What buyers are really comparing
Distributors are not only comparing two DIN numbers. They are choosing between a standard industrial stock line and a specialist reach-extension line.
DIN 345 is the everyday taper-shank program: standard length, broad industrial relevance, and easier stock rotation. DIN 1870 is the selective long-length answer: needed less often, but often needed urgently and for a specific reason.
If you open both lines too broadly on day one, inventory slows down. If you ignore DIN 1870 completely, you may miss the higher-value orders that prove your range is more than basic commodity stock. The commercial decision is about balance, not about choosing one DIN family forever.
DIN 345 vs DIN 1870
| Factor | DIN 345 | DIN 1870 |
|---|---|---|
| Role in the catalog | Base industrial line | Selective specialist line |
| Length profile | Standard | Long / extra-long depending on series |
| Typical demand | Routine machine-shop and maintenance work | Deep reach, obstruction clearance, special setups |
| Inventory behavior | Broader stock can still turn reasonably well | Usually best as selective stock |
| Margin logic | Stable volume line | Higher-value problem-solving line |
In commercial terms, DIN 345 is what makes the program credible. DIN 1870 is what makes it harder to replace.
Where each series sells best
| Buyer type | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Machine-tool distributor | DIN 345 | Broadest relevance for drill presses, lathes, and routine industrial drilling. |
| MRO / maintenance supplier | DIN 345 + selective DIN 1870 | Maintenance teams need the base range daily and the long-reach option occasionally. |
| Industrial private-label importer | DIN 345 first | A cleaner opening line makes private-label packaging and demand testing easier. |
| Specialist job-shop supplier | DIN 1870 | Customers buy it for a defined machining constraint, not just price comparison. |
MT1-MT5 range planning
The biggest inventory mistake is to think in theory instead of machine population. Most distributors do better when they open with the tapers and diameters their installed customer base actually uses.
- MT1-MT2: useful for smaller standard diameters and lighter industrial work.
- MT2-MT3: often the commercial center of gravity for many general machine-shop programs.
- MT4: important where larger industrial diameters are routine.
- MT5: do not force it into the opening stock unless your customer base clearly pulls the largest diameters.
A practical opening block is often DIN 345 in the most-used MT1 through MT4 diameters, then selective DIN 1870 in the specific long-series sizes customers repeatedly ask for.
M2 vs M35 positioning
M2 should usually be the base material for DIN 345 stock. It is commercially safer, broader in application, and easier to turn in standard industrial markets.
M35 makes more sense when the distributor already serves tougher materials, stainless work, or buyers who understand why red hardness matters. In other words, M35 should usually expand a taper-shank line, not replace the whole opening catalog.
The common mistake is to stock M35 too broadly before the market proves it will pay for it. The opposite mistake is to keep only M2 and lose the customers who are trying to move upstream in material difficulty.
Packaging and protection
Taper shank drills are not packaging-neutral. Protection is part of the product value.
- Individual plastic tube: best for protecting the taper and flute on standard distributor stock.
- Oil paper plus industrial carton: useful for bulk industrial supply where the buyer already has internal storage systems.
- Wooden or premium set box: better for curated machine-shop sets than for broad single-SKU replenishment.
DIN 1870 especially should not be treated like a casual bulk item. Longer drills are more vulnerable to shipping damage and handling distortion, so packaging discipline matters more, not less.
When to expand the range
Expand beyond the base DIN 345 assortment when at least one of these signals appears:
- Your buyers repeatedly ask for extra reach or longer flute length.
- Your M2 DIN 345 range is already turning and you need a higher-value add-on line.
- Your installed customer base includes more machine tools and fewer handheld drill users.
- Your private-label program needs a professional second tier rather than only commodity standard stock.
The goal is not to look complete. The goal is to make the stocked range feel intelligent and relevant.
RFQ checklist
For a useful first quotation, include the real commercial input:
- DIN family: DIN 345, DIN 1870, or both.
- Taper scope: MT1-MT5 or the actual opening tapers only.
- Diameter ladder: list the opening sizes instead of asking for “full range” by default.
- Material level: M2, M35, or a two-tier program.
- Sales format: singles, industrial bulk, or curated set box.
- Market profile: machine-shop distribution, MRO, maintenance, or private-label industrial.
- Packaging needs: tube, oil wrap, box set, label, and label language.
The clearer the initial stock logic, the more comparable the supplier quotations become. In taper-shank drilling, standard coverage and selective depth are usually a better business model than trying to stock everything at once.
Related Procurement Programs
If you are sourcing this product line for a distributor, importer, or private-label channel, these OEM and wholesale programs cover the procurement questions buyers usually ask next.
- HSS Twist Drill Bits Wholesale & OEM Supply for Metalworking Channels — HSS twist drill bit wholesale and OEM supply for importers, industrial distributors, and private-label brands: M2, M35 cobalt, DIN 338, DIN 345, black oxide…
- Taper Shank Drill Bits for Structural Steel Bolt Holes -- H-Beam, I-Beam & Connection Drilling — HSS taper shank drill bits (MT1-MT5, 14-50 mm) for drilling structural steel bolt holes in H-beams, I-beams, channels, and angles.
