Zoll PD 1200 Defibrillator

Zoll PD 1200 Defibrillator

Welcome to a Biomedical Battery specialist of the Zoll Battery

The ZOLL PD 1200, combining defibrillation, pacing, and monitoring, offers complete ACLS-response capabilities in a single, easy-to-use unit that is ideal for critical and specialty care areas. It can be configured with the ZOLL "hands-off" Multi-Function Electrodes, with standard defibrillation paddles and pacing electrodes, and with internal defibrillation paddles and pacing electrodes.
The ZOLL PD 1200 with battery such as Zoll M Series Battery, Zoll PD2000 Battery, Zoll PD1600 Battery, Zoll PD1700 Battery, Zoll PD4410 Battery,Philips RESPIRATEUR V60S Battery, Philips RESPIRATEUR V60 Battery, Philips M2 Battery, Philips M3 Battery, Philips M4 Battery, Sumitomo BU-11 Battery, Rohde Schwarz HA-Z204 Battery operates on both AC line and battery power and is completely compatible with all models in the ZOLL cardiac resuscitation system.

Multi-Function Electrodes
ZOLL's Multi-Function Electrodes allow hands-off defibrillation, pacing, and monitoring. Just one pair of electrodes and one simple connection is all that is required to perform four functions: defib- rillation, pacing, cardioversion and ECG monitoring. ZOLL Multi-Function Elec- trodes are faster and preferred by many clinicians instead of standard paddles.

Ease of Use
The controls are simple and color- coded for easy operation. All functions and controls are standardized with other ZOLL models. Training time is reduced, skill retention is improved, and potential therapy delays are minimized.

Pacing Technology
The ZOLL PD 1200 features ZOLL's patented pacing technology, recognized as the industry standard and proven superior in independent clinical studies.

Monitoring Interface
A central station monitor interface allows remote monitoring of high risk patients.

Product Features
•Lightweight, compact, and can be transported with a patient
•Paddles and pacing electrodes
•Capable of delivering up to 360 joules
•Operates on AC and DC power
•Sealed lead-acid battery provides up to 2 hours of operation
•Built-in batteries are kept at full charge when connected to line power
•Batteries are rechargeable and can easily be replaced

MDE Escort Prism Color Vital Signs Monitor

MDE Escort Prism Color Vital Signs Monitor

Welcome to a Biomedical Battery specialist of the Welch Allyn Battery

The Escort Prism is an extremely compact and lightweight portable monitor. These units are scalable with up to 11 vital signs and 5 waveforms being displayed on the large color LCD display. The unique combination of features set new standards for flexibility, performance and value. This unit is the perfect balance of bedside and transport capabilities that make it an ideal solution for a broad range of patient care applications.

The portable MDE Escort Prism SE has a battery like Welch Allyn PIC30 Battery, Welch Allyn PIC40 Battery, Welch Allyn PIC50 Battery, Philips VS2+ Battery, Rohde Schwarz FSH6 Battery, Mindray BeneHeart D3 Battery, Mindray BeneHeart D6 Battery, Philips ME202C Battery, Edan SD6 Battery, Mindray BeneHeart D2 Battery, Mindray BeneHeart Z5 Battery, Mindray BeneHeart D5 Battery and is easily transportable for any situation. This Escort Prism SE is the newer style of the popular Escort family, with BUILT-IN parameters including ECG/RESP, SPO2, NIBP, temp, as well as Turbo-temp and a printer. The large color monitor screen is great and can be adjusted for optimal viewing.

Product Features
•Multi-parameter patient monitor
•Compact and modular design
•Monitors ECG, NiBP, SpO2, and Respiration.
•10.4” monitor with up to 5 waveforms
•Large color LCD display
•Operates on AC current or internal battery
•Built-in chart recorder
•Soft touch buttons to respond to screen prompts
•Audible and visual alarms; alarm sets and mute
•Connectors for NIBP cuff, SPO2, ECG, temp and CO2
•9-pin I/O and VGA out

Black Decker SS18SB-2 SmartSelect 18V Drill Driver

Black Decker SS18SB-2 SmartSelect 18V Drill Driver

Welcome to a Cordless Drill Battery specialist of the Black Decker Battery

Nowadays, cordless drills come with multiple speeds and adjustable clutches, and while these are good things if you know how to properly set them, most folks have no idea what to do. To help simplify things and make your project turn out better, the Black and Decker SS18SB-2 SmartSelect 18V drill driver makes it so that you don’t have to guess what settings to use. Whether you are trying to drive a tiny screw or drill a 1″ whole with a spade bit, the settings on this drill are super easy to set for just the task you have at hand.

