December 2023 - 38

INNOVATION AWARDS PROFILE
KNIPEX Tools 4 " Pliers Wrench
Q & A with Peter Grable, product manager at KNIPEX Tools.
Q: What makes this product innovative?
A: One of the key things about this tool is the size. It's only 4 " in
length...[and] has a 3-1/4 " jaw capacity. The jaws are smooth, so it
won't mar any surfaces [and] it has a one-hand adjustment. What
I mean by that is there's no push button like our other tools. All
you have to do is lower the tool one way and push it together, it'll
close onto the fastener. It also has a box joint design, 10 adjustment
positions, and a textured handle at the back for better grip. One
of the key things that people come up and tell us is that they'll
pull the tool out of their pocket and say, " I carry this tool all the
time every day. " That's one of the coolest compliments we get
about this tool.
Q: What was the inspiration behind
creating this product?
A: We got a lot of feedback from customers saying, " I really need
to get into some tight areas. I like the design of the pliers wrench
that you have, can you make something smaller? " So, lo and behold,
we came up with the 4 " . That's kind of the basic premise behind
the inspiration for the tool.
Q: How will this product improve the lives
of technicians and shop owners?
A: Like I mentioned before, a lot of our customers put this in their
pocket for everyday carrying [and] the amount of projects they
work on is unbelievable. They'll say, " I got in a really tight area
[and] this was the only tool that I could use to get into that tight
spot and finish the job. " That's the real reason for it.
Q: What has the feedback been like from
technicians who have purchased this tool?
A: It's been outstanding, I mean, every show that we go to [people]
come up and tell us that [it's] the coolest tool they've seen. If they
38 PTEN DECEMBER 2023 www.VehicleServicePros.com
haven't seen it, we show it to them. They [say], " Wow, that is really
cool. I want that tool; I have to have it. " So, that's really cool for us.
Q: Is there anything else you think our
readers should know about the tool?
A: We've covered all the major highlights on it, [but] one of the key
things is that if you're used to using [KNIPEX's] other push-button
tools, this one doesn't have the push button. All you have to do is just
lower the handle all the way down and then push it back up. Another
key feature is the chrome finish. The nice thing about the chrome
finish is, if you're working in an environment that has some chemicals
[present], it is a little more chemically resistant than other finishes.
To view the full interview, visit:
VehicleServicePros.com/53078050
PTEN is the only publication to feature
the prestigious " Innovation Awards " .
Every year since 1999, the Innovation
Awards highlight the newest and most
innovative products introduced to the
automotive aftermarket. For 2023, PTEN
received over 100 submitted product entries in 26 categories.
We will be featuring the top scoring products in monthly
Innovation Award Profiles. To view a full list of winners online,
visit: VehicleServicePros.com/2023IAWinners.
The Innovation Awards honor companies that take their
products to another level and offer unique features that make a
technician's job easier. If you would like to submit a product to
be considered for the 2024 Innovation Awards, entries will be
accepted starting in February.
http://www.VehicleServicePros.com/53078050 http://www.VehicleServicePros.com/2023IAWinners http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2023
