What is Festools Greatest Achievement?

[ejfud]

They seem to really be on the cutting edge in many respects. Brushless motor on drill, plunge saw and now the Domino.

What does everyone think was their greatest advancement.

Gary

 

[Les]

DUST COLLECTION!!!!!!!!!! 8)

 

[pteubel]

Les could not have said it better...

;D

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I agree with Les.  A close second IMO is "Portable precision and accuracy."

 

[Paul Franklin]

There are so many reasons I believe.
Dust collection is maybe the first thing people think of, but its more than that, it a complete system. they just don't build a good saw or router, or any of the other fantastic tools, they think about how they are used and they work great together, it does not matter if you are in the shop or in the field. I make my living from using these tools, and yes I could do a lot of what I do using other brands, but I could not do it as safe, as quick and as clean as I do with the Festool system, about the only two power tools I take to the jobsite that are not Festool are a portable table saw for ripping narrow stock and a miter saw for cutting moulding, but it looks like one of those will be dealt with soon. I just have to decide wheteher or not to have a family member bring the CS50 or the CMS system, but boy are they expensive in the UK.
I think the Plug-it system is another great idea, it is sooooo much easier to just pick up a tool and switch plugs at the tool end rather than finding the plug end, you have one cable instead of a rats nest which is so easy to trip over. And thats just the tip of the iceberg.
The only other thing that would be nice to see is the belt sanders, although I don't use one very often, but it would be good to see them here.

Regards

Paul

 

[ccmviking]

Their greatest achievement is how they packed a high quality shop into all those little rectangle boxes (I'm always amazed at how they get that whole platter of food to fit in that little white carton at chinese food places too).  It allows me to have high quality work while away from my shop, that's a great thing to have.

Chris... 

 

[Corwin]

Hmmm, maybe for us in the USA Festool's greatest achievement is that each of their tools is 'best in class'.  Certainly top honors should go to their plunge-cut saw -- I cannot imagine any circular saw being compared to a table saw, but this saw...  And the new Domino looks like it might stir things up.  But, I really should mention the MFT -- seems like the work bench is once again center stage in the workshop!

For me, their greatest achievement is that they offer a complete system of high quality tools that have enabled me to begin a woodworking shop.  The purchase of a large and heavy TS, followed by a equally encumbered jointer...  and then a large DC system, well, it was just all too much for a home hobby. 

No, these tools have allowed me to have a workshop that has fine tools and still enough room to work.  Thanks Festool!

Corwin

 

[T. Michael]

Well, these are all great things, and I do like the micro 3 phase motore in the C12 drill, I think their major innovation is sticking to innovation; not just 'filling out the line,' but going after needs not being met, doing it excruciatingly well, with dust collection where appropriate, and giving us tools that are several steps above the good tools we were previously used to.  Case in point goes way back to their portable two man chain saw.  Revolutionized logging.  And who knows what the Domino will bring.

My $.02,

Mike

 

[Mark]

For me, just knowing that the Festool line is being designed as a system of working is their greatest achievement over any domestic line of tools I know. The sum of the parts is greater than the whole... synergy. Hey I think Festool should use that term in their marketing. Individually each tool is of the highest quality, but when you begin to use a tool like the TS55 with a CT22 you have a work experience that is better than either tool singularly. I still think that Festool could put together a complete woodshop package at a competitive price point using this idea of synergy as a sell point for Festool.

 

[Per Swenson]

Sticking to their business model.

If this was a American company, long ago we

would have seen share holders screaming and Festool

competing on the shelves of the Borg.

Sacrificing and circling the drain.

Per

 

[ejfud]

Great thoughts everyone.

Synergy is one I had not thought of, but makes great sense. I also like the fact that all the tools can perform equally as well in the shop or in the field.

Gary

 

[Eric Shields]

I would have to agree to all of the aspects already mentioned.  Though I'm a new owner and a new member, I've been following (and drooling over) their products for a while.  I think their greatest achievement is the basic idea of thinking "outside the box" when desiging their tools.  Festool is not just offering another product, they seem to analyze the shortfalls (dust collection, portability, motor, accuracy, etc) of a tool and design a new one from the ground up.  Not only solving the issue but improving upon it and incorporating it INTO their system.  As mentioned earlier, I'm a new owner (TS55EQ) but have no issues visualizing more green and black in my future.