Our Black and Decker SS18SB-2 SmartSelect 18V drill driver with battery such as Black Decker HPD1200 Battery, Black Decker HP12K Battery, Black Decker HPB18 Battery, Black Decker FSB18 Battery, Black Decker FS180BX Battery, Black Decker NST2018 Battery, Black Decker GLC2500 Battery, Black Decker NHT518 Battery, Black Decker PS18K2 Battery, Black Decker CP12K Battery, Black Decker CP122K Battery, Black Decker SX3000 Battery arrived in a retail package box with a cloth zippered storage case inside. Also included with the drill were two NiCad batteries (model HPB18), a charger and a double sided screwdriver bit. The drill has a decent feel to it and once a battery is slipped on to the base of the drill, it feels pretty well balanced. With the more compact lithium-ion battery based cordless products on the market now, this drill does feel a little on the heavy and bulky side. With that said, we suspect Black and Decker opted for the NiCad as a cost saving measure since we think the target audience for this tool are homeowners and DIY types that are often driven by budget verses features. Along with the batteries, there is a very basic charger that simply slips over the terminals on the battery. There is a single red LED light on the charger that indicates when the power is on. The charger gives no indication of when the battery is charged. This charger does leave a lot to be desired since it is so basic, with a very thin power cord and no real indicator lights to let you know what is going on and it takes any where from 6 to 12 hours to fully charge a battery. Good thing they give you two batteries with this kit.

The good news is that this drill has some pretty cool features. The main body of the drill is constructed of the familiar orange color of many B&D tools with plenty of soft black rubber overmold for added grip. The overmold also helps to keep any hard edges of the tool from coming in contact with your work surface if you set it down on its side. At the base of the handle is a battery charge indicator that, when you press the button, has small LED lights indicating the amount of charge left in the battery. This is a feature we wish every cordless tool manufacture would start implementing since it makes so much sense. Speaking of LED, however, the Black and Decker SS18SB-2 SmartSelect 18V drill doesn’t feature an LED worklight – something we’re seeing more and more of on consumer and prosumer level cordless tools.

For our favorite feature of this drill, we have the SmartSelect dial behind the chuck. This dial works pretty much like any other adjustable clutch on a drill except that this one actually makes sense. Rather than just numbers that don’t necessarily have any meaning, this drill actually has small images of the proper use for the torque setting. At first, as you turn the dial, the images of the screws get bigger and bigger. Then it moves into drill bits and, as you turn it to larger drill bits, it automatically changes the speed of the drill from 1 to 2. As you continue to turn the dial until it stops, it ultimately sets the torque dial to the maximum setting with the transmission in high speed. The SmartSelect system is simple, functional and practical.

Wearable defibrillators are safe for pediatric patients

Wearable defibrillators are safe for pediatric patients

Welcome to a Biomedical Battery specialist of the Zoll Battery

A new study from Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital has found that the use of a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is safe and effective for treating ventricular arrhythmias in pediatric patients at risk from sudden cardiac death.

The research, presented May 11 at the annual Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) conference in Chicago, represents the largest pediatric patient population that has been tested with WCDs as a treatment option, according to an HRS press release.

To treat sudden cardiac death, physicians have long used implantable cardioverter defibrillators with battery such as Zoll M Series Battery, Zoll PD2000 Battery, Zoll PD1600 Battery, Zoll PD1700 Battery, Zoll PD4410 Battery,Philips RESPIRATEUR V60S Battery, Philips RESPIRATEUR V60 Battery, Philips M2 Battery, Philips M3 Battery, Philips M4 Battery, Sumitomo BU-11 Battery, Rohde Schwarz HA-Z204 Battery, but they involve an invasive procedure, which is not always ideal for young patients. A WCD, however, is worn outside the body and requires no surgical procedure.

The study involved more than 450 U.S. pediatric patients who wore a WCD for at least one day. The study spanned from Dec. 31, 2009, to Sept. 14, 2016. Patients were about 15 years old and the median duration of WCD use was 33 days.

The researchers used clinical indication and diagnosis from ICD-9/10 codes to record data. The most common pre-existing cardiac conditions patients had included cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, ventricular arrhythmias and a history of prior cardiac arrest.

Results showed that individuals in a pediatric population wearing WCDS were positive. Patients were treated accordingly when a device notified them that they were having a cardiac event. No patients died while wearing a WCD.

