Our Objectives
To safeguard the interests of the portable electric tool industry on technical matters.
To act as liaison between manufacturers and the British Standards Institution.
To represent the Association on the equivalent European body.
To cooperate with any other organised body or bodies having objects similar to those of the Association.
To secure the observance by Members to the Constitution of the Association.
To act generally in the common interest of the membership in all such matters of a non-commercial nature as may be agreed upon.
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Sustainability
Sustainability
PETMA members are committed to a shared sustainability philosophy undertaking practices that create value for society today… and the generations of tomorrow.
PETMA members take their responsibility to environmental issues seriously. They recognise that the need to protect and sustain the environment is an integral component of good business practice. The power tool industry is highly competitive and innovative. As manufacturers, PETMA members consistently look for ways of reducing their energy use. Their R&D facilities all take account of the rising cost and security of supply of primary raw materials, especially rare earths and minerals, when designing new products.
Cordless power tools are the fastest growing segment of the power tool market and this trend is expected to continue. Cordless power tools use various rechargeable battery chemistries as their source of energy. Power tool manufacturers choose the rechargeable battery chemistry that delivers as closely as possible the customer’s expectations taking into account all aspects of battery performance, including robustness, charge / discharge control, storage limitations imposed by battery drain (self-discharge), cost and environmental implications for each type of power tool at a price that the customer is willing to pay. The 2 main rechargeable battery chemistries currently in use are Lithium-Ion and Nickel Metal Hydride. Lithium-Ion has become the dominant chemistry.
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Health & Safety
Health & Safety
PETMA members share a common ethical undertaking on health safety to ensure the well-being of all our employees and customers. Safety is of paramount concern in the design of power tools all of which, by definition, have the capacity to cause harm to the user if improperly used. PETMA members invest significant resources in ensuring that their products are safe when used properly.
PETMA members both design power tools and adopt common industry standards that minimise the risk to users developing health problems from, for example, the effects of dust, noise and vibration. Dust extraction at the worksite requires the addition of an appropriate dust extractor and filtration, depending on the application, in conjunction with the power tool.
Workplace exposures are regulated by national laws for certain substances and by European directive 2004/37/EC on carcinogens and mutagens.
As manufacturers, PETMA members recognise that some components of power tools, particularly batteries in cordless power tools, contain hazardous materials. PETMA members work hard to ensure that power tools – and batteries in cordless tools – are either reused or recycled at end of life. This depends on national, regional and local authorities ensuring that the necessary collection facilities are in place and creating public awareness of the importance of returning waste electrical and electronic equipment at the end of its life. PETMA is aware that power tools bought by DIY customers are often kept for many years before being disposed of and works with government to address the challenge to ensuring that they are finally disposed of responsibly.
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Commitment on Business Ethics
Commitment on Business Ethics
The member companies of the PETMA strive maintain the highest ethical standards, endeavouring to:
• trade fairly and within the law;
• treat Employees and those with whom they deal with respect and fairness;
• provide staff with safe working conditions whilst striving towards zero injuries;
• provide training, information and equipment to allow staff to undertake their tasks to the company’s standards;
• support Environmental responsibility through sustainable development.
PETMA is proud to be associated with the European Power Tool Association (EPTA), the European Trade Association representing the interests of the manufacturers of electrical tools. This industry produces electrical power tools for both professionals and DIY (Do It Yourself) consumers and generates an annual turnover in 2010 of approximately € 3.1 billion.