Eric

 

[Dan Clark]

I agree with all of the commments here - great DC, inovative design, extremely high quality, excellent customer service, GREAT system synergy, highly portable, and much more.  Even their storage boxes (systainers) are so good that they stand alone as a great product.  (Who ever heard of a storage box drawing rave reviews?!?)  But I think there is something else...

It's like the old joke about 10 blindfolded men around an elephant.  Each one touches the elephant and "sees" something different.    Gather 10 people around a table saw and they'll "see" a shop table saw.  Gather 10 people around a TS 55 and you'll get 10 somewhat different opinions about it.  "It's a great way to break down sheet goods."  "No, it's  pretty good table saw!"  "Nope, it's a great saw that I can drag into my bathroom for remodeling work!!!" (This would be me.)  I.e., it's different things to different people.

And that, IMO, is Festool's greatest achievement - their tools' ability to be different things to different people.  The ability to mix and match the pieces to solve YOUR problems at YOUR worksite!

Dan.

 

[Bob Marino]

All excellent ideas! But, I am in Per's camp. Festool has been and remains a privately (actually a family) owned company, not a publicly owned company.This makes all the difference in the world; as such they have stuck to their guns and continue to use quality rather than price, as their primary goal.
And a word about Christain O. I doubt Festool USA would be where it stands today if he weren't steering the ship. The guys here who know him personally, as well as his staff, would agree with me.

Bob

 

[Paul Franklin]

Bob

That is so true. It makes a change to see a CEO of a company that takes the time to contribute in forums like this and is so hands on and responsive to thoughts, ideas and concerns of his client base. Festool would not be what it is today if was not for Christian and the great team he has put together. Great job Christian!!!!!!

Regards

Paul

 

[Mirko]

Festool helps in stimulating your enthusiasm to create: due to, simplicity, safety, and quality. The only limit is your imagination.

Mirko

 

[John Langevin]

I agree with all the above. To add to that, as a Quality Engineer I can be very critical of the tools I use. With the domestic (now Chinese) brand tools I often wonder if the person who  designed the tool ever actually used it as the flaws are often so glaring that they tax your imagination. The primary quality requirement of any OEM producer (be it tool or otherwise) is "Fitness For Use". It is obvious when you use any Festool that they understand what function(s) the tool must perform and what the dictated design criteria are. This is at the most basic level, Festool goes far beyond this with their unique designs, the integrated system concept, and the quality execution of the design itself. Festools can be improved, but the important difference is that they are willing to continuously improve the tools themselves. A prime example is the AT-55 to TS-55 evolution. This upgrade addressed virtually all perceived shortcomings of the AT-55, other manufacturers make a cosmetic change or minor (and often long ignored) improvement and hail it as a revolutionary improvement.

 

[ejfud]

So true John.

Gary

 

[Frank Pellow]

To me it is all summed up in one word: INOVATION

 

[Dan Clark]

... A prime example is the AT-55 to TS-55 evolution. This upgrade addressed virtually all perceived shortcomings of the AT-55, other manufacturers make a cosmetic change or minor (and often long ignored) improvement and hail it as a revolutionary improvement.

John,

So true!  Several months ago, I went out to buy a new Miter Saw for my project.  I almost bought a Dewalt DW718 which replaced the DW708.  The DW708 had a few flaws, but generally received high marks from users.  With the DW718, Dewalt added lots of juicy features.  Boy, did it look good.  Yumm! 

And then you grab the handle with the head fully extended and give a firm push side to side!  Way floppy compared to the DW708, which was decently stiff.  Then you take a look at the DW718's castings and compare them to the DW708.  No comparison.  The DW708 was a better built saw.

It's called "Decontenting" - adding whizzy features that you can see, while removing the inherent quality that you can't see.  It is short-term thinking for short-term profit.  If profit goes up (quick sales of a lower cost to produce product), the manager gets promoted.  He/she lets some other poor schnook take the fall when users start complaining and the company reputation tanks.

IMO, Festool is in it for the long haul.  Charge a pretty high price, but give the customers what they pay for.  Make a decent profit now, but keep attracting more customers in the future.  Get and keep a reputation for premium quality.  Put the beauty and flash on the inside where it should be. 

Dan.