Best of LinkedIn: Digital Powertools CW 39/ 40

00:00:00: This episode is provided by Thomas Allgeier and Frenos, based on the most relevant LinkedIn post about digital power tools in calendar weeks, thirty nine and forty.

00:00:09: Frenos is a B to B market research company that supports enterprises in the power tools sector with the market customer and competitive insights they need to navigate dynamic markets and drive customer centric product development.

00:00:23: Welcome to the deep dive.

00:00:25: Today, we're zeroing in on the smart build and manufacturing world, specifically looking at the key digital power tools trends that popped up on LinkedIn over the last couple of weeks.

00:00:34: Exactly.

00:00:35: And we're digging into what professionals are actually talking about.

00:00:38: It's not just a product list.

00:00:39: The sources really show this, well, this big wave of confidence in the sector, mostly around these really high performance product drops.

00:00:47: Yeah, it feels like the mission here is to figure out what all this power actually means for the person on the job site or maybe the manager on the factory floor.

00:00:54: Right.

00:00:54: because the core takeaway really seems to be this intense focus on operational excellence.

00:00:59: You can see the industry moving, maybe slowly, but definitely moving from just tools that work hard towards setting things up for tools that think.

00:01:08: But for now, the chatter is all about proving that these tools are reliable, field-ready, you know, brute strengths and solid engineering first.

00:01:17: Absolutely.

00:01:18: So let's unpack that first theme, high performance and reliability.

00:01:22: This was probably the most dominant thing we saw.

00:01:25: The big OEMs, they're really pushing the message of professional grade reliability.

00:01:30: Posts aren't just listing specs, they're highlighting how you now get super compact tools, but with crazy torque figures.

00:01:37: cordless torque we haven't really seen before.

00:01:39: And Hilti seems to be right at the front of that.

00:01:41: We saw posts from folks like Ewald A. Colusia talking a lot about the new Neuron-based SF-thirty M-twenty-two MAG drill.

00:01:49: Yeah, and you're on, well, that's Hilti's big twenty-two volt battery system, right, built for the really tough jobs.

00:01:54: Exactly.

00:01:54: And this drill seems to perfectly capture that shift.

00:01:57: It's more than just a drill, though.

00:01:59: It's designed for infrastructure work, drilling into thick steel, think transmission towers, that kind of thing.

00:02:05: Precision is key there.

00:02:06: And the cordless aspect is huge for that kind of work, I imagine.

00:02:09: Massive.

00:02:10: Getting that magnetic anchor, that high torque, without needing a generator or stringing out long cables, especially in remote Scots, that boosts uptime mobility.

00:02:21: It's a big operational way.

00:02:22: And it's not just the tool in isolation, is it?

00:02:25: Jan Rodil was highlighting Hilti's new modular storage, the Prokkit.

00:02:29: Right,

00:02:29: the ecosystem.

00:02:30: Yeah, he called it a commitment to organization, efficiency.

00:02:33: Basically solving those everyday frustrations before you even start the job, keeping things tidy and accessible.

00:02:39: That whole package approach is definitely a trend.

00:02:41: And meanwhile, Bosch... They're pushing hard with their expert line, too.

00:02:46: Saw posts about the E-XSB-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E profess wrist injuries, and Negek Rotar highlighted the electronic angle detection.

00:03:15: Ah, for consistent angles every time.

00:03:16: Precisely.

00:03:17: Takes the guesswork out, which is crucial for repetitive high-precision assembly or installation, performance and safety.

00:03:24: It seems like that phrase, corded performance, cordless freedom, is everywhere now.

00:03:29: It really is.

00:03:30: Milwaukee's doing it too.

00:03:31: Paul Miller's post about their M-A-Teen fuel deep-cut band saw, positioned to cut like a corded saw, but obviously battery-powered.

00:03:40: huge flexibility game.

00:03:41: And we saw similar things with DeWalt's atomic grinders, didn't we?

00:03:44: Yeah, Huck and Yildura mentioned those.

00:03:46: They're really pushing the move away from air tools, even on tough industrial sites.

00:03:50: The message is clear.

00:03:51: Chords and hoses are becoming optional, not essential.

00:03:54: Okay,

00:03:54: so the power is definitely there, which logically brings us to the next big thing we saw.

00:04:00: Managing all that power safely and precisely.

00:04:02: Yet safety's not just box ticking, it's directly tied to productivity, isn't it?

00:04:07: Reducing risk is boosting efficiency.

00:04:09: Makes sense.

00:04:09: Less downtime, fewer incidents.

00:04:11: Exactly.

00:04:12: Craig Mullins shared stuff from Milwaukee Tool UK, really focusing on preventing dropped tools when working at height.