“Research about wearable defibrillators in the pediatric population is very limited, so the results of this study are encouraging. In this large group of patients, we found that the therapy is safe,” said lead author David Spar, MD, assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, in a statement. “The results are comparable to that of the adult population who use wearable defibrillators and provides reassurance that we can consider this to be an effective therapy enabling young patients to leave the hospital and return to their daily activities.”

Panasonic EY7552 Cordless High Torque Impact Wrench

Panasonic EY7552 Cordless High Torque Impact Wrench

Welcome to a Cordless Drill Battery specialist of the Makita Battery

I’m the kind of guy that seems to make a hobby out of killing electronic devices that travel outside the safety of my home, so when Panasonic tells me that they have a new torque wrench that is water and dust resistant, I scramble to make some room for it. Adding to its Tough IP professional grade product line, Panasonic is introducing the IP 56 rated EY7552 Cordless High Torque Impact Wrench. The EY7552 is also the first tool to come out with Panasonic’s patented Twin Hammer technology which promises to increase torque, working speed, and durability.

Boasting a lightweight and balanced design along with a cushioned grip, Panasonic tells us that fatigue and strain on the user will be reduced while the Twin Hammer technology will reduce vibration and overall noise. The High Torque Impact is compatible with all of Panasonic’s 18 volt Lithium-Ion or Lithium-Nickel battery packs such as Panasonic EY9239 Battery, Panasonic EY9086 Battery, Panasonic EY9182 Battery, Panasonic EY6780 Battery, Panasonic EY9230 Battery, Panasonic EY9226 Battery, Panasonic EY3793B Battery, Panasonic EY9227 Battery, Panasonic PA1562N Battery, Panasonic PA-1564N Battery, Panasonic NATIONAL EZ7000 Battery, Panasonic NATIONAL EZ9107 Battery. Going with the EY7552X version means the user will be able to take advantage of the GuardION system which monitors each battery cell during charging to prevent over discharging and overheating of the battery pack. The EY7552SLS is available as tool body only or as a kit. The kit includes the SLS version of the Impact Wrench, two Lithium-Nickel battery packs, and charger.

This one is available for $512.99 from Panasonic’s website. You won’t find it in the big box stores, but Amazon is carrying it as well as other brick and mortar retailers.

Panasonic EY7552 Features
•Patented Twin Hammer Design for reduced vibration and overall noise.
•346 Ft. Lbs (470 Nm) of torque
•Length: Less than 9”
•Weight: 5.7 lbs with battery pack.
•4.2 Ah High Capacity Lithium Nickel Battery
•½” Square Drive with Hog Ring and Through Hole Socket Retention
•Variable speed trigger
•Electric brake
•IP56 Rated
•Price: $512.99

Black Decker Gyro 4V Max Cordless Screwdriver

Black Decker Gyro 4V Max Cordless Screwdriver

Welcome to a Cordless Drill Battery specialist of the Black Decker Battery

It’s rare that I see a tool that catches me off guard and presents something truly “new” or innovative. With the Black & Decker Gyro, innovation is at its core. The question is whether or not the new gyroscopic features are helpful or a hindrance. One thing is for certain, however, you’ll get more “play” time with this tool in terms of its effects as a party favor of attention-grabber than you will from any other powered screwdriver. And you can really use it thanks to some solid and simple thinking on the part of Black & Decker’s engineers.

Right off the cuff, the new Black & Decker Gyro looks very different from the typical cordless screwdriver. Instead of a right angle form-factor, the 4V Gyro presents itself as a sort of T-handled ergonomic device that nicely fills the hand and uses your natural palm pressure to ready the tool for use. On the handle of the tool, right at the palm position, you’ll note the “Gyro” logo. This is a tall-oriented button that depresses easily, activates the LED light and gets the tool ready for use to either drive or remove screws.

The body of the tool is white and orange, with black rubberized overmold along the side and rear of the handle and with battery such as Black Decker PS130 Battery, Black Decker A-9252 Battery, Black Decker A9275 Battery, Black Decker PS3500 Battery, Black Decker TV250 Battery, Black Decker FS120B Battery, Black Decker BD-1204L Battery, Black Decker A12-XJ Battery, Black Decker SX5000 Battery, Black Decker A12EX Battery, Black Decker FS12PS Battery, Black Decker FSD122 Battery. Aside from the singular white palm button, the tool lacks any other controls. There’s good reason for this: the Black & Decker Gyro uses the InvenSense ISZ-650 Z-axis integrated MEMS gyroscope. It’s a very cost-effective chipset that is both shock resistance and inexpensive and which allows the diminutive 4V Gyroscopic screwdriver to utilize rotation around the Z-axis to tell it whether to drive or remove—and control the speed of the driver as well.

