LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – March 2009
Klein Tools introduces a new line of 14 Fish
Tapes under the Depthfinder™ and Navigator™ names. Depthfinder™ Fish
Tapes feature high strength flat steel for pushing and pulling wire and
Navigator™ Fish Tapes are designed to be extremely flexible for moving
through conduit runs with multiple bends. The length of the new Tapes
range from 25’ – 240,’ and are available in the most commonly used
materials – Steel, Stainless Steel, Spiral Wound, Nylon and Fiberglass.
A true category innovation found on all
Depthfinder™ flat steel tapes is an exclusive time and effort saving
feature – permanent laser-etched markings every one foot on the entire
length of the tape.
"Tradesmen interviewed acknowledged high value
in the concept of ‘length-marking’ a Fish Tape. The markings could be
used to measure conduit runs, locate stops, or tell them how much tape
remains on their reels," said Vince Kendzierski, product manager, Klein
Tools. Using an exclusive manufacturing process, Klein developed a way
to add marks to a flat steel Fish Tape that will never wear off. "The
goal for Depthfinder™ was to make the marks permanent without
compromising the steel strength, so we used a laser that changes the
color of the steel surface. The tapes are marked in descending numerical
order so if a portion of it is ever cut off, you can immediately see
how much remains on the reel."
In addition to length marking, Klein focused
their development on end user comfort and reducing jobsite effort. The
9" and 13" diameter Fish Tapes feature a unique sloped handle to
optimize hand positioning for quick hand-over-hand rewinds. The cases
feature raised fingergrips for a secure grip and a round inner ring
design to provide a smooth and consistent surface for rewinding. To
reduce effort on the job, these tapes are 1’’ larger than the industry
standard, meaning up to 15% more tape can be wound with each revolution.
In terms of durability, this new product line
is among the Industry’s toughest. "We experienced excellent results
across the entire Fish Tape line when dropping the tapes repeatedly from
a 25’ height," said Kendzierski. In-house lab testing showed that all
sizes of Klein Fish Tapes remained fully functional after 20 drops from
this height.
Product specifications and catalog information on Fish Tapes can be found at www.kleintools.com.
Klein Tools, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of
professional hand tools and occupational protective equipment.
For more information on Fish Tapes, please
contact: Klein Tools, P.O. Box 1418, Lincolnshire, IL 60069-1418.