00:04:18: Though

00:04:18: tethering systems.

00:04:19: Yeah, proper engineered drop protection.

00:04:21: Land yards rated up to over at twenty two point seven kilos.

00:04:25: And they pointed out tool drops are apparently the third biggest cause of job site fatalities.

00:04:30: Wow.

00:04:31: That's sobering.

00:04:32: It is.

00:04:32: So having high capacity pedering, that's moving beyond just wearing a hard hat.

00:04:36: It's engineered risk control.

00:04:38: And

00:04:38: that focus on risk applies in really specific high danger areas too, like utility work.

00:04:44: Definitely.

00:04:45: Lorenzo Verinelli and Lenny Edmund introduced the Hilti SCN-SXT chainsaw, battery powered low vibration.

00:04:51: Specifically for power line crews.

00:04:53: Right.

00:04:54: working in tough, remote, often elevated environments around live power, taking fuel and fumes out of that equation, that's a massive safety improvement right there.

00:05:03: Just reliable power when you need it.

00:05:05: Okay, so that's safety on site.

00:05:07: What happens when we follow that thread of operational excellence into, say, high precision manufacturing?

00:05:15: Well, the focus shifts a bit.

00:05:16: It's less about direct user safety and more about protecting the quality of the product.

00:05:22: and the lifespan of the machine itself.

00:05:23: Ah, okay.

00:05:24: Like what?

00:05:25: Fork Unyielders posted about something really critical for CNC machining.

00:05:29: Tool balancing.

00:05:31: It sounds niche, but if your tool holder assembly isn't perfectly balanced...

00:05:35: Things go wrong.

00:05:36: fast at high speeds.

00:05:37: Exactly.

00:05:37: Quality plummets, and you drastically shorten the life of your machine's spindle.

00:05:42: Very expensive problem.

00:05:43: So what's the fix?

00:05:44: using specialized machines, like the hammer tool dynamic ones mentioned, to measure and correct imbalance down to, get this, zero point five gram

00:05:52: millimeters.

00:05:53: Half a gram millimeter, that sounds incredibly precise.

00:05:56: It

00:05:56: is.

00:05:56: That's the kind of accuracy you need for aerospace parts of super high speed mold.

00:05:59: It's about preventing those costly failures before they happen.

00:06:02: A permanent fix.

00:06:03: And that level of precision demands good organization too, I guess.

00:06:06: For sure.

00:06:07: We saw John Davey showing off systems like the Stanley Pro Stack.

00:06:11: Simple idea, but keeping gear organized saves time and prevents damage.

00:06:15: Right.

00:06:16: And back on the job site, Natalie Kohler highlighted the Bosch professional cordless table saw, the GTS-Eighteen V-Seventy.

00:06:23: Ah yeah, blending portability with features like that rack and pinion fence system for accuracy.

00:06:27: Plus

00:06:28: a breastless motor, seventy millimeter cut height.

00:06:31: It shows you don't have to compromise performance for cordless convenience anymore.

00:06:35: That blend perfectly leads into our third theme.

00:06:38: Innovation, connectivity, and the whole ecosystem development.

00:06:42: Right.

00:06:42: Connectivity isn't maybe the headline feature yet, but it feels like the essential groundwork being laid.

00:06:47: Definitely.

00:06:48: And right now it's focused on really practical stuff.

00:06:51: The clearest example is asset management.

00:06:53: Like tool tracking.

00:06:54: Christian Leves post about Hilti on track.

00:06:56: Exactly.

00:06:57: It's more than just finding a lost drill, though.

00:06:59: They're putting GPS tags on high value gear mixers, generators, big saws.

00:07:04: So theft reduction but also also

00:07:06: huge time savings on inventory checks, knowing where everything is, knowing it's ready to go.

00:07:11: That directly impacts uptime and cuts operating costs.

00:07:14: It's a clear digital ROI.

00:07:16: OK, that's the practical side.

00:07:18: What about the more future focused industrial stuff?

00:07:21: Well,

00:07:21: Andreas Hamer reported a really successful showing at Emo Hanover that big metalworking tech fair.

00:07:27: What were they showing?

00:07:28: innovations, like their automation dock, concepts like the tool room of the future.

00:07:33: But the key thing was the integrated ecosystem.

00:07:36: So

00:07:36: they showed how their tool holders, which have unique IDs embedded, connect into the system to deliver major performance boosts.

00:07:44: They even claim this integration helped achieve a world record in titanium machining.

00:07:48: Wow, okay.

00:07:49: That's a tangible benefit, connecting data directly to peak performance.

00:07:52: Right.

