Hilti
Circularity in Construction Industry Case Study: Anchoring Sustainability in HILTI’s Product Range
We’ve supported Hilti, a global leader in construction technology and power tools, for several years in embedding circularity into its product architecture, from castors and tool cases to trolleys and vacuum cleaners. Together, we built a shared modular platform used across product lines. The result reduced purchasing and development costs, simplified maintenance, and reinforced Hilti’s position as a circular economy leader.
The construction industry has an immense impact on the environment, the people, and society. As the most resource-intensive sector of the economy, the industry is responsible for a quarter of global CO2 emissions. Topics like material recycling, resource conservation, and refurbishment are driving innovation among many players in the construction industry. The HILTI Group is one of them.
Due to the innovative strength as well as the market position, HILTI can set signs and standards. The company is particularly successful in the area of circular economy: Their business model, product range and services are consistently geared towards this goal and contribute significantly to the company’s success. In this strategic framework, we support HILTI in the development of innovative products to anchor circularity and sustainability deeply and firmly in the product range.
Over several years of collaboration with HILTI, modularity has become a core improvement alongside sustainability and usability. It is grounded in our own field research on construction sites and a deep understanding of workers’ needs.
Take the Solight-ecco® castors we developed with HILTI: extremely durable, resistant to water, heat, and impact on the construction site. The castors are used across several designs and ensure safe maneuvering on any surface. Beyond usability, the multiple applications led to optimized purchase prices, easier maintenance, and simpler product management. The same applies to the compatibility with the Sortimo furnishing systems. All tools and applications can be seamlessly combined, build on each other, and ensure consistent brand awareness and performance.
An iconic brand promise
The Hilti case is redesigned about every 10 years. And it is much more than a tool case. This red case is an iconic brand promise and, as a non-verbal brand ambassador, it revolutionizes everyday working life on construction sites worldwide.
For the 2018 generation, which we designed, we combined highlights of previous generations with new user-centric functionalities and upcoming tool design. “Double carry” allows two tool cases of the same or any different size to be easily carried in one hand. New environmentally friendly inlays protect the tool and offer compartmentalized space for better organization. For added user convenience, each tool case has three identical “preview” plates that can be used to identify the content inside from every relevant side.
Moreover, the case did not only get a new design but also various clever features. Tools and consumables can be practically stored in this lightweight case, which also offers the highest protection and organization of small parts. Thanks to five different insert boxes, assortment cases can be put together individually. In addition, there are three pre-equipped variants with matching equipment depending on the trade, and the case is also compatible with Sortimo furnishing systems.
More than some clever features – design for outstanding usability
“Modularity is where circularity becomes real. When the same castor runs on a trolley, a vacuum cleaner and a case, you’re not just saving on purchasing. You’re making every product easier to repair, and repairability is what keeps a product in use.”
Beyond the iconic case, we designed and engineered several other products, all bound by the same high standards of sustainability and usability. Among them: the universal trolley for transporting tools and equipment on site, and a range of compact universal vacuum cleaners with automatic filter cleaning for dry and wet applications.
We designed the trolley on the same modular platform: three levels for transporting several or heavy parts of all kinds, carrying up to 150 kg. The robust and compact design with a unique folding function runs on the Solight-ecco® castors, while the upper part of the trolley is compatible with Sortimo cases. The same goes for the vacuum cleaner range. They all run on the same Solight-ecco® castors for safe work on construction sites.
“Working with Hilti over several years let us think in generations, not single products. Each design builds on the last, and that continuity is what makes a shared platform possible.”
For the vacuum cleaner range, we designed the housing, mobility, and handling concept. The extremely robust universal vacuum cleaner for the construction site has an integrated push handle for mobility over longer distances as well as particularly high-quality components that can withstand even the toughest operating conditions. The automatic, adaptive filter cleaner Hilti AirBoost cleans the air filter automatically when necessary for consistently high extraction performance. The power indicator gives real-time feedback on filter status and suction power. Optionally, auto-start and switching on/off via the Bluetooth® remote control. The extraction of dust when grinding, cutting, slitting, and drilling, as well as with dry core drilling and the removal of drilling mud in wet drilling applications, is crucial for workers’ health.
As you can imagine, we look back with satisfaction on our work with HILTI and look forward to ensuring even more high material quality, durability, reliable performance, and operational readiness under any conditions for future construction sites.
Prosperity
- Development of sustainable product segments and markets, transfer of brand values and sustainability goals into product development
- Modularity and standardization to reduce development and purchasing costs and increase production efficiencies
- Increasing repairability and durability as leverage for further development of the service business model
- Customer loyalty through innovative products and functions
People
- Increasing occupational safety and efficiency in construction via behavior-based innovation
Planet
- Optimized use of resources through durability, repairability and remanufacturing of products
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