Double award nomination for Olympia Tools

Olympia Tools’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of hand tool performance in areas such as performance, quality, ergonomics, design innovation and safety has led to the business receiving a double award nomination.

The company was shortlisted in both the ‘Best innovation implemented and adopted by a contractor’ and the ‘Best safety innovation’ categories at the recent UK Energy Innovations Awards 2014. The nominations both related to Olympia Tools’ Safety Shovel and Safety Grafter products which are distributed under the company’s Roughneck brand.

The UK Energy Innovation Awards are staged annually by the Energy Innovation Centre. This partnership organisation was created by a number of the UK’s leading names in energy distribution and supply to encourage cooperation, knowledge sharing and best practice as the nation works towards a low carbon future.

The awards themselves set out to recognise those projects, technologies and talents which have helped to drive innovation and improvement across the energy sector.

Taking the design of the conventional shovel to a whole new and exciting level, the Roughneck Safety Shovel and Safety Grafter have both been developed based on the real world experiences of a contractor involved in subsurface work, Craig Broadhurst.

They are careful considered and intelligently designed to reduce the levels of penetration and subsequent damage caused should a user strike hidden utilities - such as electricity cables or gas or water pipes - whilst digging. Such utility strikes remain an all too frequent occurrence in the UK and can cost time, money and even in worst case scenarios, lives.

To mitigate the risks, the Roughneck Safety Shovel and Safety Grafter feature innovative curved blades but with the added protection of a lipped edge. This enables them to still drive into the ground effectively whilst reducing any penetration on accidental contact with pipework or cables.

Further features include a solid fibre glass handle which provides strength and a light weight as well as a one piece forged steel head which has been both hardened and tempered to ensure maximum durability and effectiveness.

For maximum peace of mind, insulated versions of the Roughneck Safety Shovel and Safety Grafter are also available. These products are able to provide shock resistance that’s been safely tested up to 10,000 volts and approved to 1000 volt in accordance with BS8020:2012.

Given that rectifying damaged utilities can cost from £400 to £1,000,000 and the desire of most companies to achieve a goal of ‘zero accidents’, Safety Shovels and Safety Grafters are already being widely used by many major players in a range of sectors. Customers embracing the benefits of the products include a number of household name PLCs involved in highway maintenance, utilities provision and the maintenance of the nation's infrastructure.

The 2014 UK Energy Innovation Awards ceremony was held on April 24th in Manchester where Olympia Tools was narrowly pipped to the post in both categories. Given the high profile nature of the awards however and the calibre of the competition, simply being nominated still needs to be recognised as an impressive achievement.

Commenting, John Bramwell, managing director at Olympia Tools, said: “We’re naturally disappointed not to have won a UK Energy Innovation Award but are still delighted at being a shortlisted nominee in not just one, but two different categories. We see this as independent verification of our commitment to providing innovative tools which address common challenges – the problem of striking hidden utilities included. Our congratulations go to the eventual winners.”

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For more information on this story, contact Wayne Mohammed at wayne@twopointzero.uk.com

Notes to editors:

- With its head offices and showrooms in Reading, Olympia Tools (UK) Ltd is a British based importer and distributor of premium quality, competitively priced hand tools and other products for the professional tradesman and serious DIY enthusiast.

- Olympia Tools prides itself on offering new, innovative and high performance products sourced from reputable manufacturers across the world.

- Specific and well-known brands available from Olympia Tools include Roughneck, Gorilla Bar, Thorsen, Power Grip, Wood Grenade and the MUTT (Multi Use Tough Tool).

- Olympia Tools has been trading in the United Kingdom for 15 years.

- For more information on Olympia Tools (UK) Ltd and its products, visit www.olympia-tools.co.uk

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