The new STC series of Bessey knuckle spanners launched in April this year is available in two types with three foot variants. The STC-HH has an infinitely variable adjustment span of up to 40mm and ensures almost permanently uniform gripping power. This eliminates the previous time-consuming requirement for repeated manual re-setting of the adjustment screw.
The regulating screw in the articulated joint allows for clamping power of up to 2,500 N. The anchorage base plate has holes in both metric and imperial dimensions and provides for speedy and secure anchorage of the quick-clamp unit. The ergonomic plastic grip is oil-resistant and has an anti-slip profile.
There’s no doubting that DIY retail chain Hornbach knows how to play a tune using social media channels, repeatedly demonstrated. Likewise with the latest promotional idea: no magical mystery tour! No camping in steamy jungles! No smarmy sales pitch! Quite simply: fun, fun, fun! read more…
The UX green from fischer is described by its manufacturer fischer as the first universal rawl plug manufactured from renewable resources. It is made from polyamide PA 6.10, which the fixtures manufacturing specialist declares as consisting of more than 50 percent renewable ingredients. The raw material consists sebaceous acid, primarily consisting of castor oil. read more…
Multi-channel hardware retailer Screwfix has expanded export sales and now supplies customers in 23 European countries. The company says the reasons for the move derived especially from demand from France, Spain and Ireland – orders have even been received from Finland and Latvia. read more…
On behalf of news broadcaster N-TV the DISQ German Institute for Service Quality has undertaken a fifth undercover survey of home improvement stores. The survey made 108 visits to nine outlets, with the result that the average service level was graded as being good. However, there were some weaknesses – amongst other things, the waiting times customers had to endure. read more…
Last year German tool manufacturers sold products to the tune of 3.8 billion Euros – an increase of 1.4 percent on the previous year. And that, even though there was a general cooling of the economy in 2012, as reported by the German FWI Tool Trade Association. The traditionally healthy level of tool exports held up well in 2012, with export orders up by 1.8 percent on the previous year, though there was a later decline in the rate of growth. There was considerable variation in the markets. Tool exports to other European countries were down about 1.5 percent. There was a sharp decline in sales to Greece (-19.9 %), Italy (- 12.5 %) and Spain (- 13 %), while sales were up in Russia (+ 18,2 %) and the USA (+ 12.9 %). At present, the USA is the biggest customer, accounting for 8.4 % of German tool exports in 2012. read more…
On 19 March, home improvement retail store chain bauMax opened two new 15,000 square metre stores, one each in Prague and Sofia. The chain has had a retail presence in the Czech Republic for 21 years, where it now has 24 stores employing 1,300 persons – representing the largest number of foreign subsidiaries in the bauMax Group. The Austrian DIY-chain generates about half its turnover in conjunction with local suppliers. read more…
From 2009 German home improvement retail sales grew steadily, but there was a slight decline from 2011 to 2012: total turnover for German DIY sales was about 18.6 billion Euros, a slight nominal decline of 0.6 percent. Set against turnover per square metre retail space, DIY-sales were slightly down by 0.8 percent. read more…
At the annual company press conference on 13 March 2013 Henning von Boxberg, chairman of power tools business for Robert Bosch GmbH, had lots of good news: in 2012 his group reached a turnover of 4 billion Euros, representing nominal growth of six percent on 2011. Growth in electrical tools and accessories was four percent. The segments hand-held and stationary equipment grew fast in both North- and Latin America by six and twelve percent respectively. Growth in the Asia-Pacific region was four percent. read more…
The European DIY-Retail Association (EDRA) goes from strength to strength: it has now been joined by Union DIY, a Russian trade association which numbers eight home improvement retail chains as members. The members of Union DIY have a total of 93 retail outlets turning over the equivalent of 700 million Euros. The chairman of Union DIY is Rinat Mukhametvaleev (the CEO of Trest SCM), who represents the interests of the GHIN Global Home Improvement Network and now joins the board of the EDRA. The accession of Union DIY brings membership of the EDRA to exactly 100 companies. EDRA members now manage 13,500 retail outlets employing 850,000 persons in 50 countries, together turning over 130 billion Euros. read more…
