What is a safety knife?
A safety knife is a cutting tool for manual cutting work. The built-in safety technology protects users from cut injuries. Some safety knives also offer protection to goods. Find out more here.
Why should I use a safety knife?
When cutting by hand, using safety knives minimises the risk of cutting injuries which usually result in work absences.
When you use a safety knife with a concealed blade to open packaging, the packaged goods are also protected from damage.
In addition to work safety, MARTOR attaches great importance to ergonomics and user-friendliness. You can then work particularly efficiently and comfortably with a safety knife.
What kinds of safety technology are there?
MARTOR safety knives give you the choice between three kinds of safety technology:
- Concealed blade
- Fully automatic blade retraction
- Automatic blade retraction
Safety knives with concealed blades stand for maximum work safety (plus optimum goods protection), safety knives with fully automatic blade retraction for very high work safety, and safety knives with automatic blade retraction for high work safety. Find out more here.
What do SECUMAX, SECUPRO and SECUNORM mean?
SECUMAX, SECUPRO and SECUNORM are special MARTOR terms. As part of the product name, they provide information about the safety technology used in the product and the resulting safety level:
SECUMAX = MARTOR safety knife with concealed blade = maximum work safety
SECUPRO = MARTOR safety knife with fully automatic blade retraction = very high work safety
SECUNORM = MARTOR safety knife with automatic blade retraction = high work safety
Find out more here.
How does a safety knife work?
A MARTOR safety knife with a concealed blade (SECUMAX) has a blade that is so securely concealed that neither you nor packaged goods can come into contact with it.
A MARTOR safety knife with fully automatic blade retraction (SECUPRO) has a blade that instantly retracts after cutting even if you continue to hold the slider or lever that releases the blade.
A MARTOR safety knife with automatic blade retraction (SECUNORM) has a blade that disappears into the handle immediately after cutting as long as you have removed your thumb or finger from the blade release beforehand. With SECUPRO and SECUNORM, the blade is "out" only for as long as it is needed for cutting.
What does "goods protection" mean when cutting manually?
It is important that packaged goods are not damaged when packaging is opened using a cutting tool. The best way to achieve this is to use a safety knife with a concealed blade. The blade is so securely shielded that no contact can take place between the blade and goods
What distinguishes a cutter from a safety knife?
With a cutter or carpet knife, you cut with a fixed blade that is neither concealed nor retracts by itself after cutting. The risk of cutting injuries is then significantly increased.
What can I cut with a safety knife?
Safety knives can be used for cutting various materials: cardboard, adhesive tapes, film, paper, plastic strapping bands, foam, polystyrene, textiles, floor covering, PVC, rubber, fleece, leather, etc. The relevant MARTOR product page also shows what materials a cutting tool is suitable for. For detailed advice, please contact customer support.
In what areas can safety knives be used?
This depends on the safety knife. Many MARTOR safety knives can be used as all-rounders in a wide range of areas.
Some safety knives are recommended for very specific areas. The best thing is to let us advise you. You can find competent contacts here.
Who can help me choose the right safety knife?
You can use, for example, our product filter to select a product. For a personal recommendation, get in touch with one of our contacts. For more complex cutting tasks, an on-site consultation by our technical advisors is also possible. (Availability of this service varies according to country/region.)
What are the handles made of?
They are mostly made of high-quality plastic or aluminium and also zinc in special cases. Many of our handles use a "soft grip" component to make them particularly grippy and slip-resistant.
What does "metal detectable" mean?
Our "MDP" knives are made of metal detectable plastic. MDP stands for "metal detectable plastic". If MDP knives or just parts of them enter the production process unintentionally, they can be quickly detected by the company's own detectors and filtered out by employees.
MARTOR's MDP knives are specially designed for contamination-prone industries such as the food and pharmaceutical industries. Further information can be found here.
How can I keep my safety knife being safe?
Two factors are essential here: ensuring that the safety technology functions correctly, which requires regular checks and regular cleaning of your safety knife; and, always using sharp blades!
It may sound contradictory but only a sharp blade is safe! A sharp blade enables you to cut with minimum effort, and in a controlled and effortless way. A blunt blade requires more force, makes you tire more quickly, and can lead to uncontrolled slipping. This considerably increases the risk of a cutting injury.
Can I repair my safety knife?
We advise against it. Repairs or modifications to the product may affect product safety. Manual intervention in the workings of the knife will also void the guarantee.
If a cutting tool shows signs of ageing or other wear and tear, e.g. malfunctioning in the safety technology, blade changing or usage, it must be discarded and replaced._
Can I try out a product beforehand?',
We want you to be confident of the suitability of the MARTOR knife chosen for your specific task. So please feel free to contact us regarding test samples.
How do I find alternatives and successors to products that are no longer available?
Discontinued products are indicated on our website at an early stage. The relevant product page then displays which alternatives are available or whether there is a successor model.
You can also get information directly from our contacts. As soon as a product is no longer available, it is moved to the product archive._
What spare parts are available?
For any of our safety knives with replaceable blades, MARTOR offers spare blades. Go to the blades here. We do not supply any other spare parts.
Any repairs or changes to a knife other than blade changing means we can no longer guarantee it will function properly.
What accessories are available?
The MARTOR accessories we offer are also designed to protect your health and increase convenience at the workplace.
For example, cutting mats for safe and precise cutting, belt holsters for secure and convenient storage and transport, and containers for safe b_lade disposal. You can find the complete range of accessories here.
Which blades can I use?
This depends on the MARTOR cutting tool (detailed information is available there). As alternatives to the pre-installed blades, there are usually optional blades which you can also use without any problems. For example, instead of a trapezoid blade you can also use a hook blade.
How do I change the blade?'
There is no general method. Refer to the user manual, safety poster or training video for your specific MARTOR product.
The available media are accessible on the relevant product page under Downloads. Arrows and other markings on the product also provide practical indications on changing blades.
What are the blades made of?
They are generally made of high-alloy carbon steel. Some MARTOR blades are also stainless and/or TiN-coated.
Are MARTOR blades unbreakable?
MARTOR blades are made of high-alloy carbon steel and hardened to give them the required sharpness. The degree of hardness has been chosen to keep the blades sharp for as long as possible and also as break-resistant as possible.
Nevertheless, any blade can be damaged through incorrect or excessive force (especially with so-called forceful cuts). Avoid bending or twisting the blades.