History of Industrial Safety Cutters & Utility Knives

History of Industrial Safety Cutters & Utility Knives

History of Industrial Safety Cutters Journey of safety cutters knives till 21st century cutting tools by saurya safety

Evolution from pre-historic tools to modern-day designed tools

From simple to more advanced, in the continually transforming world, everything around us is evolving from landline phones to smart phones, from high street shopping to e-commerce shopping. In such a scenario, how can the utility cutters that we use belong to the conventional world? Read further to know about the journey of evolution of the utility cutters & knives.

The First-ever Cutter Introduced

Sharp Edge Tools Used During Stone Age Era

Since the prehistoric era, the knives have performed the role of tools, eating utensils, and weapons as well. However, in the new age cutters have progressed in a way to be safely explicitly used for industrial purposes. Cutters were first used as a form of cutlery as early as five centuries ago. The earliest of the knives were prepared out of Flint.

The first-ever cutter was with a single edge developed 4000 years ago in the Bronze Age. Later on, it was used for carpentry and cooking as well.

The 19th Century Changes

As we approached the 19th century, utility knife with a fixed blade form had managed to evolve into its steel-bladed counterpart, designed for outdoor activities such as cutting wood, preparing campfire meals, as well as butchering animals.  With time, evolution introduced the use of back springs that mixed up well with the utility cutters designed to fit into your pockets.

One of the popular name that typified this design included the Swiss Army Knife.

History of Industrial Safety Cutters & Utility Knives 1
History of Industrial Safety Cutters & Utility Knives 1

As we approached the 19th century, utility knife with a fixed blade form had managed to evolve into its steel-bladed counterpart, designed for outdoor activities such as cutting wood, preparing campfire meals, as well as butchering animals.  With time, evolution introduced the use of back springs that mixed up well with the utility cutters designed to fit into your pockets.

One of the popular name that typified this design included the Swiss Army Knife.

History of Industrial Safety Cutters & Utility Knives 1

As we approached the 19th century, utility knife with a fixed blade form had managed to evolve into its steel-bladed counterpart, designed for outdoor activities such as cutting wood, preparing campfire meals, as well as butchering animals.  With time, evolution introduced the use of back springs that mixed up well with the utility cutters designed to fit into your pockets.

One of the popular name that typified this design included the Swiss Army Knife.

There was surely a need for stronger mechanism for locking blades in the cutters of the folding type. A significant increase of utility knives was noted with time when it started gaining prominence in heavy-duty tasks like other manufacturing activities, packing solutions or any such activities.

Contemporary Utility Cutters

Folding Cutter and Box Cutter by Saurya Safety

The fixed as well as folding blade cutters became popular for outdoor as well as indoor usage. One amongst the popular variants of a cutter used at workplace is the folding or a retractable cutter/knife. At present the cutter made its own presences with various names like, “carpet knife, razor knife, box cutter, cutter, pen knife, stationery knife.” These variants of utility cutters are designed to be used as a multi-purpose tool for various cutting work involved in trades & crafts.

After years of transition from prehistoric design to the contemporary styling, the cutters started acquiring a lightweight designed for portability while introducing the ease to cut through things. Utility cutters are used commonly in warehouses, factories, construction projects, manufacturing, as well as in many other situations to cut the marked lines or plastic materials. It can also be used to cut through tape, strapping, cord, cardboard, bagged goods, yarn, foam, rubber, leather, shrink foil or film, or any similar packaging materials.

Evolution of Various Designs in Utility Cutters

Utility cutters were evolved & designed in such a way that it was made available either in a folding handle, fixed handle, replaceable or with a retractable blade handle. Not just that, today they are available in a wide range of styles that are suited to work perfectly with any particular task sets.

In other words, depending on the task at hand a dedicated designed utility cutter can be selected for the application. Utility cutters are now in almost every industry sector it has become a crucial part of daily activities. Adding different variants of blades with cutting depth provides the right solution with sharpness but it also increases the risk of cut injuries.

Utility cutters in different industries

The evolution of utility knives or utility cutters continued with the time, as with the industry standards “SAFETY” become the priority with intent of reducing cut & laceration injuries while maintaining or even increasing the productivity.

Martor, Germany Head Office Image by Saurya Safety

To impress upon our point, basis our research, we would like to sight the example of Martor KG. Martor, located in a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany called Solingen known for introducing more than 300 innovative range of safety cutters, knives & scissors for various industries with their exclusive cutting applications. In 1976 they brought the first TÜV-certified safety knife in the world for the market known as a PROFI CUTTER. Further Martor have set standards with their GS-certified safety knives that are essential for cutting safely and known for protection at work.

At Present Types of Cutters Used

Fixed Blade Cutters

History of Industrial Safety Cutters & Utility Knives 4

At present, there are various cutters available with fixed blade, they are being used in indoor as well as outdoor applications. Some of them are used in household kitchen, or office stationery, in schools, in industries or at workplace. These knives & cutters are light-weight and are best suited to cut thin & thick materials both.

Workplace Utility Cutters

These types of utility cutters add value at the workplace in terms of safety, productivity and cost efficiency. Some cutters also provides a blade replaceable feature & blade retractable feature for the cutters. The users can easily adjust the intensity of extension for the blade from its handle. The moment ones cutting application is completed the blade retracts back to its original state in the cutter’s body.

Blade changing with different variant of cutters by saurya safety
Blade changing with different variant of cutters by saurya safety

These types of utility cutters add value at the workplace in terms of safety, productivity and cost efficiency. Some cutters also provides a blade replaceable feature & blade retractable feature for the cutters. The users can easily adjust the intensity of extension for the blade from its handle. The moment ones cutting application is completed the blade retracts back to its original state in the cutter’s body.

Blade changing with different variant of cutters by saurya safety

These types of utility cutters add value at the workplace in terms of safety, productivity and cost efficiency. Some cutters also provides a blade replaceable feature & blade retractable feature for the cutters. The users can easily adjust the intensity of extension for the blade from its handle. The moment ones cutting application is completed the blade retracts back to its original state in the cutter’s body.

Spare Blade Within Cutters Handle by Saurya Safety

You can also find used or spare blades stored inside the hollow handles within popular models. The extra blade can also be used by removing the screw followed by opening its handle. Other industrial models feature the quick-change work format that allows the easy replacement of blades with no need of tools.

Conclusion

Whether it is used in an industrial application or for personal use, safety cutters have surely made our lives easier. The best reason for any organisation to pick/introduce the modern-day cutters is to ease the entire process for their workforce, thus increasing efficiency & productivity. Utility cutters are designed to reduce any type of workplace injuries caused by the cutters or eliminate the possibility of damage to the merchandise from cutters & knives.

Remember, the safety of your employees is in your hands. So why not introduce tools that are designed to be safe and as a result enhance your work speed.

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