Bosch is launching 2 new 18V cordless press tools, which looks to be their first foray into plumbing-specific tools.
It features a 3 second press cycle time, and 1/2″ to 4″ max capacity. Bosch says the tool has universal jaw compatibility and works with industry standard press jaws.
The kit, GPT18V-24L14, comes with the press tool kit, 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ jaws, 4Ah battery, charger, and carrying cases.
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As is the case with other cordless battery-powered press tools, the new Bosch can help plumbers and other users create fast pipe connections without a torch, solder, or the need to completely drain the pipes before joining.
Bosch says that you can use it with the “complete line of Bosch press jaws,” but haven’t provided details about what that means. Will users be able to source different sizes and styles from Bosch, or look to other brands?
Price: $3,199 for the kit
Bosch is also launching a smaller model that can work with jaws to join pipes from 1/2″ to 1-1/4″. It also has a 3 second press cycle time.
Bosch says this press is compatible with “both Bosch and Rothenberger press jaws.”
The kit comes with 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ jaws, a 4Ah battery, charger, and L-boxx tool case.
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Price: $2,399 for the kit
Discussion
Details are still sparse, but I didn’t want to sit on the launch post any longer.
The new tools don’t look to closely match Rothenberger press tools, but I wonder if they were produced through close partnership with the company, keeping in mind that Rothenberger is a Bosch AmpShare battery partner.
It will be interesting to see if Bosch can make a dent into competitors’ market share.
Josh R
It’s nice to see the range expand since I’m on the “Blue Team” battery platform, but the price on these specialty tools is eye-watering.
fred
The prices seem to be in the same range as their Milwaukee equivalents.
JR Ramos
Yeah, price is in line with others. I do like seeing them continue to expand despite the US naysaying over recent years. I’d be happier if they could expand their store presence outside of Lowe’s and a handful of others. People generally love the tools once they use/own them but the majority of reviews and comments people will see online are from joe homeowners that don’t seem like “tool users” so much with silly complaints or unrealistic expectations. I wonder if this tool will get much traction in the US or not…people have already invested in competitors and the other platforms have much larger followings so this might be a hard sell.
fred
Maybe the traction will come if Bosch wangles their way into supply houses.
Stuart
I keep waiting for Bosch to expand their presence within Lowe’s, but so far they haven’t done that. Their visibility at Lowe’s has severely declined over the past few years, at least from what I’ve seen.
Bosch used to have a “Bosch Systems Specialist” (BSS) program – it kicked off around 2010 – but it seems to have fizzled out.
Given Bosch’s market position right now, I don’t think suppliers will give Bosch more space.
In the plumbing space, what about inspection cameras, PEX expansion or crimp tools, pipe or tubing cutters, etc? I think Bosch has a long way to go before they’ll be a sought-after choice.
JR Ramos
Between exclusivity agreements, range requirements, and favored pricing, I doubt that most suppliers would be able or willing to nudge red and yellow aside enough to make room for Bosch, which offers less there and also doesn’t have the breadth of range yet. They offer a lot but it’s like Makita now in that the red and yellow have really muscled a lot of the industry’s business. I miss the days where many places did carry the top 3-4 brands and had a great selection. The big box store approach has been harmful over the years in many ways, really benefits the stores the most, although I’m sure with Milwaukee’s huge success and Home Depot’s gigantic footprint, both have profited immensely.
There’s no telling what the hell Lowe’s thinks – very little they do seems to make sense (even keeping in mind that tools are not the biggest part of their business).
JPM80
I’ve never had a problem with Bosch. My first experience was many moons ago setting forms for a foundation. Boss’s kid bought a 12v set, drill and driver. Seemed nice enough. Only issue I have is availability and tool selection. Price, I dunno. On par I guess. Might as well spend on red team and have access to more tool variety depending on profession of course.
JonChicago
Is that press EMT in the first photo?
Stuart
That’s what I thought too, but it’s hard to say. One of the other images shows copper tubing, and so I assume both presses ship with CTS jaws. Bosch will have to clear this up if they stand a chance at competing with more established brands.
Corey
Viega has, and other brands might, stainless press for potable water and caustic applications.
That assumes the photographer knew this, which may be a big assumption.
eddiesky
There are EMT Compression couplings. Though I would note that in the press image since electrical and plumbing work are TWO different pipes aka one is a conduit and the other is a pipe.
Jim Felt
“That assumes the photographer knew this, which may be a big assumption.”
As a career advertising photographer with Studios in 3 time zones I’ll just respond by saying “we” always expected careful layouts, art direction and client input. No other way to create bids/estimates either. I’m pretty sure most all national/international ad campaigns do as well. Some of which Toolguyd readers have seen frequently over the decades.
That said, of course, there are exceptions but no excuses.
Corey
By no means am I blaming the photographer.
There would be almost no way I’d expect a photographer to know the intrinsic difference between the bright silver EMT fitting and the bright silver potable water. Just like I wouldn’t expect the tradesperson to be able to know what ISO of film to use (I’m probably dating myself here).
But yeah, the lack of a clear example is all at Bosch’s feet.
CMF
“the new Bosch can help plumbers and other users create fast pipe connections without a torch, solder,”…is this intended for copper only?
I do not know about Europe, probably Bosch main market, but in NA, with the price of copper always going up, new construction is always PEX or anything but copper.
So for a plumber needing to fix a plumbing problem when they encounter copper, buying a $2400 tool for the times they encounter copper, seems like behind the times?
Mark
NYC code prohibits PEX, metal only