The Wiha TorqueVario VDE“The ultimate electrician’s screwdriver”

Neil Bush B.Eng (Hons) MIET

National Account Manager

Wiha Tools Ltd

Fire: nobody is to blame

Both EDF Energy and East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service believe that there are

over 800 house fires a year in the UK that start at the consumer unit or the cut-

out fuse.

• ESFRS estimate one in 30,000 homes per year

• EDF Energy estimate one in 34,000 homes per year.

If you extrapolate that into 27 Million UK homes you will reach this awakening

800-a-year statistic.

There is no finger-pointing and nobody is to blame. It is simply that there has

never been an ideal solution in the market.

Poor termination is known to be

one of the leading causes of

failure to electrical switchgear.

The proper torqueing of the

terminal screws is impossible to

judge without the use of a

standardised and calibrated

torque-setting screwdriver.

• Under-torque and you risk

arcing, hotspots and fires.

• Over-torque and you risk

damaging the component or

the thread, which in turn may

lead to under-torqueing.

Image shows how under-torqueing can be

seen as hotspots with a thermal imaging

camera. The white element is over 100 oC.

Convergence gives us choice

Wiha Tools are asking for the TorqueVario VDE screwdriver to be recognised for

this award because although we have an incredible break-through product we

are such a small company that our biggest challenge is helping people know

that a choice now exists.

Awareness is what we seek and you can help.

Most electricians always use 1000V insulated VDE tools to safeguard themselves

from any live circuitry.

Most engineers are familiar with torque-setting screwdrivers and can rely on the

accuracy that BS EN 6789 compliant units will achieve.

The Wiha TorqueVario VDE now converges these qualities and brings choice to

the electrician. It offers the 1000V insulated VDE safety that electricians seek and

the quality and torque accuracy that engineers rely on.

Image shows the TorqueVario VDE

and a range of slimBit insert bits.

2011, so much to learn

Our goal in 2011 has been to learn about the UK Smart Metering roll-out. There

are only three employees in Wiha UK and our marketing budget is tiny. Winning

this award will bring the torque topic to the attention of the industry and help

people understand that they now have a choice.

The torque setter can be kept away from the user to eliminate any

tampering of the torque value. Ideal for highly repetitive tasks.

So, what has Wiha discovered during 2011?

• We’ve learnt that manufacturers of Smart Meters stipulate the required

torque settings for their products. For example, the Elster AS300 requires

torqueing at between 2.2 - 2.8Nm.

• We’ve learnt that the 17th Edition Wiring Regulation 134.1.1 states, amongst

other things, that manufacturer’s instructions should always be followed.

• We’ve learnt that the Ofgem and DECC Smart Metering Implementation

Program states that “The smart metering system shall be installed and

maintained in a manner that protects public safety” (IM.12).

We are doing the right thing in bringing this product to your attention and you

can help us learn more about what your industry really needs to succeed.

What next..?

Images show the serial number

and matching certificate. These

prove that the BS EN 6789

International Standards of torque

accuracy have been achieved

Smart Meters are not inexpensive items and should be installed with respect.

There will be thousands upon thousands of meters installed in the UK every day

during the coming years. The cost to guarantee that these are properly fitted can

be easily budgeted for.

The whole industry will benefit from Wiha winning this award:

• Managers of the mobile workforce will learn that their fitters can properly

tighten the terminal screws and still be safely isolated from any live circuits

• The manufacturers of the Smart Meters will learn that their instructions can

actually now be met

• Ofgem and the DECC can rest assured that all the key stakeholders have been

made aware of the solutions now available to reduce the risk to consumers

• The ESC will be able to tick their box about “the tightness of meter tails”

Once the awareness from winning this award grows then who will decide that

they don’t need to torque to “between 2.2 and 2.8Nm” and add fuel to the fire

statistics?

Product specification

• Wiha TorqueVario VDE

• 3 torque ranges available; 0.6-2.0Nm,

1.0-5.0Nm and 2.0-8.0Nm

• Complaint to BS EN 6789 torque

standards, individually calibrated,

traced and certified

• Compliant to VDE GS IEC 60900:2004

• Audible click & physical slip when the

required torque is met

• Set-and-forget torque setting feature

can be used to remove ability to

adjust

• SlimTECHNOLOGY insulation for

unlimited access and full 1000V safety

Supporting material: Testimonials

A significant amount of distribution and motor control panel failures are due to

poor termination including incorrectly torqued terminals. The Wiha VDE

approved torque screwdriver can be an essential part of any electrical

contractors tool kit to meet manufacturers requirements and help to eliminate

these failures.

Mark McCall

Product Marketing Manager

Newey & Eyre Ltd

Calibrated and individually certified to International Standards, the Torque Vario

VDE is without doubt the ultimate electrician’s screwdriver to own. Having the

security of knowing you have tightened the screws correctly gives you peace of

mind and new levels of workmanship.

Tony Cable

Spokesperson

NICEIC

“Professional Electrician and Installer magazine tested and reviewed the Wiha

TorqueVario VDE Screwdriver in September 2010. Our experienced reviewer

noted, ‘The Wiha unit offers you the security of 1,000V insulation along with the

ability to adhere to the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations with a tool meeting

British and European Standards of accuracy and reliability. The Wiha screwdriver

is ideal… as you do not want loose connections, and you do not want to cause

damage by over tightening.’”

Jonathon Cole

Editor

Professional Electrician and Installer Magazine

Supporting material: PE September 2011

Wiha Tools company profile

Wiha background

• A German hand tool specialist, new to the UK.

• Creators of innovative world-class hand tools since 1939

• Specialists in 4 fields; pliers, screwdrivers, screwdriver bits & hex keys.

Wiha Werkzeuge GmbH

• Privately owned by the Hahn family

• Wilfried Hahn will soon pass to his son Wilhelm Hahn

• Based in Schonach, near Triberg, Black Forest, Germany

• £41M turnover in 2010

• 600 employees

Wiha Tools Ltd

• Katja Haugk – General Manager

• Neil Bush – National Account Manager

• Elizabeth Brookes - Customer Services Administrator

High-end Wiha users include

• Aerospace; Lufthansa Technik

• Defence; Selex Galileo

• Formula 1 Teams; Red Bull Technology, Williams F1

Values and guidelines

• Innovation

• Quality

• Reliability