We received information that Tanos, a company owned by TTS Tooltechnic Systems and known best for Festool, is coming out with a new line of Systainer modular tool boxes, called Systainer³. (Thank you Dan for the tip!)
Looking into things further, Festool has also announced the new Systainer³ tool boxes in Europe.
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This will be the third generation Systainer tool box. The first, Systainer Classic, connects to other Systainers via 4 latches and opens or closes with 2. The Systainer T-Loc greatly simplified things by featuring a single rotating latch that can be used to open and close the tool boxes and for stacking.
The new Tanos/Festool Systainer³ is similar to the T-Loc Systainer, but with a number of upgraded features. Shown above is the Medium Systainer³, similarly sized to existing products and 396 mm x 296 mm in size (~15.6″ x 11.7″).
The Medium Systainer³ will be available in six different heights. It is said to be fully compatible with T-Loc Systainers and cal also be integrated with the Classic tool boxes.
There will also be a Large size Systainer³, 508 mm x 296 mm (20″ x ~11.7″), available in three different heights. The Large Systainer can be integrated with all sizes of Systainer³ and T-Loc Systainer tool boxes.
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Tanos and Festool are also introducing a new slim Systainer³ organizer, available in Medium and Large sizes. The insert boxes are removable, allowing users to bring parts to their work, and for greater organizer customization options.
Dimples in the bottom and the lid secure the insert boxes to ensure to ensure that nothing slides around when the case is being moving around. The clear lid allows for easy identification of contents even when closed.
Now, let’s see what’s so special about the new Systainer³ tool boxes.
First, there’s a front handle built into the smaller cases, allowing them to be carried upright, briefcase-style. The taller Systainer sizes will not include the front handle.
(A front handle accessory is available for the 2 smallest sizes of [previous] T-Loc Systainers, but you had to give up the label slots to use it.)
There are also “theft tags,” locking loops sized for small locks.
Tanos says that the Systainer³ is even more stable than its predecessors thanks to its optimized design structure with third lid hinge and raised reinforced bottom cross.
I’ve had oddly-loaded T-Loc Systainers, such as filled with a vacuum hose, that would twist and become difficult to close. If the new Systainer³ tool box design has increased rigidity, that’d be a big plus.
The Systainer³ allows for easier and quicker label insertion, even when the boxes are closed.
The new Systainer³ also features built-in van racking equipment, allowing the tool boxes to work with vehicle mount accessories without additional components.
Tanos says:
Thanks to its standardized grid size, the Systainer fits into many common vehicle equipment configurations. The 3rd generation of Systainer, Systainer³ focuses specifically on mobile solutions. That makes the Systainer³ a perfect choice for vehicle equipment bu our partner Bott. Thanks to an integrated vehicle mount directly on the Systainer³, it can be pushed directly into the vehicle shelf, without additional rail elements. That means you save weight and money!
The Systainer³ M and Systainer³ L tool boxes will launch in Europe in October 2019, and the two sizes of Systainer³ Organizer will launch in January 2020.
Tanos availability is usually very limited in the USA. It is highly probable that we will see the Systainer³ tool boxes in the USA and North America under Festool branding. Promotional materials say that Systainer³ is powered by Bott, Festool, and Tanos, and also feature Systainer³ tool boxes with Festool-green latches, but there have not yet been any official announcements by Festool USA.
Festool is releasing the new Systainers in Europe, and so we *should* be seeing them in the USA.
Height Differences
| Product | T-LOC | SYSTAINER³ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old | New | Height (including feet) in mm | ||
| SYS 1 TL | SYS3 M 112 | 112 | 112 | – |
| – | SYS3 M / L 137 | – | 137 | New |
| SYS 2 TL | SYS3 M / L 187 | 164.5 | 187 | + 22.5 |
| SYS 3 TL | SYS3 M / L 237 | 217 | 237 | + 20 |
| SYS 4 TL | SYS3 M 337 | 322 | 337 | + 15 |
| SYS 5 TL | SYS3 M 437 | 427 | 437 | + 10 |
The new Systainer³ tool boxes will have different labeling and also different heights compared to T-Loc Systainers. The chart above was sourced via Festool Sweden. It is possible the heights are different to ensure that the new Systainers can fit existing inserts and accessories, or there could be other explanations.
Update: A post on the Festool Owners Group suggests that the new dimensions allow for a smaller common denominator that could facilitate stacking. Or, it could bring the Systainer heights inline with van racking equipment from Bott, their partner.
Discussion
If you’re not familiar with Tanos or Festool Systainers, the changes being introduced by the Systainer³ tool boxes are actually quite significant.
You can add a front handle to the two smallest sizes of Systainers, for $18 each. I have sometimes wished for my Systainers to have alternate carry options, but never felt like adding a front handle to each of them. But also, I never fully trusted that they could be carried that way.
Systainers are fantastic tool boxes, but there are times when they’re not exactly easy to work with. I bought the older version of the workshop cleaning set a few years ago, and the hose twists the sides of the box, making it difficult to close. The new Systainer³ tool boxes are said to be sturdier, with an additional lid hinge and structural reinforcements on the bottom. Tanos doesn’t specify the way in which these tool boxes are more stable, but any improvement is welcome.
