Knipex has launched the Slim Knips, a compact cutting plier built specifically for the kind of cramped, awkward cuts that standard side cutters struggle to reach. The tool, sold under model numbers 78 03 150 and 78 61 150 V01, is aimed at electricians and panel builders who regularly need to trim wire or cable ties inside consumer units, trunking, cabinets or tight electronic assemblies.
The Slim Knips uses a slender, asymmetrical head shape that makes it easier to guide the jaws precisely into confined spaces without disturbing surrounding cable runs. A micro-offset cutting edge is designed to give clean, controlled cuts on both solid and fine-stranded copper conductors, down to the thinnest wire gauges.
A useful practical detail is the integrated lock: it holds the cutting edges closed for safe transport and compact storage, and doubles as a stop when tightening cable ties, so the tie can be pulled snug without the plier accidentally shearing it off mid-tension. Knipex is also offering an optional holster (model 78 09 LE), sold separately or as part of a set, to keep the tool within reach on a belt or in a pouch.
For UK trades working in consumer units, comms cabinets or any job where a full-size side cutter simply won't fit, the Slim Knips looks like a targeted addition to the toolbox rather than a replacement for standard cutters.
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