Construction tools and software maker Hilti Group has invested €1m in a new customer experience centre at its Finglas headquarters to coincide with the launch of its Nuron 22V cordless battery platform with 70 tool attachments in Ireland.
The centre will allow professionals in the construction sector to learn about the Nuron platform as well as its performance, safety and data capabilities, and it use the Hilti cordless tool range in practical settings.
Prior to the opening of the service centre in Finglas, Hilti tools were sent for servicing in Paris or Glasgow. Hilti said tools will now be serviced in Ireland with a guaranteed three-day turn around and full availability of replacement tools to ensure work continues.
Liechtenstein-based Hilti Group, privately owned by the Martin Hilti Family Trust, now operates in 120 countries and generated sales of 5.3bn Swiss francs (€5.5bn) in 2020.
It has supported construction and engineering activities in Ireland since 1965 and now has sales and customer support teams totalling 130 between four stores in Ballymount and the docklands in Dublin, Cork, and Belfast, and its Finglas HQ.
In Association with
Having tripled its headcount in Ireland over the past decade, Hilti will also add seven to 10 service engineers at the new servicing centre.
"We are very excited to bring the Nuron platform to our customers in Ireland. From customer feedback on what kind of innovations they would find useful we know this will make a huge difference to their operations in many ways," said Damien Schmutz, general manager of Hilti Ireland.
"We are proud to deliver the most comprehensive solutions to solving some of the bottlenecks at construction sites today, increasing productivity, and introducing state-of-the-art data-driven solutions that will also improve health and safety at the construction sites."
Research and development of Nuron took several years. All tools are powered by a single 22V battery platform, reducing the need for multiple batteries, chargers and corded power sources.
Hilti said that the cordless tools provide more power than their corded or gas-powered alternatives, and that they provide data insights to the cloud that have helped to improve the design and health and safety aspects of the tools.
“We want to provide construction professionals with the best tools and solutions available so that they can get on with what they do best, building society’s future infrastructure and doing it in a safe and efficient way," said Sebastiaan Groenhuijsen, head of product marketing for northern Europe at Hilti.
Accounts for Hilti (Fastening Systems) Ltd show the company's Irish arm recorded turnover of €20m in 20202, up from €18.8m in 2019, while profit after tax increased year-on-year from €1.3m to €2.2m.
At year-end the firm held net assets of €8.3m, up from €6.2m a year prior, with the company directors writing that management had taken advantage of growth opportunities in the construction sector.
