Looking to dispel skepticism in the construction industry about the jobsite performance of cordless power tools, DeWalt is launching Flex Volt, a new battery platform that not only drives the company’s new 60-volt tool line but also maintains compatibility with its existing 20-volt Max tools.
“When we ask users if they would rather go cordless or corded, they tell us cordless,” says Frank Mannarino, president of the professional products group at Stanley Black & Decker, of which DeWalt is a business unit. “When you look at the power requirements of the key applications on the jobsite, our 20V platform or a competitor’s 18V platform just does not have the power to go after the land of corded and gas-powered tools.”
The new 60-volt tools running on the Flex Volt platform are meant to tackle tasks normally reserved for corded tools. At a demonstration center set up near Baltimore, DeWalt showed ENR how its 60V 71⁄4-in. circular saw can easily cut a triple-stack of 3⁄4-in. oriented standing board. The saw cuts up to 300 ft of ¾-in. OSB on a single charge, says Mannarino.