A survey of hundreds of contractors

In 2012 we launched the ESSBOX system, which quickly caught on among contractors all over Europe. In our view, they finally had a complete system for storing and transporting fasteners.

But we knew that much more could be done to make their working day easier. Together with the research company Mantap Global, we asked hundreds of contractors in Scandinavia what their working day looks like. Our answer to their work problems is the ESSBOX+ system – a complete system for organising and transporting that solves 5 main problems:

1. I forget things and waste time

90 % of contractors walk between the van and the site several times a day for the tools and fasteners they need at that moment.

2. A long distance between the van and the workplace

42 % have to walk 100 – 300 metres, and 16 % even more than 500 metres, for the materials they need for the job.

3. I have to park where parking is not allowed

82.2 % are forced to park illegally to get everything they need from the van to the workplace.

4. Few keep their tools and equipment needed on site in order

Only 21 % of contractors think they keep the tools and fasteners they use at work in good order.

5. Clutter is a waste of time

Because contractors do not feel their things are in order, 40 % estimate that they spend 10 – 20 minutes every day looking for the right tool or fastener.

Demanding work affects relationships

A carpenter's work is demanding. Besides craftsmanship and physical effort, you often also manage and coordinate the entire build. Quite often you have several builds running at once. You make sure that other tradespeople, such as electricians and plumbers, arrive on time and do their work, you order materials and make sure you are on site when the delivery arrives. And of course you are always available on the phone if new or existing customers have questions.

Besides the purely logistical problems during the working day, the survey also showed that many carpenters experience a great deal of stress, which shows in both their health and their relationships.

How stress affects you

1. 67.5 % of contractors consider their work stressful

Lack of planning, interrupted work and disorder among tools and fasteners are just some of the causes of stress.

2. 79.4 % of contractors think stress affects their relationships

70.7 % of contractors say that stress at work partly affects their relationships with family, friends and customers. 8.7 % say that stress has a major impact on their relationships.

3. 45 % have been on sick leave

The survey as a whole shows that contractors face many problems in their everyday lives. Sometimes these are so great that they can no longer cope.

4. 66.7 % have had an injury or physical complaints

Most contractors say that they have or have had an injury or physical complaints from carrying heavy things.

How to solve it?

The survey clearly showed that contractors need better organisation and simpler logistics between the workshop, the van and the site! We realised that better organisation and more efficient work help not only at work but, in the long run, outside it too.

That is why we decided to solve it by further developing our ESSBOX system. A professional does not just need screws and fasteners organised – everything else needs to be in order too.

The new ESSBOX+ system organises screws as well as everything else and lets you transport everything you need easily and efficiently.