Bluetooth tool and equipment tracker hopes to keep jobsite equipment from going missing
By David Malone, Associate Editor
Losing a tool or piece of equipment is frustrating, but it can also be expensive. Between the cost of replacing a tool if it isn’t found and the time lost looking for a misplaced tool, a company’s bottom line can be significantly affected. In fact, it is estimated that a single lost tool on a jobsite can increase the time spent completing a task by over 30%. And, according to Milwaukee Tool Senior Product Manager, Steve Matson, over the length of a large project this increased time spent completing a task can add up to tens of thousands of dollars in wasted labor.
That’s where the Tick comes in, a Bluetooth tool and equipment tracker that can easily be attached and hidden on any tool or piece of equipment. The Tick pairs with Milwaukee’s One-Key app and, once paired, tool records and locations are updated when any device with the One-Key app comes within 100 feet. Regardless of whether the device with One-Key has the app open or not, the location updates are transmitted, allowing users to pinpoint the missing tool.
The Tick has a low profile and flat back that, Milwaukee claims, allows it to be attached to anything via glue, screw, rivet, or strap. Its round shape allows it to be easily hidden out of sight on, for example, the underside of a ladder or a miter saw stand.
Because jobsites are not always the most hospitable of places, the Tick has a water and dust-tight enclosure to protect internal components and UV rated plastics to keep the device from becoming brittle when exposed to extended periods of direct sunlight. The tracker also uses a rugged electronics housing that can stand up to high vibration and impact.
The Tick will be available in February of this year in a 1-pack for $29, a 4-pack for $99, a 10-pack for $219, and a 50-pack from $999.