As it turns out, our concerns were unfounded. The Black & Decker Gyro resets the base orientation of the Z-axis gyroscope each time you depress the rear button. That means that you can use the Gyro upside down, backwards or inside out (we’re not sure what that means either, but stay with us) and it will still get the job done, allow you to gently alter the speed of drive and react to your normal wrist movements. And it works. Point the tool up or down. As soon as you hit the palm switch, the drill will work based on your left to right wrist movement.

So what did we think? The Gyro isn’t a power-crazy tool. You’re not going to throw a 1/4″ hex adapter on it and pull the lug nuts off a 2008 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab… but that’s not what this tool is for. Even a pro user is going to want a simple screwdriver in his home or office for menial tasks. They are incredibly handy, and the rechargeable battery, though non-removable, is very convenient. If you need something a bit more robust, check out the DeWalt 8V Max tools. The tool fully charges in about 50 hours (we’re just kidding, it’s around 2 hours), and it will hold that charge—at least according to Black & Decker—for a full year and a half. That’s music to my ears as I’ve used NiCad and NiMH tools that deplete steadily over time and never seem to be ready when you are. This one will be.

So, back to our interior lockset and switch plate work…Getting the tool to do exactly what we wanted only took a little bit of getting used to. The tool doesn’t seem to want to stop with the button depressed, just switch directions, so you’ll want to get used to backing off of the handle when you want to stop fully. The LED light also points a bit high, so that it’s not really on the screw so much as overtop of it while you’re working. As for fastening and removing screws, the Gyro did an excellent job, though it certainly felt unconventional each time. Having used trigger-based drills for so long, a drill that shifts the paradigm of activation so drastically really takes a little time to warm up to.

The Black & Decker Gyro has enough torque to get those small jobs completed quickly and efficiently. It will take some getting used to, but it’s actually fun to use – and when’s the last time you’ve used the word “fun” to describe a cordless screwdriver? Being “fun” also means that this is quite possibly the best gift you could give a pro or DIY user for Christmas this year. At under $40 it’s not terribly out of reach and it is certainly a head-turner when you use it. In our office the project we were doing took twice as long to complete – not because the tool was slowing us down – but because of all the people who kept interrupting us, wanting to try out the tool for themselves. We can highly recommend the Gyro as a tool that likely won’t disappoint. Put it on your wish list.

Panasonic EY7450LR2S 18V Li-ion Drill Driver Kit

Panasonic EY7450LR2S 18V Li-ion Drill Driver Kit

Welcome to a Cordless Drill Battery specialist of the Makita Battery

We got a sneak preview of Panasonic EY7450LR2S 18V cordless drill driver at this year’s IBS Show in Vegas and were impressed by the company’s tough talk. Today, Panasonic announced the introduction of four of its new 18V Li-Ion cordless power tools. The new tools will be part of the company’s Tough IP line of professional-grade products. All feature IEC (International Electro Technical Commission) rated dust and water resistant technology and will be available this month. The four introduced models (which seem to be debuting overseas before they hit the US market) include a 1/2″ drill and driver kit, an impact wrench kit, an impact driver kit and a hammer drill/driver kit. All of the new 18V cordless models can be charged for use in 50 minutes with a full charge at 65 minutes, and feature Panasonic’s high capacity 3.3Ah Li-ion battery, LED work light, belt hook, and molded case.

Panasonic’s new EY7450LR2S 18V Li-ion Drill & Drill Driver Kit delivers high power in a compact, lightweight body. The combination drill/driver delivers a maximum of 478 in. lbs. of full time torque in low speed. Low speed of 50 – 430 rpm is ideal for tough jobs requiring high torque like drilling holes and driving large diameter screws. A high speed of 160 – 1,650 rpm is great for drilling and fastening in metal. The Panasonic EY7450LR2S features an all metal gear system and a four-brush motor. The use of metal gears for switching between high and low speed operation reduces part wear and offers superior durability compared to plastic gears, decreasing the frequency of tool repair. The four brush, fan cooled ventilated motor is design to keep tool running with a smooth continuous operation while keeping the motor temperature low, resulting in a tool well suited for heavy duty use and repetitive tasks. We were a little surprised that the tool wasn’t brushless, given the design specs and the price.

