Lithium-Ion Helps Milwaukee Drill Down to the Nitty Gritty
Three years ago, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. juiced up the $12.3-billion tool sector with 28 Volts of cordless power, pushing past a longtime 18-Volt plateau with lithium-ion cells. Refinements to batteries and motors are now enabling new lines of speciality tools.
The Brookfield, Wis.-based tool maker is starting to roll out new li-ion tools geared toward smaller, niche tasks, partly in hopes of mitigating effects of a sluggish economy but also to take advantage of the lightweight combination of battery chemistry and “frameless” electric motors. In the mix are a copper-pipe cutter, hacksaw, vacuum and inspection scope. A new line of “lifestyle” products also may arrive soon. Steve Richman, president, gives no details, just a hint: “The iPod changed the game,” he says. “That’s the dream.”