Designing Power Tools

TEAMS Design has been working with power tool manufacturers for 50 years, a relationship that begun when TEAMS Design founder Hans Erich Slany introduced the concept to Robert Bosch to use plastic for the tool housing instead of steel.

Traditional all-metal body drills were very heavy and could cause electrocution.

The design of professional power tools is a highly challenging area. Professional users work with their tools on a daily basis and grow very accustomed to the features and shortcomings of their tools and can be less receptive to improvements. Our challenge is to find the subtle feature and the right styling attributes that will make them reconsider.

Styling for power tools is about communication of the internals -reliability, longevity and most importantly durability.

Our understanding of the powertool category helped us design and develop this product for Wagner Spray Tech.

This is an entirely new concept, and our initial research focused on finding the right ergonomic shape and balance for this very versatile paint remover.

Later development focussed on strengthening the tool to survive a fall from a ladder.

This (non-pneumatic) texture sprayer brings a product traditionally only used by professionals to the consumer market.

While still offering the key features required by professionals, it introduces an innovative approach to the way the tool is held through the use of a winged armrest.

Bosch have an excellent reputation in Hammers: Whether a Rotary Hammer, a Hammer Drill or a Demolition hammer the ergonomics have to be of the highest standard to compensate for the high weight and vibration. Equally important is conveying on the outside the ruggedness of the qualitative internal parts.

Mitersaws offer a big challenge to designers. The aim is to convey an overall brand image among many very different components, while improving the ease of use through new features and maintaining easy assembly and reliable manufacturing techniques.

In Europe Bosch divide their market into two separate segments; the professional tools are blue and are retailed in separate channels from the consumer tools in green.

The idea for this handy driver came from research in Europe and the US, and is the most powerful and popular mini drill of its kind in the world.

Our designers often visit job-sites to observe how tools are really used. We found that many tools wouldn't survive a fall from a 6ft ladder, which was a common occurrence. After much ideation and detailed design work, the resulting design even survives a 56 ft drop onto concrete!

Much of our work focusses on understanding differences between markets. This impact drill was originally conceived for the Japanese market and we were able to adapt it's bold look to work equally well in the US and Europe.

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TEAMS Design has been working with power tool manufacturers for 50 years, a relationship that begun when TEAMS Design founder Hans Erich Slany introduced the concept to Robert Bosch to use plastic for the tool housing instead of steel.

Traditional all-metal body drills were very heavy and could cause electrocution.

 

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