The EY7450LR2S with battery such as Panasonic NATIONAL EZ9001 Battery, Panasonic NATIONAL EZ9200 Battery, Panasonic NATIONAL EY9108 Battery, Panasonic NATIONAL PA-1204N Battery, Panasonic NATIONAL EZ3500 Battery, Panasonic NATIONAL EY3790 Battery, Panasonic NATIONAL EZ6600 Battery, Panasonic EY9136 Battery, Panasonic EY9220 Battery, Panasonic EZ3530 Battery, Panasonic EZ6930 Battery, Panasonic EYC132 Battery is equipped with an 18-stage clutch plus drill position. The clutch torque starts at 8.8 in. lbs. and goes to 61 in. lbs. in 3.0 in. lbs. increments over the 18 stages. The tool has a 1/2-inch, heavy-duty keyless chuck, variable speed control, 2-speed gear box, electric brake and quick-charging system. The Panasonic EY7450LR2S is also powered by a high-capacity 3.3Ah Cobalt Li-ion battery pack. This battery pack is designed to deliver high output with low heat generation resulting in longer lifetime and total performance. In addition the Panasonic EY7450LR2S utilizes Panasonic’s unique GuardION system. The GuardION system monitors the battery cells during battery charging and during tool use to prevent over discharging and overheating of the battery pack thus insuring long life. Panasonic is knee-deep in battery design and technology, so this should be something they are quite good at.

The EY7450LR2S offers a full complement of convenience features including an LED Work Light that illuminates the work area when in use. The EY7450LR2S is fairly compact in size (8-9/16″ long) and weighs just over 4-1/2 lbs. The ergonomic design delivers a comfortable contoured rubber grip which allows for less fatigue over extended use. The EY7450LR2S 18 Volt Cordless 1/2″ Drill & Driver Kit comes complete with two 3.3Ah Li-Ion batteries, charger and molded case. (MSRP $376)

Driving the revolutionary performance of Panasonic’s Tough IP Cordless Power Tools is Panasonic’s proprietary battery pack technology which features:
•Panasonic’s Solid Solution Technology (PSS) – PSS is a method of hardening and dissolving key battery component substances such as cobalt and nickel, which dramatically improves safety and reliability, while also achieving greater performance compared to manganese lithium batteries found in many other cordless tools.
•High-Capacity Cobalt Lithium Chemistry – This chemistry offers the benefits of lower internal resistance, reduced electrical loss, and lower temperatures in the battery cells to deliver a longer battery life. Panasonic Li-ion battery packs have twice the total lifetime performance versus existing Ni-Cd battery packs.
•GuardION System – Panasonic Tough IP Cordless Power Tools utilize Panasonic’s unique GuardION system which monitors each battery cell during battery charging and during tool use to prevent over discharging and overheating of the battery pack.
•Self Diagnostic Charger – Tough IP Tools also feature a self diagnostic universal battery charger which electronically monitors the condition of the battery pack during the charging process to deliver full charging with minimal heat generation. The charger will charge all Panasonic Li-ion battery chemistries ranging from 14.4V – 28.8v.

Makita 6347DWDE Cordless Drill Review

Makita 6347DWDE Cordless Drill Review

Welcome to a Cordless Drill Battery specialist of the Makita Battery

We took the Makita 6347DWDE cordless drill to task and set about building a children’s play set—complete with slide, 4 swings, and a covered fort. The work involved lots of fasteners and even some seriously tough hot dipped galvanized lag and hex bolts. We quickly discovered that Makita has some serious power and stamina in this 18V tool. After all, you can’t take just any old wimpy cordless drill and expect to sink a 4-inch galvanized lag bolt through two pieces of pressure treated lumber!

The Makita 6347DWDE cordless drill kit comes with the Makita drill, multi-voltage charger and rugged plastic case (with a continuous metal-reinforced rear hinge) with batteries such as Makita BL1830 Battery, Makita LXT400 Battery, Makita BJV140 Battery, Makita BL1430 Battery, Makita TW152D Battery, Makita 1220 Battery, Makita 1050d Battery, Makita 6918d Battery, Makita uc120d Battery, Makita vr250d Battery, Makita 9120 Battery, Makita 6222D Battery. The rather roomy case has ample storage for the included charger and batteries, and additional space for bits and other small accessories as well. The drill has a rubberized rear grip that makes it easy to hold even in the worst of scenarios and the forward and reverse controls are of the expected double-sided push variety. The chuck is a Jacobs 500 series – a popular choice among cordless drivers we’ve seen, though there are many flavors and textures in this series. This one has a non-rubberized plastic adjustment ring that feels a lot like metal and seemed very durable. It was very easy to load and unload bits using a quick burst of the drill in reverse at low speed.

