Having supplied builders’ merchants across the country for more than 40 years, we’ve noticed a phenomenal change in the products sold, as well as an evolving pattern of industry trends.

One of the current trends seems to be for products to provide improved functionality and application. Not only is the industry demanding more multifunctional tools, with interchangeable accessories, but also multifunctional fasteners and fixings to offer end users an ‘all-round’ product that can handle and deliver a number of jobs, at a consistently high level of performance.

Tools are indeed becoming more multifunctional, allowing them to be adapted to perform a variety of different tasks, and products are also becoming easier, stronger and safer to use. These are positive developments that help improve the time and quality of works undertaken.

One such example is the TIMco C2 screw, which was launched earlier this year. The screw offers a consistent performance and can be used in multiple materials, including a range of woods, sheet metal and plastics.

In areas such as material cutting, there would traditionally be a range of accessories or blades that would help make the product versatile in order to perform a number of functions. Today, there’s a trend for multi-material blades that use hybrid technologies, allowing the blade to cut through a range of materials from granite to roof tiles with no loss of performance.

TIMco has developed a whole ‘Multi-Fix range’, which includes products such as multi-fix screws, bolts and resins, all designed to provide a single solution to several jobs. This can help merchants manage stock levels and allows builders to carry or source fewer products for day-to-day jobs.

What’s key is that all of these multifunctional products would not be released onto the market without sufficient research, development and rigorous testing. Investing in quality controls and testing is crucial for developing new products, as well as ensuring they are resilient and deliver on their promises.

In order to continue meeting market demands, we’ll need to continue to listen to customers, respond to their own demands and provide excellent products that are both jacks and masters of all trades.

Simon Midwood is owner and director of TIMco.