Executive Report:

Entirely innovative

Hilti recently invited the world’s trade press to see behind the scenes at its Liechtenstein headquarters. Alan Guthrie represented EHN.

For a worldwide operation employing nearly 20,000 people, and which traces its origins back to 1941, it is something of a surprise that Hilti’s open-door Innovation Day at the end of October was the first international media event the Liechtenstein-based company has ever held. EHN actually visited the company a year ago, and as we mentioned in our subsequent report in the January/February 2007 issue, it seemed committed to raising the global profile of its business, based in the town of Schaan in a principality lying between Switzerland and Austria. This event was further confirmation of this intention.

EHN readers are, of course, very familiar with Hilti and its tools and equipment, which represent a key component in many hire fleets. This latest visit, however, was another valuable opportunity to learn more about the company’s research and development strategies, and future plans.

Hilti stressed that its emphasis on innovation did not focus on products in isolation, but concentrated on developing total solutions for work practices. “Our ergonomics team looks over the shoulders of construction site workers,” said Dr Pius Baschera, Chairman of Hilti’s Board of Directors. “They see how a tool is held and handled, and everything it is used for.” This investigative approach, he added, provided the basis for improvements and innovations, such as the introduction of laser measuring tools to speed the time-consuming positioning of drill holes.

Customer feedback

Similarly, Chief Executive Officer, Bo Risberg, said Hilti listened to feedback from customers worldwide, inviting key partners to test products and suggest improvements. “This led us to develop a self-contained dust removal attachment for the TE 7-A rotary hammer, for example.” Hilti’s product specialists demonstrated more practical examples. Interior finishing tasks like drywall installation could be made faster by using a GX120 gas powered nailer, which can drive up to 1,200 nails/hour, and by fastening struts and boards with an SD 5000 drywall screw driver and collated screws. Outside construction, Hilti is targeting markets such as the oil, gas and shipbuilding industries, with tools for tasks including cutting, grinding, fastening, marking, anchoring, measuring and drilling, as well as providing software that can assist with design calculations. By researching into construction methods as well as the tools required, the company says that faster working and more durable results can be achieved. Hilti’s X-BT stud, for example, has been developed to enable fastening to steel while avoiding damage, and without the need for welding, which would require more personnel and take longer.

At Hilti’s Technological Centre at Schaan, researchers investigate the behaviour of materials and structures. Accredited in-house laboratories undertake projects such as the simulation of the effects of earthquakes on fixings within structures, the efficacy of motorway crash barriers, and the performance of drill bits within concrete. This is then fed back to the research and development teams working on the next generation of tools and consumables.

Health & Safety information

Health & Safety issues remain high on Hilti’s agenda, and the company has established a Corporate Health, Safety & Environment team, with Board representation, to develop solutions. Executive Board member, Dr Stefan Nöken, again emphasised how this involved more than developing innovative products. “Hilti provides both the solutions and reliable information. Many people focus only on HAV, for example, but Health & Safety needs to be addressed as a whole. Our approach includes all aspects of significance to health, safety and productivity on the work site, including vibration, dust and noise.”

Alternative work methods

Technological innovations from the manufacturer include Active Vibration Reduction (AVR), on power tools, Active Torque Control (ATC) that stops drill motors instantly if the drill bits sticks, and dust removal systems, as well as alternative work methods such as direct fastening to reduce vibration and dust. During EHN’s visit we spotted a new range of vacuum cleaners scheduled for UK launch next year. The VC-20U, VC-40U and VC-60U have respective gross capacities of 20 litres, 40 litres and 60 litres. Robert Jäger, Product Manager for Cutting & Grinding, says the machines are particularly compact for their capacity, owing to their top-mounted hoses. “They have also been designed especially for the construction industry, unlike some others that are simply derived from general cleaning products,” he added.

Speaking during the Innovation Day, Michael Hilti, former CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company, and now a member of the Board, suggested that the most important aspect of innovation was original thought, and that this would require “the courage to take calculable risks regularly, to pursue new ideas and to be open to change.” The same set of criteria must surely apply to hirers, as they continually source new equipment to meet customers’ changing needs. •

T 0800 886 100
W www.hilti.co.uk

Executive Hire News › Archives › December 2007 › Executive Report › Entirely innovative

website designed & produced by Weblinks Advertising Limited