be found here:

• Energy Bill Support Scheme: All households should be receiving £400 in 6 instalments – check your energy bills! There are 3 additional Cost of Living Payments; £650 one-off Cost of Living Payment for those on means-tested benefits, a £300 one-off Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, for households that receive the Winter Fuel Payment, and a £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.
• Energy Supplier Grants: If you’re in debt with your Energy Suppliers they have grants available to help you pay the debt off. You can find out if you can apply for one of these grants on the Gov.UK website. The British Gas Energy Trust is open to anyone, not just British Gas customers, they may be able to help with gas or electricity arrears if you can’t get a grant from your current supplier.
• Government Help: There are several Government schemes, including the Warm Home Discount Scheme. Depending on your situation, you may be able to get help, including Money back on council tax, Cold Weather Payment, Winter Fuel Payment, and a Boiler Upgrade Scheme

If you can’t afford to eat: The Household Support Fund, provided by local authorities, has been increased by £500 million and extended until March 2023. To find out more and apply, contact your local council. There are also food banks, which don’t just provide food, but also make sure people get essential household items. The largest food bank organisation in the UK is our partner, the Trussell Trust, and we can refer you if you come to us for help. There are also lots of smaller, local groups running foodbanks, that can usually be found on social media.

We know that financial worries can have a massive impact on your mental health. If you’re feeling isolated, anxious, or depressed, counselling can really help with this, and the Charity is able to fund some sessions for you to get support with your mental health.

To find out more about support options, click here

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