Protool to be absorbed by Festool?

[Kev]

this is made by Kress, a small company from Germany.

That surprised me but yes, you're right, it's identical !

I've wanted a light duty rotary for a while ... my only criteria was able to chisel and to fit in a systainer. This one came in a systainer (one of the old ones though).

 

[jonathan-m]

Kress must make some quality drills then.
Something else I've noticed is that the replaceable power cords looks a lot like the one on the Mafell drill. Which leads me to believe the Mafell is in fact a Kress drill.
Kress also seems to have something similar to Festools right angle & centrotec. Interesting!

 

[optimistisch]

Kress must make some quality drills then.
Something else I've noticed is that the replaceable power cords looks a lot like the one on the Mafell drill. Which leads me to believe the Mafell is in fact a Kress drill.
Kress also seems to have something similar to Festools right angle & centrotec. Interesting!

You got it, the Mafell drill is a OEM Kress. Surprisingly that TTS as a group is selling competitors plug systems.

 

[Starfl0]

In the same way, the CHP45 SDS MAX hammer drill is a SPIT 352...

Festool cordless sds+ hammer drill is going on for 2014...

 

[SittingElf]

Kress must make some quality drills then.
Something else I've noticed is that the replaceable power cords looks a lot like the one on the Mafell drill. Which leads me to believe the Mafell is in fact a Kress drill.
Kress also seems to have something similar to Festools right angle & centrotec. Interesting!

You got it, the Mafell drill is a OEM Kress. Surprisingly that TTS as a group is selling competitors plug systems.

Kress is another German company full of engineering marvels!  They also produce one of the best CNC router motors on the planet. I will be putting one in my CNC-STEP 1000/T CNC when I order it in a couple of months. (CNC-STEP is ANOTHER fab German company).

Someone earlier stated they couldn't wait for Protool to manufacture in the USA... ARE YOU KIDDING ME???  Jobs aside, there is no comparing German/Austrian/Italian quality engineering and manufacture with US companies. I'm sorry...I'm American, but there ain't no way with the labor force and work ethic here that we could produce the quality and quantity of the same items made in Germany.  There are SMALL U.S. companies that produce exceptional products, but when you start mass manufacturing in the U.S., quality definitely suffers.

It's why I'm going, or have already gone Felder/Hammer (Austria), Festool, CNC-STEP,(Both German) Laguna Italian BS, LeapFrog 3D Printing (Dutch), and Bessey clamps (German). All fantastic, well-engineered, and superbly manufactured products. If Festool was Mfr'd in the USA, I doubt seriously that we would be seeing the products as they are now.  Just my $.02

 

[GhostFist]

My thoughts exactly

 

[jimbo51]

At least some Bessey brand clamps are made in China. Also, I understand that the EU rules on country of origin place the emphasis on where more value is added to the product. A company in Austria can buy drill blanks from China at X price then state that they add 3X value by sharpening them. Thus they can claim made in Austria. I recall this was reported in Fine Woodworking years ago when Austrian and Chinese brand drills had identical steel analyses.

 

[Kev]

At least some Bessey brand clamps are made in China. Also, I understand that the EU rules on country of origin place the emphasis on where more value is added to the product. A company in Austria can buy drill blanks from China at X price then state that they add 3X value by sharpening them. Thus they can claim made in Austria. I recall this was reported in Fine Woodworking years ago when Austrian and Chinese brand drills had identical steel analyses.

They're probably using Australian iron ore !!  [big grin]

 

[JoggleStick]

Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi

Sorry couldn't resist, so sad... : lurk

 

[JoggleStick]

On a slightly more serious note...
On another thread @Kev has just recently bought a Protool 9" Grinder, with a diamond cutting (kit) systainer, track, etc
In the pics @Kev posted, and looking at the Protool specs, his grinder is the identical twin brother of a grinder I bought a few years ago now; branded Atlas Copco.
I remember I was hesitant to buy this 'brand', at the time, but I was and still do buy a fair bit of gear from this large specialist power tool supplier (doesn't stock Festool, etc) and as usual I was in no way disappointed with the tool. In fact, it is the best 9" grinder I have ever bought and I've worn out and bought quite a few....
My point is this....
Companies invest a fortune to build a 'brand' and Festool is one brand I would and often do buy tools completely sight unseen... (Until very recently I've had to travel 25 Klm's to the nearest full range Festool/Protool shop)...

