power tools

TTP’s role

Black and Decker needed a fast and creative response to a challenge created by their strongest competitor, which had launched a competing product with blades that could be swapped simply and without tools.

Logistics and supply chain imperatives meant that their own range of blades could not be modified. So they asked TTP to create and prove a new mechanism for the jigsaw that could be implemented quickly, without adding significant cost to the product, and without infringing competitor patents.

Within the space of a few months we worked with Black and Decker’s engineering leadership to generate and filter concepts before testing and proving the safety and reliability of the best two.

Our innovation was to add a simple torsion spring lock. No new feature or indentation was needed in the blade and very little cost was added to the product. Black and Decker’s marketing group created the feature-brand “Superlok” to be prominently displayed on the product and packaging.

We delivered massive value for the Black and Decker brand in a very short timeframe without distracting its in-house design team.