Hilti is one of the very few companies to have a dedicated Innovation Center that tests the quality of our fastening systems. 338 tons of concrete are used for this purpose every year, and that is just the beginning. Once the testing is over, these concrete slabs are cut and broken into pieces using breakers and diamond cutting tools. The tools are tested against worldwide standards in the process. Once this part of the evaluation process is complete, the concrete pieces are recycled and used in creating new concrete.
While we continue to focus on quality, we do not lose sight of our commitments, as a company that promotes sustainability, to achieve carbon neutrality within our own operations in 2023. Moreover, quality and sustainability have never been viewed as a compromise since they actively complement each other in Hilti. Our tools are designed to last longer, hence their durability and repairability make a constant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions and helping to make our customers’ business more sustainable. This is also reflected in the fact that our operations are run on 100 percent green electricity worldwide – either through purchase or by using our own photovoltaic systems. And we’re constantly working to do even more for sustainability. (READ: 2021 Sustainability Report)
Transparent & traceable by design
In order to further bolster the company’s credentials as a responsible organization focused on quality, Hilti has put processes in place to employ external auditors. These auditors regularly audit and oversee our manufacturing lines and those of our suppliers. In 2021, 136 such audits were conducted and 138 suppliers and internal departments were certified. This proactive approach to quality has ensured that our products and services remain consistent in any market around the world. These processes are in addition to the thousands of tests that our products undergo.
Our fastening systems are also tested and certified by leading independent labs that conduct the most detailed tests related to quality and usability. Globally, Hilti products hold many approvals from these independent organizations. Technical data generated by these tests is used to further improve the products and offer customers deeper insights into our products and their long-term usage. In fact, our fastening systems are even qualified for use in nuclear power plants which offer some of the most challenging operating environments for any tool or accessory.
Traceability is another facet that ensures consistent quality for our customers. This is done using a set of predefined standard industry processes that help trace everything from the raw materials to the final installed fastening point. In the process we issue inspection documents and material certificates to our customers every year.
Born tough
We give our tools a really tough time, because we want them to be ready for our customer’s needs on the jobsite. For example, before a new interior finishing fastening tool is released, prototype tools are dropped from a height of three meters and are even placed in a concrete mixer to see how long they continue to perform up to our expectations. Our internal quality checks are so stringent that more than one million fastening repetitions are done with the tool before it is cleared for mass production.
