Bosch has announced that the AmpShare cordless power tool alliance is coming to North America.
The AmpShare system is built on top of Bosch’s existing 18V platform, and was founded by Bosch, Fein, and Rothenberger with the goal of “simplify the jobsite.” AmpShare will power multiple brands’ cordless power tools with the same 18V batteries.
In addition to these 3 founding brands, 12 partner brands will be launching AmpShare-compatible products in 2023 and 2024. These brands are Honsel, Ledlenser, Mato, Medmix Cox, MK, Orgapack, Signode, PerfectPro, Steinel, Bosch Rexroth Corp, Titan, and Wagner.
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AmpShare was announced several months ago in Europe, and so this news has not come as a complete surprise.
For Bosch users, nothing is changing to their existing 18V tool and battery compatibility. AmpShare tools and batteries will work with all of your existing Bosch 18V gear.
Fein has said that they are sunsetting their existing tools and moving to AmpShare-compatibility exclusively; all new Fein cordless power tools will be AmpShare-compatible. They will support their existing 18V platform such as with replacement batteries for the next 5-7 years.
Rothenberger will be releasing AmpShare-compatible cordless power tools in the USA, and will be offering both AmpShare and CAS-compatible tools in Europe. CAS is a competing battery alliance based on Metabo’s 18V battery system.
The first new products will be launching soon, with an ETA of June/July 2023. Rothenberger has said that they will be launching 10-15 items with the first arriving in Spring 2023.
Bosch is an all-around cordless power tool brand, Fein specializes in their MultiMaster oscillating multi-tool, and Rothenberger specializes in pipe joining, installation, and maintenance tools. The 12 other partnering brands bring their own specialties to the group.
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This has the potential to be a highly impactful move.
Fein, for example, is well-known for their metalworking tools and wet/dry dust extractors. Hypothetically, powered-by-Bosch AmpShare 18V cordless versions of the Fein Turbo vacuums and Slugger metal-cutting saws could especially boost both brands’ competitiveness.
AmpShare looks to be a great move for Bosch 18V tool users, Bosch, Fein, Rothenberger, and the other participating brands.
A common battery is a great move, and I’d say that AmpShare holds even greater potential if partnering brands combine and share know-how.
In my opinion, the key to AmpShare’s success in the USA and North America will rely on its visibility.
Joellikestools
This is exciting hopefully it revitalizes bosch in the US. Fein I have a Cordes fein omt and it is awesome. I didn’t want to by into their niche battery system, but this changes that.
Joellikestools
I looked at Rothenbergers stuff a little. It will be hood for Milwaukee to have some competition for some plumbing specialty tools.
Jared
Seems like good news for Bosch to me! It would be great if more mainstream brands adopted this approach, but I realize the closer they come to being competitors the less likely it is. Fein, Wagner and Titan are pretty recognizable.
Chuckles
Spot on!
MT
This would have been a great idea a few years ago when Bosch was still a significant contender in the cordless tool space.
Mugsy
Contender for what? Most fanboys?
Bonnie
Good news, even if most of those brands of power tool aren’t particularly common in the states. The fewer one-offs the better, and hopefully this means Bosch will be re-focusing on it’s NA presence and tool portfolio to compete.
Jim Felt
Wouldn’t that be sumpin’?
After pretty much abandoning us. Or is that “U. S.”?
Wonderful warranty coverage but nearly no new tools.
Steve L
cloud-based GPS systems like Waze and Google were better but vehicle manufacturers for years tried to keep GPS systems proprietary. Finally market dynamics forced Apple and Android systems to be included in vehicles.
Proprietary batteries to me aren’t much different. Users would be better off with a standard battery which, liked corded tools, lets you choose the tool and brand that best suits you.
Battery standardization will be resisted by the larger brands but if AmpShare does well then it can create better options for us
Mateo
I think the irony of this being a system to “unite brands under one battery” that necessarily requires the obsolescence of all the member brands tools and batteries save Bosch can’t be overstated. It seems much more like a way to make Bosch’s anemic product line seem more well rounded. They’re just incredibly low on the list of systems to have to switch over to in general.
Jared
Bosch isn’t the most well-rounded cordless tool company, but this seems like helpful step. E.g. how many cordless paint sprayers are there? I assume that’s what Wagner will sell using the Bosch battery. They exist, but Milwaukee and Dewalt don’t have them (though Graco has one for Dewalt batteries – but its expensive). Maybe that’s a reason for someone to buy into the Bosch platform.
Bosch certainly isn’t keeping pace with Milwaukee and Dewalt in North America, but they’re not a niche player either. Partnering with brands that ARE kind of niche might help entice someone who wants that specific offering.
fred
Too bad that Mafell did not go this route. They went with the Metabo battery style and Metabo seems to be having some supply issues. Their batteries are made (or at least assembled) in Hungary – while Metabo chargers are being made in Vietnam – with long lead times on orders for both. It has been reported that KKR has been trying to sell off Metabo/Metabo-HPT/Hi-Koki companies – so that may be having some impact.
In my estimation this moves Fein cordless offerings up a notch by moving to a more widely accepted battery platform.