However, we have no clue what deals and re-branding is done behind the scenes although occasionally this is 'discovered', in time. Like my example above. Who knows  whether the grinder is originally Protool or a third-party? One thing is certain and that is the integration of the diamond cutting track system that takes the Protool option to a whole other level.
Perhaps Festool will re-brand their own Protool brand as a North American regional solution? Time will tell what that means to open up the tool catalogue for you guys?
I suppose the label itself on the tool means little of itself, as long as the R&D, etc gets done.  It would be very disappointing to see 'ranges' of tools dropped because of 'production efficiencies', etc

 

[AlexThePalex]

However, we have no clue what deals and re-branding is done behind the scenes although occasionally this is 'discovered', in time.

You make it sound like it's a very bad thing to rebrand. Why should that be? Companies do it all the time.

You'd think that if a brand like Festool/Protool wants to rebrand a tool under it's own name there is some quality control in place. Like they have their own engineers look at the designs, material specs and mechanical properties. Like they get a bunch of those tools and put them through some rigorous testing to see if they uphold to the quality standard they want to have as a brand.

 

[Deansocial]

I remeber buying a plunge saw when all the large circular saws sold now under the protool name were branded festool. They are only going back to what it was before

 

[Holz-Her]

the only tools Festool offers which are not made by Festool are the Pollux 180, RAS 180 (Motor) and Rustofix RAS 180 (Motor)

 

[ccarrolladams]

the only tools Festool offers which are not made by Festool are the Pollux 180, RAS 180 (Motor) and Rustofix RAS 180 (Motor)

What a fascinating post.

Your answer indicates you have inside information about TTS and Festool.

Could you explain the source of this inside information? Are you authorized by TTS to release this information to the public and customers?

 

[JoggleStick]

However, we have no clue what deals and re-branding is done behind the scenes although occasionally this is 'discovered', in time.

You make it sound like it's a very bad thing to rebrand. Why should that be? Companies do it all the time.

You'd think that if a brand like Festool/Protool wants to rebrand a tool under it's own name there is some quality control in place. Like they have their own engineers look at the designs, material specs and mechanical properties. Like they get a bunch of those tools and put them through some rigorous testing to see if they uphold to the quality standard they want to have as a brand.

@Alex,
I'm not sure why you took a 'negative' from my post, the example I gave of the Atlas Copco Grinder and  Protool Grinder recently purchased by @Kev was, I thought and intended, a very positive one??? BUT... We all know examples of great tools being compromised when taken over by others.... Such as Elu becoming Black & Decker becoming De Walt... And even then the 'news' is not all bad.
Anyway, without splitting hairs, I tried to take a 'Neutral' position in my post so I guess it can and was read 'either way'
I hope and trust and believe Festool will 'do the right thing'...

In reality, there will most likely be positives and negatives, such is life? Particularly if the bean counters have more say than the R&D guys, don't you think?

One thing is for certain, it will all come out in the wash!

 

[Holz-Her]

the only tools Festool offers which are not made by Festool are the Pollux 180, RAS 180 (Motor) and Rustofix RAS 180 (Motor)

What a fascinating post.

Your answer indicates you have inside information about TTS and Festool.

Could you explain the source of this inside information? Are you authorized by TTS to release this information to the public and customers?

No, i don´t.... but i know these motors are supplied by Flex from Germany.... no secret...

 

[AlexThePalex]

However, we have no clue what deals and re-branding is done behind the scenes although occasionally this is 'discovered', in time.

You make it sound like it's a very bad thing to rebrand. Why should that be? Companies do it all the time.

You'd think that if a brand like Festool/Protool wants to rebrand a tool under it's own name there is some quality control in place. Like they have their own engineers look at the designs, material specs and mechanical properties. Like they get a bunch of those tools and put them through some rigorous testing to see if they uphold to the quality standard they want to have as a brand.

@Alex,
I'm not sure why you took a 'negative' from my post,

Because of the "although occasionally this is discovered, in time" remark. "Discovering something in time" generally means you want to act to avoid negative consequences.

Thanks for the clarification, but no big deal if you didn't mean it that way, we're just having a friendly chat.  [smile]

 

[JoggleStick]

Yep... +1 beer and yeah a schnapps chaser to boot....

 

[fritter63]

I reckon they will revamp the Cordless range...

Cordless Planer
Cordless Rotex
Cordless Domino
Cordless Kapex
Cordless TS55
Cordless Portaband...

The mind boggles...
Anyway that's my 'future view' through my 'beer goggles' : hic!

You forgot the cordless battery charger. That would be huge.

 

[JoggleStick]

Ha Ha... That would be a solar charger.... : deal