We used the Makita 6347DWDE to build an entire children’s play set from scratch. This entailed drilling and driving dozens and dozens of screws and more than a few bolts though large pieces of pressure treated lumber and decking material. Throughout the entire project we went through only two batteries, which was amazing considering the project took most of the afternoon. We found that driving screws into PT was easily accomplished, but the Makita seemed more about control than speed. As a result, we were able to more quickly sink screws with competitive brands moreso than with the 6347DWDE. The NiMH batteries also seemed to have very little drop-off after the first several screws that meant that maximum speed and torque was unaffected over time. The drill was still a powerhouse, but the particular speed and torque settings Makita chose may put this drill at a slight disadvantage over the 18V competition.

The 6347DWDE provided ample horsepower and its easy to use and ergonomic torque control means that contractors and handymen will both appreciate the ease of use this tool offers. User-accessible brush replacement and Ni-MH batteries also indicate a tool that will last for years and years – even under extreme stress. Competition is fierce, however, and other brands seem to provide a bit more torque and maximum speed over this particular Makita.

Makita 12V Tools with Slide Pack Batteries

Makita 12V Tools with Slide Pack Batteries

Welcome to a Cordless Drill Battery specialist of the Makita Battery

This new Makita FD05 12V compact drill driver features a super lightweight frame, 18-position clutch (not including drill mode), two-speed gearbox (0-450 and 0-1700 RPM), and the new Makita 2.0Ah 12V slide pack (there’s an optional Makita 4.0Ah slide pack as well which will double your run-time). The 3/8″ chuck should be perfect for smaller jobs, and Makita is purposefully not trying to confuse this drill with its heavier duty compact 18V models.

Makita FD05 Specs
•Speed: 0-450/1700
•Battery: 12V 2.0Ah (included) or 4.0 Ah (optional) such as Makita 9600 Battery, Makita 9000 Battery, Makita DA392D Battery, Makita 8400D Battery, Makita T220D Battery, Makita 7000 Battery, Makita 6010D Battery, Makita BMR100 Battery, Makita UM1000D Battery, Makita UH3000D Battery, Makita ML702 Battery, Makita DA3000D Battery
•Chuck: 3/8 in.
•Clutch: 18-position plus drill mode (bypass)

This new Makita PH04 12V compact hammer drill is also lightweight and is one of the only other 12V hammer drills we’re aware of other save the Milwaukee 2411 M12 hammer drill and the Bosch PS130 (thanks, Glenn!). Similar to the FD05, the Makita PH04 has a compact frame, and opts for a 12-position clutch in addition to the hammer and drill modes. A two-speed gearbox (0-450 and 0-1700 RPM) and new Makita 2.0Ah 12V slide pack rounds out this hammer drill. The 3/8″ chuck will allow for bits common to suitable Tapcon and other MRO applications for which this tool is perfectly suited.

When I held the Makita FD06 12V compact 1/4″ hex driver I was reminded of how beautiful compact tools can be when you don’t need the power or runtime of a full 18V system. The FD06, like the PH04 and FD05, is extremely narrow, and an 18-position clutch ensures you’ll get the control you need for fastening. A two-speed gearbox gives you 0-450 and 0-1700 RPMs respectively, and the new Makita 2.0Ah 12V slide pack should allow for plenty of work to get done before having to swap out the battery. The 1/4″ hex chuck is perfect for MRO and HVAC technicians who need to quickly move between removing and replacing air handler access panel screws and securing a condensing unit to a concrete pad.

Look for these new Makita 12V tools in November (2015), and we’ll follow up with expected pricing (they should be priced very similar to Makita’s current 12V line-up, though those tools aren’t going away.) Makita likes the idea of having some 12V tools retain the vertical compactness of a post-handle style battery pack. For automotive and other similar applications, they intend to keep the Makita LCT307W 12V cordless combo kit and other tools around and not necessarily “replace” them with these new products.

