Electrical Contracting News (ECN) May 2017 | Page 50

SPECIAL
FEATURE
TOOLS & WORKWEAR
TOOLED RESOURCES
Tools designed for the modern tradesperson continue to evolve with pace, as Russell Drury discovers.
T
he much anticipated
prospect of connectivity
in power tools and
measuring devices
has become a solid
reality with the arrival
of several new Bosch
Professional products
on retailers’ shelves.
These tools are connected to your
smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth –
for sending, receiving and storage of
information. A small Bosch connectivity
module can be bought with the tool or
purchased separately and simply slotted
in later. Connected tools and their users
communicate via the free downloadable
Bosch Toolbox App, which accesses a
growing range of time and effort saving aids.
‘With these connected products,
we are ushering in a whole new era
in the evolution of tool use,’ explains
Steve Hillier, marketing director at
Bosch Professional Power Tools. ‘In our
communication materials we’ve had a bit
of fun by illustrating that development as a
progression from primitive “Neandertool”
origins through to today’s “Millennitool” age
with its connected tool technology.”
Planned key capabilities of the
Bosch connectivity system include asset
management and tool location, quick tool
registration and personalised settings,
fault alerts, condition and usage reports,
and remote control. Importantly, the
system has been designed to integrate new
functionalities as they evolve.
Steve explains, ‘Bosch connectivity
not only puts users a step ahead of their
competitors today but future proofs
their businesses by equipping tools to
benefi t from continuing advances. The
range of functions offered by the Toolbox
App will go on expanding and, looking
further ahead, the connectivity module
will be easy to upgrade or replace if
developments require it.’
The GSB 18 V-60 & V-85 C Professional
combi drills, GSR 18 V-85 C Professional
drill driver and GWS 18 V-125 SC
Professional angle grinder all feature the
latest powerful, highly effi cient and long
lasting brushless EC motors, along with
state-of-the-art protection and control
systems. KickBack Control, Precision
Clutch and LED afterglow are among
the functions which can be adjusted,
personalised and memorised via the
Toolbox App.
Steve adds, ‘These connected tools,
and the comprehensive range that will
follow them, offer a new way of working
that’s faster, smarter, more effi cient and
future proof.’
Power, speed and impact
The 18V Lithium-Ion powered power tool
range from Makita has been refi ned to
improve and increase performance and
delivery in power, speed and impact whilst
constantly reducing overall size and weight.
The new Makita DTW285 LXT features
the reverse rotation auto stop mode. If,
for example, an operator needs to undo
a substantial fi xing, simply switching
the DTW285 to reverse mode and pulling
the trigger fully home will achieve the
function, allowing for the safe removal of
fi xings by hand.
Two new versions of the 18V LXT
brushless motor drill driver have been
introduced; the Makita body only DDF083Z,
a direct drive model, whilst the Makita
DDF484 features a keyless chuck. Both
models have two-speed, all metal drive
systems; variable speed trigger; electric
brake; er