The locking loops won’t stop a determined thief, but might stop some opportunistic thieves or maybe colleagues from borrowing your tools or equipment. The loops look to be sized for luggage locks or similarly small locks. And, from the looks of it, the loops are only made from the same plastic as the rest of the case.
The biggest change is the built-in van racking slots. Potentially, this could also allow for new styles of workshop Systainer Ports or other such storage accessories.
I couldn’t find any pricing details, but hopefully the new Systainers won’t cost much more than the already premium–priced T-Loc Systainers. I would presume that Festool tools will transition between being bundled with T-Loc and Systainer³ tool boxes, but as mentioned USA availability has not yet been officially announced. I would guess that USA availability will follow the European launch by some time.
Compare(Festool Systainer Tool Boxes via Amazon)
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fred
While my Domino XL and Tracksaw systems are housed in systainers, I have somewhat mixed emotions about their materials of construction. The same goes for the plastic Bosch L-Boxxes and recent Makita plastic cases that I have. My thought is that the premium prices commanded by these boxes may not be commensurate with value and/or ruggedness/longevity at some rough and tumble work sites.
I understand that my ex-compatriots (in the installation business) have bought a truck upfitted with Sortimo (Knapheide) storage and so far think its nice. In that business we had some L-Boxxes when I retired – and think that they were working out OK. But we never transferred the plastic box/ container idea to the plumbing business (as an example) – where our step vans and other trucks were upfitted with mostly steel racks/ drawers and boxes – possibly better suited to the tools and parts being carried. A systainer nipple box? I think not! But as the expression goes: “horses for courses.”
Jared
Like Fred, I don’t have much interest in these since my impression was always that they were premium-priced but less rugged than Toughsystem or Packout boxes. Just not a good fit for my needs despite some nice features.
Flotsam
I am not a tradesman coming into a home and performing a job so all these type of containers are more of an extravagance. If i was I think something that would transfer nicely from being stored in the truck to being directly on the job site would be really nice.
Altan
I would go for these cases if they make them with 4mm thick walls similar to DeWALT Toughsystem cases, The plastic they use in Tanos cases is better than DeWALT Toughsystem boxes, but the walls are thin and they break quickly if you work with Wild Boars around…
fred
Our companies Christmas parties were often a venue for some untoward name-calling – usually after some liquid libations were consumed. But, I have to say while some folks inebriated behavior was sometimes porcine – I had never heard them called “wild boars”. Commentary at our summer picnics – family events – was usually more sedate in spite of the how much beer was flowing – so it must have been the approach of the winter solstice and the need to reenact a saturnalia (not the alcohol) that brought out the best-forgotten Christmas Party remarks.
Altan
Hahaha, the reason I use that word is we don’t have a word for “Boar” in my language and we call it “Wild Pig” so when I use “Wild Boar” that already means Wild (power 2) Pig to show how wild some can be with tools.
Jim Felt
To me all these Europe-centric boxes are just too flimsy. They rattle and echo the heck out their contents and as much as we/I like cool exotica these brands won’t be keepers. In fact many earlier models have already been “repurposed” to unsuspecting friends.
BTW. Just for a moment I was pleased to misread the brand variation as “Thanos” and between Josh Brolin’s MCU character and his demeanor I was hoping for a great breakthrough product category introduction.
But nooo.
Joe Kay
Fragile. As. Pringles.
John
To all who state these as fragile, I have been using them for helicopter load out tools for years and as you can imagine army mechanics are not concerned with outward appearance but usability. With many heavy tools and several of the 4 drawers sets for aircraft small parts, these containers have served us well and are still working. The maxi-systainer is great for actual parts but as anyone knows they are pricy.
AJ
Bosch updated their L-boxx a year back so the Systainer had to have an update too I guess 🙂
I keep the tools that arrived in sytainers and L-boxxes in their original cases but the systainers in particular are way to fragile for their cost.
Dewalt toughboxes are lots stronger and airtight if you close the valve so those are the ones I’ve actually bought. The thin boxes ARE lighter if you want to grab just the one tool.
I stack my boxes up when they’re in storage but mostly they’re too heavy to carry more than one box in one hand so being able to clip them together is absolutely irrelevant for me. I never do it.
Black Sabbath
ITT: North Americans are really rough on their tools…
HectorP
Comparing the new S^3 boxes to Metabo MetaLoc
• Both have the locking loops
• Both have top and front handles
• S^3 is reputedly sturdier, and the construction of my MetaLoc is sturdier than My Sys2 – so may be a wash now.
• S^3 has 3 hinges; MetaLoc 2
• MetaLoc latch is … different. Stronger, but slightly less user-friendly
• MetaLoc price is less than 50% of the Sys2 price
• Stack, interloc interchangably
Trade-off was clear for me – no more Sys2 or S^3 for me. Also, the entire modular tool storage sector pricing in the EU/UK is still significantly lower than in the US, which is irritating. Did note that the S^3 are on EU amazon sites.
Another new product is the SYS3 XXL 337 – which at 792mm wide is 2x the width of a SYS2. Maybe next iteration there will be the SYS4 XXXXXL – 2000mm wide – doubles as a coffin.