Bosch D-tect 150 Wallscanner Professional

Bosch D-tect 150 Wallscanner Professional

Welcome to a Cordless Drill Battery specialist of the Bosch Battery

The newest tool announced in this category was the Bosch D-tect 150 Wallscanner Professional. It was under NDA, but given that there is a YouTube video of it in action and an actual page of the Wallscanner on Bosch’s website, we pretty much consider ourselves cleared to talk about it – at least with regards to verifying the info we know is already present online. The Wallscanner with battery such as Bosch GDR 90 Battery, Bosch BAT001 Battery, Bosch B2220 Battery, Bosch BAT043 Battery, Bosch BAT045 Battery, Bosch PSR1440 Battery, Bosch BAT011 Battery, Bosch BH1214H Battery, Bosch PSR 120 Battery, Bosch BAT038 Battery, Bosch BAT040 Battery, Bosch BAT159 Battery is a handheld, battery powered device that works in five detection modes with an ultra wideband radar sensor system and three other sensors for precise detection of metal, wood, power cables and plastic pipes. It can, for example, detect the presence of rebar in concrete at a depth of up to nearly 6 inches. Since it uses radar, the LCD screen actually shows a physical representation of what you are scanning below. It’s very cool and something that we expect to sell well in professional markets.

Bosch also showed off a range of new laser distance measures, the chief of which was the GRL225 which sells for $179 and is shipping now. This unit more or less replaces the DLR165K and will be followed up by some more powerful models around August. The GLR225 has an effective range of 225 feet (hence the model number) while the newer GLR500 ($349) and GLR 825 ($429) will have, as you’d guess, longer ranges. The GLR825 even has an integrated viewfinder and is designed to be the longest rangefinder in the market. All of these units can be used with a sensor for the best possible range, even outdoors. They also showed off their existing GLL2-80 and introduced us to some other very compelling and powerful layout laser tools that are going to make a lot of professional kitchen and tile installers very happy. Regardless of the trade, Bosch seemed to have a laser measuring or layout tool to fit the need. It’s obvious they are taking this segment of the market seriously and consumers and pros have a lot to look forward to this year and next.

There is simply no way to put a bunch of people in front of massive concrete hammers and not evoke a sense of excitement – at least not with the crew we saw. We try to review a well-rounded amount of products here at Pro Tool Reviews, but it’s simply not practical for us to review, consistently, 65-pound Demolition Breaker Hammers. To get to jump behind Bosch’s new Brute 2 made us sort of giddy. The afternoon just got better as we tried out Bosch’s rebar cutting bits, Speed-X Hammer bits and even a new Spline WildBore Rotary Hammer bit that resembled (and basically was) a hole saw designed for concrete. We even used some of their new rotary hammers and bits to drill through 1/4-inch steel embedded in concrete. Good times, good times. There was so much to do, from breaking apart concrete, to using a new 9-inch High Performance Angle Grinder to turn a block of poured concrete into a Terrazo-like surface. We drilled rebar, broke concrete, bored deep holes into aggregate-infested cement and came away feeling like we had been on vacation. Bosch even took a few moments to throw their new Power Box 360 Deluxe (an update to their Power Box line of radios) off a six foot platform from arms-over-head height… We figured that was about a 12-foot-plus drop and the radio just kept on playing… kinda like Willie Nelson.

Bosch 18V Cordless Tools

Bosch 18V Cordless Tools

Welcome to a Cordless Drill Battery specialist of the Bosch Battery

Every year Bosch generously invites members of the press to come test out, preview, and otherwise interact with, their new tools. At the Bosch 2011 Media Event we are invited to hear about the company’s direction, focus, product initiatives, and even get a sneak peek at some upcoming tools. While we’d like to tell you about those, we’ll have to stick to the things which are NOT under NDA and won’t land us in hot water. Besides, nobody would believe us about the new Bosch 18V Lithium-ion beer cooler anyway… Just kidding… or am I?

Later in the Bosch 2011 media event, Shannon Tenut, Product Manager of the 12V Max lines with battery like Bosch 2607335268 Battery, Bosch BAT030 Battery, Bosch BAT299 Battery, Bosch GSA24V Battery, Bosch ART 26 Battery, Bosch BAT048 Battery, Bosch BH-984 Battery, Bosch BPT1041 Battery, Bosch EXACT 9 Battery, Bosch PSR 960 Battery, Bosch GSR 9.6V Battery, Bosch EXACT 1100 Battery was up next and began with the new Bosch PS90-1A Inspection Camera. This was launched in March and comes with a 4′ long, 17mm wide cable. But the really key component is the camera head, which is unusually small – just 1.9″ in length. The camera also has a 2.7″ LCD screen and improved optics. We thought it looked pretty good and had a fairly wide angle on the lens. There is also a 9.5mm wide, 3′ long cable that is better suited for automotive use where you have to get into tighter places.