00:07:53: And connectivity is also improving maintenance in demanding industries.

00:07:56: Palayo Kemplemenes Sanchez introduced a Bosch industrial riveting machine, the GRG-A-Teen V-Sixteen.

00:08:02: Heavy-duty piece of kit?

00:08:04: Oh

00:08:04: yeah, sixteen thousand Newton's pulling force.

00:08:06: But the smart part, it connects to an app so you can set up reminders for jaw maintenance.

00:08:10: Ah,

00:08:11: predictive maintenance almost.

00:08:12: Basically, yeah.

00:08:13: In assembly lines, if that riveter goes down, everything stops.

00:08:17: This reminder helps ensure reliability, prevent unexpected failures, proactive, not reactive.

00:08:23: Makes total sense.

00:08:24: And Bosch seems to be pushing this total solution idea more broadly.

00:08:28: Yes, Martin Bachofa reported there showcasing comprehensive assembly and tightening solutions across Europe.

00:08:34: The message is, we provide the whole industrial package from one source.

00:08:38: Tools, data, service.

00:08:41: the lot.

00:08:42: That idea of being a solution provider kind of leads us into our last area, market activity and signals about the future.

00:08:49: What broader trends are pointing the way forward?

00:08:51: Well, one clear signal is just strong visibility at major trade events.

00:08:55: Screwfix Live seemed like a big one.

00:08:56: Lots

00:08:56: of DeWalt and Bosch presence mentioned.

00:08:58: Yeah, posts from Harley Clark, Sean W and others.

00:09:01: But Sean W made a really interesting point.

00:09:03: It wasn't just the big stands.

00:09:04: It was the focus on engaging with new apprentices.

00:09:08: Why is that significant?

00:09:09: Because you hook them early.

00:09:10: Right.

00:09:10: Get an apprentice using your brand from day one.

00:09:13: That can mean decades of loyalty.

00:09:16: Seeing the big players investing heavily there, that signals real confidence in long-term sector growth.

00:09:21: They're building their future user base.

00:09:23: Interesting.

00:09:24: Another signal seemed to be a diversification moving beyond just standard construction.

00:09:29: Definitely.

00:09:29: Giuseppe Sartori detailed Hilti showing up at See Future, twenty twenty five, which is all about maritime and naval tech.

00:09:37: shipbuilding solutions.

00:09:38: Exactly.

00:09:40: Highlighting things like an underwater fastening tool, the UW-TEN, specifically for hull repair.

00:09:45: That tells you they're targeting high-spec, highly-regulated industries beyond their traditional core.

00:09:51: That takes serious strategic effort and signals ambition.

00:09:54: And we also saw a nod toward sustainability, didn't we?

00:09:57: a quiet one, but important.

00:09:59: Fritz E.P.

00:09:59: mentioned Hilti's circularity program, taking back old tool cases through their fleet management.

00:10:04: And recycling them.

00:10:05: Yeah, shredding them down and using the material to make new cases.

00:10:08: It's a proper closed loop system, embedding sustainability right into their logistics.

00:10:12: So if you pull all that together, the power, the ecosystem thinking, the market moves, even sustainability, It feels like it's all building towards that next step.

00:10:22: Smarter tools.

00:10:23: It really does.

00:10:24: And Monica Bechter and Bernhard Strzak certainly fan those flames, teasing a big hilltie reveal for October twenty-first.

00:10:31: Using words like game changing.

00:10:33: Yeah, and Bernhard Strzak even hinted at brand new tool categories.

00:10:37: It really confirms that feeling.

00:10:38: While the last two weeks were all about proving performance, the industry is clearly primed for that jump towards tools that think.

00:10:46: The anticipation is definitely there.

00:10:48: That sums it up well.

00:10:50: The message from the LinkedIn chatter these past two weeks is crystal clear.

00:10:54: Right now, it's all about proving performance, rock solid engineering, and delivering immediate productivity

00:10:59: wins.

00:11:00: Yeah, it confirms the sector feels strong.

00:11:02: well-funded and ready for the next digital steps.

00:11:05: They're making sure the foundation, the power, the safety, the precision are absolutely solid before the really deep connectivity and automation takes over.

00:11:12: So

00:11:12: the final thought for you, the professional listening and smart build or manufacturing might be this.

00:11:18: As these tools get smarter, even the ones focused on raw power today.

00:11:22: How are you thinking about changing your workflows to really leverage the time and precision they offer?

00:11:28: If you enjoyed this episode, new episodes drop every two weeks.

00:11:31: Also check out our other editions on digital construction and smart manufacturing.

00:11:35: Thank you for tuning in.

00:11:36: Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss our next deep dive.