EC&M Announces Klein® Tools Wins 2014 Product of the Year


Klein Tools’ Open Jaw Cable Cutter Receives Platinum Award



(Lincolnshire, IL) - Klein Tools (www.kleintools.com , for professionals since 1857, was awarded the ECM Product of the Year award for the Open Jaw Cable Cutter (Cat. No. 63711). The new tool earned high marks for solving a common problem identified by customers.



Electricians and overhead and underground line workers said cutters were difficult to use in low-clearance applications and required two hands. After six months of in-the-field testing, the Open Jaw Cable Cutter was created with a front-loading jaw instead of the common “hand-cuff” style jaw model.



The cable cutter features a high-leverage ratcheting mechanism allowing for single-handed cutting of 1 1/8 in. communication cable, 600 MCM copper and 750 MCM aluminum, without burrs or sharp edges. Weighing two pounds and measuring 11.5” long, the cable cutter has red plastic-covered handles with hand guards, a jaw made from hardened proprietary steel, and a one-year warranty.



This simple change to an open jaw design had enormous positive effects.



“The unique open jaw design not only enables end-users to position the cutter head around the cable in a one-handed operation, but also allows them to cut cable in low-clearance applications,” said Thomas R. Klein, Jr., general manager of heavy infrastructure at Klein Tools. “This saves end-users time, effort, and of course, money.”



ECM’s Product of the Year Competition attracted a record-setting number of entries with 200 submissions from nearly 100 different manufacturers.



“The employees at Klein Tools prove to us why listening to your customers can yield a successful new product launch,” said Mike Eby, editor-in-chief, ECM Magazine. “The company’s new Open Jaw Cable Cutter works well in tight spaces and facilitates one-handed operation. These features are a welcomed improvement by anyone that has had to handle cable cutting and termination tasks in the field.”



About Klein Tools

Since 1857 Klein Tools, a family-owned and operated company, has been designing, developing and manufacturing premium-quality, professional-grade hand tools. The majority of Klein tools are manufactured in seven plants throughout the United States and are the number one choice among professional electricians and other tradespeople. For more information, visit www.kleintools.com.



Tina Bush

Senior Marketing Manager

450 Bond Street

Lincolnshire, IL 60069

tbush@kleintools.com

+ 1 847 821 3318

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