The PB Special Alloy   |   The PB Internal Production   |   The PB Quality Controls   |   The PB Handle
The PB Finish   |   The Automated PB Tool Manufacture   |   Serial Numbers   |   The PB Heat Treatment

The PB special alloy...
	The raw material source is a spring steel which has been developed into the PB special alloy after decades of joint research with the steel works. This PB special steel combines high coefficients of hardness with excellent toughness and elastic qualities. One condition for the manufacture of a first-class tool is a high coefficient of hardness which minimizes wear and tear. If a tool is overstressed it should neither shatter nor should brittle fracture occur without warning. Elastic deformation of a PB blade will warn the user if the tool is about to break.
The toughness of the used material determines and restricts the permissible toughness which is around 55 - 57 HRC for an average screwdriver. PB screwdrivers, made from special spring steel, on the other hand have a hardness coefficient of 58 - 60 HRC thanks to the excellent toughness and elastic qualities. Special heat-treatment and strict quality controls guarantee constant values piece by piece.

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The PB internal production...
	The production of all PB tools in the Wasen and Sumiswald factories guarantees the well-known, uniform PB quality. All the piece parts of the non-recoiling hammer, with the exception of the hammer handle, are manufactured in our own factories. Even the inserts, made from a tough special nylon, and the disks which are filled into the centre piece are produced entirely in our factories. The recoil cushioning principle, by means of disks - a PB development - ensure that the short, compact form of the normal hammer with synthetic inserts is maintained.
The centre piece of the non recoiling PB hammer consists of an exceptionally robust steel construction with a large wall thickness when compared, for example, with hammers filled with pellets. The introduction of highly developed automatic production equipment and industrial robots plays a decisive role in the manufacture of PB quality at a reasonable price.

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The PB quality controls...
	The path to high and uniform quality begins with the delivery of the raw material. Every delivery of steel is thoroughly examined in our mechanical control room and in our own metallographic laboratory. The manufacturing process is checked periodically and conscientiously. As the PB tools are totally produced in the factory each step in production can be monitored and any faults can be corrected immediately. Extensive automation prevents deviations in uniformity.
To remove even the last faulty piece, which cannot be avoided, all the PB tools - from bit to chisel - are checked once more, piece by piece, for material or manufacturing faults before they are finally packed. In this way each PB tool, which has not become unusable through misuse or natural wear and tear, can be guaranteed.

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The PB handle...
	The PB handle consists of Cellulose Acetate-Butyrate (CAB), a modified natural product. Only this synthetic material combines the following characteristics to make up the perfect tool: agreeable to touch good gripping qualities extremely impact-resistant insensitive to stress cracks oil and fuel-resistant resistant to tropical conditions transparent (exception: multicraft) Together with the PB handle design, conforming to Swiss Standards VSM and proven over the last decades, this material constitutes the basis for a tool handle which cannot be bettered.
The "multicraft" handle has been developed from the PB handle achieving exceptionally high hand torque. The roughened surface and the larger than normal external diameter increase the transfer of force and ensure high torque even when the hands are oily. The synthetic material, used for all PB handles does not contain cadmium.

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The PB finish...
	PB hexagon wrenches have, owing to the PB special steel, hardness coefficients which are far exceeding normal hardness, yet they are still exceptionally tough. The measurement of the PB hexagon wrenches corresponds with Swiss Standard VSM, which specifies longer handle dimensions than the DIN or ISO standards. This results in a tool which is easier to use as the handle length fits in the hand more comfortably.
The edges of the PB hexagon wrenches are easily chamfered so that the tools can be introduced into the hexagonal recess of the socket screws without any problem. The PB hexagon wrenches with ball point are perfectly round. This facilitates the largest rake angle without the tool slipping out of the screw recess. From 1.5 mm across flats all PB hexagon wrenches are nickel- and chrome-plated. They not only differ visually from normal makes but are totally rust-proof and exceptionally durable.

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The automated PB tool manufacture...
	The use of PB special alloy demands considerable additional effort during production. Where other materials can be cold-processed without any problem, the PB steel requires hot-working or additional heat treatment. The production of constantly precise dimensions and hardness of the tools also demands more effort.
Even a relatively simple tool, such as a pin punch or a centre punch, undergoes approximately 20 separate production steps to become a PB quality tool. The tools are quality controlled many times during this process. To keep costs low, the manufacture of PB tools is automated as far as possible. The numerous technological alternatives these days (CAD, CNC,robots, laser) are not just catch words in the PB workshops but are actually put into use every day with the aim of achieving a uniform high quality at a reasonable price.

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Serial Numbers...
	Since some years the PB tools are provided with a serial number. The number that is labeled with laser, allows to trace back all production steps of the tool parts until the raw material. – This is a part of our Quality Management.

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The PB heat treatment...
	Essential element of the PB quality is the regular, high hardness values of PB tools combined with exceptional toughness. Beside the suitable raw material - the PB special alloy - the application of the correct heat treatment of the steel is a decisive factor. This determines if the material has been used to its best advantage and if a uniform quality has been achieved.
Alloying and a satisfactory heat treatment has developed from decades of innumerable tests to produce perfect PB tools. All PB tools pass through a fully automatic hardening plant, which, together with strict monitoring, guarantees the required PB quality. All PB tools, from the bits to the chisels, are hardened over the whole length. The impact heads of striking tools are normalized by induction and are absolutely shatter-proof. A small bulge will only appear after long and intense application.

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