163 years ago, a German-American gentleman by the name of Mathias Klein set up a tool shop in the city of Chicago. He appropriately named it Klein Tools and worked in the communications industry which, at the time, amounted to a few bare wires strung on telegraph poles.

Since then, Klein Tools has grown into one of the most trusted tool manufacturers in the world.

And while today’s economy and communications industry looks worlds apart from what it was when Mathias started, the company holds true to what it stands for; quality tools, designed with the user in mind and manufactured in America using local materials.

Klein made its way to Australian shores in 2010 and has continued to manufacture high-quality tools for local trade markets. The company has collected various awards in recent years, including a number of tool innovation awards in the US.

The Klein test-and-measure range is built to withstand the environment that actual electricians operate in. A lot of the time, electricians will be up a ladder, so Klein designed the measurement products to have a drop rating of three metres and be Ingress Protection IP40 Dust Resistant.

“We manufacture products that are built to last through extensive in-field research with customers and multiple product developments to them to ensure that we get the right fit for purpose product,” Klein Tools Australia marketing manager David Shepherd says.

“That stands out with our attention to detail and making sure we get it right, making sure the product that is used will fit its purpose. In some way, shape or form, we’ll solve a problem that an electrician has encountered.”

Tool storage bags are something most companies will offer. Again, Klein designs them with the electrician in mind and has 40 tool pockets so that all equipment isn’t flying around when in the bag. It also has a hard case section designed for valuables like test-and-measures or a mobile phone so regardless of if the bag is dropped or something falls on it, the valuables will be safe.

Klein Tools Pass-Thru Modular Crimper

The most recent example of Klein having the electrician in mind is with its pass-through connector.

Where in the past, electricians would have to crimp Cat 5 and 6 cables to the RJ45 connector, the latest device separates the strands and it’s colour-coded so users know which strand goes where. When it crimps, and cuts it all in one fell swoop. What was previously a tedious task is now simplified and the electrician saves time and money.

These small innovations in Klein products build to something bigger, something that keeps people coming back. And they do with US customers having a 93% return purchase rate.

By investing in American manufacturing (it makes 14 times more of its products in America than overseas), Klein can control the entire process which includes quality control and ensuring every product is made to last.

“It’s unique in the sense that they forge the steel, they machine it, they heat treat it and they do the handles,” David explains.

“From that perspective, they control the whole process in terms of making sure that they’re precise and it plays an important role in creating the ideal product.”

And something that Klein Tools Australia managing director Stephen Hanlon tells me is that when a product transcends its market, it must be doing something right.

“The Klein Tools canvas bag is the classic old US-style canvas workman’s bag and it’s now a fashion item in the US and Klein have setup a separate canvas bags entity which has a large following on Instagram,” he says.

“It’s become a fashion item. They’ve got little Klein canvas zipper bags which are used by all the Hollywood makeup artists to carry all their equipment.

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“So when a brand moves from its natural environment, into that sort of space, it says something about the brand and invariably, it hasn’t been marketed that way. The Klein family certainly didn’t sit there and say: ‘let’s take Hollywood by storm’.”

Something Stephen also points out is that if you search online for Klein Tools tattoo, you will find various tradespeople with the logo tattooed on them. How many brands do you know that people have tattoos of? Now how many of those brands aren’t a sports team, logo or motorbike/car brand? Not many right?

Underneath the Klein Tools Australia umbrella is some of the most respected electrical brands in the country including the recently-acquired Wattmaster or Mumme Tools and Alco to name a few.

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Klein has a proud heritage and fifth and sixth generation Klein family members, descendents of the first Mathias Klein are still working in the company. This makes them one of the last true family-owned businesses and they’re continuing to grow by crafting professional tools engineered specifically for the professional.

Klein Tools can be found in all leading electrical wholesalers throughout Australia and New Zealand, on their website www.kleintools.com.au or contacted on salesvic@kleintools.com.au or 1300 300 747.