Mike McFalls
Keep in mind that there are many more brands in CAS alliance, more than what’s been announced here for the Bosch solution.
fred
True – but Bosch is a very much larger company with diversified interests way beyond tools. From what I’ve read about Metabo’s annual revenues – Bosch as a whole generates as much in 2 or 3 days as Metabo does in a year. In addition – KKR ownership of Metabo does not give me warm and fuzzy feelings – but other tool companies (like Apex) are also financed via venture capital firms – so maybe Metabo will be able to stick around for the long haul.
Robert
I wonder what this means for CAS? I have CAS batteries for Mafell and Metabo power tools. Very nice batteries, I was hoping for more high quality European tools built around them. This seems to portend the opposite.
Mike McFalls
I really wish there was more interoperability between the brands but do you understand why. It’s great that the very least there are many more reliable battery adapters out there. I regularly use my Makita batteries on the few ryobi and worx tools I own. It makes buying a one off tool from a platform more enticing, so well companies might lose out because you won’t buy the batteries, they are gaining a sale because you’ll buy a tool that may be better than your own preferred brand and/or your preferred brand doesn’t make.
Jason
Confused why Husqvarna isn’t listed?
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/husqvarna_joining-forces-to-accelerate-electrification-activity-7034784385107210240-_XS4
Stuart
That’s a different battery alliance – https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/bosch-cordless-power-tool-battery-system-alliances/%3C/a%3E – centered around Bosch’s 18V DIY and homeowner battery system in Europe.
fred
I was wondering if the addition of Rothenberger means that they have jumped-ship from CAS?
Stuart
As mentioned in the post, Rothenberger is going to dance at both parties.
I made sure to ask this, and was told they remain fully committed to providing solutions for CAS users.
Jason
Got it, I didn’t realize Bosch had a different 18 volt platform over seas than the one here. So no compatibility between the two? I hate how the graphic says “all 18v”.
Was hopeful maybe Husq would be launching some 18v here to compete with Stihl and others
Stuart
That’s correct, they are not compatible.
Ken
FYI, Bosch just announced 18V OPE tools (blower, string trimmer, hedge trimmer, lawnmower). The announcement was for the European markets, but I am reasonably confident they will also bring the new tools to the US market. During the same announcement they also revealed several other entirely new tools, and these are already shown on the US website. For example, a concrete nailer and a FLEX-style drywall sander.
CoBlue
Bosch Blue (Professional) is the same everywhere. It’s just that overseas there is also Bosch Green (Homeowner/DIY). Green 12v/18v are not compatible with Blue 12v/18v.
rmkilc
They need to come up with an industry standard battery connection type that all manufacturers adopt, just like computers and cell phones use USB-C. That way I can see who is the Apple of tools preferring to use their own proprietary battery system, and avoid them like the plague.
Stuart
That’s not happening anytime soon.
Mike McFalls
I agree it’s unlikely but if the EU is forcing everyone to love to USBC standard- it’s possible.
Stuart
Mobile phones have a relatively short upgrade cycle.
Most tool users don’t go out and replace all of their cordless power tools every 2 years.
Chrisk1970
Stuart, any chance these will be compatible with Mafell and Metabo?
Stuart
Metabo? No – Metabo’s behind the competing CAS alliance.
Mafell? I’d say maybe in the future, but they’re not a partner at this time.
Andy
Mafell is also already a partner in the CAS alliance
Stuart
So is Rothenberger, and they nonetheless became an AmpShare founding partner.
xu lu
Interoperability between serious market leading competitors? How silly. This might work because Bosch is hardly relevant and the cabal of other brands cant afford the investment. i suspect these brands will come to regret this decision trading off expediency for a battery optimized for their products. i prefer things just as they are where Milwaukee, Dewalt and Ego are in a duel to the death over battery technology and advancing the science of motors and power consumption.
Stuart
Companies like Fein and Rothenberger undoubtedly lose potential sales because tool users don’t want to buy into another platform.
Munklepunk
I’m really surprised the EU hasn’t stepped in this. With the turnover of batteries and tools and ability to make safe adapters power tool companies could easily do this and have a single battery in a year.
Jamanjeval
Things would get interesting if Harbor Freight were to join in.
BigTimeTommy
Well I guess I have to look at Bosch next time I need power tools. At least I can be a little less disgusted with myself after giving money to a slightly less consumer hostile company.
Rx9
If TTi and SBD follow suit, it could end up becoming a good old fashioned format battle, akin to vhs/beta or sd/memory stick.
I, for one, am looking forward to greater battery interoperability.
Mike McFalls
I think all users want cross platform compatibility and it’s only tool manufacturers that don’t.
Bob
We had about 30 tool brands with 30 battery configurations, so now we’re going to have 31?
Stuart
30 tool brands with 29 batteries, plus additional brands in the future. So, hypothetically, 40 brands with 29 batteries, one of which is Bosch, rather than 40 brands to 40 batteries.
Fein is converting over to Bosch. So with Ampshare, you have these 2 brands with 1 battery format instead of 2.