“What’s new in worklights isn’t really all that new,” says Bruce Dawson, president of Central Tools. “The technology is to the point where a lot of what’s new is about creating a new package to go around the basic elements … to make it look good, sexy and appealing.”
LED (Light Emitting Diodes) is the most popular worklight type today. The technology has advanced to the point where light output, portability and durability are all at a fairly acceptable level today, Dawson says. The difference is often in the add-on features a technician wants and how much they are willing to pay for a worklight.
“There are three types of customers out there,” Dawson says. “There are guys who will only buy the cheapest stuff no matter how badly it performs, and those are not the best customers for a tool truck … Then there are the customers that eventually learn that sometimes spending a bit more money makes sense … And then there are the guys who you can educate and want better products with real features.”
One of the most common features is a hanger or magnet to mount the light for hands-free convenience. If the light has a swivel feature it’s good to point that out too, since positioning the light can sometimes make all the difference.
Corded and cordless models offer different features. With cordless lights, customers tend to want longer battery life and quick charging times. On corded lights, some customers will want a built-in outlet so they can use a corded tool without running another extension cord.
