Customer-focused innovations

Dremel, one of the Bosch brand names for many years already, is regarded as the inventor of rotary tools. Lithium-ion technology is now making its appearance in this segment as well. One example is Dremel’s “Stylus”, a compact and extremely light multi-tool featuring the new technology. It includes a 15-piece accessory kit for many different applications, such as a high-speed saw blade, a silicon carbide grinding wheel, a buffing wheel, a selection of cutting discs and a sanding disc.Another new member of Dremel’s tool family is the “Engraver”. This has a tungsten carbide tip that can be used to engrave surfaces including glass, ceramic, plastic, metal or even wood. Also new is the “Multi-Tip” soldering iron with six exchangeable tips developed for soldering, fusing, hot cropping, welding, shrinking and even poker-work (pyrography). The Skil brand also offers a great number of new products, including the 5155 electric circular saw. A standard feature of this model, which can be used for a cutting depth of up to 55 mm, is a carbide tipped 170 mm saw blade. Skil also has a wide range of products in the category of measuring tools. One worth mentioning here is the “Xact” laser range finder, a tool capable of measuring distance, area and volume at the push of a button. The major advantage of laser technology, according to the manufacturer, is that only a small measuring surface is required. Yet further new launches from Skil are a hot-air blower, an eccentric sander, the 4900 reciprocating saw, and a multi-cutter, developed for all types of materials in the home and garden.One of the products introduced this year under the Bosch name will be the PMF 180 E Multi as an aid for renovating jobs. “This handy and easy-to-use tool can now quickly and simply deal with jobs that previously required the use of a variety of saws, cutters and sanders,” explains Wolfgang Becker, director DIY  products in the Power Tools division of Robert Bosch GmbH. Emphasis is also to be put on the core segment of hammer drills, which this year celebrate their 75th anniversary. This will include the launch of Bosch’s first two-gear hammer drill, the PBH 3000-2 FRE, from the middle of the year.One of the interesting facts ascertained by Bosch is that the planning and preparatory phase is becoming increasingly important for DIYers. Which is why a merchandising display unit has been developed specially for this segment – which was not brought into the company’s range until 2006. The PDO 6…