Ryan Jones, business development manager – Construction and Decoration, Mirka UK, discusses the tool trends his team is observing
Our team of experienced technical experts constantly communicates with customers to understand their needs and requirements allowing them to identify emerging trends and there are several that have come to our attention.
The first is businesses wanting tools that can efficiently handle large surfaces such as walls, which can take a long time to prepare for plaster or paint. This trend has been around for some years and is not going away anytime soon, so to meet it head-on we have developed the Mirka® LEROS. Its length and 225mm sanding head ensure large surface areas can be sanded in one pass, which is something businesses are looking for.
The second is dust-free sanding. The reason for this is that the tools are used for hours on end on-site, which leads to considerable dust being produced. There is now more of an understanding that even though the dust particles are microscopic, they can contain harmful fragments. This could possibly lead to respiratory problems and, therefore, a major health issue for employees.
As a result, businesses are looking to achieve a dust-free work environment to enhance the overall worker experience by protecting their health and creating a more pleasant and efficient workspace. This is achieved by investing in the right tools, abrasives and other products such as dust extractors.
The third tooling trend is the investment in tools that provide versatility and future-proof the business. These tools help the business in the short and long term because their versatility can deal with jobs now and also those coming down the line based on interior and design trends. This, in turn, enables the business to access new job opportunities as and when required and open new revenue streams.
Stand-alone tooling trends
In addition, there are two stand-alone tooling trends. The first is the shift from cheaper to premium abrasives taking people away from the slippery slope that is ‘buy cheap buy twice’. While cheaper options may initially save money, this short-term saving is quickly wiped out when the user has to purchase the same product again very quickly down the line. In comparison, premium products that are built to last will provide the same end product or service, whether it is being used for the first time or the hundredth time.
The second is upskilling the workforce, as the industry is constantly evolving and workers need to stay ahead of the game. The way Mirka helps achieve this is by providing customers with expert training on our high-quality abrasives and tooling, so they can increase their knowledge and skills, improve their workflow and potentially expand the services they can offer their customer base.
For more information about Mirka UK, visit Mirka Ltd: Abrasives, Sanding Tools & Polishing… – Mirka.
