Hand tools are the most common product line carried by distributors. According to Industrial Distribution S 56th Annual Survey of Distributor Operations, 38 percent of distributors carry hand tool lines.

The hand and power tool market will top $15 billion in 2005, up from $12.2 billion in 2000, according to The Freedonia Group, Inc. Hand tools made up $4.8 billion and power tools made up 7.4 billion in 2000. These figures will rise to $5.6 billion and 9.4 billion, respectively, by 2005. Professional users comprise two-thirds of the value in this market.

Though the tool market was affected by the down economy, there is always a demand for these products because they are basic to so many processes, said Richard Wright, chairman of Barberton, Ohio-based Wright Tool Co.

"There is a rising demand for increased quality in professional tools," said Wright. "Tools from a big box may not do the job."

For example, construction and manufacturing are using increasingly stronger fasteners which require stronger wrenches to turn them, said Wright. Since removal of fasteners requires twice the torque of tightening, quality is important.

"Tools for construction and electrical are up, telecommunications and manufacturing industries are generally down," said senior vice president Alan Sipe of Chicago-based Klein Tools, Inc. "We see encouraging sales on new products."

Magnet-tipped tape measures, torpedo levels, tools insulated to 10,000 volts and the Journeyman pliers line are some new products that have done well, said Sipe.

"If something is innovative and new, people will buy it," said Sipe. "They are still hesitant to replace more basic items, however."

In an otherwise flat market, distributors have noted sales increases and big improvements in the quality of cordless power hand tools. Sales and marketing representative Ayaz Punjani of Summit Tools in Burnaby, Canada said recent innovations and improvements have nearly eliminated the need for portable electric drills and saws.

"Cheaper 12-volt tools have the power that 18-volt products had three years ago," said Punjani. "The 18-volt products are more powerful and versatile than before."

While there are more powerful 24-volt products, they haven't caught on because of higher price and limited selection, said Punjani.

"Distributors have to work harder to sell hand and power tools," said product manager Ethan Cramblet of Muskegon Mich.-based Reid Tool Supply Co. "Otherwise customers are likely to simply buy from a big box store."

Reid Tool counts on its local salesforce to successfully demonstrate the value of its professional hand and power tools, says Cramblet.

Ergonomics is a buzzword in the industry right now, but Wright Tool has been improving handle design for years and it leads to improved sales, said Wright.

"The feel of a wrench — the comfort and balance — is important," said Wright. "Otherwise, the torque you can apply may be limited by the operator's pain threshold rather than strength."

Sipe said ergonomics focuses on repetitive motion which may be important on manufacturing assembly lines but most of Klein's tools are not used in that fashion. Nonetheless, comfort handles are in demand.

"Ergonomics isn't driving a change in product design," said Punjani. "Basic tools like hammers and pry bars, however, now have rubber grips."

Heavy-Duty Cable Shears designed with triangular cutting jaw to cut copper, steel, ACSR, hardened wire without compression or frayed ends; comfortable, lightweight tool perfect for single-hand use with minimum effort. Klein Tools Circle no. 201

BST 15.6 Plus cordless drill/driver; "Plus" system provides higher torque; features patented "Impuls" action for improved screw driving and removing and drilling steel or tile without a center punch; adjustable torque clutch. Metabo Corp. Circle no. 202

Wright Spline ™ Wright Spline is designed to fit hexes, double-hexes (12 pt.), old-style spline and new spline designs; extra torque capability allows higher strength bolts, can re-move fasteners with rounded corners. Wright Tool Co. Circle no. 203