Qualified Remodeler Magazine

OCT 2015

Qualified Remodeler helps independent remodeling firms to survive, become more professional and more profitable by providing must-have business information, namely best business practices, new product information and timely design ideas.

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customer experience. Festool helps remodelers meet these goals by increasing productivity," says Rick Bush, product manager. "Our chief claim to fame is our dust extraction efcien- cy. By capturing dust as it is created through optimized tool designs and tool-triggered vac- uums, the air is kept cleaner on the jobsite, reducing cleanup time." Although manufacturers know their tools will be used on remodeling jobs, thoughtful consideration includes recognizing what may or may not be readily available: pow- er sources. Jim Stevens, product manager for Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, ex- plains the thought behind Bosch Power Tools' selection of cordless tools. "We've been in woodworking and fnishing for a long time, and that's one of our strengths. In terms of cordless woodworking tools, the cutting tools that went cordless in a major way were the cir- cular saw and reciprocating saw, and part of that is because those tools are often used in situations where there might not be power already. Usually by the time someone gets to routing and sanding, they're in a place that has power, so there has never been the same press to make those tools cordless," he says. "In terms of cordless for Bosch, it's a very important part of our overall tool portfolio, and we continue to add tools in cordless that are woodworking related." INCORPORATING USER FEEDBACK Tool manufacturers recognize the user is a very key and in- strumental part of product de- velopment; after all, remodel- ers are the one using a tool day in and day out. With all that use, remodelers and other us- ers have their own ideas about what they would do. Ten, we come back to our engineering team, debrief them with common themes, and challenge them to fgure it out and come back with a solution." Beck explains that everything in the com- pany's product development cycle revolves around the user. Once an idea or concept has been taken from the feld to engineering and a solution has been found, that solution is presented to the users. If users respond pos- itively, then the engineering team produces a prototype. "When we do our initial prototype, what might make a tool more successful, and the manufacturers want to hear it all. "Our innovation typically comes from two places: the user coming back and bringing us an opportunity because they're doing an ap- plication, and they say, 'I love your miter saw, but if I could do this with it then it would be so much better.' Te other side often comes from our engineering guys because they work on a product so much," Beck from DeWalt says. "We spend a lot of time with contractors and users, going through and fnding out — whether it's our product or a competitive product — what they like, what they don't like, if they have ideas for what would improve it, and DEWALT starts its product development cycle with the user and checks in at every step to ensure the tool meets their needs. The cordless 20V MAX Lithium-Ion 7 1/4-in. Sliding Miter Saw and the 20V MAX XR Oscillating Multi-Tool were results of user feedback. Circle 5 on inquiry card The 12V Max Barrel-grip Jig Saw from BOSCH POWER TOOLS features three orbital-action settings to provide different blade strokes for smooth to aggressive cuts. The ProVantage Protection Plan covers free battery replacement and tool repair for two years. Circle 6 on inquiry card

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