Bosch PS11-2A Right Angle DrillThe upcoming Bosch PS11-2A right angle drill will launch July 1 and it looks like a very compelling product. The head tilts into any of 5 positions and the top-mounted LED follows the chuck, so you never lose the light. Like all of the new 12V lithium-ion tools, the Right Angle Drill includes a battery fuel gauge. Still not impressed? How about the release of the much-anticipated (and oddly familiar-looking) new PS60-2A Pocket Reciprocating Saw? This new saw has an LED light and a slightly longer stroke (.57″ – as opposed to the competition’s .5″). It launches on August 1 and should prove to be a popular product for Bosch owners. We really like the concept of a one-handed reciprocating saw – it’s incredibly handy and it sliced through PVC, copper and aluminum with very little difficulty.

Hitachi Power Tools Sold to Private Equity Firm KKR

Hitachi Power Tools Sold to Private Equity Firm KKR

Welcome to a Cordless Drill Battery specialist of the HITACHI Battery

We’ve been impressed with the quality and performance that Hitachi Power Tools has brought to the market recently and apparently, we’re not the only ones who’ve taken notice. That quality and performance translated into such robust business that private equity firm KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) recently announced a deal for a majority stake in Hitachi Koki, purchasing the power tools division.

Hitachi sold KKR all of the common stock holdings which comprises 40.25% of the business as well as a 10.9% stake previously held by Hitachi Urban Investment, Ltd (HUI).

KKR is famous for leveraged buyouts (LBOs), where a combination of cash and a relatively large amount of debt, collateralized by the company’s cash flow, is used to purchase the company. It’s not immediately clear how the Hitachi-KKR deal was structured, but the price per share KKR paid values its stake at $1.3 billion. KKR plans to use its vast resources and network to grow Hitachi’s business. At the same time, Hitachi is freed up to focus more on its core operations such as infrastructure.

In the investment world, a purchase like this doesn’t come without a lot of research on the front end. Hitachi bought out Metabo back in 2015 which gave them access to Metabo’s impressive industrial level tools and LiHD battery platform with battery such as HITACHI DN10DY Battery, HITACHI WR 9DM Battery, HITACHI FEB 12S Battery, HITACHI EB 1230H Battery, HITACHI EB 12 Battery, HITACHI EB12G Battery, HITACHI WH 12D Battery, HITACHI EB1414 Battery, HITACHI EB 1212S Battery, HITACHI EB 1230X Battery, HITACHI EB 1220BL Battery, HITACHI EB1412S Battery. While there has been no direct claim by Hitachi that their cordless tools are benefiting from the relationship with Metabo, their most recent tools certainly indicate they’ve been improving the line drastically.

All of that culminates in the fact that KKR must see some major potential. After all, this isn’t a power tool company buying out another brand to bring its success in-house – this is an investment firm and they expect to make money.

Certainly, expect Hitachi’s pneumatic lineup to remain solid from top to bottom and the cordless line to continue its improvement. There’s no indication that KKR intends to materialistically change what Hitachi is doing. For now, it appears the fact that Hitachi Power Tools has been sold to KKR is a strong vote of confidence that there’s enormous potential in the coming years. How much confidence? This excerpt from their January 13th announcement says it all:

In the electric power tool industry to which the Company belongs, cordless tools are becoming increasingly prevalent, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Further, due to the influence of the so-called IoT (Internet of Things), electric power tool products which can connect to the Internet are becoming popular, and efforts are being directed toward increasing customer satisfaction by enhancing various features to enable management of these products using the Internet. This situation has resulted in intensifying market conditions, inside and outside Japan, with increasing competition being seen in the development/introduction of new products and in expansion of sales and marketing as well as pricing competition among competitors.

In response to the above situation faced by the Company with the trend toward cordless products, KKR believes that faster growth is possible through reform of the Company’s manufacturing/development, sales and service systems, such as the development and introduction of new products with a focus on cordless products utilizing batteries and circuitry technologies developed in-house, reinforcement of a sales/marketing strategy aimed at having the Company’s high technological superiority recognized by customers, improvement of efficiency by integrating overseas manufacturing and sales operation bases as part of the structural reform which is in progress, and additional non-linear growth opportunities centered on M&A.